Kevin Kolb out after taking beatings with Cardinals

TEMPE, Ariz. - His detractors regard Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb as more of a liability than an asset.

Since the Eagles traded him to the Cardinals on July 28, 2011, Kolb has spent more time in the training room than displaying efficiency on the football field.

Kolb missed Arizona's game against the Eagles last November when he was sidelined by a turf toe and missed the final three games of 2011 because of head trauma and the effects of a concussion. Now the 28-year-old Texas native is out indefinitely with rib-cartilage damage.

Though he helped lead the Cardinals to a 27-6 victory over the Eagles in the desert on Sept. 23, his time in the pocket lasted only two more games. That's when several ribs became detached from his sternum after he was hit on a quarterback scramble. He also suffered a sprained sternoclavicular joint in the chest area, both in the Oct. 14 game against Buffalo.

While there is a push to address serious injuries and long-term effects among current and past NFL players, Kolb's injuries come at time when he may be at the crossroads of his professional football career.

Kolb discounts that notion, and said he has no thoughts of anything but playing football. Recognizing the NFL as a dangerous and hazardous workplace and the temptation "to walk away" to preserve his health, Kolb said the decision to safeguard his health is not an issue.

"I have never been put in that situation," he said of deciding between risking more injuries and protecting his health. "At this point, I'll keep recovering, make progress, and stay active with the team."

Officially, the Cardinals are not saying much about Kolb. When asked about his condition, Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said simply that things are improving.

"He's progressing," Whisenhunt said two weeks after the Buffalo game. "He looks much better. I can't tell you what the progress is at this point, but he's moving around much better."

For now, Kolb is lobbing a ball gingerly at practice while his teammates prepare for the future. There is no timetable for his return, but the Cardinals appear stuck with Kolb for the foreseeable future.

When Kolb was dealt for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the Cardinals signed him to a six-year, $63.5 million contract. That included $12 million guaranteed, and Kolb qualified for $7 million more when he remained on the Cardinals roster on March 17. His salary for 2012 is reported to be $1 million.

If Kolb remains on the Cardinals roster on March 17, 2013, he gets another $2 million and a $9 million salary for next year. His 2014 salary then jumps to $10 million, and he can become a free agent in 2015.

Health, he says, will not influence his desire to continue his NFL career.

When he suffered the combination injury against Buffalo, Kolb said at the time that it represented his most painful experience playing football. In the meantime, he continues to rehabilitate and remains active in the offensive preparation for games.

Before the Eagles game here in late September, Kolb said he was in contact with several of his former teammates. In recent weeks, however, there has not been much interaction.

"I haven't spoken to anyone the last few weeks," he said. "With the situation over there involving Andy [Reid], [Michael] Vick, Juan [Castillo], I certainly care about those guys."