Banner on QB situation
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Banner on QB situation
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles introduced Howie Roseman as their new general manager today, so it was no time like the present to ask about the quarterback situation.
That is, unless, you're asking Andy Reid. The Eagles coach, of course, doesn't talk about issues that he feels are unrelated to the gathering at hand, which in this case was the introduction of Roseman. Eagles president Joe Banner, however, offered some clarity (we say that sarcastically) on the McNabb-Kolb-Vick conundrum.
"Here's the reality on that, it sounds evasive, but it isn't," Banner said. "[After] we finished playing we all stayed here for a week and kind of finished the evaluation of the season. We all took a week off and then went to the Senior Bowl -- some of us went to the Senior Bowl, some of us didn't -- and we've literally been back one day. So we really have not had the meeting to start figuring this stuff out. Obviously we have to do that. ... Obviously we have to make a decision on what we're going to do. But at this moment I can tell you that we haven't even laid out a plan or sat down and even exchanged our different ideas or thoughts on that."
Yes, but didn't Reid say that McNabb was his quarterback for next year? Does that complicate the analysis?
"I think Andy's comment were unambiguous," Banner said. "I understand that it's still a valid ... question and I don't know if there's anything to clarify or add to what he said. He's the decision-maker. He's the spokesperson. I think he was clear."
All three quarterbacks have just one year remaining on their contracts. McNabb said earlier this week that he wouldn't pursue an extension, although it would seem unlikely that he would want to go into the season without more security.
"Tom Brady is doing it, Peyton Manning has done it twice," Banner said. "Peyton Manning actually played on the last year of his contract and part of the year on a franchise tag. No, that wouldn't be unusual.
"We do have to make a decision on this and the decision could be anything from the status quo to some change. I think Andy's comment speaks very clearly for where we're at as it relates to Donovan. There's no point in me trying to eleborate on it."
The Eagles have 11 players that are either on the last year of their contract or are unrestricted free agents. There's also the complication that could arise if there is no agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement.
Banner was also asked about Brian Westbrook's status, but you can just copy and paste his response to the quarterback question and place it right about ... here. The Eagles haven't made any personnel decisions in regards to their current roster.
Ok people i have read enough. Mcnabb is the man ok.... Please will all you dummies who dont know about football shutup and watch tennis. The true eagle fans who have any idea what they are talking about know dorn well that kolb is no where near the answer. Mcnabb gets no respect at all, in fact i hope he leaves so i can laugh at you morons who want him gone. He worked all these years with nothing at all and the one big reciever he got he took us to the super bowl. Hello am i the only one watching the games. My god man you must be sleep during the games. Thank god andy knows if he looses Mcnabb he will loose he job— mikie595- McNabb isn't going anywhere. Bank it. When Reid was asked this same question going into last season, he acknowledged the youth movement on offense and said that it's gonna take more than one season for Donovan to jell with his new weapons, most of whom are rookies and second year players. Anyone who knows football, (and those numbers seem to be dwindling in this forum by the way)can clearly see that the Eagles have glaring deficiencies on both lines, especially the o-line and at safety. Bottom line is you're not going to win in the playoffs if you can't keep the dawgs off your passer or run the ball effectively. this begins and ends with the o-line. Jason Peters played decent, but he was nowhere NEAR the high impact player he was billed to be, injuries or not. You have the Andrews brothers, ones a nut and the others a never was and both are a waste of two roster spots. Jamal Jackson, who was thier most solid lineman gets hurt which leaves Nick Cole playing out of position. They had Jon Runyan who knows the offense backward and forward and in street clothes was still better than anything the Eagles had on the roster at tackle, begging to be back on the team and what happens? They let him go to San Diego. It was a miracle McNabb wasn't KILLED in those last two games. While Donovan shares a lot of the blame, only an idiot pins this years failure squarely on his shoulders. They lost as a team.— Will54
- What Jackson said is more important than what Banner said. That some players believe 5 is no longer the incumbent speaks volumes about the offseason moves coming up. Time to get value for 5 while there is still value to be had. It's about the franchise, not an individual player. Vick and McNabb should be able to net decent 2nd (perchance late 1st) round picks. Time to complete the rebuilding started this year and bring the Lombardi Trophy to Philly for more than a visit.— Joe Funk
- Igotss - Jackson gets open also; unfortunately many times the ball is thrown over his head or into the ground. Warner has a much quicker release than McNabb, and throws it the instant there is some space between receiver and defender. Thats why McNabb carries that suspect low interception stat. He holds the ball to long, and waits to the receiver is wide open. He has had really good offensive lines during his time here that hid that flaw. Once that line starts to deteriote, hes in trouble.— watsonmr
- I don't think even the decision makers even know at this point, so much can happen between now and the draft. Extending Kolb and trading DMac and Vick would free up a lot of cap room to make DeSean happy (Drew H knows this too). Brad Childress would give up 2 very high picks and a player, but only if an extension came with it. Any trade to a sub par team like Oakland or Buffalo or Cleveland would only be a one year deal (no way DMac extends there), hence smaller compensation.— MidGreen
- Donovan is a good athlete. He may even end up with HOF stats. He's a horrible West Coast System quarterback. The fact that it has taken Big Red 13 years to figure that out, makes him an average coach.— SKIPJACK
- Come on people, you are all probably the same people who called for Feeley and he still can't get off the bench! The Eagles are not one of those just a QB away from winning it all teams. They are a regime change away. They need LB, S,CB,DE, a running game, a coach willing to call a balanced running attack and willing to call out his QB for bad mechanics resulting in poor throws. They are not a wet behind the ears, INT prone, looked good against a real bad team, first time QB that no one heard of before Andy drafted him away from winning it all teams. If you think that is the missing ingredient to greatness, I'd love to hear back from you once you get what you wished for. Don't throw Andy under the bus, I want to hear this same blind faith support for Kolb that i'm hearing now.— Raehant
- Package a deal with Vick&McNabb for Dalas cheerleaders!— frank martino
- Really guys it's Andy R who should go. His five year plan for a SB turned into an eleven year 0 with a 1 for 6 championship in big games.Was that B Dawkins in the Pro Bowl intrcepting D M.?— fjmuzo
- Donovan showed in the PB the same throw high, throw low, or throw up, he has here for ten years.Didn't they use to say,it was the play calling, the WRs, no Running game? He had the best WRs, and RBs on the planet, and still the SME tired RESULT. Yeah it was easy for Gruden to sit there and defend McNabb, Donovan handed him his only SB ring on a silver platter— mikey48
Trade lonewolf to Buffalo for a TO trading card— Mabus- Anytime Andy Reid has the final call on personnel matters, I get a queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.— ArizonaMike
- Philly media are a bunch of softies ! Why wasn't Banner asked about the "gold standard" and the "best roster in the NFL". Bet those 2 HUGE back-to-back losses to Dallas have rankled Banner--no questions. Banner watched Ray Rhodes self-destruct. Banner & Lurie have to see that Reid is not advancing the club to truly elite levels. Have to think Banner wishes he had not offered Reid that 3 year extension. Wish some one had asked Banner if Reid has a deadline on a superbowl?— Smashmouth
