The Philadelphia Eagles announced quarterback Donovan McNabb’s restructured contract last night. The new deal replaces the final two years of his current contract—which was set to expire after the 2010 season—and is reportedly worth $5.3 million more than his previous deal. The guaranteed figures weren’t immediately available.
Apparently, the Eagles were negotiating with Donovan on a contract extension, but ended up reworking the final two years to better numbers. The new contract still expires in 2010, though, so there really isn’t any commitment from the team to keep Donovan around longer than that. At 32-years-old, I get that, but the entire …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
It wasn’t Donovan McNabb’s best game. But he did enough (22-of-40, 217 yards passing and two touchdowns — one running, one throwing) to help the Philadelphia Eagles beat the N.Y. Giants 23-11 in an NFC Divisional Playoff game this afternoon. Donovan has shouldered more than his fair share of criticism over his career (most of it unjustified), but he doesn’t need to carry all the Eagles’ playoff burdens around with him. He is the leader, though. And by his example, the team has bonded and discovered a chemistry that finds them somehow on the verge …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Forget seconds. How about thirds? That’s the appetizer on the National Football League Thanksgiving menu this Week 13 of the NFL season — three Turkey Day servings of football, followed by a whole lineup of games on Thanksgiving Sunday and Monday. Even the players will be in their easy chairs. Like Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning:
“I remember watching Thanksgiving games as a kid. Even in high school and college, and now in the NFL, you practice, you come home and you watch Thanksgiving football.”
Football has been a part of my Thanksgiving Day for as long …read more

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Despite being benched in a 36-7 drubbing against the Baltimore Ravens yesterday, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb will start Thanksgiving Day against the Arizona Cardinals. Eagles head coach Andy Reid made that perfectly clear during his presser today:
“Donovan is the quarterback. Donovan is the quarterback for this football team ….. Sometimes you have to step back to step forward in a positive way and Donovan will do that. This has nothing to do with (Kevin) Kolb’s performance or Donovan’s performance ….. As I sit here right now, he’s my starting quarterback. I need to coach …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook said he wanted to restructure his contract because he feels underpaid and made it clear he wanted to be compensated like one of the best running backs in the National Football League. Well, today he agreed to a contract (a 52-page contract) worth $21 million over the next three years, including $13 million guaranteed over the next two seasons, so he’s taken care of. With escalators based on playoff appearances and individual performance, Brian could get his salary up to $24 million. Head coach Andy Reid said:
“As I’ve said …read more