Kolb wants to start or wants out
Kevin Kolb isn’t one for ultimatums – he handled his demotion this season with class – but the backup quarterback wants out if the Eagles plan on bringing Michael Vick back as their starting quarterback, a source close to the situation said.
Kolb wants to start or wants out
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Kevin Kolb isn’t one for ultimatums – he handled his demotion this season with class – but the backup quarterback wants out if the Eagles plan on bringing Michael Vick back as their starting quarterback, a source close to the situation said.
Kolb wants to start and whether that’s for the Eagles or not, he will let coach Andy Reid know that during a scheduled Monday meeting. The 26-year-old has been the Eagles' backup for most of four seasons.
Asked what would be a best-case scenario for next season, Kolb said, “To start.”
“I love it here, as everybody knows,” Kolb said after the Eagles’ 21-16 playoff loss to the Packers. “My family’s settled in here. I would love to be starting here. But I want to be starting somewhere.”
Kolb was then asked if could take another season in Philadelphia as the backup.
“I can’t answer that question,” he said.
Kolb is under contract for another season, though. The Eagles gave him a one-year extension and an $11 million bonus last April after they traded away Donovan McNabb and gave him the starting job. But he’s slated to earn only $1.4 million next season, which is a very low sum for a backup.
Vick, however, is not under contract for next season. The Eagles are expected to franchise him if there is a tag in the new collective bargaining agreement as most assume there will be.
The labor situation could tie up any wheeling and dealing between teams which means Kolb could be in no-mans land for a while. The Eagles could ask for as much as two first-round picks in return for the quarterback, although a high-price like that would suggest that they want him back.
“Whatever happens you want to know the answer so you can prepare one way or the other,” Kolb said. “Our communication with be fine. … And I’ll be looking to starting here, hopefully.”
He would be a very good insurance policy should Vick – whose style always leaves him susceptible to injury – get hurt during the season. Even after his benching earlier this season, Kolb was needed when Vick injured his ribs. With him starting in the next three games, the Eagles went 2-1.
But if the Eagles bring him back only to hold a clipboard for an entire season they could risk losing him after the season without getting anything in return. If a team was to offer at least a first-round pick in return – and there are at least a dozen teams in need of a starting quarterback – the Eagles may be willing to make a trade.
“Obviously, there’s a chance for a lot of things,” Kolb said. “So I’ll just wait and just talk to these guys and see what happens.”
- I'm confused. According to his fishing buddy Gargano on WIP, Kolb is the future. He understands the nuances of the game because he's a coach's son. He knows where to go with the ball. He can make the throws and hit people in stride. All the young players love him and rally around him. He killed a rattle snake with his bare hands. Any time he's had a bad performance it's because after four years, he's not accustomed to the speed of the game. Why don't people trust his fishing buddy?
— tbone pickins 
Kolb is the future, Vick can't stand up to an 18 game season— primo
Comment removed.- Andy send Kolb to the Redskins for a few high draft picks. Pull the wool over their eyes again.
Vick saved the Eagles season...otherwise the Birds would have been bottom of the NFC East in a re-building season. This year was a bette than expected and anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional and full of BS!!!— rawalbe - Peace and hair grease Maurice!— madaboutit
- that was a poor decision to throw the pass up for grabs with plenty of time on the clock,conVick has a better chance of going back to levenworth then going to the SB..MVP (LOLOLOL)........wolf-out. — wolf 4
- Its amazing how many people are so sure Kolb cant play. He's started about 6 or 7 games and has had several very good games. NFL execs who have seen hin on film are interested in obtaining him yet the bozo's on philly.com are so sure he cant play when he's had more good games than bad without the benefit of much experience. I like Vick if they give him an offensive line but lets face it, he's still just really a gimmick qb who will lose his magic in 2 years when he's into his 30's and his legs aren't so quick. Nobody seems to be considering that fact. Even if vick has become a serviceable qb which I think he has, what happens in 2 years when the legs start to go? He's serviceable as long as he has the extra weapon with his legs but he's bound to slow down very soon. Kolb might give someone 10-12 years of high quality qb'ing.— Sewellmatt
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Vick is not long term answer here-scrambling, rushing QB's don't win Super Bowls. Give Kolb a chance.— skaj11
- Actually, John Elway and Steve Young have rings....Coaches with at 70-50 pass-run ratio don't win Super Bowls. Neither do defenses who set records for Red Zones touchdown passes...
— ewsavage - I want to retire and own a yacht.....sorry, Kolb....you can't always get what you want.— philly449
- conVick has a better chance of going back to levenworth then taking a team to the SB.....wolf-out. — wolf 4
- I agree, Kolb deserves to start. Does anybody know how a trade between the Eagles and a CFL team would work? I'm sure Calgary or Edmonton could use Kolb.— AreaMan
