National Football League

McNabb's agent: No new contract talks with 'Skins

Published Apr. 7, 2010 8:12 p.m. ET

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Accepting a trade to the Washington Redskins was not so much about getting a contract extension, Donovan McNabb and agent Fletcher Smith said yesterday.

Smith figures there will be one, at some point, but he denied reports that discussions already have begun. McNabb seemed to feel a contract was beside the point of his mission, to establish himself in a new locker room as the guy who can lead the Redskins back to the playoffs.

"I'm optimistic that something will happen, but we have not had those discussions yet," Smith said. "I think it will probably be important from the Redskins' perspective; they gave up a second-round draft pick for him, a high second-round draft pick [37th overall]."

Smith said from McNabb's perspective, a lot is happening here at once. Trade talks don't need to be part of the puzzle right now.

"He's been in Philadelphia 11 years; the first days since the trade, you guys referred to it as 'shocking.' I think we need to give him some time to embrace that change, and get to know his teammates . . . we'll get there," Smith said.

McNabb is scheduled to make a little more than $11 million this season; a $6.2 million roster bonus is due May 5. He would become an unrestricted free agent in 2011 if the Redskins didn't franchise him - a move that might cost them $20 million for one year.

"That's not my focus right now," McNabb said, when asked about contract talks. "My focus is the fact that this whole rumor, seeing myself on ESPN, and every other sports station and in the news, whatever it may be, that this is over. I've landed here in Washington and I'm very excited about that. As far as anything else . . . that may take care of itself, whatever it may be, but I'm a Redskin."

By the way, it was Smith who informed McNabb the trade was done, Smith said. They had been kept abreast of developments, and felt strongly it was going to happen for 48 hours or so before the Eagles and Redskins came to terms Sunday night, but weren't sure exactly when the deal would be complete, Smith said.

Smith echoed another source close to the situation who on Monday denied a report that Smith and McNabb forced the trade to Washington by refusing other destinations. Smith said he and McNabb had a list of places the quarterback was willing to go, which presumably the Eagles were aware of, but they never told a team McNabb would refuse to play there, or were asked by the Eagles to accept an unsuitable situation.

McNabb called Andy Reid "a Hall of Fame coach," but he also jabbed his mentor a bit, in answering a question about Mike Shanahan's version of the West Coast offense.

McNabb spoke of "the things they were able to do with that offense" in Denver. "Obviously that starts with the run game; probably a lot of you who came from Philly don't know much about that part, the run game," he joked. "We will run the ball here. We got three solid running backs that are very effective and have done well with their given teams."

The Cleveland Browns announced the completion of the trade made Friday with the Eagles after cornerback Sheldon Brown and linebacker Chris Gocong passed their physicals. The Eagles received linebacker Alex Hall and two draft picks - Nos. 105 and 137.

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