Only one season after Donovan McNabb agreed to a five-year, $78 million contract with the Washington Redskins, he finds himself in Minnesota with a re-worked, one-year deal that doesn't offer any guarantees for the future.
And he's just fine with that.
"Every year is a one-year deal, no matter what you sign for, because you have to go out and compete at a high level," McNabb told *The Star Tribune* on Thursday morning. "You know, you seen last year I extended my contract and you seen what happened to me."
What happened in Washington, McNabb would rather forget.
The 12-year veteran was benched twice last season and threw 14 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions in 13 games. His agent, Fletcher Smith, publicly sparred with Redskins coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
McNabb agreed to re-work his expensive contract to finesse a trade to the Vikings, and now he's focused on a fresh start.
"I look forward to just coming out this year and just playing the way that I know I can play, and everything else will take care of itself," he said.
Part of McNabb's responsibilities in Minnesota will be to tutor first-round draft pick Christian Ponder, who's viewed as the team's quarterback of the future. That, and learn an entirely new offense before the Vikings' Sept. 11 opener against the San Diego Chargers.
"I don't think it will take long at all," McNabb said of learning the Vikings' scheme. "Hopefully by the third preseason game, we'll have things clicking and start moving the ball down the field and getting the ball in the end zone."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
