Reid: Donovan is the No. 1 QB
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Reid: Donovan is the No. 1 QB
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Don't come here looking for a quarterback controversy. Nope. Not here. Those were the sentiments expressed by Andy Reid today at his day-after press conference.
In light of Kevin Kolb's relief performance in the Eagles' 34-14 win over the Chiefs yesterday, it's become clear that Reid has himself four quarterbacks capable of starting -- Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick, Jeff Garcia and Kolb. For the Eagles coach, though, this is not a problem, it is a good thing.
"As long as they know their roles," Reid said, "I don't have a problem with that."
Apparently the roles are this: McNabb is the starter, Kolb is the backup, Vick is the wildcard and Garcia is the odd man out. We'll see if they all remain satisfied with those roles.
"Not that they all don't want to start," Reid said. "I won't have a quarterback here that doesn't want to start. That's just not healthy thing to have on your football team. ... But they have to understand the situation here that Donovan is the No. 1 quarterback and we go from there."
As for injuries, Guard Max Jean-Gilles has shoulder inflammation. "He should be fine," Reid said. There were no other injuries from the game.
McNabb, meanwhile, is "making progress" with his fractured rib. "He's on the mend. This will be a good week for him," Reid said referring to the Eagles' upcoming bye.
“He will be working to get the soreness out, the muscles in between the ribs," Reid said. "The tightness in there, get it stretched out. ... He will continue to throw.”
The extra week off will help running back Brian Westbrook and his sprained ankle, Reid said.
LeSean McCoy filled in admirably for Westbrook yesterday, running for 84 yards on 20 carries and scoring a TD. Reid said that the rookie could be mixed into the running back rotation more often once the aging Westbrook returns.
“I think that will take place,” Reid said. “He will rotate in there. I don’t know exactly the rotation that we would do. We would work him in there. ... I want to see how Brian does after this week and where he gets to healthwise. It’s not going to hurt to have LeSean in position where he can get into a game and go and be a solid relief pitcher for Brian. The number of carries, we’ll see how it goes.”
Some suggested last season Reid should have used Correll Buckhalter, his second tailback, more often as a complement to Westbrook. He agreed with that assessment today.
"I should have done it with Buck, obviously," Reid said about sharing carries. "He's up in Denver gaining 100 yards every week. Maybe I should have played him a little more."
A day later, Reid still didn't have a problem with DeSean Jackson's flip into the end zone, even though center Jamaal Jackson said that he did.
"I know with DeSean when I tell him act like you’ve been there," Reid said, "he can tell me he has been there once or twice.”
Guard Todd Herremans will have a scan of his left foot on Thursday. He isn't expected to be back at least until the Washington game on Oct. 26. Wide receiver Kevin Curtis still has inflammation in his knee, Reid said. Quintin Demps still has a hamstring strain. Dimitri Patterson is getting better with the hand fracture.
Reid gave the players the week off. They'll return next Monday to begin preparing for Tampa Bay.
I'm not a Vick hater but I'll be glad when he's gone next year. It's a relief knowing we don't need him.— Richard Saunders
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Kevin Kolb will be the starter for this team next year. McNabb will be finished. Vick will be released for another team to pick up and who know's about Garcia. Kolb is gonna be a winner. Best stats in NFL HISTORY for his first two starts. This kid is the real deal.— thomasg- Sorry boys and girls, the future is not now for Kolb. This is DMac's team. Kolb has put up some decent numbers on the losing side of a blow-out and against a prep school club. Thank you Kolb for filling in while the franchise QB is healing after a cheap hit. I'm glad you won't have to face a team with a real defense who actually have a legitimate pass rush--we'll count on #5 to face the likes of the Giants and Cowgirls.— CaptMorgan
- I'll take this team seriously once they've beaten a team that has actually won a game. This game was meaningless. KC probably wouldn't make the BCS if they were a college team.— baabyrrej
- thomasg - Best stats for first two starts? Do you want numbers or wins?? If he had beaten the Saints (or even kept it competitive) I would feel better, but other than Bill1966 and Lonewolf, everyone else knows that McNabb is the number 1 on this team. I am happy that Kolb has to face the defenses he is seeing as this can only give him confidence. Only those who view the world with rose colored glasses can have a true opinion on this guy yet. Still don't know why everyone thinks Vick was going to come in and light the world on fire? Not only has he been away for 2 plus yrs, but he still needs to catch up to "game speed." Even then, I don't know what we will have when he does. eeglenut - to your point, yes the goal is to win now, but I don't think the Eagles see him as being the piece that would put them over the top. Vick's biggest contribution would be to extend drives by getting first downs or creating shorter 2nd and third down scenarios for the offense. The Wildcat basically replaces our running game in instances where it has been poor in the past, it is not meant to replace the passing game as we are well established there.— desdimone
- I will be absolutely amazed if Buckhalter plays the whole season in Denver without blowing out a knee.— rwright611
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- Two words. Kevin Kolb— JLH
- Two words. Bobby Hoying.— JLH
- They let the real QB of the future, A.J. Feeley, get away. It should've been A.J., with Vick as the backup, and Donovan as the emergency QB. I think that would've made the most sense.— baabyrrej
- Let's be objective please. Kolb was great yesterday. I agree with the poster earlier who stated how comforting it is to have a legit backup in a league that has poor starters. But the "future" is NOT now. If you state Kolb's place in history, did you know that McNabb is in the top 20 in NFL History for QB rating and top 30 in TD passes? I hate when people act like McNabb is Rex Grossman, and Kolb is Montana. Just be objective. McNabb has been great, and Kolb has played well in his role. McNabb is the starter.— PhillyHouse JayDuce
- people...kolb played well against the chiefs...i enjoyed it too...but let's not get ahead of ourselves— eagles84
