SmashMouth

For the second time this offseason, former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb has weighed in on a current NFL quarterback’s contract. And for the second time, McNabb has expressed his disapproval.

In March, McNabb said Tony Romo isn’t worth the money the Cowboys have agreed to pay him. Now McNabb has weighed in on Matthew Stafford’s new contract with the Lions, and once again McNabb believes the team is overpaying.

“It’s about wins and losses again,” McNabb said on NFL Network, via MLive.com. “Now, as a quarterback and as Matt Stafford, hey, I would take that contract just like Tony Romo took his contract. But is he worth top 5 money? I would have to say no. And I say that because it’s about wins and losses. What has he really done for the Detroit Lions? Nothing.”

When McNabb says it’s “about wins and losses,” however, he seems to miss a fundamental point about the Lions’ decision to sign Stafford to a new five-year deal: Detroit isn’t paying Stafford to reward him for past wins. Detroit is paying Stafford because it believes he can lead the team to future wins. And given that Stafford only turned 25 this year and hasn’t even reached his prime yet, there’s a pretty good chance that the Lions’ calculation will turn out to be correct.

There’s also the reality that the Lions chose Stafford with the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft, back in the days before the rookie wage scale, when highly drafted rookies got enormous contracts. That 2009 contract was so huge his new contract will actually reduce what he would have cost the Lions over the next three years. This deal might not have been a great one under ordinary circumstances, but the top picks of the last few years before the rookie wage scale was implemented really aren’t negotiating contracts under ordinary circumstances.

McNabb may be right that what Stafford has done to date hasn’t been enough to earn the five-year, $76.5 million contract he just signed. But it wasn’t a bad deal for the Lions.

McNabb says Stafford hasn’t earned his contract | ProFootballTalk

SmashMouth

Comments are hillarious... here is a sample.

somekat says:
Jul 10, 2013 3:43 PM
McNabb hasn’t earned a microphone. Please take it from him.


LOL

WhoDat!656

Can't wait to read SloMotion's thoughts on this one!!

*********************************************************
For the second time this offseason, former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb has weighed in on a current NFL quarterback’s contract. And for the second time, McNabb has expressed his disapproval.

In March, McNabb said Tony Romo isn’t worth the money the Cowboys have agreed to pay him. Now McNabb has weighed in on Matthew Stafford’s new contract with the Lions, and once again McNabb believes the team is overpaying.

“It’s about wins and losses again,” McNabb said on NFL Network, via MLive.com. “Now, as a quarterback and as Matt Stafford, hey, I would take that contract just like Tony Romo took his contract. But is he worth top 5 money? I would have to say no. And I say that because it’s about wins and losses. What has he really done for the Detroit Lions? Nothing.”

When McNabb says it’s “about wins and losses,” however, he seems to miss a fundamental point about the Lions’ decision to sign Stafford to a new five-year deal: Detroit isn’t paying Stafford to reward him for past wins. Detroit is paying Stafford because it believes he can lead the team to future wins. And given that Stafford only turned 25 this year and hasn’t even reached his prime yet, there’s a pretty good chance that the Lions’ calculation will turn out to be correct.

There’s also the reality that the Lions chose Stafford with the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft, back in the days before the rookie wage scale, when highly drafted rookies got enormous contracts. That 2009 contract was so huge his new contract will actually reduce what he would have cost the Lions over the next three years. This deal might not have been a great one under ordinary circumstances, but the top picks of the last few years before the rookie wage scale was implemented really aren’t negotiating contracts under ordinary circumstances.

McNabb may be right that what Stafford has done to date hasn’t been enough to earn the five-year, $76.5 million contract he just signed. But it wasn’t a bad deal for the Lions.

McNabb says Stafford hasn’t earned his contract | ProFootballTalk

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

neugey

What is it with McNabb? Maybe NFL Network isn't paying him enough?

WhoDat!656

Maybe Rush was right! We must remind ourselves that this is the same man that said he didn't know the NFL had an OT rule!

AllSaints

Mcnabb doesn't like any QB.... he always has something negative to say ... You mad Bro ? ? ?

papz

When he signed his rookie contract, he didn't "earn" it either. Stafford has a lot of talent and has a good amount of success in the league. It's not always what you have done but what could do and be expected to do.

SloMotion

Who is this guy? ... "you're killing me, Donovan!

Ok, now that we got that out of the way ... is it top 5 money? I did not realize that in today's market where pretty much every new contract goes there and is more money then I'll ever make, . I'll entertain the fact that Stafford hasn't won anything, but it sounds more like sour grapes on McNabb's part.

From my perspective, it's just another example of the business savvy the Lions' ownership has employed over the years & is a "win-win", which doesn't necessarily translate into winning on the field, but it wins in the board room, . Stafford gets his money, the team locks him up and reduces his future hit on the cap.

He's arguably the best QB Detroit has had since Bobby Layne ('57) and has certainly displayed the talent and ability to get the job done. "Mattford" may not be worth a top-five salary around the league, but he certainly rates it in Detroit, and other then Brees, Brady, Rogers (and maybe a Manning or two), there's no other QB in the league I'd rather have taking snaps on Sunday ... including the "other Matt", .

TheOak

Donovan = Employment Envy.

That being said

1-23 That is Stafford's career record against teams with winning records. I know some do not like stats but that is a glaring set of numbers.

Is Matthew Stafford being overpaid by Detroit Lions? - NFL.com

Staffords extension was done for only 1 reason... Salary Cap relief. His cap hit for 2013 is #2 in the entire league and he is a 15-16 talent at best.

Jamessr

Matthew Stafford is worth what Detriot is willing to pay him...
Bottom line is if Detriot ouldn't of paid him someone else would of. Good QB's are hard to come by and I think Stafford is a good QB.