daddywags wrote:Don't know the details, but in fairness to the Deadskins the TV announcers said the contract had something like $10 million guaranteed. Now, that might still be too much, but it's nothing but funny money (as usual in NFL dollars) being reported if true.
Well they said there MAY be a way for the skins to get out of it, but the deal is supposed to be for 40 million guaranteed.
I think what they meant was that it was for 5 years 40/78, but there was some clause or provision that may change the guaranteed dollars
We will see when the deal details get out.
Here is the best article on it I could find, still pretty vague but gives an idea of the factors at hand:
Collective bargaining agreement complicates McNabb deal
By Jason Reid
The agent for Donovan McNabb disputed an ESPN report that the contract extension the quarterback agreed to Monday has been available to him for some time.
"Nah, that's not" accurate, Fletcher N. Smith III said while addressing reporters Monday night in the FedEx Field press box before the Redskins played the Philadelphia Eagles.
"In October, we were quite a ways away on average per year, as well as guarantees, as well as some of the language as well. We were working at it at that time. But, no, we weren't close to a deal in October."
ESPN's Adam Schefter, reported that sources familiar with the situation said the deal had been on the table for weeks. Initial reports indicated McNabb's five-year extension was worth $78 million, including $40 million guaranteed.
But a league source said the contract is structured in a way that McNabb is not guaranteed $40 million at the time of signing. And in an interview before the group session in the press box, Fletcher seemed to acknowledge that the reports of the $40 million guarantee were not accurate.
"Because of the uncertainty with the CBA [collective bargaining agreement] and the potential for a lockout, most of these deals are structured in the same way," Smith said. "It's no different from almost any other deal that's been negotiated since, I guess, the beginning of the season, really. So we kind of mirrored some of the language that's already been in place."
While meeting with the group, Fletcher seemed to indicate the deal has vesting options that would ultimately determine the final guarantee.
"Not many of these deals are guaranteed for skill at the time of signing, just because of the CBA and the uncertainty of the CBA," Smith said. "So most of them are locked in at a future date. That's just the nature of the beast given the CBA and the potential for a lockout next year."
Smith repeated that he remained confident McNabb would sign an extension despite the controversy stemming from Coach Mike Shanahan's decision to bench McNabb in the final 1 minute 50 seconds of the 37-25 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 8.
"Donovan is a professional. This is not the first bit of adversity that he's had to deal with," Smith said. "And as you all saw, he handled it with much dignity and class, as he's done all of his career. So it was a small blip on the radar.
"We put it behind us. He put it behind him. I asked him if he wanted to be here, and he said that he loved it here, loves his teammates, loves the city and the fans have embraced him and the organization as well. As long as he was happy here, it made it easy for us to get it done."
Fletcher revealed that this was the "target week" to reach a deal. Eric Schaffer, Washington's vice president of football administration, primarily handled negotiations on behalf of the team, Smith said. Bruce Allen, executive vice president and general manager, "would drop in from time to time and add a few words."
"I won’t tell you exactly what it’s about, but this is typical of what might happen,'' he said. "I said, ‘Tom, do you want to do this?’ He said, ‘I don’t think I do. I think it’s too much or too strong or whatever.’ I said, ‘well, we might have to.’ And he goes, ‘well, if we have to, then you’ve got to tell me, because I won’t do it.’ And I said, ‘OK, then I might have to tell you. Fine.'''
Our fearless leader in the Draft War Room getting his hands dirty.
Yay for us.
Ted Stepien even thought this deal was bad. 
