(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

The fact that it was followed by one of the worst performances in team history didn’t do much to quiet the Redskins faithful’s issues with the massive contract the team gave to quarterback Donovan McNabb. But with all the fun we were having — laughing about the fact that the Redskins gave $40 million guaranteed to a guy who is currently leading a team with a worse record than ex-Redskin Jason Campbell’s Raiders — seems to have obfuscated the truth of the matter: that McNabb’s deal is somewhat craftier than we all originally assumed.

In exchange for giving McNabb an extra $3.5 million this year, the team was able to insert a clause in the contract which would allow them to cut McNabb after this season without financially crippling the team. (Curious about the nitty-gritty salary cap implications? Go here.) At least the Redskins’ front office was smart enough to give themselves seven games to make sure McNabb is their long-term guy, right?

Of course, there will still be those who argue that giving a soon-to-be 34-year-old quarterback who has never won a Super Bowl a mid-season extension is patently ridiculous, regardless of the financial aspects — I’ve got nothing to counter that assertion, I’m afraid.