Kolb gets one-year extension
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Kolb gets one-year extension
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Kevin Kolb and the Eagles have agreed to a one-year contract extension through the 2011 season, the team announced today.
In the span of three and a half week, Kolb has been named the Eagles starting quarterback, welcomed into the world his second daughter and received a contract extension.
"It's been a good month," Kolb said. "Named the starting quarterback, contract extension and, of course, the baby. It's been a whirlwind."
Kolb is set to earn a guaranteed $12.26 million over two years, most of it in the form of a signing bonus, according to his agent, Jeff Nalley.
"I think if the current [collective bargaining agreement] rules weren't in place, I think the goal would have been to do a long-term deal on both sides," Nalley said "But the rules are what they are."
The CBA's 30-percent rule doesn't allow for players playing in their rookie deals to get a raise in their next contract of more than 30 percent of their base salary. Kolb's base salary this season was $550,000, but is now a guaranteed $715,000.
“We’re happy to have Kevin under contract for the next two seasons,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said in a statement. “When given the chance, Kevin has proven to have good command of this offense and we’re looking forward to having him operate as the number one quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.”
Kolb was named the Eagles starter on Easter Sunday, April 4, the day the team traded Donovan McNabb to the Redskins. According to Nalley, both sides didn't start negotiating a new deal until over a week later. The back-and-forth went on for a while until yesterday, when Nalley decided it would be in his best interest to fly from Houston to Philadelphia to negotiate with the Eagles in person.
“We’re excited about what we’ve seen from Kevin during his three seasons in Philadelphia both on and off the field," Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said. "We’re happy to get this contract in place for the near future and are looking forward to keeping Kevin in Philadelphia for many more years to come.”
Said Eagles president Joe Banner, “I’d like to thank Kevin and his agent Jeff Nalley for their work in getting this contract signed. We’re very happy with Kevin and all the attributes he brings to this organization and we’re pleased to sign another young, ascending player to a contract. It’s something that this organization has prioritized over the last several years.”
Kolb's extension comes the day before the start of minicamp. A second-round draft choice in 2007, Kolb was McNabb's backup for three seasons. Kolb filled in for two games last season when McNabb was injured in the season opener. In those two games, a loss to the Saints and a win over the Chiefs, Kolb became the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for 300 yards in his first two NFL starts.
He threw for 391 yards vs. New Orleans and 327 yards a week later vs. Kansas City and was named NFC Offensive player of the week honors for his performance in that game.
Kolb isn't the only Eagles player that was due a bump in pay. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson, a Pro Bowler last season, will earn $480,000 in base salary this year. He has said that he wants a new deal, but also that he's willing to wait. It'll be interesting to see if the Eagles have Jackson next on their list.
Smart move considering Cornholio Kolb only started 2 games and is unproven. I think 6-8 wins with this bunch of inexperienced players and the schedule we've been delt. Speaking of corn, I need a corn dog. Time's yours.— ANDY-IS-FAT
Kevin Kolb is awesome he is way better than McNabb....OK I can't even write that in a joking manner....KOLB SUcks!— number20- Kolb is clearly worth at least this he should be making as much as Tom Brady. He Rules....lol— number20
- Wolf...can you explain to me and the rest of the readers how Kevin Kolb is going to get back three TD's that Asante Samuels might give up on the next two drives? How do you score three TD's in two drives? We all HOPE Kolb is great but we don't know...not you, not me and not the Eagles. He has potential but unfortunately potential means he's never done it before. We all shall see...by the way, Wolf, have any guts yet? What exactly is a Super Bowl contender? Did you grow a pair to answer yet???— Eilex826
- Hey lone wolf you are an idiot. Without guys like Hamels, boucher, and Halladay. Without Hamels we don't win a world series, without boucher we are out of the playoffs, and Halladay is the best pitcher in baseball who took less money to come here. Maybe you should root for other teams because, i am not sure i want you associated with my teams.— phillies09
- degopower Kolb didn't have 1 decent year he had 2 good games.— phillies09
- Congrats kevin on the birth of your child. You have the entire support of the tri-state area. Being free of the cornball fakeness is like a weight lifted off our shoulders. U dont think Andy and Marty are salivating about the first gm vs green bay with a qb who can actually lead a receiver. Your toughness Kevcrop will win over the fans immediately. We all believe. Like your father said "Kevins gonna take them to where they've never been before."— Onlineps2beast
- I think a lot of you guys are reading and commenting on the wrong newspaper. I believe you guys want Dallasnews.com— crohnkiller
- "Ouch, only a one-year deal"? Really peteike and theeutmost and others? Go read what the CBA rule stiplulates before you make stupid comments in a public forum. Perhaps if you understood what was going on and the parameters that everyone had to work with per league rules, you would get a clue about what just went down. IDIOTS.— msoylemez
- Lonewolf, you are a disgrace. Frontrunner? Halladay is a frontrunner. Dude, you have absolutely no clue about anything? And if Boucher leads this team to the finals, he is a "Day late and Dollar short" Hamels is soft even though he was MVP of the World Series. Seriously, it is people like you that give this city such a bad name. And guess what, as soon as your boy has a bad game, I hope he hear Kafka chants in the stands.— oharabri
- Commenters, if you don't understand the unusual place the NFL and its players are in now, read the article. With no cap Kolb can't get more than a 30% raise in base pay per year. I am sure the Eagles would love to ink to to 4 years of base salaries of: $715K, $930K, $1.2M, and $1.56M, but Kolb's a starting QB. No way he goes for that and no way the Eagles give him a $60 million signing bonus. They have to wait for a new CBA before they can ink a true extension.— jtj06
