Decisions: Leinart, Jackson and Kolb
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Decisions: Leinart, Jackson and Kolb
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Three NFC teams have made the playoffs the last two years.
And each one faces some kind of decision at quarteback this offseason.
The Eagles have not wavered from the idea that Donovan McNabb will be their starter in 2010.
The Cardinals face perhaps the most difficult decision of the three, assuming Kurt Warner announces his retirement Friday, and sticks with it thereafter.
And the Vikings of course are on Brett Favre-watch for the next several months.
All three teams have young quarterbacks on their rosters -- guys that were drafted in 2006 and 2007, with various levels of NFL experience. The decisions the Cardinals and Vikings make could affect the Eagles' future.
Below is a simple chart comparing where Matt Leinart, Tarvaris Jackson and Kevin Kolb are in their respective careers.
| Age | Drafted | Games started | Record | TDs | INTs | QB rating | |
| Matt Leinart | 26 | 2006: 10th overall | 16 | 7-9 | 14 | 20 | 70.8 |
| Tarvaris Jackson | 26 | 2006: 64th overall | 19 | 10-9 | 21 | 18 | 77.9 |
| Kevin Kolb | 25 | 2007: 36th overall | 2 | 1-1 | 4 | 7 | 68.9 |
Obviously, the Kolb numbers (record, TDs, INTs, QB rating) don't count for much since he's only attempted 130 passes in the NFL. I more wanted to include his age, draft position and games started.
Something else to take into account is the contract situation of each QB.
Leinart is scheduled to make $2.485M in 2010, but that number jumps to $7.36M for the 2011 season. If he plays out those two years, he would become a restricted free agent in 2012.
Jackson is currently a restricted free agent.
And Kolb would become a restricted free agent after next season.
It's an interesting comparison, given the quarterback situation of each of the three teams when the players were drafted.
Leinart obviously had the highest profile. The Cardinals were coming off seven straight losing seasons. Kurt Warner was the starter, but not not the Warner you remember now. He was the Warner that was coming off a disastrous season with the Giants in 2004.
In 2005, Arizona was 2-8 in 10 games with him as the starter, as Warner tossed 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Leinart was given the straight-on "franchise quarterback" label, and it was assumed it would only be a matter of time until he took over. As a rookie, he started 11 games, throwing for 405 yards in a Week 12 matchup against the Vikings. But the next season, he couldn't hold on to the job, suffered a season-ending injury and never won it back.
Now, Arizona will have to decide whether they want to continue to groom Leinart in 2010 or take a shot on a veteran QB who might be more likely to get them to a Super Bowl next season. A tough decision, considering their high talent level at the offensive skill positions and the fact that the Cardinals have won four playoff games the last two seasons.
The Vikings, meanwhile, had tried hard to convince everyone that Jackson is their guy. But that changed when they had a shot at landing Favre last offseason. Their situation is tricky since MInnesota is probably the most Super Bowl-ready of the three. How long will they wait before demanding a decision from Favre? If he retires, will they again hand the keys over to Jackson? Or will they try to acquire another veteran, in the interest of maximizing their potential in 2010?
And finally, the Eagles. They're backing McNabb, but if a team calls, are they at least willing to listen? If there becomes a great need at QB for a handful of teams, and the potential market for McNabb becomes higher than they expected, will that change their stance?
Three franchises. Three decisions at the most important position in football. We'll see if one move affects the others in the next few months.
