Will the Kolb era be more successful than the McNabb era?


That's the talk. Apparently a lot of people are convinced that the Eagles will be a better team, starting in 2010, with Kevin Kolb than they were with Donovan McNabb.

Now, if you have ever read any of my previous work, it doesn't take long to figure out that I always have been, and always will be a McNabb supporter. I think he was thoroughly mistreated in Philly and that he, and the success he brought the team, spoiled the fans.

But, even with my admiration (what some might call a "man-crush") for McNabb aside, the idea that the Birds will be better off in the short-term with Kolb rather than McNabb is ludicrous.

Has anyone been talking playoffs since McNabb was traded? Because it seems to me that if the Eagles were going to be better with Kolb than they were with McNabb, it would definitely have to start by getting to the playoffs -- and that's only step one.

After that, the Kolb-led Eagles would have to win at least one postseason game. And even that only makes them better than the McNabb-led Eagles of 2009 and doesn't trump McNabb's greatest accomplishment in Philadelphia -- the 2004 Super Bowl appearance.

Here is where I would usually go into a "five NFC Championships" defense, but we're talking short term, so I'll leave that part alone for now.

McNabb, during his first season as the full-time starter (2000), took this team to the playoffs with an 11-5 record, threw 21 touchdowns compared to 13 interceptions, and made the Pro Bowl.

That was, by the way, the same team that had gone 5-11 the year prior and had dangerous weapons like Charles Johnson and Torrance Small.

Kolb, on the other hand, will be inheriting an 11-5 team with one of the best young receivers in the game, a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end, an up-and-coming former first-round pick at receiver, and a running back who, in my opinion, could be the best the franchise has seen in a long time.

Let's also not forget that McNabb didn't have three years to sit on the bench and learn behind a future Hall of Famer. He had a few minutes to learn under career backup Doug Pederson.

So even if we're talking about Kolb out-doing McNabb's first season as a starter, there's no way he comes close to that.

If the short-term means out-doing McNabb's first five years, let's say, as a starter, than Kolb has an even steeper mountain to climb since smart money says he's not going to five consecutive Pro Bowls, four NFC Championship games, and a Super Bowl appearance.

And if "short-term" means simply putting the team in a better position to win week in and week out than McNabb did for the past few seasons, I'm still not seeing it.

One could surely make the argument that McNabb was the reason for the loss against the Ravens in 2008. However, I wouldn't put the blame on him since he didn't get the opportunity to redeem himself in the second half.

One could even easily make the argument McNabb was the reason for the now-infamous tie to the Bengals the week prior to that game. However, is there another game that the Eagles lost that McNabb can be pointed to as the primary culprit?

The championship games? Sure, that pick to Ronde Barber was pretty ugly, but what everyone seems to forget is that Antonio Freeman fell over on that play, and Barry Gardener was a spectator earlier in the game as Joe Jurevicious went 73 yards for a touchdown.

No one expected them to beat the Rams in 2001, we covered 2002, the entire offense struggled in 2003 against the Panthers and anyone with two eyes could see at least two of the three interceptions McNabb threw can be put on Todd Pinkston's fragile little shoulders.

Then there's 2008. And anyone says McNabb was the reason for that loss, as many tried the next day, clearly wouldn't know a football from a hockey puck because the last time I checked 375 yards to go along with three touchdowns is an acceptable performance.

He did throw one pick, but DeSean Jackson wound up forcing a fumble that Jon Runyan fell on, so that didn't even hurt them.

What did hurt them in that game, and every other championship game, was the vaunted Jim Johnson defense falling apart. You're not going to find a bigger Jim Johnson fan anywhere in the world than right here, but two turnovers in those six big games (five championship games and the Super Bowl) is totally unacceptable.

Instead of blaming McNabb for Philly not having a Super Bowl, perhaps it's time to start pointing fingers at the defense, the lack of weapons on the offense, and an out-of-balance playcalling method instituted by Andy Reid that put the weight of the team on McNabb's shoulders.

As Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently pointed out: "McNabb helped create those big swings in our games over the last 10 years. When he played well, it was like throwing the knockout punch. When he didn’t, you were able to throw the knockout punch."

Jones doesn't get it, but he just made a point for McNabb rather than against him.

Everything he said is true, but that was only the case because the entire offense focused on McNabb and any slip-up he had created a ripple effect that sent tsunami-like waves through the rest of the team.

