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McNabb rumors swirl
Not even the Super Bowl can be free of Donovan McNabb trade rumors.
Les Bowen issued a piece in today’s issue of the Daily News talking about the latest speculation in on trades involving McNabb, as well as Vick and Kolb. He also stressed that as of now nothing is close to happening.
Bellow is Bowen’s article.
If there is one day in the NFL year when we ought to be free of worrying about Donovan McNabb and the Eagles , it should be Super Bowl Sunday. Alas, such is not the case.
We’ve had reports today from ESPN folk who apparently have too much time on their hands, with their network not doing the game. Adam Schefter says teams have asked the Birds about all three of their quarterbacks and three teams have called about Michael Vick. Sal Paolantonio added that three teams — Cleveland, Denver and Buffalo — have had multiple conversations with the Eagles about Donovan McNabb.
Don’t know the exact teams myself, but I understand there have been a lot of calls, many of them not about any QB in particular, just letting the Eagles know Team X is interested, should they look to deal any of their three. I’m also told nothing is anywhere close to happening, that all of the queries have been preliminary.
This last point canot be overemphasized. NOTHING IS ANYWHERE CLOSE TO HAPPENING.
As you know, Andy Reid has indicated McNabb will be the Eagles’ QB in 2010, and McNabb has said this is his strong understanding, as well. Vick has said he would like to go somewhere where he could start, and a few days ago down at South Beach, McNabb endorsed that idea. Kevin Kolb has said he’d like to start, but is a team player, and so forth.
The Vick-to-St. Louis speculation makes a lot of sense to me.
A scource close to the situation thinks at least half a dozen teams ultimately will inquire about Kolb — including Cleveland, where Tom Heckert, of course, is now the GM, working under Reid’s mentor, Mike Holmgren. Almost any team looking to draft a QB this season would be smart to look into Kolb, who presumably wouldn’t need several years of training to take over. This is not a great quarterback draft; if Kolb came out this year, he’d almost certainly be a first-rounder. Of course, with McNabb heading toward his 12th season and not under contract after 2010, trading Kolb would be quite a gamble for the Birds.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled Super Bowl XLIV hoopla.
Making the case: The final verdict at QB
Over the past few days phillysportsblogs has made a case for Michael Vick, Kevin Kolb and Donovan McNabb to be named the starter in 2010 for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Now it’s time to get serious.
Before I unveil the rightful choice for the job, it is time to look at one of the major factors in the decision that not yet been discused.
The last two weeks have been hard on Eagles fans young and old. Entering the final week of the season the Eagles had hopes of a NFC East title, No. 2 seed and first round bye in the playoffs. Instead they were presented with two tail-whippings at the hands of the rival Dallas Cowboys.
Over the course of those two games it became impossible for even the most stubborn Eagles fan to deny that the Cowboys have surpassed the Eagles in terms of talent and production.
Before the start of the season Eagles’ President and CEO Joe Banner announced to the media that his team was the most talented in the NFL.
Mr. Banner, you were wrong. Dead wrong.
While there is uncertainty for the future in Minnesota and Arizona due to possible retirements at the quarterback position, Dallas and New Orleans look set for the several years to come. Each team has a multi-layered running attack, a proven quarterback (Yes, it’s time to award Tony Romo that status) and tons of weapons at the tight end and receiver positions. The Cowboys are also stacked on defense, while the Saints have shown drastic improvement on that side of the ball from a year ago.
These teams aren’t going away so the only way for the Eagles to return to the Super Bowl — and maybe actually win it — is to improve to or above their competitions level.
With a solid draft — and health — the Eagles should be able to see improvements on both sides of the ball. Stewart Bradley will be back at the MLB position and DeSeasn Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celek will each be a year wiser.
Is that enough?
No.
And that’s where the decision making comes to light.
Everyone has seen what McNabb can — and cannot — do leading the offense. It is true that if McNabb has three or four years of success at his current rate he will surpass the 40,000 yards passing mark and with that likely secure a ticket to the Hall of Fame. If he is elected to the Hall he will go in as an Eagle.
But even with that in mind, it is time for a change.
There are anywhere from 8-12 teams that will be looking for a new starting quarterback in the offseason and there isn’t a whole lot out there. There are not 8-12 quality quarterback out there. In fact there might not be two.
