Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb issued a terse statement through his publicist today after coach Mike Shanahan announced he had benched McNabb.
“I respect Mike’s decision as a head coach, but I strongly disagree with it,” McNabb said.
McNabb hasn’t given any in-depth interviews, but he did talk to his buddy Mike Wilbon, who said on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption that McNabb described himself as “very disappointed.”
Wilbon, who made no pretense of objectivity as he ripped into Shanahan, said that McNabb has no ill will toward Rex Grossman, who has replaced him as the starter. In fact, Wilbon claims that one of the things McNabb is upset about is that Shanahan waited until after Thursday’s practice to make the move, depriving Grossman of the opportunity to work with the first-string offense on Wednesday and Thursday.
Whether Grossman has been properly prepared this week or not, he’s the Redskins’ quarterback now. Shanahan and McNabb are clearly unable to work together.