Vikings, Seahawks talk up Kolb
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Vikings, Seahawks talk up Kolb
Jonathan Tamari
NEW ORLEANS -- Kevin Kolb’s availability has perked up ears in Minnesota and Seattle, coaches in those cities confirmed Tuesday, backing the Eagles assertion that there is already interest brewing in their backup quarterback.
“You have to consider a guy like Kevin if he becomes available. He’ll be a part of the conversation as well if that were to occur,” Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said when we asked him about Kolb at the NFL owners’ meetings.
Seattle, which has the 25th overall pick and a need at quarterback, is considered a possible trading partner, a perception that Seahawks coach Pete Carroll did little to defuse.
“Anybody coming through Andy’s program has been through a great system, great coaching and leadership and direction and all of that,” Carroll said. “That adds to the value of a player rather than a guy who is coming fresh out of college.”
The Seahawks were reportedly interested in Kolb last season. They ended up trading for Charlie Whitehurst, who, Carroll said, the team wanted because he had been in the NFL, rather than choosing a rookie. The same situation would seem to apply with Kolb, who is far more highly regarded than Whitehurst.
“We want to compete at every single opportunity. That’s one that’s been out there that he possibly would be a guy they would move,” Carroll said. “Those kinds of discussions, it doesn’t matter where it’s coming from, we’re trying to be privy to all of it.”
Frazier, a former Andy Reid assistant, has the twelfth pick in April’s draft and made it clear to reporters that he wants a star quarterback. “In our league it’s hard to win without the right guy under center,” he said.
He mentioned drafting a QB at 12 or free agency as options, but obviously thinks highly of quarterbacks developed in Philadelphia.
“He’s a good young quarterback. There’s a reason why they had him slated as the number one guy going into training camp,” Frazier said. “They saw some things in him they really liked, and I respect Andy and their staff tremendously, as you guys can imagine, having worked there.”
Other coaches rumored to be potential trading partners were more circumspect. Arizona’s Ken Wisenhunt and San Francisco’s Jim Harbaugh both declined to comment, saying they wouldn’t talk about a player under contract to another team.
Buffalo’s Chan Gailey said “we look at everything. We’re not good enough that we can bypass any scenario.”
He added, “we are very pleased with our quarterback. If you’re not trying to get better at every position on the team, though, you’re wrong.”
Another former Eagles coach, Ron Rivera, has made it clear the Panthers will be looking at the quarterback market as well, especially with the number one overall pick. It seems unlikely that the Panthers would deal that selection for Kolb, but they could try to put together a package deal.
“As we go through the process and we get to that situation, we’ve got to look at all avenues,” Rivera said. “I know of Kevin and I know his experience, so we’ve got to wait until that process gets to that point.”
No deals can be finished until NFL business resumes, though discussions are allowed.
Reid spent a large portion of his media session discussing Kolb, but mostly repeated what other team executives have said in recent days: that there is interest in Kolb, that the Eagles are willing to listen, but that he also really likes Kolb and his value as a backup.
Asked about Michael Vick’s long-term future, Reid simply said that Vick is the starting quarterback, and wouldn’t discuss his prospects for a long-term contract.
Andy can't coach. Andy can't draft. Andy can't manage the game. I am sure glad that the tooth fairy gets us in the playoffs most years and we have 63% winning percentage over the last decade.— tommy_the_k- I sure wish we had Tom Modrack back handling our draft. Look what he's done for Buffalo these past few years. I am envious of their success.— tommy_the_k
- McNabb was 100% a Reid pick, he came in to draft a QB, I don't think Reid would have been hired if there was a QB in place in the late 90's. They would have hired a coordinator. Reid was hired to draft and groom the west coast QB. Now Andy/Marty gos a little more downfield than a typical wco.
The longer Kolb is on the Eagles roster the less value he has to another team. He needs to get a playbook in his hands ASAP.
Lastly, why get all worked up about it the league (commish, owners, agents, players) doesn't care about the fans. I won't miss it, but I do feel for the employees who make a living supporting the NFL. They are going to be out of a paycheck. The owners want some of the players share of the pie and they don't care who gets hurt in the process.— willbert31 - Eagles trade Kolb and conditional 2012 pick to Minnesot for the 12th overall pick. Eagles then take Tyron Smith, OT, from USC. With the 25th pick, they will trade out of 1st round into second round and look for a LB. FA, resign Q and go after Cullen Jenkins and Antonio Cromartie.— beegal99
- As the great Steve Fredricks would say------------Kolb--------------can't play !! He can't make the throws and while his mobility is better than average, it isn't good enough to escape trouble which is to say, he will be hurt early and often besides not being able to make all the NFL type throws. Vick, of course, can but he too is a walking accident waiting to happen. He just hustles too much for his own good.— jlkndy
- Hey tommy the k , , But Andy sure can , eat ...— ingy9
- Kolb will be stud with a team that gives him more than 2 quarters to prove himself - Wasn't Kolb who blew that first WASH game - Andy couldn't get a play in after 6 minutes - cost 4 pts - Avant dropped a TD in his hands at the end. He shredded the Falcons - look for more of that...Vick will play like he did in the playoffs and Minnesota and the 52 minutes against the Giants - and he loses 5-6 games to injury - Eagles 4-12 --- Kolb in the playoffs— jhjack
- It seems that it is very safe to say that the Eagles would get at least a 1st. round pick for Kolb, now all they have to do is go about the simple task of getting players & owners to agree on financial terms for the next season & beyond... lol..!— highfive
- TRADE VICK! Vick will never take us to the Holy Land of the SB. His shelf life the way he plays is 3 or 4 injury filled years that will just lead to broken dreams each year. Eagles will say woulda, coulda, shoulda but won't win. Vick seemed great when he first got his chance last season but by the end of the year he had reverted in part to his old ways of looking to run instead looking for his receivers. Vick's trading power is huge and will never be higher! He will get you a huge package of high picks. Guaranteed if the Eagles trade Kolb, we will all regret it. It is time to cash in the Vick lottery ticket and get out while we can.— PHAZED
- .... and I do agree with one thing. I do not feel that either of the QBs will be able to get a SB win with this coaching staff so trade which ever one can get the best players in return for the next staff which will be here at the end of 2011 or 12.— SlinkTMP
- Can we help Mr. No Situational Awareness pack? Just let me know what time......— philligrl
- Some of you still trying to trade Vick, it ain't going to happen. Mike has reestablished himself as one of the top QB in the game. Has become a fan favorite on the National scale and plays for the Eagles yet y'all still hating and hoping to get rid of him...hahahahh Kev is going to be a great QB in this league if he is put in the right system. Watching this kid play his loyalty to my team has earned my respect. Now with his value is at it's peak is the time to leverage all we can and trade him. The C.B.A deal has to happen for us to maximize our options for the draft and free agency.— trinieagle
- The trade is in the Cards; Larry Fitz will walk if the Cards don't keep him happy. Eagles trade KK for the fifth pick and get Patrick Peterson. Win-win.— vegasscott
