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Fletcher Smith Thinks Donovan McNabb’s Treatment Was Beyond Disrespectful

Last Friday, Mike Shanahan made the decision to bench quarterback Donovan McNabb in favor of starting former Florida Gator Rex Grossman.  While the Washington Redskins were unsuccessful against the Dallas Cowboys, losing a tight 33-30 game in Dallas, Grossman looked good, accumulating 322 yards in the air and 4 touchdowns.  That will not stop his agent, Fletcher Smith, from criticizing the decision made by the Redskins’ brass.

Prior to Sunday’s game, Smith said the following,

“Disrespectful is probably not strong enough of a word. Donovan has handled himself with nothing but class, not just in Washington but as an ambassador for the league. To treat him this way … it’s beyond disrespectful.”

“I almost don’t even know where to begin, but it really started with Detroit and it was just wrong the way Donovan was treated. Just the way Mike [Shanahan] handled the whole situation in Detroit, and in almost every instance since that time, and this is, I guess, the culmination of that. I think it’s … again, it’s beyond disrespectful.”

Remember that McNabb contract extension reportedly worth $78 million, with $40 million guaranteed that Smith had his client sign back in November?  There really was only $3.5 million guaranteed for 2010.  That’s it.  It seems as though the Redskins fully expected that McNabb would not be the starting quarterback in 2011.  That $78 million deal sure sounded pretty on paper, though.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

4 replies on “Fletcher Smith Thinks Donovan McNabb’s Treatment Was Beyond Disrespectful”

If the Redskins release him prior to the first game of next season, they do not owe him anything more than the $3.5 million bonus he received this year. Other teams would not be bound by the Redskins’ contract.

If McNabb were playing better, would his agent stop whining then?
This game is about winning. McNabb has lost his touch. Stop whining.

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