But QB says he won’t ask for his release
Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb made it clear that he supported his agent. What’s less clear is whether or not he agreed with him.
McNabb, though, was clear on another point: He’s not going to ask for his release from the Redskins.
Speaking publicly for the first time since his agent, Fletcher Smith, blistered the Redskins in a statement Thursday, McNabb said the two are “on the same page.”
“When I read the whole thing, I didn’t see nothing wrong with it,” McNabb said on his paid weekly radio show on ESPN 980. He has declined numerous requests to speak to the media. “I support my agent and I support his thoughts.
“I discuss with my agent if he asks what’s going on. I guess as you read, he put his thoughts into the whole deal and not Donovan’s thoughts. We’ve worked together for years and I will continue to work with him.”
The Redskins benched McNabb after the Dec. 12 loss to Tampa Bay. Since then, the relationship between the organization and the six-time Pro Bowl quarterback has devolved into a drama.
All season, there have been whispers, or reports, suggesting that McNabb has struggled to learn the offense. Then, last week, Smith ripped into the Redskins, suggesting offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and head coach Mike Shanahan had damaged the relationship. Smith talked about McNabb being disrespected and tension that existed between he and Kyle Shanahan because the quarterback had suggested changes to game plans. Smith also said Kyle Shanahan had told someone that McNabb would never take another snap for him again.
Which then led to Kyle Shanahan denying all the charges. He also spoke with McNabb.
“We got things out there on the table and we were able to move on,” McNabb said. “We’re on the same page. We have a good relationship.”
But, he said, he’s heard the rumors that the Shanahans don’t think he can run their offense. He said he hasn’t heard that from either coach.
“When you hear things like that you question a lot of where it’s coming from and whose thoughts and why am I hearing this?” McNabb said.
He also said reports that he will ask for his release are “false.” Being released enables McNabb to pick his new team. However, asking for his release also means having to possibly pay back bonus money from the extension he signed in November. He also said he doesn’t regret being traded to Washington.
“Would I want to play here? Yes,” he said, “because of what we have here with the guys we can do good things with. Would I like to be the quarterback here? Absolutely. Obviously this offseason we’ll find out what the result is.
“Things would obviously have to change, relationships have to be better, conversations have to be better, but that’s something you do over time.”
He said Smith will meet with Mike Shanahan at some point, though he didn’t know if anything had been planned. Monday, Shanahan said he had not yet heard from Smith. McNabb hopes a resolution to his fate comes soon.
“If they have the answer you would like to hear it,” he said. “But you don’t want it to drag out through June, July, going into August and then all of a sudden this is what we want to do.”