The market is led by Kyle Orton, Jason Campbell, Chad Pennington, Tavaris Jackson, and Kellen Clemens. Yhat’s it folks.
I mention this because if made available McNabb jumps to the top of that list. He could even bring back a late first rounder, or a combination of a second and a third. This would help the Eagles fill a couple of holes on the lines in a hurry.
So who then is the man to lead the offense in 2010?
Kevin Kolb.
If not now then it will be never for Kolb and the Eagles. He is a free agent to be next offseason and if the Birds do not commit to him next season there will be no reason for him to re-sign.
There is no guarantee that simply placing Kolb in the starting lineup will vault the Eagles into contention with the Saints and Cowboys next year and beyond, but it is almost certain that is the Eagles return with McNabb they will not.
As the saying goes “you are what you are.” The Eagles with McNabb at the helm have been a very, very good football team over the last decade. Yet at the end of the day the franchise has earned the same amount of Super Bowl rings as teams that are very, very bad.
What McNabb has done for this city and team should not soon be forgotten. He brought the team to heights it had not been since the early 80’s and turned Philadelphia back into a football town.
For that he should be thanked, and above all, appreciated. But the time has come to part ways.
McNabb is still very good.
It’s long past time for the Eagles to be great.
Kevin Kolb, the time is yours.
Making the case: Kevin Kolb for starter in 2010
Though his sample size was small (two games) and the defenses he faced weren’t the greatest (Chiefs and Saints), Kevin Kolb’s two performances as the starting quarterback for the Eagles this season should not be overlooked.
In that limited sample he became the first quarterback to pass for 300 yards or more in his first two NFL starts. That’s right, he did something that not even Peyton Manning, Joe Montana or Dan Marino can lay claim to.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying Kolb is the next great quarterback in the league, but he certainly looks capable of running an NFL offense.
The Eagles drafted Kolb with the 36th overall pick in the 2007 draft (traded with the Cowboys to get that pick). Next season he will enter the final year of his four-year rookie contract. That is the same year that McNabb’s contract is set to expire.
Needless to say, the Eagles are on the clock.
People who clamor for McNabb to remain the Eagles starting quarterback point to his incredibly strong arm and his ability to get the deep ball to DeSean Jackson. While Kolb may not have quite the rocket hanging off his shoulder, he showed the ability to throw – and put touch on – a 64-yard touchdown pass to Jackson against the Chiefs In the same game he had a nice intermediate route pass to Brent Celek that turned into a 35-yard score.
I understand that his best performance came against one of the worst defenses in the NFL, but Kolb has no control over the schedule. Who’s to say he couldn’t have doe the same against the Raiders when McNabb led the team to an awful 9-point showing?
The Eagles gave up a lot to draft Kolb, notably a first-round pick the rival Cowboys. There is no way Kolb and his agent would sign onto an extension in the last year of his contract if he is not promised a chance to at least compete for the starting job. That means the Eagles would risk losing Kolb next offseason without truly knowing how good he can be.
In addition, trading Kolb this offseason would likely net a value far less than the Eagles gave up. Though he is young and there are several teams in the market for a quarterback any packages for him would likely begin no higher than a third rounder.
The Eagles front office has done a great job stay competitive while also getting younger. Their receivers are young, they have a young running back n LeSean McCoy and there is plenty of youth on the defensive side of the ball. This team has a chance to grow and improve together.
All that is missing is a young, talented quarterback.
Kevin Kolb is that man.
Making the case: Vick for starter in 2010
Michael Vick is a weapon, plain and simple. He can run, pass and he is capable of the big play at any time.
When the Eagles signed Vick last offseason they did so to give an athlete with a troubled past a chance to rebuild his reputation in the community and show that he could also still get the job done on the field.
I think most would agree that he went 2-for-2.
It is almost a certainty that the Eagles will not keep Vick around as a backup considering his contract calls or him to make 5.2 million next season. Reid has already come out and said that Donovan is his guy next year, but plenty can change in an offseson.
The Eagles have three options with “the original wildcat: They can decline his option leaving him to go free elsewhere; pick up the option and trade him; or trade McNabb and make Vick the starter.
While option three seems the most unlikely, let’s examine it.
It is hard to look too deep into Vick’s numbers this year considering he attempted only 13 passes during the regular season – completing six for 86 yards. He also ran the ball 24 times for 95 yards. Vick was used sparingly during the regular season and most of his plays were designed to set up this big moment on Saturday.
