Kolb: 'It's Pretty Tough'
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Kolb: 'It's Pretty Tough'
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
The warmest day yet for Eagles' informal lockout workouts was spiced this morning by the debut of quarterback Kevin Kolb on the Burlington County, N.J. field.
Kolb, who wants to be traded, is perhaps the most visible victim of the NFL lockout, as Rich Hofmann posited today.
He has been at home in Texas since shortly after the Birds' season ended in a wild card playoff loss to the Packers, mostly refusing interview requests.
Kolb and Mike Kafka threw today to a half-dozen or so targets, including Jason Avant, Brent Celek and Jeremy Maclin. Michael Vick, who organized the workouts, was not present for today's session.
"'It's pretty tough, but y'all have known me for a long time, and the way that I handle things is that I kind of keep things out of my life. I don't pay too much attention to it. It's hard, when it has to do with my life, but I keep a positive attitude and keep moving forward, and whatecver happens, I'll be ready to roll," Kolb said afterward.
Kolb said he has been throwing in Texas to friends, including Eagles wideout Chad Hall.
Eagles coach Andy Reid has indicated he intends to trade Kolb, giving Kolb the chance to start that Kolb glimpsed briefly last season, before he suffered a Game 1 concussion and Michael Vick took over. But there are no guarantees; the lockout could continue long enough that teams might balk at paying a lot for a presumptive starting QB who is only going to have a few weeks to learn a new offense.
"If the situation (of staying with the Eagles) can't be avoided, I'm not going to sit there and be a turd," Kolb said. "That's not my style. I think that I've voiced my opinion, and there's nothing more I can do. Just like always, whatever situation arises, I'll just have to roll with the punches ... To say that it didn't cross my mind, I'd be lying."
Hypotheticals can drive you crazy, said Kolb, who laughed when asked if he has been pricing real estate in Arizona. The Cardinals have been widely mentiioned as a likely destination.
"There's a list of questions, and nobody knows the answers," Kolb said. "A lotta unknowns."
Kolb has kept in touch with teammates and knew Vick was organizing informal workouts starting last week. A few days ago he called Celek, asking the tight end to pick him up at the airport and host him for a few days. Celek, Kolb and offensive lineman Todd Herremans played golf in Philadelphia on Wednesday.
"I was workin' out about a week and a half ago, and said, 'Man, it's time,' " Kolb said. "So I booked a flight and came on up."
Kolb's teammates were glad to see him. This is an extreme situation where nothing seems particularly awkward, Avant said.
"There's guys all over this country right now working out with quarterbacks, maybe from high school," Avant said. "If they'll throw it to us, we're willing to catch it."
Avant said he would like to keep Kolb as a teammate, but respects that he wants to start.
Look for more in Friday's Daily News.
It would be a real shame to miss a whole year, due to a lockout. Not only to miss football, but to miss a crucial, prime year encompassing Vick, Jackson, Maclin, and Shady.— skipper22- Skipper22 you are right, that is what real Eagle fans are worrying about. We are worrying about our team and the players that want to be here not the ones that demanded a trade less than an hour after a playoff game. Let him go good bye don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you and take Sal Pal, Les Bowen, John Clayton and all those in love with you with you. — Blessed8251
- Stop with the crying about Kolb hurting because of the lock-out you so concerned about him give him your salary and move to wherever he is going. I guess you people forget he is the one who asked to be traded so STHU about him being a victim.— Blessed8251
- Of course, if you were Kolb you'd much rather sit on the bench as a back-up than take-on the challenge & opportunity of starting in the NFL. — wordsword
- The 5mil he got for being a bug on matthews windshield should keep him quiet..— Living_Legend
- He got 12 million or so and he IS keeping quiet. Did you read the part about his refusing interview requests? How more quiet can he be?— calm weather
Comment removed.- i need a job like kk.— wolf 4
- Did the Eagles make a mistake with Kolb? Yes! They benched him. Will they make another mistake with him? Yes! They have to trade him. Will Kolb have the last laugh? Yes! Will he get to the Super Bowl before Vick? If he gets there yes because Vick will NEVER get to the Super Bowl unless he gets hurt and some other QB takes him there. Hang in there KK your day is coming.— obergruber
- they would not have had a season without Vick you morons. You just can't see past your hatred. Kolb career would have been over if he had played one game against the Giants and you and all of his apologist should be thanking God and vick for saving his career. You can hit the road with kolb all you have to do is hit him he will be disrupted the rest of the game. oh he wont take anyone to sb but you are welcome to follow him whever he goes. Bye Bye — Blessed8251
- I really feel that un less the Eagles just max out and go for the title then they will come to regret trading Kolb and keeping Vick. We all watched all the games with vick and loved the explosiveness of the offense when Vick's legs were fresh, but we also saw that the freshness didn't last and the offense sputtered along with Vicks legs. His speed is still his major weapon even though he seems to have improved his accuracy as a passer. He's going to be in his 30's. How many more years will he have the weapon that opens up everything else? He won't be a video game-speed guy when he's 33 or 34. Will we still be happy in 2 years when vick has lost his legs and Kolb is doing well for the next 10 years for some other team? It's something to think about. Again, if the team will go hard in free agency and go for it in the next 2 years than I'm good with keeping Vick, but there is alot of risk involved. Be careful what you wish for.— Sewellmatt
- IMO Kevin showing alot of class working with his teammates,they all want(avant-maclin-celek-etc) him to stay with the Birds,, 26 year old franchise QB's who have been player of the week twice in four starts donot grow on trees,i hope the Birds F.O. know what they are doing,,where's MV??..MV=0SBs...— ppizza
- Glad to hear Kevin is not going to be a turd if he's still on the Eagles next year. Who will we sign as our back-up? Vick will probably be out with some sort of injury by Week 3 given his style of play.— jpgulli
- "I'm not going to sit there and be a turd," Kolb said.
he said turd...— jmleo - All you Kolb apologist just refuse to see the truth. Keep looking at the Green Bay game and pretending that Kolb would have had a great season if he had not gotten hurt. I watched the first quarter over and over and he was lost. He could not figure the defenses out, did not see where the rush was coming from and if you will be honest the game looked too fast for him. Reid saved his career, because he would not have been in the nfl if he had tried to continue. He should want to go to the West because his career would be over in the nfc east or north. I am very sure he wants nothing to do with the afc, players like James Harrison, Woodley etc. Keep making excuses for him but one thing you cannot make an excuse for he asked to be traded so Andy is giving him what he wants. Why would a team keep someone who does not want to play for them or gives them ultimatiums? We are not the Bengals. The truth is when he heard Kafika say he is ready to be the back-up he got up off his lazy tell and decided to come and work-out. He may fool you but he is not fooling all of us.— Blessed8251
