As Rosenthal pointed out earlier today, Donovan McNabb’s agent issued a statement regarding the treatment McNabb has experienced with the Redskins. (Though Fletcher Smith when speaking on behalf of McNabb necessarily is speaking as McNabb, the average fan will be less likely to regard McNabb as a troublemaker if the words aren’t coming out of his mouth.)
The Redskins have now issued a response.
“As I stated earlier, when I traded for Donovan McNabb I had hoped that he would lead us to the playoffs,” coach Mike Shanahan 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. 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.”
Talking to Smith makes sense, but it would also make sense for Shanahan to have a sit-down with McNabb.
Then again, Shanahan doesn’t really care about his relationship with McNabb. If Shanahan did, it never would have gotten to this point.