It was the one highlight in an otherwise miserable day for the Eagles and their fans.
For his career, Vick has been up and down. He has tons of highlight runs and has a cannon for an arm, but also lacks the consistency to be an accurate pocket-passer.
So how does it make sense for him to become the starter in Philadelphia?
I think it could be a good move for the franchise if they get an offer for McNabb that is too good to refuse – as in, above market value. The fans are clamoring for a change and starting Vick would certainly qualify. The team could keep both Vick and Kevin Kolb for next year and see how things transpire. If it becomes clear that Vick is not the guy, you have a young backup you can turn to. If it does work out you can negotiate an extension with Vick to keep him in Philadelphia. Either way, one of th two QBs would become the “man” in the future.
Is it likely? No. Could t work? Yes.
Fans have seen what the McNabb-Reid combo can do. They want a new look and this could be the one.
Check back on Wednesday when we make a case for Kevin Kolb to be the 2010 starter.
The end of the McNabb era may have arrived
The late Albert Einstein is known for many great pieces of knowledge. In the sports world there is one phrase he coined that seems to trump all else:
“The definition of insanity is doing something over and over again and expecting a different result.”
That phrase has been used by fans over the last few seasons to persuade the Eagles front office breaking up the duo of Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid. Of course the front office has not taken that route, keeping the pair together and hoping for different results.
As a result, the Eagles fan base has been driven insane.
The Birds made it clear earlier this season that Reid will be back, signing him to a contract extension after back-to-back wins over Washington and Atlanta. What we will soon find out is if McNabb will join him.
It’s not an easy call anyway you look at it. Few quarterbacks in the league have an arm as strong as McNabb’s. With DeSean Jackson on board McNabb got to show off that arm, throwing for over 3,5000 yards and 22 TDs. His 92.9 QB rating is well-above average.
But then there is the bounce passes and the mental lapses. And for all that he has accomplished (five NFC title games), he still has a reputation for failing to deliver in big games.
The Star-Telegram in Dallas has a good read on McNabb’s cloudy
“And while the blame for the Eagles’ 34-14 loss to Dallas on Saturday shouldn’t be laid solely at the feet of McNabb, the fact remains he is what he is — the Eagles quarterback and the face of the franchise. When things go right, he usually gets credit. When things go wrong, and wrong they did go on Saturday, McNabb must face the music and bear the brunt of the criticism, as he did Saturday.
But for how much longer?”
The rest can be read here: http://www.star-telegram.com/332/story/1881936.html
With Kevin Kolb’s contract will run out after next season and Michael Vick’s option only to be picked up if he is a starter (backups don’t make $5.2 million) there is clearly a decision to be made – a decision that will go a long way in determining the teams success over the next few years.
Over the next three days I will make the case for Vick, Kolb and McNabb to be the starters, before rendering a verdict on Friday. In the meantime, who do you want to captain the Eagles next season?
Eagles control their own destiny, notch 2nd win in a row.
The Eagles dominated every single offensive and defensive category in todays game and in the process managed to just barely win. They had more total plays of offense, more yards passing, more yards rushing, had better yards per pass and rush attempt, had more time of possession, better 4th down efficiency, allowed fewer turnovers, and barely escaped with a win !!
Yes they were not as good on third down, thanks to the Redskins being unnaturally good at that, but they did everything they could to give the Redskins the game until the 4th quarter, from the initial onsides kick they misplayed, allowing Washington to have a 24 yard field, quickly shortened to a 19 yard field with the 5 yard penalty, to repeatedly being called for offensive penalties that negated many of their better plays.
They had a touchdown called back that turned into a field goal, they brought Vick in every time the offense gained any momentum and he promptly disrupted the rhythm of the game, they had countless passes dropped including three in a row by Brett Celek, they lost DeSean Jackson after another touchdown catch due to injuries, yet they won the game to go to 7-4 and put their fate in their own hands for the first time all season. Jackson’s catch was his shortest of the year, a mere 35 yards. This guy is clutch and the best reciever we have had in years, and I hope he is recovered in time for next weeks contest !
Simply put, if the Eagles win out, and beat the Giants and Cowboys in their final meetings, they win the division.
