Donovan McNabb Asked For Release After Being Demoted To The Scout Team

by Christopher Gates on Dec 2, 2011 11:56 AM CST in Minnesota Vikings 2011 Season

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 16: Donovan McNabb #5 of the Minnesota Vikings is sacked in the end zone for a saftey by the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on October 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

So it turns out that, according to 1500 ESPN, the Minnesota Vikings didn't release their backup quarterback yesterday afternoon.

They released their third-string quarterback.

Multiple NFL sources told 1500ESPN.com on Friday that McNabb had been relegated to running the scout team in recent weeks, and it's believed he asked for his release after being informed he would be No. 3 on the depth chart for the rest of the season, beginning with Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos.

The change meant McNabb, 35, would have had virtually no chance to get back on the field even if something happened to rookie Christian Ponder and he would have given up even more snaps in practice to second-year pro Joe Webb, who moved up to No. 2 on the depth chart.

So, this is how the Donovan McNabb era. . .and, in all likelihood, Donovan McNabb's date with NFL relevance. . .ends. Not with a bang, and barely with a whimper. In six games, he had just one victory, completing a shade more than 60% of his passes, with four touchdown passes to two interceptions. He cost the Vikings a few million dollars and a sixth-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

What I thought was humorous was, while watching the Vikings/Falcons game this past weekend. . .and I just caught it on the periphery, because I had the television turned down and my satellite radio feed of Paul Allen and company on KFAN turned up. . .former NFL coach and current Fox analyst Brian Billick said that McNabb "didn't do anything to deserve being benched."

For starters. . .honestly, when announcers prepare to do games involving the Vikings, do they even do any research on this team? I mean, a couple of weeks ago the ESPN crew proved that they clearly don't, but we expect that from ESPN. I thought the standards for the Fox crews that don't involve Joe Buck might be a little higher, but apparently that's not the case.

Secondly, the sentence "Donovan McNabb didn't do anything to deserve being benched" is exactly four words too long. Donovan McNabb didn't do anything. . .that's WHY he was benched. I was willing to give him a second lease on life after the Arizona game because, well, the Vikings won and stuff. Then we went into Chicago on a Sunday night, McNabb dropped back to pass, and turtled up in the end zone for an easy Chicago safety.

The Donovan McNabb era in Minnesota effectively ended right there. Christian Ponder came in for the last quarter and a half or so of that one, and the writing was officially on the wall.

There are rumors floating around that teams might make a waiver claim on Donovan McNabb, thereby taking his salary off the Vikings' books for the rest of the season. I'd be surprised if it were to happen. Donovan McNabb is one of only three quarterbacks in NFL history to be the opening day starter for three different teams in three consecutive seasons. He's also been run out of all three of those cities. He might latch on as a backup, but I think his days as a starter in the NFL are pretty much over with.

So, the Vikings need a #3 quarterback. What do they do? I think I have an idea. . .but that's coming in another post.

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Comments

Does your idea involve the Rosencopter?!?!?!

by Purpledork on Dec 2, 2011 12:04 PM CST reply actions

Headline should read

Donovan McNabb Asked For Release After Finally Being Put Where He Belongs

by mg7505 on Dec 2, 2011 1:11 PM CST up reply actions

Wishful Thinking

I say why not take a shot at signing Adam Weber off the Denver practice squad?

by igjoe on Dec 2, 2011 12:12 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

Yeah why not, maybe they will throw in Decker too

by Sixmark on Dec 2, 2011 12:23 PM CST up reply actions

Get. . .out. . .of. . .my. . .head!

http://www.dailynorseman.com/2011/12/2/2606000/the-vikings-should-complete-their-quarterback-depth-chart-with-a

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by Christopher Gates on Dec 2, 2011 12:33 PM CST up reply actions

Where's Romer?

He at least had some pre-season work, and is vaguely familiar with the playbook. I thought someone signed him to a practice squad, but as far as I can tell he’s a FA.

Skol Vikings.

by LA Vikes Fan on Dec 2, 2011 12:27 PM CST reply actions

Bomar, Bomar, Bomar

You know what I meant. Didn’t even see Romer till I published. D’oh!

Skol Vikings.

by LA Vikes Fan on Dec 2, 2011 12:28 PM CST up reply actions

Um.... no

He wasn’t very good, and was last seen getting a DUI in Mankato. I think we can do better.

by dumdristig on Dec 2, 2011 2:04 PM CST up reply actions

wild thought on vikings issues facing the QB

Could it be a failure in Offensive Coordinator in making the adjustments enabling Seattle to beat Philly last night:

Michael Robinson, the fullback who blocked for so many of the plays that had the Eagles at sixes and sevens (formations in which the Seahawks had two backs and two tight ends just drove them nuts), was in the scrum for most of the event.

source:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Marshawn-Lynch-beats-Eagles-eats-Skittles?urn=nfl-wp13001

so the wild thought is… perhaps our QB problem is not a McNabb or Ponder issue but a root failure to adapt to employing dual two back and TE sets, which can better counter QB blitzing. Thoughts?

by VikesFanSince1967 on Dec 2, 2011 12:41 PM CST reply actions

All the extra backs and TEs in the world can't make up for porous OLinemen.

