Kolb: 'I'm ready to roll'
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Kolb: 'I'm ready to roll'
Daily News staff
Kevin Kolb met the media for the first time since the Eagles traded Donovan McNabb to the Redskins on Sunday.
Coach Andy Reid has talked about how much confidence he has in Kolb and the control that Kolb has over the offense.
"Everything I've done in my life has led to this," Kolb said. "I'm ready to roll and lead this team."
"I didn't even blink when Andy told me. I really didn't," he said. "I'm excited about it. I'm sure it will have a little drama, but it will be a fun ride. I truly have that outlook on it. I think this team will surprise some people.”
Kolb said several times that he does not think this is a rebuilding year and that the moves the organization have made are a symbol of the team’s confidence in the younger players.
“[Winning the Super Bowl], that’s been our goal since I've been here, since Andy’s been here," he said. "That's not going to change because we're going younger … We will have the same focus day in and day out like when we were when we were trying to make those runs with all the veterans.”
Kolb said he understood the situation whe returned to the bench last season after becoming the first QB in NFL history to throw for more than 300 yards in his first two starts.
"I trusted the organization, I trusted Andy to get me here one day," he said. "The times last year when I started that I felt I was ready, but the team wasn't ready, maybe the city wasn’t ready. I knew Andy would put me in the situation to be the starter."
He also talked often about the other players rallying around him and the relationships he has formed.
He also said he benefited from being able to watch for the last few years and hoped to talk to Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers and New Orleans' Drew Brees about the adjustment from backup to starter.
"You get to sit back and get to watch the peaks and valleys," he said. "The way people ride your bandwagon and jump off. It always comes back to your core -- those guys sitting here on Wednesday morning when we have our meetings. That’s all that matters. It's not always most talented team out there that wins the Super Bowl. It's the team that gels. We’re on the right track … We’re going to come together and run with this thing."
Asked about going into the final year of his contract, Kolb said he would leave those discussions to his agent.
"There is only one thing on my mind and that's getting this team ready to win the Super Bowl and win football games," he said.
Kolb said he has not yet spoken to McNabb, but that the two exchanged text messages earlier today and hope to talk later.
“Donovan and I have always had a great relationship … I want to wish him the best. He’s been nothing but a 100 percent professional to me and a good friend. I honestly will always look back to way he treated me and hopefully I go can do that for some other kids.”
Kolb said he was by himself when he got the call from Reid, about 15 minutes before the news broke, which “was a nice place to be, to let it soak in for a minute before I started making phone calls and answering texts.”
Kolb said his first call was to his wife and then called his father, who was his high school coach.
Asked what he learned from McNabb, Kolb said, “I think the one thing he does is he handles every situation
that the NFL, the city, the media has put on him with a smile. That’s one thing that I noticed right away is, man, he’s always in a good mood. That portrays well in the locker room because it doesn’t show to anyone that that’s affecting
him, even if it is. He’s real good about keeping that under his skin and making sure that everything is real smooth in the locker room. So, that’s something I need to work on, I have worked on and will take from him as the starting quarterback.”
Kolb also said preparation will be different for him as the starter.
"You have to find your groove as a starting quarterback at this level, in this league -- what fits you preparation wise, rest wide, weight training," he said. "You have to find your own routines week to week and see what works for you. I want to get that ironed out as soon as possible."
He also said no two quarterbacks are the same.
"Something has to change, some for the good, some for the worse," he said. "I'm a totally different style guy ... There are differences but at the same time as long as it leads to the Super Bowl, that's all we're after."
Poll: Will McNabb haunt the Eagles?
Now who do you blame Wolf? We are a leeser football tam and the Skins got a lot better. This elevator is moving the wrong direction. The clock is now ticking for Andy as well but Jeffry got a lot richer so that is a good thing!!!!— jakster- Now who do you blame Wolf? We are a leeser football tam and the Skins got a lot better. This elevator is moving the wrong direction. The clock is now ticking for Andy as well but Jeffry got a lot richer so that is a good thing!!!!— jakster
- Well EaglesBleedMoney, Kolb can't make that excuse because he actually has weapons, unlike McNabb for much of his career. People forget that he was a one man show early in his career throwing to stalwarts like James Thrash and Todd Pinkston. I hope this guy is the real deal because if he isn't, the Eagles are cooked for a very long time. If you don't believe so, all you need do is count all the pro-bowl quarterbacks the Eagles have had. That should take you, I don't know, three seconds.— Hemingway
- When they get rid of the dog murderer, I will start caring again.— philpa
- this is all just a smokescreen to draft that crybaby, Teblow...my man— Lonewolf10
- I agree 100% Hemingway...— EaglesBleedMoney
phillyfan27 -- i have an i.t. degree and i work and live downtown and i'm still in my 20's. um, i wouldnt call that being a loser. and im willing to bet that i have a better life style then yours pal. philly is used to winning. if he cant win, bench him. he isnt getting any slack just like donavan, chump.- PhillySports.com: IS WONDERNG IF SPUDS IS GOING TO BE CO-HOSTING THE KEVIN KOLB SHOW! Holla! I'm glad he is getting his shot and I am equally glad Don is getting a fresh start... Fix the O-line and the defense and I see no reason why would be taking a "step back"— sima_down_nah
- DonovanistheEaglesallTimeGreatestPlayer: finally u can go to the Washington sites now. get off the site. Everyone on here thinks your an loser— sheeron
- What is wrong with this paper? It's freaking OPENING DAY of Phillies Baseball. Hasn't this damned trade taken up enough time and enough away from SPRING AND the PHILLIES?— anon
- @VAFAN.... WELL SAID. I love hearing how people are saying they wont watch the birds or they will root against them. Then you were never fans in the first place. I watched Doug Pederson for gods sake, I can take almost anything after that. I think Kolb will be good but the first year may be rough like it is for all young qbs, Just like it was for Mcnabb.— kramer65
- @ Hemingway.... Pro Bowl Qbs Jaworski, Cunningham, Mcnabb........ Kolb? We'll find out.......— kramer65
Go Kevin.— Richard Saunders
Comment removed.- Ya, always knew DonovanistheEaglesallTimeGreatestPlayerAndIHaveAManCrushOnHim was no Birds fan. Good riddance. Go pester the Skins fans.— Richard Saunders