If they beat the Giants and Cowboys and win 1 of their other three remaining games, they will win at least the wild card.
A couple positive observations, the one two punch of McCoy and Weaver was productive for the second week in a row. The halfback/fullback tandem rushed for 120 yards on 23 carries and Buckley came through with the first touchdown of his NFL career to pull the Eagles within 2. Then McCoy performed a balancing act to tie the game up with the 2 point conversion allowing Akers to win it with his field goal on the ensuing drive as the Eagles scored 11 unanswered in the fourth quarter for the win. Assante Samual overcame an average first half with 2 interceptions to keep the Eagles in the game. And the Eagles finally appeared able to convert a third and short with their running game, a quality they had been seriously lacking over the past 6 weeks.
Through the first three quarters fans had to be worrying about the Eagles repeatedly driving the length of the field and having to settle for field goals. A 90 yard 10 play drive for the tying touchdown followed by a 10 play drive for the go ahead field goal hopefully put some of these qualms to bed, at least until next week.
One can only hope Reid won’t overplay Vick in the reunion next week with his former team, the Atlanta Falcons. I think enough has been seen this year to confirm the “Vick experiment” is a dismal failure, it is time to let McNabb run this team for the final 5 games, and if not satisfied with his judgement and performance, you have Kolb chomping at the bit to have a go at it next year, I repeat for the millionth time this year……WE DON’T NEED VICK !!!
OK, got it out of my system, for now, on to next week. We dodged a serious bullet against the Redskins, hopefully we will fare better against the Falcons.
No McNabb, No Westbrook, No Problem !
The Eagles started off strong against the Kansas City Chiefs today, with LeSean McCoy having a strong first quarter and scoring his first NFL touchdown on the Eagles second possession for a 7-0 lead. Kolb stood in there and completed several key throws and Vick looked to be largely ineffective in his limited snaps in wildcat. Kolb hit DeSean Jackson for a 43 yard completion on the third offensive drive. Kolb then leapt in for HIS first rushing TD as an Eagle to stake the Birds to a 14-0 lead.
The defense made up for their loss of concentration against the Saints by coming early and often against returning QB Matt Cassell. Sheldon Brown and Assante Samuel did a good job of filling the holes left by Eagles defensive mainstay Brian Dawkins, and the defense in the first half looked as good as I have seen it in several years. They held the Chiefs to 0 yards in the first quarter with ferocious pursuit of the ball and an unrelenting rush on Matt Cassell. By the start of the second quarter, you could tell the Eagles D smelled the blood in the water !
The Chiefs used a trick play late in the first half to make their first foray deep into Eagles territory with a wide reciever pass thrown across the field for a 27 yard gain, Reid smartly called a timeout to allow him time to look at the play, which could have been a trapped ball, to see if it was worth throwing in the red flag to have it reviewed. Bradley made a circus catch of a Cassel pass to cut the Eagles lead to 14-7.
DeSean Jackson quickly responded on the Eagles next play, going 64 yards for the touchdown. 21-7 Birds, just like that !
Brent Celek was equally effective at Tight End, and Kolb had Jeremy Maclin open for a TD right before halftime but he threw behind the rookie receiver and the Eagles had to settle for a FG to go into halftime with the 24-7 lead.
The throw to Macklin was one of the few throws the young QB did not connect on. He came out in the second half throwing and looked strong in leading the Eagles down the field on their first possession of the second half. The Birds only got 2 field goals on their next 4 drives but extended thier lead and kept momentum on their side. The remainder of the second half was noteworthy only in that it was fairly uneventful. Brent Celek sealed the deal with a 4th quarter 35 yard TD catch that put the game away at 34-7.
The Eagles starters played a solid game, no turnovers, no sacks allowed, no offensive penalties, no need for McNabb or Westbrook, no production from Michael Vick. Kolb had another 300+ yard passing day, DeSean Jackson and Brent Celek both had solid receiving days, and McCoy had a solid day running. I know they played the lowly Chiefs but the game was a surprising success. The newer players all stepped up and improved on their game and the drama that is frequently evident on Sundays when the game should be relatively uneventful was not there. Instead, these new Eagles did what they were supposed to do, when they were supposed to do it with a minimum of fuss. The overall effect was one of confident performance and securing a victory that should have been a given, and for once, was.
