It's Vick vs. Kolb on Sunday
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It's Vick vs. Kolb on Sunday
Jeff McLane
Sunday's game between the Eagles and Cardinals offers many subplots but none more significant than quarterbacks Michael Vick and Kevin Kolb facing off for the first time.
Once teammates, Kolb opened the 2010 season as the Eagles' presumptive heir to Donovan McNabb. Vick, despite having more experience as a starter, was his backup.
But then Clay Matthews happened. In the opener, the Green Bay linebacker drove Kolb's head into the ground, the quarterback left with a concussion and Vick jumped in and never looked back.
"I try not to live in the past, but that Green Bay game -- I never thought I would be going into that game and playing in that game," Vick said Wednesday. "I never knew what my career was going to be like or how it was going to take off and how it was going to go."
Vick started the following week against the Lions as Kolb recovered, and the Tuesday following the game Reid shocking ditched his original plan and named Vick his starter.
Kolb said he no longer thinks about what might have happened had Matthews not injured him that game.
"I really haven't thought about it since I left there," Kolb said during a conference call with Philadelphia-area reporters. "It all happens for a reason. That's the way I go about life."
Both quarterbacks have traveled rocky roads since then. Kolb, traded to Arizona last July, suffered another concussion with the Cardinals in 2011 and saw his replacement, John Skelton, have greater success. Skelton even beat the Eagles in Philadelphia in a game that was supposed to feature the return of Kolb.
Vick led the Eagles to the playoffs in 2010 -- with an assist from Kolb, who came back to start and win when Vick injured his ribs -- but he also took a step back in 2011.
Despite a horrendous opening game this season, Vick and the Eagles are 2-0. And Kolb, who lost his job to Skelton during the preseason, has found himself on the other end of the stick. When Skelton left the Cardinals' opener with an ankle sprain, Kolb jumped in and guided Arizona past the Seahawks and then followed up with an impressive win over the Patriots this past Sunday.
"I really hadn't thought about it until somebody asked me about it yesterday," Kolb said. "It is somewhat ironic. I'm just taking it game-by-game, though, play-by-play. I've learned through my time in Philly and through my time here, I'm not going to try and predict anything."
Kolb said that he remained close with several of his former Eagles teammates.
"Kevin is a good quarterback. I'll always feel that way," Eagles tight end Brent Celek said. "You could just see that when he came the last few weeks he's played well. Sometimes you just need a certain opportunity and when you get you time you got to shine. And I think he's done that over these last few weeks.
"Hopefully, we can take him down. I'm friends with him, but not this week."
INJURIES
-- Jeremy Maclin's hip pointer is still tender and the wide receiver won't practice Wednesday. Andy Reid said that Maclin felt better on Tuesday, but that he was still not healthy enough to suit up. Maclin suffered his second hip bruise of the season on Sunday when he blocked a Ravens player. He said after the game that he was in more pain than he was after he initially injured his hip in the opener against the Browns.
Maclin's availability for Sunday's game won't likely be known until close to game-time. If he can't go, rookie Damaris Johnson will likely start in his place opposite DeSean Jackson. The Eagles will be without receiver Riley Cooper (broken collarbone) for the third straight game. He said Wednesday that he hopes to be back by the N.Y. Giants game on Sept. 30.
-- King Dunlap's hamstring strain has improved, Reid said, but the coach said it was still a stretch that his starting left tackle will be ready by Sunday. Demetress Bell will take reps in his place this week at practice and will start if Dunlap can't go.
-- Colt Anderson will also miss Wednesday's practice, Reid said. The safety hyperextended his knee against the Ravens. The Eagles dressed four safeties on Sunday. If Anderson has to sit out against the Cards, David Sims will be the third safety behind starters Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman.
