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Washington Redskins' coach, Mike Shanahan, announced Friday (December 17) that he has benched quarterback Donovan McNabb for back-up Rex Grossman.
McNabb will serve as the second string QB against the Dallas Cowbows on Sunday (December 19) behind Grossman, but will then drop to third string for the final two games of the season with no guarantee he'll return for the next.
"I also told him that I cannot guarantee him that he will be back next year," Shanahan told ESPN.
The news comes just over a month after McNabb signed a five-year contract extension with the Skins, worth $78 million, which looked to be the veteran quarterback's home for the long haul. However, it comes with a a clause that allows the team to cut McNabb before next season with no further financial obligation.
So far, this season has been the worst of his NFL career. He's thrown a career-high 15 interceptions and currently ranks 25th in the NFL with a 77.1 passer rating.
His performance has Coach Shanahan -- with no hopes of post-season action down the pipe -- assessing the team's options for the quarterback position next season, which is why Grossman and third stringer John Beck will take the starting and back-up positions at QB for the rest of the season.
"I've got to find where Rex Grossman is, where John Beck is. I want a chance to evaluate these guys," said the coach. "I told Donovan that there's nothing he could do in the three games that would influence me over what he's done over the last 13 games. I said, 'I'm not sure what I'm going to do in the college draft, if we're able to get the top quarterback in the draft, if there was a young Donovan McNabb or maybe a Sam Bradford, someone like that.' There's a lot of possibilities."
McNabb's agent, Fletcher Smith, expressed his disgust over the way the Redskins have treated the six-time Pro Bowler, telling ESPN that the team's decision is "disrespectful to Donovan. He has not been more disrespected his whole career than he has this season. It's absolutely ridiculous."
The Redskins acquired McNabb in April, via a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for a pair of draft picks -- a second round pick that month and a third- or fourth-round pick next year.
At press time, McNabb's future is up for speculation.
Grossman was signed this year as well, coming onto the team as a back-up for McNabb because he was familiar with the team's new offense and could help teach him. He only appeared in one Redskins game this year, when he relieved McNabb in the loss to Detroit. During the game, Grossman fumbled while being sacked on his first play, and finished 4 for 7 for 44 yards.
He'll now get a another chance to show coach what he's got.
McNabb will serve as the second string QB against the Dallas Cowbows on Sunday (December 19) behind Grossman, but will then drop to third string for the final two games of the season with no guarantee he'll return for the next.
"I also told him that I cannot guarantee him that he will be back next year," Shanahan told ESPN.
The news comes just over a month after McNabb signed a five-year contract extension with the Skins, worth $78 million, which looked to be the veteran quarterback's home for the long haul. However, it comes with a a clause that allows the team to cut McNabb before next season with no further financial obligation.
So far, this season has been the worst of his NFL career. He's thrown a career-high 15 interceptions and currently ranks 25th in the NFL with a 77.1 passer rating.
His performance has Coach Shanahan -- with no hopes of post-season action down the pipe -- assessing the team's options for the quarterback position next season, which is why Grossman and third stringer John Beck will take the starting and back-up positions at QB for the rest of the season.
"I've got to find where Rex Grossman is, where John Beck is. I want a chance to evaluate these guys," said the coach. "I told Donovan that there's nothing he could do in the three games that would influence me over what he's done over the last 13 games. I said, 'I'm not sure what I'm going to do in the college draft, if we're able to get the top quarterback in the draft, if there was a young Donovan McNabb or maybe a Sam Bradford, someone like that.' There's a lot of possibilities."
McNabb's agent, Fletcher Smith, expressed his disgust over the way the Redskins have treated the six-time Pro Bowler, telling ESPN that the team's decision is "disrespectful to Donovan. He has not been more disrespected his whole career than he has this season. It's absolutely ridiculous."
The Redskins acquired McNabb in April, via a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for a pair of draft picks -- a second round pick that month and a third- or fourth-round pick next year.
At press time, McNabb's future is up for speculation.
Grossman was signed this year as well, coming onto the team as a back-up for McNabb because he was familiar with the team's new offense and could help teach him. He only appeared in one Redskins game this year, when he relieved McNabb in the loss to Detroit. During the game, Grossman fumbled while being sacked on his first play, and finished 4 for 7 for 44 yards.
He'll now get a another chance to show coach what he's got.
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