One small glitch when Reid brought Garcia in for a series to wind up the game and he fumbled the exchange for the only turnover of the day. It resulted in a meaningless KC TD to close the game. Kolb certainly appears to be ready with back to back 300 yard passing games to start his career in Philadelphia.
Eagles ready to let Vick loose
Marty Mornhinweg made it official Thursday, stating that Michael Vick will see action on Sunday when the Eagles take on the Chiefs.
Not that it was ever in doubt.
Sunday will be the first time Vick plays in a meaningful game since 2006, before he was sentenced to a 20-month jail sentence for a dogfighting conviction.
Eagles fans a got a glimpse of Vick in the preseason, though Andy Reid was careful not to tip his hat much in terms of the Wildcat. Mornhinweg said Vick is in top physical condition and that he is not concerned about the time he has missed.
There has yet to be an announcement on whether it will be Donovan McNabb or Kevin Kolb starting this week. If McNabb is healthy, he will start and Jeff Garcia will slide into the No. 3 quarterback slot. If Kolb gets the start, Garcia will be the No. 2. Either way Vick will dress at a position other than quarterback.
The Eagles used the wildcat formation sparingly in Week 1 and then a bit more in Week 2, with mixed results. Of course, the wildcat with Vick is another thing entirely. Though he has never been considered a great passing quarterback, Vick is more than a cut above the Eagles other options out of the formation. With Vick in the wildcat teams will have to respect the pass, meaning the safeties can not just cheat up to stuff the run.
The Eagles drew a break in getting the Chiefs this week, a team that has little going right for it at the moment. The Eagles can work out any wrinkles that will come with Vick’s return without worrying about the opponent as much. If Vick’s first game came against the Giants or Cowboys, the story would be different.
I expect to see Kolb under center Sunday with Vick making an appearance every other series. How much that changes when McNabb comes back is unknown.
The story going in to the game is Vick and regardless of the result he will be the story coming out of the game.
Let’s hope he makes the type of impact the Eagles expected when they acquired him. If so, defensive coordinators better load up on aspirin.
My Advice To Andy – Sit McNabb
Let me clarify that headline before people are blogging all over the place that the Eagles are going to bench McNabb. When he is recovered fully he is the starting QB for the Philadelphia Eagles. Notice that I used the word fully.
Yesterday Reid said that McNabb could possibly play on Sunday depending on how the quarterback’s ailing rib feels by the time practice resumes tomorrow. I’m not sure why the Eagles would bother pushing McNabb into the fire considering that the Chiefs (0-2) certainly aren’t the Saints and the Eagles have a bye the following week. Kevin Kolb was hardly the reason for the Eagles 48-22 loss to the Saints on Sunday. I could go on forever about missed tackles and opportunities that cost the Eagles a victory, but I can’t point the finger at Kolb. He was a mere 31-51 for 391 yards in his first NFL start and he deserves for his coach to remove all doubt and announce right now that Kolb is the starter while giving McNabb two more weeks so he can come back 100% after the bye with the Eagles either at 1-2 or 2-1 after three games.
We’ve seen McNabb less than 100% before when he came back two years ago and it wasn’t a pretty site. Why take a chance on McNabb further injuring himself in a non-conference game? Kolb proved he can handle the offense and with another week under his belt and the possibility of inserting Vick into the Wildcat formation I would think Kolb would be better this week. Sitting McNabb now gives him three weeks of rest.
The Eagles have home games against the Chiefs and then after the bye week they host the Bucs before going on the road to play the Oakland Raiders. After that the Eagles have a tough run with a Monday night road game against the Redskins before home games against both the Giants and Cowboys. We will need a fully recovered McNabb to have any chance of winning those tough division games. Seriously, how would the coach spin it if McNabb plays this week, takes a hit and is hurt again and has to miss two to three weeks? That would mean his return would come for the Monday Night game in Washington. If he sits McNabb now he has the Bucs and Raiders games to shake off any rust before the three week NFC East tour. Anything can happen in the NFL, but I’d take my chances against the Bucs and Raiders after letting McNabb sit three weeks. I think the risk of playing him too early puts the season at jeopardy.
We’ll see if Andy heeds my advice. History says he will do what he wants to do.
