Arizona coach on Kolb; Eagles call coaches meeting
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Arizona coach on Kolb; Eagles call coaches meeting
Les Bowen and Daily News staff
Kevin Kolb referenced "connecting the dots" in an interview on the Dan Patrick Show yesterday.
With all the rampant trade speculation, those dots seemingly will lead him to Arizona, and potentially a trade that involves cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a draft pick.
My understanding is that the Eagles have a high regard for Rodgers-Cromartie, the 16th player taken in the 2008 draft, and that the Cards have a high regard for Kolb, who has been NFC offensive player of the week twice in seven career starts. I also understand the Eagles are ready to do the deal if they can get something else thrown in, most likely a draft pick. That’s the possible rub — reporters in Arizona tell me the Cards might be leery of tossing in anything else, given that Rodgers-Cromartie is a proven starter and Kolb is not.
If the Eagles make this trade, they can cross their biggest free-agency need off their list, and that’s significant. Solving the corner question would give them plenty of money to get better on the defensive line, at safety, maybe even at running back or linebacker. (Some money could go to bringing back Stewart Bradley and/or Jerome Harrison.)
While Kolb was willing to look ahead for the first time in the interview -- he even sounded exasperated when the question was brought up about whether he might end up staying with the Eagles -- obviously, the Arizona coaching staff is not -- and can't.
Nothing can happen until the lockout ends, and teams can't talk about players under contract to another team anyway.
“I don’t even know where that speculation started about trading or what we’re going to give up,” coach Ken Whisenhunt told the Arizona Republic. “We don’t even know if they (the Eagles) are willing to do that. That’s something that everybody speculates on.”
Whisenhunt lumped the possibility of Rodgers-Cromartie being traded with other rumors. One rumor said the Cardinals had a deal in place with free-agent QB Marc Bulger.
“And yet yesterday (Tuesday) there was a report that he (Bulger) didn’t even want to come here, to Arizona,” Whisenhunt said. “So which one is it? Is it, we’ve already worked a deal under the table or is it he does not want to come here?”
*
In other news, Eagles coach Andy Reid has called a coaches meeting for Saturday.
An earlier report from WIP's Howard Eskin said Reid had called a meeting of players and coaches, but an Eagles spokesman clarified the situation.
Of course, teams are not allowed to contact players until the lockout ends.
Obviously, if both sides vote tomorrow to ratify, it is possible the Eagles could have a meeting of players under contract as soon as the rules allow.
Poll: What will be the Eagles' biggest need in free agency?
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I thought the coaches were already meeting daily— shawnmac- Let's all make a deal not to tell Andy when the lockout ends, and then see how the team does this year.— burholme
- I just can't wait till this one ends...This is becoming a dead horse quickly...— PhilliefaninAZ
- "f"ing players and owners still frigging greedy bastages....they should have been back to work....I wuz getting excited now I will get back to them in Sep..maybe— tsump
- Guys you better start looking at the real problem...our nation is about to go into bankruptcy. I could care less if these millionaires can squeeze another couple millions out of the NFL pie. I hope the whole league collapse. Let em all get a real job.— dapmman
- Trade Kolb to Seattle. They have been rumoured to offered a 1st and 3rd round pick for him and that is better than Kolb for DRC straight up. Eagles can sign Jonthan Joseph, Ike Taylor or Carlos Rogers in Free agency to fill the void at CB.— briandawkins20
- Good, make this trade and then we can work on the REAL problem at corner. One Asuckte Samuel. Oh, and another thing we need O-Linemen. PLEASE !!— Craig321
- Good, make this trade and then we can work on the REAL problem at corner. One Asuckte Samuel. Oh, and another thing we need O-Linemen. PLEASE !!— Craig321
- Umm, I think it's Asante and if it wasn't for him, this team would never cause turnovers. They drafted 3 o-linemen bro, get a clue. — beerflow
- Can't wait to see Kolb come to Philly this year in a Cardinals uniform and put the smack down on Fat Andy and Sick Vick.— Bill Lumbergh
- Can't wait to see Kolb come to Philly this year in a Cardinals uniform and put the smack down on Fat Andy and Sick Vick.— Bill Lumbergh
- Yeahh that's not gonna happen. Stick to your tps reports. — beerflow
- They should just go for Cromartie, because I think their beiggest need is a pro bowl level right tackle. Mike Vick is the most important part of this team. If Vick has the time to throw, he can outscore any other quarterback. They should go for Ryan Kalil, Willie Colon, Tyson Clabo, Marcus McNeill. Plugging in any of these guys into line could give the Eagles the most potent offense in the NFL, maybe even history.— shai
