McNabb talks vaguely of contract status

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb indicated yesterday in a vague fashion that there might be progress on a reworked contract.

Asked about the situation, McNabb said that it "will take care of itself."

McNabb spoke at his ninth annual Kids' Clinic at the NovaCare complex. During most of a six-minute interview he avoided questions pertaining to the contract that he previously said he would like to see extended.

McNabb, who is entering his 11th season with the Eagles, first expressed this desire late last season and reiterated it early during Super Bowl week. He hadn't spoken to local reporters since that Super Bowl week interview.

McNabb has two years left on a seven-year extension he signed in 2002. He is slated to earn $9.2 million this season and $10 million next, but the money is not guaranteed. On Tuesday, Comcast SportsNet reported that the Eagles and McNabb were working on restructuring the final two years of the deal, perhaps guaranteeing some of the money, if not extending the deal

Eagles president Joe Banner has declined to discuss McNabb's situation specifically. Banner has said the team will look at renegotiating some deals in special situations.

McNabb was asked yesterday if he had recently been given any assurances about where he stood with the front office.

"I'm standing here right in front of you guys," said McNabb, smiling. "I think I'm standing balanced."

When it was suggested that he looked comfortable yesterday and during the Eagles' minicamp, McNabb said that his comfort level "is the fact that I'm here with the kids and it's all about the kids. And [his teammates] are here to support that."

More than a dozen Eagles, including safeties Quintin Mikell and Quintin Demps and rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, assisted with the clinic. Coach Andy Reid delivered opening remarks. Gov. Rendell also spoke.

About 300 middle-school-age boys and girls were selected to participate in the clinic, which is funded by McNabb's Foundation. McNabb also was scheduled to host a party/fund-raiser at the Cira Center last night. Proceeds were to go to families with members suffering from diabetes.

McNabb, who hosts the clinic with his father, Sam, was asked if off-the-field moments like yesterday's clinic meant more as he nears the end of his career.

"I'm not getting closer to the end of my career," McNabb said. "It's just 10 years. I believe [Clay] Matthews played almost 20 and Darrell Green played 20. Not that I want to play 20."

So why not play 20?

"I got to take my kids to school," McNabb said. "I got to watch them play soccer, and baseball and basketball and everything else they want to do. I'm sort of a soccer dad right now. You can't play football all of your life. At some point, you've got to be able to walk away from the game and hopefully have your health behind you, as well."

Running back Brian Westbrook had surgery on his right ankle Friday and is expected to miss the preseason.

"I think Brian will be fine," McNabb said. "Obviously we want him to be healthy and ready to go, and I think he'll be able to do that."

Rookie deals. The Eagles said they had agreed to terms on four-year contracts with three of their draft picks: defensive back Victor "Macho" Harris (fifth round), offensive tackle Fenuki Tupou (fifth), and wide receiver Brandon Gibson (sixth).