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Three thoughts: Kolb, the Cardinals and Reid

Teams are still not allowed to make any moves, but that hasn't stopped the Kevin Kolb buzz from continuing. Here are three thoughts on the latest:

1. Andy Reid went on the radio yesterday and chatted with Mike Missanelli of 97.5 The Fanatic. Missanelli asked Reid about the report from Peter King on SI.com that said the Eagles already had a first-round offer in 2012 on the table for Kolb.

"I'm not sure where that came from," Reid said initially.

When Missanelli provided more details about the report, Reid said, "That's not where we're at right now, and I wouldn't talk about it anyway if it was."

There are a few things that can be taken from those two sentences, but this didn't sound to me like Reid was completely refuting King's report.

For starters, Reid admits that if the report were true, he wouldn't talk about it. He likely wants to be cautious in terms of not violating league rules, and since when has he been known to clue the rest of us in on the Eagles' plans anyway? I'm not sure that any team official has ever admitted to the specifics of a trade offer before the deal was completed.

Second of all, let's say that the report is false and the Eagles have no such offer on the table. Reid wouldn't really admit that either, would he? The belief that the Eagles do have a first-round offer in hand only helps whatever potential market might emerge once the teams are allowed to make deals.

2. Which brings us to the teams being mentioned as potential suitors. I ran down my take on who might be interested in Kolb in my post earlier this week.

ESPN's Adam Schefter said on TV yesterday that "all signs point to Arizona" as Kolb's next destination.

There's no question the Cardinals need a quarterback, and they didn't draft one last weekend. The current QBs on their roster are: Derek Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton and Richard Bartel.

Cardinals GM Rod Graves recently talked to Arizona's Web site about the team's plans to address the position.

"With respect to the quarterback question, which continually arises, we've decided as an organization that we are going to be aggressive," he said. "We are expecting at some point, or believing, that we will have a free agency period, an opportunity to discuss trades, and we are looking at those avenues."

Sure sounds like someone who would be interested in Kolb. In the same article, coach Ken Whisenhunt said he's not comfortable with anyone on the current roster returning as the starter.

Arizona finished 5-11 last year, and amazingly, that was only two games out of first place in the NFC West. While Larry Fitzgerald is expected to re-sign with the Cardinals, he is scheduled to be a free agent after 2011.

3. One part of this whole thing that will be interesting to monitor once teams are allowed to make moves is how Kolb stacks up against the competition. It's not as if he's the only option for QB-needy teams. Marc Bulger's name was linked to the Cardinals recently. Donovan McNabb could very well find a new home, and Carson Palmer is trying to force his way out of Cincy.

Here are some factors to keep in mind when comparing the QBs that will likely be available:

Age: Kolb will be 27 by the time next season rolls around. McNabb and Bulger will be 34, and Palmer will be 31.

Compensation: Kolb looks less favorable in this category. The Eagles will almost definitely be looking for more back for Kolb than the Redskins would be for McNabb or the Bengals would be for Palmer. Bulger, meanwhile, is a free agent so teams won't have to give anything up to acquire his services.

Experience: This is a tricky one. There's overall experience: McNabb's started 155 games; Palmer 97; Bulger 95; and Kolb 7. But I don't buy the theory that the other three are better options because Kolb is unproven. The reality is that all four are unproven at this stage of their careers.

McNabb is coming off a season in which he threw 14 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while getting benched for Rex Grossman.

Since 2007, Palmer has thrown 57 interceptions in 52 games.

And Bulger has started a total of eight games in the last two seasons.

In other words, teams will be taking a risk by acquiring any one of these guys. They have different skill sets, and system will undoubtedly be a factor.

As for when any of this can finally go down, we're still awaiting a ruling on whether or not the stay is granted, which will reportedly be announced some time this week.

UPDATE: I forgot to include Matt Hasselbeck with the other QB options. He's the oldest of the group and will turn 36 in September. Hasselbeck has thrown 34 touchdowns and 44 interceptions in his last 35 games (since 2008). But, like Bulger, he can be had for zero in return since Hasselbeck is a free agent.

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