The ensuing battle between Mike and Kyle Shanahan versus Donovan McNabb fired up even more after a scorching statement from McNabb’s agent, Fletcher Smith.
Smith blames the Washington Redskins Coach M. Shanahan and offensive coordinator, K. Shanahan, for the entire list of incidents between McNabb and the Shanahans, resulting in McNabb being benched for the rest of the season.
Smith said that a straight out dislike of McNabb is a result of McNabb giving suggestions on how to improve the Redskins offence.
"I believe there is tension between Donovan and Kyle that's rooted in the fact that Donovan has suggested modifications to Kyle's offense based on intricacies Donovan has learned in his NFL career," Smith wrote in a statement. "For example, Donovan has asked
all year that the team run more screen passes to help manage the pass rush more effectively. Ironically, Kyle decided to employ Donovan's suggestions after he unceremoniously benched him on Sunday."
After practice on Thursday, McNabb did listen to questions from reporters while sitting in his car, but drove off without answering. He was benched for the remainder of the season before last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, but did not know about
the permanent benching until it was made public by M. Shanahan.
Smith also said in the statement made on Thursday that the Shanahans have made comments that “go beyond disrespectful” and are "unprecedented for a six-time Pro Bowl quarterback such as Donovan."
Smith claims that the comments made by “both Mike and more specifically Kyle” have made it difficult for McNabb to maintain a good relationship with the ‘Skins.
A couple of hours after Smith’s statement, M. Shanahan released his own statement.
"As I stated earlier, when I traded for Donovan McNabb I had hoped that he would lead us to the playoffs," he said. "No one wanted him to be more successful than me. When the team was 5-8 and mathematically out of the playoffs, I made the decision to evaluate
our other two quarterbacks.”
He went on to say that, "This was not personal, but strictly professional. The decision was made in the best interest of the Washington Redskins and I stand by my decision. I will attempt to talk to Fletcher Smith directly to clear up every one of his misconceptions."
Smith also claims that K. Shanahan said about McNabb, that he “will never take another snap for me again,” after he drove the rest of the team down the field for a potential overtime game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14. They lost that game by
one point.
The 34-year-old star quarterback was listed as the number two quarterback when the ‘Skins lost to the Cowboys. McNabb said that he felt “disrespected” with the way he was demoted and benched.
McNabb was on the bench only once in his 11 years with the Philadelphia Eagles. He has already been benched twice as many times with the ‘Skins since being traded in April. M. Shanahan pulled McNabb out of the game against the Detroit Lions in October, in
the final two minutes. He was replaced by Rex Grossman, after which they still lost. M. Shanahan offered two different explanations as to why he replaced him.
Smith said that benching McNabb is the end of what was a “difficult season” for him.
The ‘Skins will play their next game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, 26 December at EverBank Field.
Stay tuned!
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