Banner talks quarterbacks
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Banner talks quarterbacks
Daily News staff
Eagles president Joe Banner continued his interview with the team's Web site and addressed the question on everyone's mind -- the status of the team's quarterback situation, with all three players entering the final year of their contracts.
Coach Andy Reid has said Donovan McNabb will be back next season and McNabb has insisted that is what he wants. Kevin Kolb's camp has said he believes he is ready to be an NFL starter but trusts Reid and will be a "team player" whatever the situation. Michael Vick has made it clear that he wants to be a starter and McNabb has backed Vick, saying he is ready to start elsewhere. The Daily News has reported that Reid has assured Vick he will be traded before the draft. The Eagles have an option on Vick's contract, which has to be exercised in early March.
As for Banner, "It’s a priority to figure out exactly the best way to handle the situation. Andy’s comments have been clear about his evaluation and Andy is the final decision-maker here. As far as do we trade any of the quarterbacks, keep all three quarterbacks, what do we do with their contact status each going into last year of their deals, the uncertainty about the collective bargaining agreement going forward, those are also parts of the decision. There’s different levels of complexity about the decision. We’ll have to sit down and figure it out."
But the Eagles feel they are in an enviable position, especially as teams begin to call to check on the availability of the quarterbacks.
"I don’t think I have ever seen this situation," Banner said of having three such valuable quarterbacks. "It’s a great position to be in. It does present a very difficult decision or series of decisions to make. I don’t think there is a team in the league that wouldn’t like to have the problem of having too many good quarterbacks and what do we do with that.
Banner also talked about the differences expected in free agency with the high likelihood of an uncapped year in 2010.
"I think free agency is going to be very different than it’s been, with the best, youngest potential free agents not being free agents," he said. "It’s going to be a much quieter market, much fewer players available and the youngest, best players not available. It’s going to be finding people in spots that you have opportunities. Even the normal first week, when you have a lot of activity and a lot of big deals, I even think that will be much less active than usual."
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In some Vick-related news, as he continues to do interviews in support of "The Michael Vick Project" on BET, Vick told Atlanta radio station The Zone that he was "somewhat lazy, and I settled for mediocrity" during his tenure with the Falcons, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
That, he said, has changed. "I'm stronger, I feel fast and I'm back to my old-school workouts," he said. "I think you'll see a big difference this year. I want to play my best football up until the age of 34 and 35, and I'm going to put everything into it. Just imagine what I could have been doing if I really would have been applying myself. That's a regret I have."
He also called coming to the Eagles "probably the best thing that has ever happened to me in football."
“I didn’t even expect to go to Philadelphia. It was kind of a shock to me and my family. I just made the most of the situation ... I was able to learn so much, sit back and be observant and use it as if it was a redshirt year. That part of the segment, I wanted to show early because a lot of people really wanted to see how that happened and what took place.”
In a lengthy interview with Essence magazine, Vick was asked about the tough Philly fans and how he adjusted.
"Going to Philly was a good thing," he said. "I never knew if or when I would ever return to the NFL. I had an indefinite suspension. I was grateful to get the opportunity to return."
He also had some advice for Tiger Woods.
" I think that is such an unfortunate situation," he said. "I think a lot was probably blown out of proportion. But Tiger is smart, and he's a good man, I think people know that. He knows what he has to do. And he will move forward and do that. I see him working hard to devote himself toward saving his family. He has always had such a clean, good image and I am sure he is contrite and wants to make things right. I believe people will see that eventually."
Igottsnobrains, WTF r u talking about? #4 team of the decade? In who's eyes? Yours? Big whoop! The Eagles have been a good team under Andy Bleed and Donowhine McNag but to be a GREAT team you have to win the Super Bowl. So I guess that means we will be mired in mediocrity until further notice. Go Mike Vick! Tell Tiger how to be The Man!!!- Bob1, I don't accept complacency from the Eagles and I get frustrated at the end result every year. The fact of the matter is the Eagles have been in a better position to win over the past 10 years than any other time in their history. Its Eagles fans like you that help make our city the city of whiners. I'll bet you were one of the geniuses that was crying to Amaro to keep Lee. Keep calling up WIP and complaining about how terrible Banner is, Reid is , McNabb is. Wah, Wah, Wah— reggiedunlop
- Bob1, I don't accept complacency from the Eagles and I get frustrated at the end result every year. The fact of the matter is the Eagles have been in a better position to win over the past 10 years than any other time in their history. Its Eagles fans like you that help make our city the city of whiners. I'll bet you were one of the geniuses that was crying to Amaro to keep Lee. Keep calling up WIP and complaining about how terrible Banner is, Reid is , McNabb is. Wah, Wah, Wah— reggiedunlop
Comment removed.- Reggiedumlop, what kinda fan are you? The kind that loves mediocrity, no doubt. Who the F wants to just make the playoffs with the Eagles? After every team in the friggin NFC East has a championship, you mean to tell me that you don't care about winning one? YEAH YOU DON'T! And we should have kept Cliff Lee! That would have almost guaranteed the Phillies with another championship. You hater you!
- i read #7 comments on his play in ATL.way i see it ,they wouldn't had so many wins with him.soiuunds like A.I.,PRACTICE/ ITS PRACTICE WE TALKIN ABOUT!..A.I,brought his every nite,just like Vick did.thats why the ATL loved him.and we here loved A.I.here.so hopefully, the birds will keep him,but scrap the wild bird offense,its not too effective for a pass happy offense. .— t_darb_56
- Kevin Kolb should be given an honest to goodness shot at starting. Capt. Andy needs to make that clear to McNabb. It should be the best man wins type of deal. If McNabb doesn't like it then he should asked to be traded. That's the way it was done in Arizona when Leinart got beat out by Kurt Warner. McNabb shouldn't think he owns that position. He should have to compete for it. I really believe the team seems to get behind McNabb's backups more than him. Detmer, Feeley, Garcia and even Kolb seem to point that out.— Phillyexp
- Number 4 team of the decade??? That's absolute nonsense. The goal is to win titles, not 10 games a year. This franchise is a FAILURE. Plain and simple. They are the #4 team... in the city, as they have the longest (50 year) drought between championships out the 4, so they do have that going for them. I wonder if they will make a big deal about the 1960 anniversary this year. After all they don't like to call attention to their ineptitude.— nittany4
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- mcNabb IS a great QB - this is so inane— mebphila
- Banner has been a key player in an organization thats made the playoffs 8 of the last 10 years. The only reason people in this town act like making the playoffs is no big deal is because they make it so much. If you told a fan of any other city there team would make the playoffs 8 of 10 years they'd be thrilled.— aj322
- mcnabb better be traded or im cancelling my nfl package. banner & reid have lurie hoodwinked.— maximus
- IGOTDATSWAGGER says the same thing everytime, "Desean will never see the ball with Kolb." Let me remind you that you don't use any facts here. Facts are, Desean had 2 of his 5 best games of the season in Kolb's 2 starts. 101 yds and a TD against the Saints and 149 yds and a TD against the Chiefs. You have no clue what you're talking about.— stulic23