Yeah it took Elway forever to win one to, but during those times they didnt win, he played well everytime they played in teh playoffs, pretty much leading 4th quarter comebacks everytime, so they knew that if they could get teh team around him he could get it done, they new that. You mean to tell me anyone here actually thinks McNabb is as good as Elway??????????? Really???????????. Elway always had good games, where as McNabb while the rest of the eagles on the teams didnt play well, you could never really say that he played great and deserved better. They won playoof games when McNabb played well, and they lost when he didnt play well, unfortunately he was always just okay when it came to championship games, and the superbowl. You could count on Elway to go out and give you one final drive. I just can't say the same about McNabb. I didnt care that McNabb had a great third Quarter against arizona in last years nfc title game, or that teh defense wasnt good at all, all i know is that Donny boy was givin the ball with enough time on the clock, an dhe was throwin balls feet over people heads.... Thats not gettin it done when it matters— jamurf
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wiff, at least get your facts straight,it was 391 not 395 and after wetting your pants about it I'd think you'd remember, especially since no one else cares. All I remember is that awful pick at the start of the second half and a final score blowout. I'm trying to forget it actually. And improved every season? He had to. You can't get any worse than a 29 passer rating after 2 years with no TDs and an NFL interception record. Just setting the record straight wiff, like always.And now our SB is pushed back to 2012? You said 2010, gauranteed! What happened to that? And 2011 is MIA AGAIN? Send out a search party! Your revolving door timetable is very confusing. Let me know when you make up your mind so I can buy my SB tix, OK? I'll put them right next to my tix to Green Bay so I can attend that Brett Farve Packer retirement game you predicted. You know, the one where you said Favre would never play for the Vikes and he would sign a one day contract with GB so he can retire a Packer? Yeah, that game. Did I miss it? I believe your last words on the subject were "Book it". hahahahahahaha. Idiot.— tpizza- do you people watch football? JCU: really? so you are saying that shannon sharp, terrell davis, and rod smith are all mediocre, and chad lewis, todd pinkston, greg lweis, james thrash, terrence small, LJ smith, freddie mitchell, so your saying all these players are above average game changers? really? in fact in mcnabbs ten year career the only two recievers that have been worth anything have been TO and jackson... learn football before you run your mouth.. elway played with three hall of fame players (OT, WR, RB)... name one hall of famer that mcnabb has played with? idiot— bleed green forever
- Bleed green forever:"this city will burn to the ground" like when "randall won the mvp"? You must be referring to one of the multiple times Randall was named Super Bowl MVP once he went to Minnesota. Oh, wait--he never won anything in his career once he left Philly, same way he never won anything here. Good comparison until you start acting like McNabb will win a title if he goes somewhere else. Newsflash: he won't. Unless he goes to be the backup to Manning, Brady, or someone like that.— MaC130
- trade mcnabb now or I am cancelling NFL package mr lurie— Wise_Owl
- 7 INTs in 2 games is NOT good— GetMeToThePlateBoys
- bleen green forever: it's different this time because Reid and Banner have not approach the media to erase doubts about McNabb's future like they did in previous years. The situation is different now because Kevin Kolb is ready to be a starter.— soulman386
- REMEMBER THIS PREDICTION..KOLB WILL BE TRADED OR INCLUDED IN A TRADE FOR A HIGH DRAFT PICK,SEVERAL SPOTS WHERE HE MIGHT LAND ARE BUFFALO,MINNESOTA..MCNABB IN THE FINAL YEAR OF HIS CONTRACT WILL BE BACKED UP ONCE AGAIN BY VICK WHOSE OPTION THE EAGLES WILL PICK UP,THE EAGLES WILL DRAFT A DE IN THE FIRST ROUND,WITHIN THE TOP 10 PICKS AQUIRED IN THE KOLB TRADE,A QB WILL ALSO BE DRAFTED,MCNABB WALKS IN 2011,RICH,FAT AND HAPPY,VICK BECOMES NUMBER 1..AND WESTBROOK WILL NOT RETIRE— soliteryman
- Lonewolf 10, did the short bus drop you off early today?— The Truth Hurts
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- mac: first of all i am not a mcnabb supporter, i want a new QB, just not kolb, my point was that the eagles have been here before and they wont do it again, cunningham was not a great QB and he didnt win a super bowl but it takes more then a QB to win a super bowl, you need a running game a receiever, an offensive line, a defense, my concern as a season ticket holder since the 80's is that i will have to relive the 90's when we couldnt win anything!! Soulman: they are talking you just are not listening, banner and reid both said mcnabb will be here next year and left it at that, think about it from a business stand point, i had season tickets in sec 702 of the vet in the 90's the eagles couldnt get 40,000 people in there i used to move down to the lovwer level for every game...since mcnabb and reid got here there are 65,000 strong ever sunday and 50,000 seat waiting list, o yeah and lurie had become a billionaire one of three owners to break 1 billion... mcnabb is going no where as long as he makes pro bowls and the playoffs.. the owners want money in there pocket not a trophy...— bleed green forever
- Obviously Kolb does not belong in that group of young qbs because he has not done anything. Jackson and Leinart was a good comparison. Interesting seeing how Jackson stacks up.— mongoS
- Let's be clear about something. Kevin Kolb's body of work is really small. Yes, he threw for a ton of yards vs. NO and KC, but both were home games, and they got smoked by NO. He threw 3 INT's and has 7 INT's in his career. His decision making still needs lots of improvement, so those thinking he'll be Phillip Rivers or Aaron Rodgers better temper your expectations. That being said, it's still a move they need to make. We've seen the McNabb movie and it doesn't end well.— booman55
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