The Vikes have gone 2-back/2-TE before (or some variation thereof), and it was in part responsible for their explosive scoring in the first halves of the first few games because it opened up plays for AD and Harvin, among others. The problem came when teams adjusted by stacking the line of scrimmage, rushing more men and exposing the OL front – the coaches simply had no answer. Of course, that was also due to the OLine, WRs unable to get open, lack of a deep threat, and McNabb unable to make throws or avoid sacks.

by mg7505 on Dec 2, 2011 1:17 PM CST up reply actions

ya that's tough to be in a 7 technique when you got 2 backs in the backfield

Shame on the Philly DC for hanging his DE’s out to dry.

"At this point, what we got to lose, right? So we might as well throw caution to the wind and hit people in the face."
--Vikings DE Jared Allen

by NMVike on Dec 2, 2011 1:17 PM CST up reply actions

I enjoy Chris's writing

And he’s the one part of the DN TOA that I usually agree with the most. But I don’t get the McNabb bashing. The dude was traded for by our FO. He did not ask to be traded here, nor did he ask to be deemed the answer to our QB issues. He was brought in very late and handed the keys to a Vikings offense with severe ability deficiencies, particularly at WR and Oline.

Look, I am looking forward to the future with Ponder, but right now the 2 have the exact same record as starting QB’s for the 2011 Minnesota Vikings at 1-4 apiece. And while McNabb didn’t live up to the expectations of some (mine included) he surely doesn’t deserve more blame than anyone else on the team. He may not have won much, but I don’t think he lost many of those 4 games either. Ponder on the other hand, I would say lost at least the Raiders game with those costly INTs.

"At this point, what we got to lose, right? So we might as well throw caution to the wind and hit people in the face."
--Vikings DE Jared Allen

by NMVike on Dec 2, 2011 1:29 PM CST reply actions

I think it's mostly

The fact that the guy still doesn’t seem to think that he could possibly have been part of the problem. Remember, this team went something like 3 1/2 or 4 1/2 weeks without converting a single third-down situation in the fourth quarter of a ball game, and in those first three games we were trying to protect leads and wind down the clock.

It’s not ALL on McNabb, sure. . .but at this point, McNabb’s biggest issue might be that he thinks he’s Donovan McNabb.

by Christopher Gates on Dec 2, 2011 2:07 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah

He was treated unfairly in Philly for most of his career when he carried some less than spectacular teams. But the last few years, his career fell off a cliff, and he hasn’t seemed to even get that he’s not played well. Some criticism was over the top, and I actually supported them signing him, but he hasn’t lived up to expectations. Not that I regret signing him, I knew this season was lost no matter who they had at QB, and throwing Ponder to the wolves at the beginning of the season would have been too soon, so I mostly supported having McNabb as a sacrificial lamb who at least might have been tolerable to watch. He lived up to the first part, not so much on the second…

by dumdristig on Dec 2, 2011 2:14 PM CST up reply actions

Add in..

The fact that it is hard to throw interceptions when they are no where near the receiver. Hell some of them weren’t even in the playing field. I don’t remember which game it was, but he threw a quick pass “intended” for Harvin that missed him by 8 yards. Harvin was probably 10 yards away from him!

"Arguing with anonymous strangers on the Internet is a sucker's game because they almost always turn out to be—or to be indistinguishable from—self-righteous sixteen-year-olds possessing infinite amounts of free time."
― Neal Stephenson, Cryptonomicon

by Thor82 on Dec 2, 2011 2:16 PM CST up reply actions

I think that's just part of who he is

He doesn’t let things get to him. That’s part of what makes him a likeable teammate.

But at this point I think the coaches should receive the majority of the blame for the dumpster fire that is the 2011 Minnesota Vikings.

"At this point, what we got to lose, right? So we might as well throw caution to the wind and hit people in the face."
--Vikings DE Jared Allen

by NMVike on Dec 2, 2011 2:19 PM CST up reply actions

This is true

It’s hard to put too much blame on McNabb when this team never should have traded for him in the first place.

by Christopher Gates on Dec 2, 2011 2:23 PM CST up reply actions

lets just hope it only costs one 6th round pick

instead of two.

"At this point, what we got to lose, right? So we might as well throw caution to the wind and hit people in the face."
--Vikings DE Jared Allen

by NMVike on Dec 2, 2011 2:26 PM CST up reply actions

It probably has to do with the fact he couldn't even hit wide open recievers

on screen passes.. with consistency. His accuracy was flat out awful. If our defense was playing now like it was in the beginning of the year, we wouldn’t be talking about them having the same record.

Its alot of what-ifs, but, honestly, I don’t see how anyone can watch the offense now, compared to how it was with McNabb under the helm, and say ‘Oh man, this is so much worse.’ Maybe those first-half offenses, but certainly not the second half one where we failed to score any points.

by REVENGE4KLUWE on Dec 2, 2011 6:18 PM CST up reply actions

But one of thems a rookie

by amiller92 on Dec 3, 2011 9:26 AM CST up reply actions

It would be nice if another team picked McNabb up off waivers because it will save the Vikings some money...

