Donovan McNabb photo by Getty Images
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - The Minnesota Vikings ended a failed quarterback experiment by releasing Donovan McNabb late Thursday.
The team announced the move Thursday afternoon.
Following practice, Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier addressed the media, calling the decision to waive the veteran quarterback mutual.
"He was a great player, and has been a great player for our league for a long, long time," Fraizer said. "We have a lot of affection and love for Donovan, he was a tremendous person, a tremendous competitor and we really wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors."
Frazier said he talked to McNabb Wednesday about what was best for McNabb, saying they "mutually agreed that this was best for both parties."
McNabb was not at practice Thursday as the team prepared for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos.
Fraizer did not express any "buyer's remorse" about adding the 35-year-old quarterback to the roster during the offseason.
"Looking back, and just knowing Donovan and knowing his history, I don't think I would have done anything different," Frazier said. "Knowing the circumstance and the situation we were in coming into the season with the offseason being what it was, that familiarity went a long ways towards making that decision. So, I don't think I would have done it any differently."
McNabb opened the season, but was benched by Frazier in mid-October when the Vikings stumbled badly out of the blocks with a 1-5 record. Rookie Christian Ponder took the reins and has been promising but inconsistent.
McNabb has remained on the team as Ponder's backup.
"I know I have a lot of football left in me," McNabb said at the time of his benching.
Releasing McNabb now means the Vikings only have two quarterbacks on the roster: rookie starter Christian Ponder and second-year backup Joe Webb.
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