Kolb wants to start or wants out
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Kolb wants to start or wants out
Jeff McLane
Kevin Kolb isn’t one for ultimatums – he handled his demotion this season with class – but the backup quarterback wants out if the Eagles plan on bringing Michael Vick back as their starting quarterback, a source close to the situation said.
Kolb wants to start and whether that’s for the Eagles or not, he will let coach Andy Reid know that during a scheduled Monday meeting. The 26-year-old has been the Eagles' backup for most of four seasons.
Asked what would be a best-case scenario for next season, Kolb said, “To start.”
“I love it here, as everybody knows,” Kolb said after the Eagles’ 21-16 playoff loss to the Packers. “My family’s settled in here. I would love to be starting here. But I want to be starting somewhere.”
Kolb was then asked if could take another season in Philadelphia as the backup.
“I can’t answer that question,” he said.
Kolb is under contract for another season, though. The Eagles gave him a one-year extension and an $11 million bonus last April after they traded away Donovan McNabb and gave him the starting job. But he’s slated to earn only $1.4 million next season, which is a very low sum for a backup.
Vick, however, is not under contract for next season. The Eagles are expected to franchise him if there is a tag in the new collective bargaining agreement as most assume there will be.
The labor situation could tie up any wheeling and dealing between teams which means Kolb could be in no-mans land for a while. The Eagles could ask for as much as two first-round picks in return for the quarterback, although a high-price like that would suggest that they want him back.
“Whatever happens you want to know the answer so you can prepare one way or the other,” Kolb said. “Our communication with be fine. … And I’ll be looking to starting here, hopefully.”
He would be a very good insurance policy should Vick – whose style always leaves him susceptible to injury – get hurt during the season. Even after his benching earlier this season, Kolb was needed when Vick injured his ribs. With him starting in the next three games, the Eagles went 2-1.
But if the Eagles bring him back only to hold a clipboard for an entire season they could risk losing him after the season without getting anything in return. If a team was to offer at least a first-round pick in return – and there are at least a dozen teams in need of a starting quarterback – the Eagles may be willing to make a trade.
“Obviously, there’s a chance for a lot of things,” Kolb said. “So I’ll just wait and just talk to these guys and see what happens.”
This comment has been deleted.— mrjetsondc420
Comment removed.- I like men. Kolb is rugged and good looking. I hope he does Wrangler commercials. — lonewolf 1O
- Buh bye Kolb! Good luck!— mlr710
- i want to see kolb do well... i don't think people realize how awful it wud've been if he complained about his benching. he's a true class act. but if kolb gets traded who's the backup? kafka? hmm...don't feel great about that— keg13
- Ha the Egals deserve the ConVick and Klob boy, Both LOSERS to the Core like their Fat Man Leader....— Calabrese10
- Thanks Kolb, for helping the Eagles get Gabe Carimi and AAron Williams. Also Kafka looked pretty good in preseason. What qb couldn't do well with the weapons here with an upgraded offensive line. Oh, right, Kevin Kolb couldn't. Later Kevin. Have fun in Tennessee.— crohnkiller
- Time's yours. Ahem. Cough, cough. This is on me. I've got to do a better job. Every single press conference for 12 years. It's crazy that we keep coming back. When Jeffrey Lurie has is a money making machine. Just almost get there is good enough. Think about all the teams that won a Super Bowl and then the fan based died down. Lurie and Reid are magical marketers. And we all allow it to happen
- Egals couldnt get a 6th round pick for Baby arm....— Calabrese10
- Bye Kolb. You deserve a coach who knows what the heck he's doing.— Kanayd
- Kevin Kolb isn’t the answer here. I would love to see what Michael Vick could do behind a GOOD Offensive line. Kolb will be a Ryan Fitzpatrick type, nothing more.— shadyone33
- THIS. — mlr710
- Adios muchacho. Good luck with that starting attempt. You're a career backup.— phillyjhawk
- Comment removed.
- Kolb also got blown out by one of the worst teams in the AFC as well....Vick beat Indy, NYG twice. Kolb played 3 games but yet had more INTs than Vick for the regular season. I am sure glad you aren't the GM or head coach...
— ewsavage
