How can they cut Trent Edwards?
Eagles 28, Jets 10
How can they cut Trent Edwards?
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
No one knows what the Eagles are thinking about their third quarterback. And, yes, the very fact that we are talking about the third quarterback makes this a quintessential Philadelphia conversation. But, that aside, it is getting harder and harder to believe that they are thinking about getting rid of Trent Edwards and keeping Mike Kafka instead.
Edwards played the final three quarters of the Eagles' 28-10 win over the New York Jets on Thursday night. He was very good, again. He was 22 for 32 for 197 yards, 2 touchdown and no interceptions. It was the latest in a string of solid, competent performances -- admittedly, against backup players -- that Edwards has put on this summer. Brought here as the presumed third-stringer, then left in no-man's land after the Eagles drafted Nick Foles, Edwards has watched as Foles played his way into the backup spot, and Kafka broke his hand. He has watched, and he as improved, and he has made the most out of his chance.
And here we are. Eagles coach Andy Reid did not rush Kafka back to play in this game because he says he has plenty of information to make his evaluation. Remember, he liked Kafka well enough to make him the backup in the off-season, and the only thing he has done wrong in a game is throw a single, wretched interception.
Is that enough to lose his job? Or is that the wrong question?
Because Edwards really has been good, and there is a body of opinion in the NFL that you want to have a veteran backup quarterback on your roster, just in case -- and starter Michael Vick is the ultimate just-in-case guy. On the other hand, there is no evidence that the Eagles subscribe to that theory. After all, their intention at the start of the summer was to have a young backup (Kafka) and an even younger third-stringer (Foles).
So, what to do?
It is hard to know.
It is also hard to ignore what Trent Edwards has done.
cupajoe, yes this is a serious issue because Vick is a train wreck looking for a place to happen and Kafka has shown nothing in the time he's been here. I think they cannot afford to let Edwards go. Hope Reid thinks the same way. Foles is good but totally inexperienced and they need that experience backing him up. Edwards is a team guy and will help him develop, even at the risk of not playing himself.— djlen
No one really believes that Vick can stay healthy for a whole season. Having two developmental QBs with little to no NFL game experience backing up Vick does not seem like a good idea. When the one developmental QB does not even appear to have an upside to be a quality starter, it seems foolish to disregard an experienced QB that has earned a spot on the team with his preseason game performance.— OverFiftyYears- Keep Edwards, they need a an experienced QB to help mentor Foles.— phil500
- They have to hold on to Edwards. If Vick goes down and Foles falters they'll be glad to have him, he's a competent back-up.— JayOfDaJungle
- cant keep kafka over edwards.
especially not if reid is srsly making foles #2.— bloodymess - When I hear the name Kafka, I just keep thinking cockroach. Probably because of a story "The Metamorphosis". Now back to Football. I hope they keep the players that perform. I hate to have someone lose their position due to injury but I think Kafka has to be the one that should be let go.— roque32
- Edwards was a West Coast offense stud when he came out of Stanford. They blew the opportunity to draft him in '07 and took Kolb instead - we know what happened there...he should have been McNabb's successor, but I would be fine having him mentor our current successor, Nick Foles...— CrazyBird
- They could go either way and it would be all right with me. I'm not sweating over who is our THIRD quarterback.— ICDogg
- Kaffer was unlucky to get hurt - some call that fate. Keep TE.— chollie
- Rogue32: Gregor was probably a dung beetle, not a cockroach. Otherwise I agree. Sucks to lose your job to injury, but it happens all the time.— JBirks
- You keep the 3 best QBs, Vick, Foles and Edwards. Sorry Kafka. QB is too important a position and the O line has looked shaky at times, all 3 guys might see playing time this year. It's a perfect situation for Edwards: Barring a Super Bowl win this year, I think Vick has to go next year; then you've got Foles as your starter and Edwards is the back up. Kafka was a head scratcher to me when they drafted him. Now's their chance to unload him without having to admit they made a mistake.— cletisvandam
If this occurs, the person that finally should be jettisoned from the Eagles is Andy (the nutball) Reid. Kafka? Give me a friggin' break. Andy: If we still had nut houses (insane asylums) you would be a candidate for housing within.- Until tonight's game, I thought keeping Kafka was the right thing to do. Kafka supposedly knows the offense, but Edwards seems to have picked it up pretty well. Its common practice to knock performances against another team's 2nd or 3rd string, but wasn't Edwards working with our backups & 3rd stringers.
The man has done well --- consistently. That should count for something.— yobill626 - The Patriots were 1-3 in 2004's preseason, the year they beat the Eagles in the Superbowl...— hallux
- Edwards has played lights out. He's only 28 and 6'4, 230lbs. Kafka has shown us nothing since being drafted. Trent should be the number 2 guy because he's started in the league in the past. If Reid cuts Trent just another reason to fire him if they don't make the playoffs.— Desert Steve
