SB Nation DC: Media Got The Donovan McNabb Contract Situation All Wrong

[themurf]

(photo by Brian Murphy)

On days like this, I completely understand why so many fans of the Washington Redskins despise the media.

We now live in a world where anyone and everyone with a keyboard or microphone in front of them say or write anything that pops into their head with absolutely zero accountability.

That was clearly evident when Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan opted to bench quarterback Donovan McNabb in the deciding moments of a winnable game against the Detroit Lions two weeks ago.

Once the media sensed blood in the water, countless writers, yodelers and talking heads did their best to pile on, igniting a firestorm that culminated with Shanahan being labeled everything from egotistical to a racist.

As soon as the herd was done slamming Shanahan for the decision to willingly insert backup Rex Grossman into the deciding moments of a football game, the topic inevitably turned to the future of Shanahan, McNabb and the franchise, in general.

That’s when the “experts” stepped up their game with definitive statement after definitive statement about how one questionable decision in the heat of the battle had no doubt doomed the Redskins for years to come and ensured a messy divorce was on the horizon.

“I don’t believe for a second that Donovan McNabb is going to be here now,” said Michael Wilbon on The Tony Kornheiser Show. “Not for a second. Done. First of all, the Arizona Cardinals, where he lives, need him too much. Or Minnesota. Or the Chicago Bears, where he lives.”

Wilbon went on to say, “This is what has always plagued the Redskins – ego and arrogance.”

This, mind you, is coming from a guy who openly admits he’s pals with McNabb. They’re neighbors in Arizona and have a long-standing friendship, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think that when Wilbon speaks on the subject, he’s got more of an insider’s perspective than most.

But don’t think for a second that Wilbon was alone.

“Donovan McNabb is never going to re-sign here,” said David Aldridge during the same show. “That’s over. You have now wasted two more draft picks on somebody that’s not going to be here.”

It was more of the same on the national stage, as the “worldwide leader in sports” happily trotted out an onslaught of so-called NFL experts to also shed light on the situation at Redskins Park.

“Personally I just think that Mike Shanahan was acting in the moment, and in a moment of anger, because this soup has been simmering for a while,” said ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. “It’s almost the worst-kept secret in the league, as far as I’m concerned. There’s been no enamorement with Donovan McNabb going back to the summer, and then as you went into the season you kept hearing that Mike Shanahan and Kyle Shanahan – his son and the offensive coordinator of the Redskins – had not been happy with the way Donovan practices.”

And just for the hell of it, here’s one more quote on the subject:

“If you don’t want Donovan McNabb to be your quarterback, you have to say that,” said Tom Jackson, also of ESPN. “The message sent across is I don’t want you to be my quarterback, I have another guy in mind, whenever I can find that guy. What this has done, though, for the rest of this year – because we’re still in this season – you have now, to some extent, fractured probably forever your relationship with the quarterback and your relationship therefore with the locker room.”

In related news, the Redskins and McNabb agreed on a five-year, $78-million contract extension Monday, with the 33-year-old taking home $41 million guaranteed.

Oh wait, that’s not related at all. In fact, some would even suggest that this news directly contradicts everything each of these well-respected media members said. To borrow a phrase from Wilbon – I’m not surprised.

If no one ever holds these guys accountable, then what’s to stop them from continuing to babble on senseless rhetoric?

Click here for the full article.

[SWFLSkins]

Great write up again Brian.

“I don’t believe for a second that Donovan McNabb is going to be here now,” said Michael Wilbon on The Tony Kornheiser Show. “Not for a second. Done. First of all, the Arizona Cardinals, where he lives, need him too much. Or Minnesota. Or the Chicago Bears, where he lives.”

And what does McNabb now winter in AZ and summer in Chicago? While playing football in Philly and now Wash. D.C.? Wow I would like to have his miles.

[LetThePointsSoar]

Great write up as always murf!!!

[Commander PK]

Nice Job! Wilbon especially needed calling out for that B.S. As a friend to McNabb, he of all people should have known better.

[Dukes and Skins]

Nice Job! Wilbon especially needed calling out for that B.S. As a friend to McNabb, he of all people should have known better.

It was great watching PTI yesterday and Wilbon was backtracking so much when this story was discussed. He just played it off and was like I'm not surprised or something like that IIRC

[surferskin]

The next time Wilbon is right about something, it will be the first time.

[Dan T.]

This is what you get with around-the-clock sports. With 24 hours to fill you have "experts" spouting off anything that pops into their heads, whether it's accurate and backed up by legwork and facts or not. And Murph is right - they usually aren't held accountable because the next big news item happens - Goodell's fines, Wade's firing, Brady's hair, Brett's penis... and the experts are off spewing their "expert" opinion on THAT topic, leaving the cluttered waste of past comments far behind.

