Kolb: "It's pretty tough"
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Kolb: "It's pretty tough"
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Kevin Kolb is back.
Whether he's back with the Eagles next season, of course, remains one of the questions of the off-season. Some have argued that Kolb is the poster-child for NFL lockout sob stories. The Eagles backup quarterback wants to start for another team and the Eagles seem willing to oblige him, but the work stoppage has him hanging on a wire.
"It's pretty tough," Kolb said today, moments after participating for the first time in informal workouts with the Eagles. "But, you all have known me for a long time, and the way I handle things is I keep my mind and keep the things out of my life. So 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 whatever happens I'll be ready to roll."
A reporter reminded Kolb that he's currently the most sought after quarterback in the NFL. He's been linked to many teams in a possible trade, most notably to the Arizona Cardinals.
"Well, just the unknown, one way or the other, you hope for the best, but not knowing things for your family, for myself, for preparation, who to throw to," Kolb said. “The only thing I can do is try to get my body right, make sure my mind is right when the bell rings.”
Kolb showing up for workouts today in Evesham, N.J. came as bit of a surprise. He has maintained his residence in Granbury, Tex. for almost all of the off-season and hadn't taken part in the workouts organized by quarterback Michael Vick and tight end Brent Celek. Because there's a good chance he won't be back with the Eagles some speculated that he was avoiding throwing to players who could no longer be teammates.
"He's still a Philadelphia Eagle," Celek said.
Kolb said he decided about a week-and-a-half ago that is was time to return to Philadelphia.
"I just booked a flight and came on up," Kolb said. "I think I called Brent 18 hours in advance and said, ‘Hey, come pick me up at the airport, I’m going to stay with you for a week.’”
Kolb said he landed in Philly yesterday and then played golf with a group of Eagles players. He plans on practicing again tomorrow and will stay through the weekend before heading back down South. Kolb said he's been throwing to Dallas-based receivers, including the Eagles' Chad Hall.
He admitted that it's been difficult to keep his mind off his future. Even though Eagles coach Andy Reid has told Kolb that he will do his best to honor his request, there's always the chance he won't be traded and will have to endure another season as the backup.
“I want an opportunity," Kolb said. "If the situation can’t be avoided I’m not going to sit there and be a turd. It’s not my style. I think I’ve voiced my opinion and there’s nothing else I can do.”
Kolb said he texted Reid when the lockout was briefly lifted during the lockout, but not to talk about his situation.
"He brought it up," Kolb said. "I said, ‘Coach, I didn’t even call you to talk about that.’ ... He threw in there at the very end: ‘I’ll do what’s best for you.’”
There are plenty of reasons why Kolb may not be traded. If the lockout drags on late into the summer or possibly into the season, teams may be less reluctant to bring in a new quarterback.
“There’s a list of questions," Kolb said. "Nobody knows the answers. To say that didn’t cross my mind, I’d be lying.”
Kolb and Eagles third-string quarterback Mike Kafka handled all the throws to Celek and wide receivers Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant and Riley Cooper, among a few others.
"It felt great. I feel good," Kolb said. "I've been working hard. Obviously, these dudes have been working hard, too. It was good to get back out here, more than just the throwing, to be around the guys again."
Vick did not attend likely because he has a speaking engagement scheduled in Philadelphia this afternoon. Vick and Kolb remain close and have spoken regularly during the off-season, but not about Kolb's situation.
“We don’t even talk about it," Kolb said. "We talk about fishing.”
12 million to walk the sidelines last year and it is tough really? Asking to be traded less than 24 hrs after the game was over and it is tough for Kolb. SMH— Blessed8251- IMO Kevin is showing alot of class working with his teammates,they all want(avant-maclin-celek-cooper-etc) him to stay with the Birds,, 26 year old franchise QB's who have been player of the week twice in four starts are not easy to find,i hope the Birds F.O. know what they are doing,Kathka is not ready to lead a team to the playoffs,where's MV??..MV=0SBs...— ppizza
- VICK IS WORKING OUT WITH HIS TEAMMATES,, or can you not read,
(probably only read what your small mind wants to see).
See below,,,,Part of the above article.
and hadn't taken part in the workouts "organized" by quarterback "Michael Vick" and tight end Brent Celek.— phillyroni - Also,, where did you get the idea that "they all" want him to stay,,, FANTASY LAND???? — phillyroni
Comment removed.- Okay, where's all the whiners who hate Kolb? I love these alleged people (all the same person probably) who think that because Michael Vick got punished for killing dogs, then Kolb should be held to the same standard because he slaughtered hogs on his farm, or wherever. Training dogs to fight (and killing them) is a crime, Mensa Boys; slaughtering an animal for food is not. Now that the lesson is over: Kolb is back with his team and is handling it right. If he gets a chance to go to AZ or wherever, he'll make the most of it. If not, he'll be Vick's #2, and he'll deal with it. As for all you nuthugging crybabies who can't stand their sacred cow (pun intended, sorry) being threatened, well, you will just have to deal with it.— MidStaterUXB
- Comment removed.
- Hey Philly_Mike don't play games, stop acting like the Eagles wanted to get rid of Kolb, he went to the press less than 24 hrs after the game and demanded to be traded. Mike Vick did not ask to be traded he said he would wait and see what the Eagles did it was out of his control, no not Kolb he went to Sal Pal and put the the word out that he wanted to be traded. So no I don't care what happens to him if he does not want to be part of this team. I am a Eagles fan not a Kolb fan, I was a fan because he was part of the team, now that he wants to move on I could care less. So no I don't feel sorry for him at all.
— Blessed8251 - hopefully the lockout is lifted and we can ditch baby arm, over-rated accuracy klob boy to a team for a first round pick. within a year that team will realize they made a stupid move and we'll be laughing all the way to the NFC title game where we lose again.— AlexSp
- He's a girly man.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- Great way to put it,,, 10 thumbs up to you sir... He is GIRLY,, GIRLY, GIRLY MAN. — phillyroni
- Franchise ??? Franchise What ?? More picks than TD's, more losses than wins,, this guy is the most overrated overhyped dud possibly in NFL history. I am not the biggest Andy fan but if he can sucker someone out of a first round pick for this loser he will forever be know in Philly circles as Andy "the thief" Reid. (flyer fans get it).
Plus,, I cannot agree more with the ascertation that making 12 ?million for playing in 2-3 games does not qualify in the real world as tough. nuff said !!— phillyroni - The whole Vick thing is a big, big mistake. Why can't this franchise ever pick up a true QB and just develop him? It's always the gimmicky guys, and this time Vick is a midget. Get ready for five years of opposing defensive lines making record numbers batted balls at the line.— WestonF01
- Comment removed.
- You cynics are clueless.
I guess if you were Kolb you'd rather sit on the bench as a back-up than step-up to the challenge & opportunity of starting in the NFL.
He's been loyal and team-concious thru it all. If you Bozo's were in his place last year you'd have whined and cried all season having lost the starting job. He didn't.— wordsword