-- Also from those three players, every other player will practice on Wednesday, Reid said.
hey wolf where are you we go head to head with ur former man crush kevin korn on the kobb lol!!!! wounder who hes routin for lol!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?— DJ_Bootleggah- "Korn" on the Kolb's (great name, you are a genius) quarterback rating is 30 points higher then MVStarship7's and he has beaten better teams.— Sidewinder7
- wolf and CG25 ALWAYS root against the Eagles.— dlscholt
- The real question still remains....AR traded up to get KK and he was to be the franchise, but he was let go quickly.....So agian, does AR have a clue or is he just guessing....and why is he "given" the tittle of a QB guru ? He certianly did not coach up Brett in GB....at that point in his career, Brett listened to nobody....
the second teamer AR brought with him was only a stop gap till McNabb was ready....and when Donovan had legs he was good....and AR certainly did not improve him over the years....Detmer was a stopgap due to injury, same as Feeley, KK was the franchise but traded away as soon as Michael got picked...and he has hardly developed Michael.....so where is this genius QB coach when the facts show that he takes a gifted athlete, tries to put the square peg into the round hole and only succeeds when the gifted athelete uses his skills to bail out AR's flawed schemes....— nuggett - Although your post is not worthy of a response I will answer your question. AR does have clue. What's obvious is that you don't. You are a sorry sap. — phillyborn4
- where has that BEDPAN punk been since the Eagles have won two in a row?
— mikey9fingers - Sidewinder7 I take it you got the redbirds then??? at the end of the day hes got better numbers but hes also had more work then vick during the preseason you lame this is pretty much vick's preseason lets a talk after week 7 yea???— DJ_Bootleggah
- Its nice to know you already have your Vick excuse ready, "he didnt play in the preseason". That is his own fault for playing the position poorly, and being a soft player. — Sidewinder7
- This looks like a good matchup for the green birds, traveling to the team that just beat NE in NE. The way the Eagles D is playing, I just hope they don't knock Kolb out too early a hobbled Skelton or whoever else they have is probably better.— TongueWagger
- the cards have the edge at QB Kevin Kolb's 95.7 QB rating (0 ints 1 sack)over conVick's 66.9 QB rating (6 ints 4 sacks) the defenses are pretty even cards give up 17 points a game ,,birds 19 points a game,coaching edge goes to the cardinals..cardinals 27 birds 17...conVick turnovers cost us bigtime,big red wastes time outs trying to doubledown on conVick turnovers..book it.....wolf.— wolf 4
- Fact remains that Reid gave Kolbs job to Vick for no good reason. You never lose your job b/c of injury. He panicked ....and preferred the troubled Vick over him for personal reasons only...no performance. He is living with his decision. He now has the team QB'd but a 32 yr old QB that cannot read a blitz...lands on his backside every single snap and throws picks like he's giving away candy. Is Kolb great...no...but ....if he stayed in the system and god forbid our coaching staff would game plan around him....he is and was clearly the better choice.— RealizticFan
- klob is a dog he will not face vick he is facing eagles defense, one hit on klob by a defender will place him back in the fetal position, crying, howling and begging to be taken out of the game.— only 9
- Wolf ur dreaming and i see u never got over man crush korn kobb he's only still over can throw a pass over eight yards and better know the d-fense will expose kolb for who he is DRC and Nambni will handle there business so the redbirds better be on point becuase this that same 8-8 team from last year that they stole one from as a matter fact we owe them one so this a redemtion game lol!!! book it!!! go birds wolf ur on notice your not longer a eagles fan your a cards fan!!!! BOOK THAT!!!!— DJ_Bootleggah
- Is anyone in Philly anxious to see Kevin Kolb play? This has to be a awful slow news day in Philly.
Should the Eagles pass rush get to Kolb once of twice I can guaranteed you Kolb is going to fold up like a dollar bill in a wallet. Kolb doesn't have the resolve to take hits in the pocket.
Kolb has the heart of the Easter Bunny and the arm of Cotton Candy. Let Brandon Graham shake Kolb one good time.— Dexter
