One of the longest running mini-dramas in the NFL has been put on hold now that the Philadelphia Eagles and Donovan McNabb have agreed to restructure his contract.

The new deal gives McNabb a $5.3 million bump over the next two seasons, and would seem to signal that D-Mac won’t be traded by the Birds this season.

AP source: Eagles give McNabb $5.3 million raise [Associated Press]

Sasha Vujacic signed a three-year, $15 million contract to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers. This doesn’t help the Lakers shed their “Kobe and a bunch of soft Euros” image, but it does keep a reliable 3-pt shooter on the roster.

When it came down to decision time Sasha was influenced by the Los Angeles Lakers’ fans, but mostly by the love shared between himself and Kobe Bryant.

“They are my team. They brought me over from Europe and I feel at home in this organization and in LA. Everywhere I’d go, Lakers fans would say to me, `Please re-sign, you have to come back Machine.’ And that really gave me a warm feeling about it.”

“It’s always kind of been older brother, younger brother with Kobe and I. Kobe called me on the first day of free agency and said, `I love you and we all need you. But whatever you decide, I’ll stand by your decision.’ Then he called me on the last day I was deciding and at the end of the conversation, we both said, `Let’s do it.”‘

Are Sasha and Kobe talking about signing a contract or having a baby? If Kobe would’ve loved Ron Artest a little more Ron-Ron would be a Laker and not a Houston Rocket. I know a healthy Andrew Bynum will be back next year, but L.A. still needs to address their defensive problems. The Boston Celtics showed that the Lakers aren’t physical enough, and I’m sure the other teams around the league took note.

Here’s more proof of the love between Sasha Vujacic and Kobe Bryant:

Sasha Vujacic (minus the girlish headband) gives his take on the Machine videos:

Sasha Vujacic, Los Angeles Lakers, The Machine, video, youtube

Baron Davis has answered this aspiring singer-songwriter’s prayers by signing with the Los Angeles Clippers. The deal is reportedly five years for $65 million dollars. BD made the right choice. The Golden State Warriors were fun to watch even if they weren’t ever going to get over the hump with their current roster. Baron’s not gonna win a championship with the Clippers either, but at least he’s home and his pockets are full. Hopefully the L.A. Clipper curse doesn’t grab a hold of him and his numerous injuries.

Props to the Clipper Blog for the video.

Baron Davis, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, NBA, video, utube

Gilbert Arenas said long ago that he was opting out of his current contract, but he would re-sign with the Wizards if the team kept Antawn Jamison. Now it looks like Agent Zero has had a change of heart.. Or is this Gilbert being Gilbert?

From the Washington Post:

Arenas has said that he will seek a maximum-level long-term contract, one that could cover up to six years and be worth more than $120 million. However, Arenas has also said that he would be willing to take less if it helps the team retain Jamison and make other moves to improve.

I’m not an NBA general manager but I play one on this blog, and there’s no way I’m giving max money to a guy coming of two knee surgeries. I’d sign him if he wants to take the home team discount and keep Washington’s good young nucleus together, but building around Arenas at $120 mil doesn’t come off as a good investment.

Gilbert Arenas, NBA, Washington Wizards, Antawn Jamison

There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that Michael Strahan was trying to get a few extra bucks from the Giants since the ex-wife got him for 15mil. I thought he was right for doing it. It never hurts to try. I quickly turned on Strahan when training camp rolled around and he didn’t show up. My line of thought was he tried to get the money, it didn’t work, go to camp… When he didn’t show I read it as a money struggle… And it still could be, but #92′s statement did a good job of convincing me that this really isn’t about the money. I probably got Jedi mind tricked by Strahan’s PR staff but I no longer think it’s about the money. Michael just doesn’t feel like going to Coughlin’s  training camp.

This off season has been one of the best in my professional career. I have worked extremely hard to make sure that I’m in shape and ready to tackle the rigors of another physical season. I am proud to say that at my body feels years younger and ready to compete at the highest level. I love training and preparation, and this off season has made it clear to me that this is one aspect of the game that I will miss tremendously when I decide to one day unstrap the helmet for the last time.

When I translate that I get “Look, I’m ready to go, I’m in shape. I been doing this for 15 years, I don’t need this training camp bs.” Plenty of vets have felt this way, and have had similar “holdouts” to avoid training camp. Strahan also had a message for those of you (me) that thought he was all about the Benjamins:

Despite what some might believe there are those of us who make decisions that have nothing to do with money. Many athletes ask themselves daily if they are emotionally and psychologically at the level where they can compete at the highest level for twenty-four weeks. For them also it isn’t about the money, rather a serious athlete asking serious questions about his future. All that I ask, after fourteen seasons, is that you afford me the patience so that I might arrive at my decision on my own terms.

Yeah, you can call me a sucker or whatever, but I don’t think Michael is doing this for the cash. Don’t get me wrong, he could use a few extra bucks and he’ll probably go back to training musicians on the side.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knAuswdP2xo[/youtube]

Giants: Strahan releases statement. Courtesy of Newsday