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.
McNabb isn't good trade bait at his age, so he either gets extended or released after two years. Time will tell when we start playing the tougher defenses, but other than the Giants, there aren't any worldbeaters out there this season. Hopefully we get healthy and continue to get better on D.— desdimone
McNabbis great but he's built like a Hummel.— Richard Saunders- First of all, McNabb is obviously the starter when healthy. Next, for all those hating Kolb, putting up those kind of numbers, even againsy a bad NFL team is impressive. He was checking off to his 3rd and 4th rec. and was poised in the pocket. And he did it all with a patch-work O-line, no Westbrook and a young rec corp. It's a good stepping stone for him.— gkbda
Comment removed.- Kolb=awesome Vick= more awesome McNabb= most awesomest— Criz2020
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- Kolb's contract is up this year, if the Eagles re-sign him during the season then you'll know what there intentions are. Time will tell!— Stanford
- Now he says it! All Buck Did when he got the ball was produce: Career 4.9 yards per carry-and when he was healthy we never used him!— jmcginle
- Kolb is and will not be the next Tom Brady. Relax-He's done a nice job thus far. Let's see him against Dallas or the NYG and then we can judge him. KC is like a step up from Penn State.— jmcginle
- Phillyhousejayduce, well spoken, sir. I live in a decent-sized college town out West. Our sports bar has a t.v. for every team. We (you know, the ones wearing green and black jerseys, Red hats with white Ps and louder than any other group within four other states) talk to these other fans and they love having us as the ten of us are all from Philly - passionate, studied and loud about loving our teams. I have never heard anyone, other than the Giants a**holes that sit near us, say a bad thing about McNabb, ever, period. Football fans in general have a ton of respect for our number 5 and we all find it painfully embarrassing to share the Eagles with these McNabb-hating idtiot "fans" who are trying to turn Kolb into Joe Montana because he beat up on the Chiefs after LOSING to the Saints whose defense is almost as bad. They just do not get it; they don't know football. Of course we were cheering loud for Kolb - we are true fans - but seconds after the game the conversation went to how we can't wait to be 5-1 hosting Eli and watching McNabb tear through the Giants crappy secondary...a feat Kolb won't be able to do without transplanting McNabb's arm onto his body. McNabb is upper echelon, Kolb is a back-up. Good guy, average arm.— dr.elektrika
- McNabb has been a steady performer for them for years. Lets not lose sight of that. High school football fans go to www.hsclassics.com to vote for your Pennsylvania HS Game of the Week!!!!— hsclassics
- McNabb has been a steady performer for them for years. Lets not lose sight of that. High school football fans go to www.hsclassics.com to vote for your Pennsylvania HS Game of the Week!!!!— hsclassics