Which brings us to the one and only way the Eagles are better off with Kolb than they were with McNabb: if, and only if, Reid actually runs the ball and implements more timing patterns.

Or, in other words, if he actually runs the west coast offense.

It's the same thing that happened when Jeff Garcia took over in 2006. Everyone thought he was so great -- and don't get me wrong, he played very well -- but it was the change in the offensive philosophy that made him look like a superstar. Rather than being asked to carry the load of the entire offense, he was just another cog in the system.

With Kolb on board, it looks like that's the philosophy Reid will go with. Combine the lightened workload with and incredible group of young playmakers and you have a team with limitless potential. However, if Reid asks Kolb to do what he asked McNabb to do, Kolb could be out of the league in a few seasons.

And even if Kolb is put in the proper situation with more running, short throws, etc., he's still going to lose some games for this team this season by turning the ball over -- something McNabb never did. That will go away with time, but the first season especially will probably see two or three games lost because of a careless turnover or another mistake due to his inexperience.

Were McNabb still in town, the city would be talking "Super Bowl or bust." But with Kolb taking over, few are realistically expecting a season better than 9-7 (all the while saying the team will be better off without No. 5).

Be careful not to break your ankle on that misstep in logic, Mr. Generic McNabb Hater.
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Vick could still be traded, but he will not be released.


All the rumors swirling that the Eagles are still considering cutting Michael Vick can stop as of right now, because it's not going to happen.

I don't have a personal relationship with Andy Reid or Howie Roseman, but just by watching Reid over the years and looking at things from a practical matter, cutting Vick doesn't even make sense anymore this late into the offseason.

If there was a time to cut Vick, it would have been before he received a $1.5 million roster bonus.

But now the only way Vick isn't an Eagle in 2010 is if a team steps forward with an offer the Eagles simply can't turn down and trade the gadget quarterback. If nothing materializes, Vick will be the guy behind Kevin Kolb next season.

Jeff Garcia has had his name tossed around a lot during the offseason as a possible replacement for Vick as the backup quarterback, but even that doesn't make sense anymore.

All anyone sees is the $5.2 million that Vick is scheduled to make this season. And while that's an unbelievably high price for a backup, $1.5 million of that has already been paid. There's no way the Eagles can ever get that money back, so as a practical matter, Vick is really going to be making $3.7 million for his on-field services this season.

While that's still a bit high, it makes a lot more sense when we see that a guy like Marc Bulger recently signed on with the Ravens at $3.8 million, and he won't see the field nearly as much as Vick will.

Bulger will be holding a clipboard unless something happens to Joe Flacco. Vick, on the other hand, could see as many as 10-12 plays per game in a Wildcat-style package and other gadget plays, making him more valuable than your run-of-the-mill backup quarterback.

But still, guys like Brian Baldinger don't see it that way.

"It's hard for me to believe the Eagles are happy about paying Vick $5.2 million to be Kolb's backup," Baldinger said to Geoff Mosher of the Courier-Post. "They're paying him like a starter," he said, adding that cutting Vick and signing Garcia would save millions and the Eagles would probably have a better player.

But, like I said, the Eagles aren't going to "save millions" by signing Garcia. If the Eagles were to cut Vick and sign Garcia, we can essentially add $1.5 million to anything Garcia is making, because that's what the Eagles have already invested in their backup spot.

The only difference is that rather than Garcia getting that money, it's already gone to Vick.

So if Garcia would even agree to, let's say, a one-year, $2.5 million deal, the Birds are only saving a little over $1 million for a guy who won't see half the plays Vick will see.

The extra money might be worth it to them to keep a guy in Vick who could a) have some trade value depending how he looks in Training Camp and the preseason, and b) add a dimension to their offense that no other backup would be able to.

It's still possible the Eagles will be trying very hard to move Vick, but if they can't, I don't see any scenario -- other than something epic arising from the shooting incident from which he's been legally absolved (twice) of any wrong-doing -- in which Vick is released.

If Vick were traded, however, expect Garcia to sign on about five minutes afterward.
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Jeff Garcia is not likely to be back for a third stint.


Heading into the draft the Eagles had a need at free safety and backup quarterback, among many others. Two veterans, Darren Sharper and Jeff Garcia, were rumored to be the solutions to those problems, but that appears highly unlikely anymore.

