Eagles QB McNabb Gets $5.3 Million Raise, but No Extension on Contract

Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles have restructured the last two years of the QB's contract. According to reports, the Eagles Quarterback was due to make $9.2 million this season and $10 million next season, for a total of $19.2 million, but will now make $24.5 million, with another $1 million in incentives, over the next two seasons. Even though that is a huge raise, the Eagles did not give McNabb the contract extension that he wanted. McNabb has said in the past that he wanted a new deal so that he can finish his career on the Philadelphia Eagles.

McNabb has been the Eagles franchise quarterback since 1999 after being drafted second in the NFL Draft. Donovan has only been on one team his entire career. He became a star in his first full season with the Eagles in 2000, when he finished second in the MVP voting and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time. Starting from 2001, McNabb led his team to the NFC Championship game for three straight seasons, which is an unbelievable achievement, even though he lost all three games. Donovan had his best season in 2004, when he led the Eagles to their fourth consecutive NFC Championship game and his first SuperBowl against the New England Patriots. The team lost the game by a close margin, 24-21. McNabb was injured for most of his next three years (2005-2007) but came back healthy last season. McNabb has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times in his career, from 2000 to 2004 and holds the team record in pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and career wins.

McNabb has had his ups and downs throughout his NFL career. At times, McNabb has come under heavy criticism for his injuries and lack of will to play, while other times being praised for being the leader of the team and leading them to the playoffs on seven separate occasions, best in team history. The Eagles organization and its fans has had a love and hate relationship with Donovan.

Back in 2002, McNabb signed one of the most lucrative deals at the time, a $115 million, 12-year contract extension with the Eagles through the 2013 season. The last three years of the contract were voided because of incentives and McNabb is currently signed through 2010.

Last season, McNabb threw for 23 touchdowns with only 11 interceptions, and playing an entire regular season for the first time since 2003. McNabb helped lead the Eagles last season to a 9-6-1 record and a wild-card playoff birth. The season started out rocky for the Eagles and Donovan was even benched in Week 12 for backup QB Kevin Kolb but came back the next week, helping the Eagles win four of their last five games, against the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, and Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles beat the Vikings in the wild-card game and knocked off the defending Super Bowl Champion Giants, before losing to the Cardinals in the NFC Championship game.

The Eagles not giving McNabb an extension seems incredible, considering that the Eagles' two backup QB's (Kevin Kolb and A.J. Feely), have had little to no playing time in the past and don't have the experience needed to run a team.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donovan_McNabb