Eagles-Saints Report Card
I think that before the game if anyone had said the Eagles would have walked off the field at halftime down 17-13 to the Saints everyone would’ve been pretty happy considering that Kevin Kolb was making his first pro start. If not for a few breakdowns the Eagles legitimately could’ve gone into the locker room up 13-10 poised for an upset. As we all know, the Eagles made too many mistakes against a good football team. This game reminded me alot of the New England Sunday night game from a couple years ago except that the Eagles were in position to win that game in the 4th quarter. That was not the case on Sunday.
Passing Offense: Kevn Kolb exceeded every expectation anyone could’ve had. He threw for 391 yards and his 71-yard touchdown strike to DeShaun Jackson to tie the score at 7 was a thing of beauty. He did throw 3 interceptions, but two of them came late. Grade: C – plus
Rushing Offense: The Eagles picked up 85 yards on the ground despite having to go to the air for much of the second half. The Wildcat formation seemed to work as the Birds got 45 yards from that formation. Westbrook got just 16 touches but did have to leave the game early. Grade: C-plus
Run Defense: Poor tackling set the tone, especially on Bush’s late 19 yard scamper. When are these guys going to learn that you cannot bring down an NFL back by his ankles? The Saints got 133 yards on the ground – not a good number for a unit that was supposed to be improved against the run. Grade: D
Pass Defense: Just like in 2006 Brees went thru the Eagles pass defense like a hot knife through butter. 311 yards and 3 touchdowns by the time it was all over. Third down was the killer – 9 for 11 for 131 yards as the Eagles pass rush was non-existent. The defense again looked flat on the first drive just as it had against the Panthers, an issue that Defensive Coordinator Shawn McDermott has to address. Grade: D
Special Teams: Were they even there? Yes they sure were. Ellis Hobbs was acquired because of his ability to field kicks and his fumble to start the half started the snowball rolling downhill. Hobbs did have a 63 yard kickoff return and Rocca booted a 61 yard punt but unfortunately neither produced when the Eagles needed it, and Rocca gave the Saints a short field a couple of times in the second half. Grade: F
Coaching: I think Andy Reid had a nice game plan, and I loved the call to go deep to Jackson on the second play of the game. Unfortunately all the game planning in the world doesn’t overcome poor tacking and poor decision making. I’d like to give Reid an F here just for saying that he holds himself accountable. C’mon – ten years and that’s all he can come up with? Grade: C
Overall: To be fair, I didn’t think the Eagles would win this game. I also didn’t think they’d get blown out and they were right there at halftime and going into the fourth quarter they were only down 14 points which this offense certainly is capable of overcoming. If nothing else, Kevin Kolb lasted longer than I thought he would and earned himself another start. Grade: D
Kevin Kolb Only Bright Spot vs New Orleans Saints
Well yesterday Eagles QB Kevin Kolb had his first career start. I for one think he did a pretty decent job. The Saints scored first but on the very next position, Kolb made a beautiful pass to DeSean Jackson resulting in a touchdown. After the first offensive series for both teams it looked like we might be in for a shootout.
As the game progressed Kolb proved to be willing to work with the wildcat formation and more importantly he did not see to be afraid to take a hit. A few times Kevin Kolb delivered great passes just a split second before getting hit by the New Orleans defense.
As for the three interceptions, this first we probably his fault. As for the second and third, I really feel they were a result of trying to make something happen.
Overall I think Kevin Kolb is a pretty decent quarterback. In fact his performance yesterday reminded me a lot of a Brett Farve. Why? For one Kolb was will in to stand in the pock, take a hit to complete a pass. Secondly the two interceptions were a result of trying to make something happen even thought he was down by a good margin. Finally, Kevin Kolb and Brett Farve are both from Southern states, Kolb Victoria, Texas and Farve is from Gulfport, Mississippi.
I think it would be interesting, and possibly painful as an Eagles fan, to see if Kevin Kolb were to be traded as a starter, how his career could develop. If Kolb were traded do you think he would make a successful starter in the NFL? I do.
No second chance as starter for now
Donovan McNabb is a trooper. He has played ten years in Philadelphia since being drafted in the first round, and he has yet to get any real respect. In the preseason, his team signed Michael Vick and Donovan did the right thing, he claimed to have lobbied to get him here. Any normal person would realize that to do so simply wouldn’t make sense for you and me. Do YOU want someone younger than you standing behind you but getting all the spotlight, waiting for you to mess up or get hurt so he can take over YOUR job ? I think McNabb said what he did to make sure there would be no quarterback controversy. Just another sign of him being a class act.
