Just when you thought the Donovan McNabb Fall 2010 Series on Bob Long’s Sports Blog was over, more questions and controversy unfolded with regards to McNabb. This weekend, McNabb was benched in a one possession game in the final minutes of the game against the Lions. Rex Grossman replaced McNabb and proceeded to fumble the game away, as has been his reputation since he entered the league.
The controversial move raised many questions. Why was McNabb pulled? Is Washington dissatisfied with his play? Is Grossman a long term option for the Redskins, and what is the future for McNabb? Following these questions, head coach Mike Shanahan offered multiple, convoluted, and inconsistent explanations for the move. He first said that Donovan did not have sufficient knowledge of the 2 minute offense, which was the reason Grossman was inserted. The next day, Shanahan turned 180 degrees on his original statement and said that McNabb did not have the “cardiovascular endurance” to run a 2 minute drill without any timeouts remaining.
To add insult to injury (pun intended), the Redskins worked out JaMarcus Russell and JP Losman during the bye week. This is standard practice during bye weeks, and most likely had nothing to do with McNabb’s benching, but nonetheless it sends mixed signals to the quarterback that has been the unquestioned starter since he was traded to Washington.
Does Shanahan have good reason behind his benching of McNabb? I don’t see it. McNabb has passed for almost 2,000 yards in only 8 games this season, has led the Redskins to a 4-4 record (the team went 4-12 last season), and has the team only 1.5 games back in the NFC East. The one knock on McNabb is that he has 8 interceptions through 8 games, but he has proved to be a catalyst for a Washington offense that was abysmal last season, and he has put the team directly in the NFC East and Wild Card races. In addition, the Redskins could easily be 5-3, if it weren’t for a missed field goal by Graham Gano in overtime against the Texans that spoiled McNabb’s 426 yard passing day.
Therefore, while McNabb may not be the Pro-Bowler that he was earlier in his career, he still has rejuvenated a team that won only 4 games last season. He still has passed for just under 2,000 yards in only 8 games, and he still remains the leader in the Washington locker room. The fact that he is being punished and humiliated, and is not being given a straight answer about his untimely benching is ridiculous. And the fact that the explanation was that McNabb didn’t have the cardiovascular endurance is a ridiculous as well. Even if McNabb isn’t in the best shape, is Rex Grossman? And is Grossman’s fitness level so impressive that it offsets the fact that he is a brutal NFL quarterback? And how about JaMarcus Russell: if fitness is so important to Shanahan, why did Russell, of all quarterbacks, come within even 10 miles of the Redskins’ training facility?
None of the explanations make sense, and to McNabb’s credit, he has acted in a very classy manner about the whole issue. In the past, McNabb has backed away from blame, and has blamed others for mistakes throughout his career. He has done nothing of the sort in this matter, but instead has accepted the decision of Shanahan while asserting that he is ready to play when he is needed. McNabb has matured as a football player and a man in this situation, and Shanahan needs to do the same.
To Mike Shanahan: 1) Realize what you have in Donovan McNabb, a guy who is the leader in the locker room, has thrown for 1,971 yards this season, has equaled last year’s win total in only 8 games, and a guy who has kept your team, with an atrocious running game right now, directly in the NFC East and playoff races. 2) If McNabb really isn’t your guy for whatever reason, be straight with him. Don’t give multiple, indirect, and convoluted answers that do more to confuse the problem than explain it. Don’t pull McNabb with 2 minutes to go after he has played the first 58 minutes and has kept the game within 1 possession. He is the starting quarterback of the team, and until that changes, treat him with the respect that he has treated the coaching staff, the other players, and the fans.