"The failed Donovan McNabb experiment in Minnesota finally fizzled out Thursday when the Vikings waived the veteran quarterback in a mutual parting that punctuated how the team misjudged his ability to still command an NFL offense.

If McNabb is claimed off waivers during a 24-hour window that ends at 3 p.m. today, the Vikings would be off the hook for about $1.6 million of his $5.05 million salary. That's small consolation, however, for a Minnesota front office that gambled on a 35-year-old quarterback whose diminishing returns prompted McNabb's two previous teams to bench him even before he went 1-5 as the Vikings' starter.

"We sat down and talked, and just as we communicated to one another about what we thought was best for our team and best for him going forward, (it was) just a mutual decision," coach Leslie Frazier said during an impromptu news conference at Winter Park. "We both agreed that this was probably going to be the best thing to do."

McNabb did not practice Thursday but was in the locker room earlier and was seen posing for a picture with running back Adrian Peterson before sauntering into another section of the team facility. "