With his latest move, Andy Reid shows he has his star quarterback’s back. In the day after McNabb’s injury, the blogging world has been full of McNabb leaving, retiring, optioning out his contract, demanding to be traded or being replaced by the “better younger” Vick when he comes off his suspension. The types that relish controversy and drama have been drooling at the news that McNabb will probably miss some time
Reid however, maintains Kolb is the backup, and Vick will never be the starter here. I believe Eagles management reinforced that assertion by signing Jeff Garcia.
The pundits now proclaim, “Vick simply isn’t ready, so Reid is getting an insurance QB.” Why is it that prior to the season you were trying to convince us of how well Vick could play, when you knew he would not start, and now you are proclaiming the Garcia pickup is to protect Vick because he is not ready to start ? These fans, like Michael Vick, seem to want to have it both ways. I am tired of hearing this felon’s name. Do a Google search on the Philadelphia Eagles and you get more “Vick” hits, then sports news. Do we still HAVE a football team ?
Jimmy Johnson posted on Fox Sports that McNabb had a so-so day before getting hurt. How about, McNabb threw for 2 touchdowns and ran for another, and was injured on the play by an illegal tackle after he was down in the end zone? He is now one of only 6 QB’s in history to accomplish this feat in over a dozen games. How come every other QB in the league gets protected, and McNabb is left hanging out there exposed ? How come the Panther who hit McNabb and stirred this pot didn’t get flagged or sanctioned ? Do you think our defensive tackles or ends could hit an opposing team’s QB when he was down on the ground stretched out with the ball and the TD call had already been made ? NOT !! In tonight’s Monday Night Football a legal hit on Brady by the Buffalo defense drew an immediate flag. Why ? They were protecting the QB. That is what they do in this league, unless the QB happens to be McNabb. So is he really injury prone ? Or prone to getting unfairly hit? Am I the only one who feels this is nuts ?
McNabb has the best career stats of any Philadelphia QB, ever. I had a “fan” rebuke me by saying McNabb played longer than the other Philly QB’s against lesser teams. Actually both Jaworski and Cunningham had more starts for the Eagles, but they had fewer yards passing, a lower QB rating, fewer touchdowns, fewer wins, fewer quality wins, appeared in fewer championship games, and had better players surrounding them during their tenure and the Cardinals were in their division giving them 2 games a year of easier division play than Donovan ever had.
I for one am glad Reid picked up Garcia, he is a class act and I don’t believe Kolb is ready to start even for two or three games if that is necessary. More importantly than that, I don’t think Reid or Lurie or anyone who knows anything about football every seriously considered Vick a starter. He is a publicity stunt, nothing more. He is a player who has made bad judgment calls his entire career and never been reprimanded until now and now that he has paid his price, he wants it all back just because he is remorseful. The question is is he remorseful because he feels bad about what he did, or is he remorseful because he got caught ?
And it is obvious with the Eagles playing two relatively easy games and then having a bye, that McNabb can heal in that time, and if anyone had any faith in Vick, they would not have gone out and gotten Garcia. Garcia is 39 years old, played one season with the Eagles and has not taken a meaningful snap with the team in over two years. Yes he played in Tampa Bay while Vick was in jail, but didn’t all you Vick supporters exclaim he was in football shape upon his release ? So if it is a matter of conditioning, timing, and knowledge of the play book, shouldn’t Vick have the edge over, 39 year old, hasn’t practiced with the team in two years, Garcia?
For Garcia to be picked up at his age to run this offense in McNabb’s absence is a lot more difficult than it would be for Vick to do the same thing, if these QBs were equal. Obviously they are not. Garcia is head and shoulders above Vick, and that is why he is here, and Vick will continue to sit the bench until they want to trot him out to spark the crowd, or the team.
I for one don’t rule out Donovan returning to the field before Vick’s suspension is over. He already stated he intends to practice Wednesday and see how he feels. I hope he comes back and shows all you Vick lovers what a real QB is capable of and finally gets some of the respect he deserves.
If he doesn’t or can’t, we have Garcia, a class veteran QB and Kolb, who will one day be a class younger QB and WE DONT NEED VICK. And Donovan deserves and has earned our respect. I have been saying this for a month, maybe now somebody will listen.
