McNabb Will Start Redskins Season Opener Against Cowboys

Added on Sep 07, 2010 by Jason Kearney in

NFL

Despite Mike Shanahan’s prevarication during preseason regarding starting quarterback Donovan McNabb’s fitness for the Washington Redskins’ opening regular season game against the Dallas Cowboys, McNabb himself says he’ll play. McNabb suffered a nasty mid ankle sprain just over two weeks ago in a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. He’s been receiving treatment every day, and although it’s not fully recovered he’s ready to play football. In an interview with Washington area sports radio, McNabb was asked about his status and responded:

“Yes, I will be starting this weekend. And I look forward to it.”

McNabb said that his ankle is getting better, but not 100% yet:

“Is it 100 percent? No. … But it’s getting better.”

McNabb will be making his first regular season start for the Redskins after spending 11 years with the Philadelphia Eagles.

A good deal of the interview was devoted to McNabb’s endorsement of belaguered defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. Haynesworth is very talented, but this season has clashed with Skins’ coaches and management due to a perceived lack of effort and poor conditioning. Reports now suggest that the Skins are looking to move Haynesworth. McNabb gave his props to Haynesworth, but suggested that he needs to ‘get with the program’:

“Albert is a guy that’s one of our brothers in the locker room, and we want to protect him and make sure that he’s taken care of and he’s fine. Albert is a guy who understands now, he understands that, ‘Hey, I’ve got to put the time and effort in to get an opportunity to show what I can do.’ And he knows what he can do.

“We can’t win without Albert. He plays a major part on our defense, and everyone knows that. It’s just unfortunate what’s been going on and how everything has transpired, but that’s the game of football, and I think he’ll handle it the right way. … I think he’ll be here. I hope he’ll be here. … As a player, you would want Albert to be here.”

Haynesworth has collected around $32 million of guarantee money from the huge contract he signed before the 2009 season. Haynesworth signed a $100 million contract with the Redskins, including $41 million in guaranteed money. Haynesworth will earn a guaranteed $3.6 million in 2010 and $5.4 million in 2011. McNabb appears to be trying to broker some reconciliation between Haynesworth and the coaches and management, but at this point it may be too late to keep the defensive tackle in a Washington uniform.