Bamboozled

Donovan McNabb is a bamboozler, a trickster, and obviously a genius. He somehow convinced the Washington Redskins to agree to a five year, $78 million extension. Granted, the only team that would agree to such an atrocity would be the Redskins, the team paying $100 million to Albert "Stomp your Face" Haynesworth. Donovan has been riding a roller coaster of a year and is now laughing his way to the bank.

McNabb went from Philadelphia, a city that never appreciated him for what he was - a top 5 quarterback in his prime - to being traded to a divisional rival. That is how little the Eagles thought of his future. They risked trading him to a team they would have to play twice a year. That risk has yet to pay off thus far, as the Eagles lost their first match-up against the Skins but could get revenge tonight. The Eagles let go of McNabb and claimed Kevin Kolb was their QB of the future. Now it seems Michael Vick is their future as he could potentially be MVP and lead them to the postseason in what should have been a rebuilding year.

McNabb plays a normal seven games, losing 3, winning 4 and playing like he typically does, only seeming maybe a tad bit slower. Then in game eight, he is benched. He was given front row seats to see Rex Grossman attempt a two-minute drill and fail miserably. Head coach, Mike Shanahan then devised a new reason for benching McNabb for every new person to ask him. This was probably McNabb at his lowest, benched for "Sexy Rexy."

Then, inexplicably, hours before the rematch and jabber about the QB controversy in the district, news is released about the deal. McNabb certainly does not have five years left as a top five QB. I say this because he no longer is one of the five best QB's right now. He certainly won't be one five years from now. It would have made sense for the Skins to sign him for three years. That would tell the fans that they are preparing for a Super Bowl run within three years. Five years means they may take five years to make that run. Three years sends the message to the team that the time for winning is now, five years is just dramatic.

Honestly, who was going to offer McNabb a deal for five years at $80 million? The Redskins outbid themselves and drastically overpaid. I hope McNabb excels in DC. I hope he gets his ring there instead of Philly winning first. Dan Snyder didn't need to be this dramatic though. I guess that's what happens when a fanatic owns his favorite team.