By Fred Mitchell, Tribune reporter
12:27 p.m. CDT, March 13, 2012
While Peyton Manning sifts through his numerous options to sign a lucrative free-agent contract, another prominent veteran quarterback is operating beneath the media glare for a change.
Donovan McNabb, who sputtered with the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings after a stellar career (1999-2009) with the Philadelphia Eagles, is the same age (35) as Manning, but in a vastly different situation this offseason.
“We’re just weighing our options right now,” said Fletcher Smith, McNabb’s agent, on Tuesday. “No real set timetable to make a decision on what he is going to do this year. So he’s in a holding pattern at this point.”
McNabb, who led the Eagles to five NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl, was the object of intense offseason media scrutiny in past years.
“We’ll see what happens. We really can’t control the media frenzy that Peyton has found himself in,” Smith said. “Going back a couple of years, when Donovan was first traded (from the Eagles to the Redskins), there was quite a bit of interest in what was going to happen with him and there was excitement over the move to Washington. But some of that enthusiasm and excitement has sort of waned a little bit.
“It’s a good problem to have in his case, because it seemed like for many years every offseason, he was the lead story. So he can afford to lay out a little bit.”
The Chicago Bears were criticized late last season for not signing a veteran such as McNabb after starter Jay Cutler went down with a broken thumb. The Bears went on to lose five straight game as unproven Caleb Hanie struggled mightily.
Would McNabb consider a backup role this season?
“We really haven’t discussed that yet,” Smith said. “Right now he’s weighing all of his options.”
There also has been speculation that McNabb might retire if he does not receive a reasonable opportunity to continue playing.
“Obviously, once his career is over, he has got a career in broadcasting. And that’s an option as well,” Smith said. “I think right now we haven’t closed the door on anything. He’s keeping his options open. When he is ready to make a decision, everyone will know.”
12:27 p.m. CDT, March 13, 2012
While Peyton Manning sifts through his numerous options to sign a lucrative free-agent contract, another prominent veteran quarterback is operating beneath the media glare for a change.
Donovan McNabb, who sputtered with the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings after a stellar career (1999-2009) with the Philadelphia Eagles, is the same age (35) as Manning, but in a vastly different situation this offseason.
“We’re just weighing our options right now,” said Fletcher Smith, McNabb’s agent, on Tuesday. “No real set timetable to make a decision on what he is going to do this year. So he’s in a holding pattern at this point.”
McNabb, who led the Eagles to five NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl, was the object of intense offseason media scrutiny in past years.
“We’ll see what happens. We really can’t control the media frenzy that Peyton has found himself in,” Smith said. “Going back a couple of years, when Donovan was first traded (from the Eagles to the Redskins), there was quite a bit of interest in what was going to happen with him and there was excitement over the move to Washington. But some of that enthusiasm and excitement has sort of waned a little bit.
“It’s a good problem to have in his case, because it seemed like for many years every offseason, he was the lead story. So he can afford to lay out a little bit.”
The Chicago Bears were criticized late last season for not signing a veteran such as McNabb after starter Jay Cutler went down with a broken thumb. The Bears went on to lose five straight game as unproven Caleb Hanie struggled mightily.
Would McNabb consider a backup role this season?
“We really haven’t discussed that yet,” Smith said. “Right now he’s weighing all of his options.”
There also has been speculation that McNabb might retire if he does not receive a reasonable opportunity to continue playing.
“Obviously, once his career is over, he has got a career in broadcasting. And that’s an option as well,” Smith said. “I think right now we haven’t closed the door on anything. He’s keeping his options open. When he is ready to make a decision, everyone will know.”