The Michael Vick show begins
Intrigue.
That is what many Eagles fans are feeling heading into tonight’s preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The words “intrigue” and “preseason” don’t usually go together, but tonight is an exception with Michael Vick set to make his return to football and debut with the Eagles.
There are plenty of questions surrounding Michael Vick. Has two years out of football diminished his skills? In what role will the Eagles use Vick? How will the fans react in Vicks first home appearance?
Making things more intriguing is Andy Reid, who has yet to disclose how much playing time Vick will see tonight. Consider what Reid said about playing time just a couple of days ago. He said that Donovan McNabb and the first team offense would play the first three quarters. Reid then said third-year quarterback Kevin Kolb, who missed the Eagles first two preseason games, will play the forth quarter.
That doesn’t leave a whole lot of playing time for Vick.
The best guess is that Vick will play a series or two with the first offense subbing in or playing alongside McNabb. It’s hard to imagine that Reid would show off the wildcat formation in the preseason, so we should see Vick dropping back for a couple of plays. Then again, this is new frond for the Eagles so anything is possible.
Local and national TV will be all over this game and there is bound to be plenty of overreaction one way or another when this one is finished. How much it will really mean is open for debate.
Tonight promises to be preseason football like you rarely get to see it. Thursday night “Must-See TV” is back.
Hoping for an injury-free night for Eagles
The preseason is here and with it comes the first opportunity for the Philadelphia Eagles to show the rest of the league and its fans, what could be in store this season.
There will be a focus on the defense which will have to show it can hold up without centerpiece Brain Dawkins (Broncos) and middle linebacker Stewart Bradley, who was lost for the season with a knee injury.
Others will focus on the Eagles two top draft picks, running back LeSean McCoy and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin.
For me, the focus is simple: Get out of the game injury-free.
The Eagles have been buried by injuries already in camp. They have already lost rookie tight end Cornelius Ingram and Bradley for the season. Offensive lineman Shawn Andrews and Jason Peters have also been plagued by injuries during cap, and of coarse Brian Westbrook will not be getting any live action for a couple of weeks.
Earlier this week head coach Andy Reid stated his plans to play the starters for a full quarter tonight against New England. With all of the early injuries I am surprised he is keeping them I that long. A lot of teams go with their first team for one possession in the preseason opener. By weeks two and three, fans typically get to see a team’s stars for up to a full half.
The one player who does bear watching is backup quarterback Kevin Kolb. In his two seasons with the Eagles, Kolb has done nothing to show he ca handle being a starting quarterback in the league. While performing well in the preseason won’t necessarily change that, it could ease the nerves of fans that are concerned about McNabb going two straight seasons injury-free.
So fans, enjoy the game, but remember the only number that matters in “0”, as in zero injuries. After all, that is what the preseason is really about.
Kolb Starts Second Half
Ok, the Eagles were crushed by the Ravens. In the first half there were 3 turnovers and the offense looked like they had nothing in the tank. So as half time Andy Reid makes a switch at the quarterback position and Kolb takes the snaps in the second half. The switch did not help thinks at all. The Eagles were basically shut out, if it were not for special teams the Eagles would not have scored at all. So with that said….
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.Now for something to take the sting out. A little humor.
The Philadelphia Police are cracking down on speeders heading into Philadelphia. For the first offense, they give you two Eagle tickets. If you get stopped a second time, they make you use them.
Q. What do you call 47 millionaires sitting around a TV watching the Super Bowl? A. The Philadelphia Eagles.
Q. What do the Philadelphia Eagles and Billy Graham have in common?
A. They both can make 70,000 people stand up and yell ‘Jesus Christ’.
Q. How do you keep the Philadelphia Eagles out of your yard?
A. Put up a goal post.
Q. Where do you go in Philadelphia in case of a tornado?
A. To the Eagles Stadium – they never have a touchdown there!
Q. What do you call a Philadelphia EAGLE with a Super Bowl ring?
A. A thief.
Q. What’s the difference between the Philadelphia Eagles and a dollar bill?
A. You can still get four quarters out of a dollar bill.
Q. How many Philadelphia Eagles does it take to win a Super Bowl?
A. Nobody knows and we may never find out.
Q. What do the Philadelphia Eagles and a possums have in common?
A. Both play dead at home and get killed on the road.
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