Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said Wednesday, via The Washington Post he would welcome back quarterback Donovan McNabb -- who said Tuesday he wants to return to Washington next season -- if McNabb were willing to return as a backup.
"But I'm not sure he would, which I would understand," Shanahan said. "But I think that's why we're talking about hypothetical situations. I don't think that would happen. But if he was interested in that, obviously, that'd be a possibility."
Shanahan, however, had a different take on McNabb's version of how the quarterback was informed of his demotion last week.
McNabb said on his weekly radio show that he was frustrated that Shanahan did not inform him until this past Thursday that Rex Grossman would replace him as the starter and that information was leaked to the media in advance of the move.
Shanahan said that he did not tell anyone of the decision before he spoke with the quarterbacks.
"People might have speculated on it, but there was nothing else," the coach said.
Adding to McNabb's frustration was he was not told he would be the team's No. 3 quarterback for the final two games.
"I did talk to Donovan [about] exactly what his role was gonna be, just like I shared with [reporters]," Shanahan said. "That he was gonna be No. 2 [against Dallas], and then the next two games he was gonna be No. 3 and I explained why.
"With John Beck getting the reps, just like I did to you guys [reporters], I went into detail about that. I really felt that after I was done, it was a good conversation and we'd go from there."
"But I'm not sure he would, which I would understand," Shanahan said. "But I think that's why we're talking about hypothetical situations. I don't think that would happen. But if he was interested in that, obviously, that'd be a possibility."
Shanahan, however, had a different take on McNabb's version of how the quarterback was informed of his demotion last week.
McNabb said on his weekly radio show that he was frustrated that Shanahan did not inform him until this past Thursday that Rex Grossman would replace him as the starter and that information was leaked to the media in advance of the move.
Shanahan said that he did not tell anyone of the decision before he spoke with the quarterbacks.
"People might have speculated on it, but there was nothing else," the coach said.
Adding to McNabb's frustration was he was not told he would be the team's No. 3 quarterback for the final two games.
"I did talk to Donovan [about] exactly what his role was gonna be, just like I shared with [reporters]," Shanahan said. "That he was gonna be No. 2 [against Dallas], and then the next two games he was gonna be No. 3 and I explained why.
"With John Beck getting the reps, just like I did to you guys [reporters], I went into detail about that. I really felt that after I was done, it was a good conversation and we'd go from there."