[Special K]

Love the write-up! Thanks for posting, it's one of the few good reads I've had on my Skins lately :cool:

[surferskin]

Not to mention the media rushing out 5 years for 78 million with 40 guaranteed. That was awesome how ESPN put those numbers out before the game, so they could have a good laugh at our expense...then they retract the story the next day after everyone loses interest in the story. TMZPN

[SMOSS89]

Great write up Brian! It's good someone is calling out the media for being dead wrong on the McNabb contract situation.

[TomE]

You hit it Murph, it's amazing to watch the "sports media" evolve into supermarket checkout fodder.

Sooner or later they have to understand that a large batch of "hit counts" and some "global reaction" are not an affirmation of their position and credibility.

We just can't help but rubber-neck the train wreck that some of the guys have become.

[themurf]

Not to mention the media rushing out 5 years for 78 million with 40 guaranteed. That was awesome how ESPN put those numbers out before the game, so they could have a good laugh at our expense...then they retract the story the next day after everyone loses interest in the story. TMZPN

I can't kill anyone for going with what McNabb's agent puts out. It typically takes 24 hours for someone to get eyes on the actual terms of a deal to see what the likely to be earned numbers is as opposed to what's initially reported.

To everyone else, thanks for the kind words. I'm new to this whole media bird doggin' thing. Glad to hear you guys enjoyed it.

[Conn]

Excellent write-up, Murf.

There's only one group who will ever be able to make sure that the media is held accountable, although I don't think its possible in a realistic sense.

But if it is, that group is the media itself.

And this article was a very nice acknowledgment of the lack of professionalism in the media today. I've gone past saying its a dying profession, in terms of talent and accountability. Its dead.

But articles like this give me hope, showing me that there are still some last, dying breaths of real journalism out there, a small group headed by writers like yourself, with a real story to tell, and an ethical way of reporting it.

[scott.sharrer]

Glad to see my "media hating stance" will finally gain some credibility. I would not be surprised if the contract signing is the least talked about subject all week just because it will prove those ******** wrong

Great read Brian

[surferskin]

I can't kill anyone for going with what McNabb's agent puts out. It typically takes 24 hours for someone to get eyes on the actual terms of a deal to see what the likely to be earned numbers is as opposed to what's initially reported.

To everyone else, thanks for the kind words. I'm new to this whole media bird doggin' thing. Glad to hear you guys enjoyed it.

I can. It's not like agents putting out inflated contract numbers isn't well known. If ESPN wants to put their name on it, they should be held accountable when the "real" figures come out.

[BG]

Nice write up Murf. Have really enjoyed reading your stuff the last few seasons and this one has taken the cake. It's all about habeas corpus. Put the system on trial...

[Riggo#44]

Great job Murph. The coverage of the Redskins, both locally and nationally, has been horrid. The media just throws whatever the hell they want to say out there, stir up a s-storm, or in the case of on NFC East Blogger on ESPN that we'll call M. Mosley, wait, that is too obvious, we'll call him Matt M., have a warehouse full of dead horses to beat...and there is 0 accountability. I would love, love, love for ONE of these jackwagons to explain why they repeatedly stated, despite DIRECT quotes from Shannahan, Allen, McNabb and Fletcher (agent, not LB) that McNabb was not going to be in Washington.

The media wants to hold everyone accountable, but themselves.

[TSO]

Excellent write-up, Murf.

There's only one group who will ever be able to make sure that the media is held accountable, although I don't think its possible in a realistic sense.

But if it is, that group is the media itself.

And this article was a very nice acknowledgment of the lack of professionalism in the media today. I've gone past saying its a dying profession, in terms of talent and accountability. Its dead.

But articles like this give me hope, showing me that there are still some last, dying breaths of real journalism out there, a small group headed by writers like yourself, with a real story to tell, and an ethical way of reporting it.

Totally agree here. Great article, murf, that's more like it!

[addicted]

I really wish the fools running ESPN would put this article on its website and full on blast these idiot parrots saying this crap just to stir up dust so they get whats coming to them. But I know better then that. ESPN will never give it to Wilbon and those other idiots because that's what sports "journalism" really is. A bunch of guys who don't know much and don't care to learn the facts just spouting off what they think everyone feels. The reactions you see is how these jurnos really feel about the team.

In a perfect world the media companies employing these liars would let it be known that they reported the contract wrong. But in this world what we will see today is those same douches will ignore the facts once again and fill the airwaves and interwebs with bad feelings about the team. To me the jurno's reporting this news yesterday who decided to spin it wrong just to make us look bad need to be held accountable for this and silenced. But again that's asking too much.

Where is the accountability or the jurno community? We need more soldiers in the fight against these idiots and I thank you Murf once again for rising above the diarea level and posting something meaningful. It gives me a little hope that not everyone in the media is a full blown lying douche not worth saving if they were drowning. Keep it real and I'll keep reading.

Hail!