But I don’t think it will happen because, if any team decides that he’s the right fit for their organization (or they’re desperate), they can get him cheaper after he clears waivers.

Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin

http://www.dailynorseman.com/

by Skol Girl on Dec 2, 2011 1:39 PM CST reply actions

either way, i could see the Bears making a go of it

desperation play, of course.

"Th_r_'s n_ h_p_ f_r _ssh_l_ f_ckw_ts."

Can I buy a vowel...?? +1, Kluwe.

by rj-b on Dec 2, 2011 2:08 PM CST up reply actions

Ah yes

I was going to point out that there were teams desperate enough to take a flyer on him, Chicago and Houston come to mind (and have been mentioned quite a few times by writers), but I can see that they might not be desperate enough to take him off of waivers if they can wait and save the money. Considering how thin those two teams are at QB, though, I’ll bet one of them signs him at some point.

by dumdristig on Dec 2, 2011 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

Houston already went with Delhomme

though he isn’t ideal, either…

this year has been a mess for the ‘poor’ and ‘fringe’ teams as far as injuries go. as for the ‘rich’ teams… keep gettin’ richer…

"Th_r_'s n_ h_p_ f_r _ssh_l_ f_ckw_ts."

Can I buy a vowel...?? +1, Kluwe.

by rj-b on Dec 2, 2011 5:55 PM CST up reply actions

Was it worth it?

Donovan McNabb started 5 games for us. He went 1-5. It was a risk bringing in an old QB that was traded from Philly to a division rival, and had a mediocre season with the Redskins. Either McNabb was washed up, or he was in a bad situation and still had some gas left in the tank. I don’t blame Frazier for the decision, because at the time and with the lockout, it was either give McNabb another shot, or roll with a rookie QB with no offseason.

At the end of the day, the team spent a few million dollars and gave up a 6th rounder on the chance that McNabb had something in the tank. Well, he didn’t. While 2011 is a bust, and McNabb is partly to blame (along with many, MANY other things), it’s not like we didn’t get anything out of the deal either. We got something of a learning period for Christian Ponder, and a bunch of losses that should lead to some pretty great draft picks in 2012. It was a gamble worth taking.

SKOL Vikings!

by CCNorsemen on Dec 2, 2011 2:19 PM CST reply actions

not to defend McNabb

but Tom Brady probably wouldn’t look any better with our O-line. just like I think a good share of Favre’s problems in ‘10 was due to how terrible the O-line play was….I could see McNabb as serviceable to the right team. one that plays an offense similar to what they did in philly, and with an above average O-line. I know he’d probably like to get with the bears since it’s his childhood home-town team, but I don’t see him being successful in a mike Martz offense.

by michiganpat on Dec 2, 2011 3:07 PM CST reply actions

I would have agreed

Until I saw him in our games.

While having the lead in the first three games, if nothing else we should have protected it by keeping our offense on the field as long as possible and wearing the defense down.

Instead, McNabb starts the play within a few seconds of the clock starting and we are 3 and out in less than a minute on almost every down, instead of using the full 45 seconds on evey play like a GOOD quarterback.

Brady and Manning and whoever would never do that.

Regardless of his pass completion or whatever he just looked like he was not really in charge and just mailing it in.

by liveforadrenaline on Dec 2, 2011 4:20 PM CST up reply actions

I think Brady would look much better, even with this O-line

And that’s not just because Brady is amazing. But its because he can, you know, hit WRs that are open on short passes the offense likes to run. McNabb stuggled to do that consistently.

by REVENGE4KLUWE on Dec 2, 2011 6:27 PM CST up reply actions

The part of this fiasco that pisses me off...

…is that our coaching staff continued to relegate Webb to the scout team until we were 2 – 9. When McNabb was benched, I really thought that maybe Frazier had come to his senses and had one eye on the off season and 2012. He confused me by continuing to play some old, crappy vets instead of some young, promising rookies. However, I just wouldn’t have expected that Frazier and company would have given McNabb (who wasn’t going to be a Viking next season) the back up reps. How can any coaching staff evaluate whether or not Webb is worthy of being the backup if they don’t actually give him reps in practice? What a waste of a crappy season this has been.

"Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin

by kcskol on Dec 2, 2011 3:48 PM CST reply actions

Seriously

I am begin to loathe this “learning on the fly” by Frazier. I was happy he was hired initially but he is too slow to react and a bit rigid, especially regarding his players. I hope for their (frazier and speilman) sake they have a good draft and FA season followed by a respectable 2012. They don’t have to make the playoffs in my book but they should be at least around the .500 mark.

by Murgo on Dec 2, 2011 4:16 PM CST up reply actions

We aren't going to make that mark...

Sorry to be so down, but I just don’t see any fire burning in Frazier to have an excellent team. Mediocre won’t even get us to .500.

Our coaching staff really hasn’t learned a single thing this year, other than that every single thing they did was done poorly. At best, unless MAJOR changes are taken, the best we can do is win just a few more games, since we won’t even catch up to improvements in other teams.

by liveforadrenaline on Dec 2, 2011 4:27 PM CST up reply actions