Nate Allen, taken in the second round, will probably become the starting free safety. He will compete with Marlin Jackson, but Jackson is a more natural cornerback and, with a need for depth at that position, will probably be moved back to corner.

The only other competition, Quintin Demps, has fallen out of favor with the coaching staff and will be lucky if he's even given a fair shake. His mental mistakes have overshadowed a lot of the positives he brings and he might be nothing more than a backup/special teams player at this point.

Then, in the fourth round, the Eagles addressed their need for a third quarterback by drafting Northewestern's Mike Kafka. Andy Reid is apparently comfortable enough with Michael Vick as the man to take over if Kevin Kolb were to go down, so having a young guy as the emergency third quarterback makes more sense than a veteran like Garcia.

Kafka will be given a year to develop and watch from the sidelines with absolutely no pressure to get thrown into a game situation, then will take over as Kolb's backup next season once Vick is allowed to walk.

They say backup quarterback is the second-most important position on the team, so it would make sense the Eagles would want to develop a guy they trust behind Kolb.

The Birds have made it plainly obvious that an incredible youth movement is taking place and will continue to take place, and a 34-year old safety and 40-year old quarterback clearly don't fit in with that movement.
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Sorry Vick, you'll never be a starter in Philadelphia.


Whether it's on message boards, hearing it in casual conversation, or even reading it in articles written by "expert" sports writers, people are still talking about the possibility of Michael Vick replacing Kevin Kolb at some point next season.

I keep hearing, "Just wait until Kolb has a three-interception game," or "Wait until the Eagles are 2-5 and Kolb is throwing more picks than touchdowns. They're looking for a reason to play Vick."

I'm hear to tell you now that's nonsense. Vick will never start at quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. Kolb, even if he stinks up the field every single week, will be the starter. Andy Reid and the rest of the organization has made a commitment to him and they're now married.

Kolb has very limited playing time, and there will be growing pains and bumps along the way. He will throw a few stupid interceptions or miss a wide-open receiver because he made the wrong read, or whatever else, but he will not get pulled in favor of anyone, much less Vick.

But, through it all, Reid will continue to play him week after week -- regardless of the inevitable clammer for Vick.

Of course, it's possible that Kolb plays very well next season and there's no reason to even consider pulling him, but it's more likely that he screws up pretty bad at certain points and the same group of people who wanted to see A.J. Feeley and Jeff Garcia become the full-time starters will start chanting and hollering for Vick to get his shot.

But, like I said, it won't ever happen. Even if Kolb were to go down for a few weeks, the Eagles would most likely start whomever the third quarterback will be, whether that's Garcia or a rookie taken in the later rounds.

The Eagles, including Reid, see Vick as a gadget player and not a quarterback. That's his role on this team and that's all it will ever be.

In fact, there's a strong possibility that Vick isn't even on this roster in a couple of months, so temper your enthusiasm right now, Vick-lovers.
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Garcia is certainly a fan-favorite here in Philadelphia.


According to multiple sources out of Philadelphia, the Eagles are courting 40-year old quarterback Jeff Garcia. The idea is for Garcia to come back as the emergency third quarterback while playing mentor to Kevin Kolb, but it might not be a role he's willing to take.

There's talk that, despite his age, Garcia believes he can be a starter and will only accept a backup role if nothing is offered.

Garcia's intent on becoming a starter once again was proven by his willingness to join the Oakland Raiders last season. He believed he would get an opportunity to challenge JaMarcus Russell, but asked for his release when it became evident that was not the case.

Garcia would obviously not be afforded the opportunity to compete with Kolb, so convincing him to sign on might not be as easy as it would seem. He's a guy who plays quarterback with the intensity of a middle linebacker, so it's no surprise that he's so hellbent on being a starter.

But that's not going to stop the Eagles from giving it their best shot. According to MyFoxPhilly.com, the Eagles' brass (I'm assuming Andy Reid and Howie Roseman and perhaps Joe Banner) spent an hour with Garcia recently in an attempt to add him as an insurance policy.

Michael Vick is currently the only backup to Kolb, but Reid hasn't shown enough faith in Vick to think he'd feel comfortable starting him for a few weeks were something to happen to Kolb.

Right now, Vick is a Wildcat quarterback and a guy who can run gadget plays. At least, that's how the Eagles view him.

If things don't work out with Garcia, it wouldn't surprise me if the Birds showed an interest in a guy like Todd Collins or Daunte Culpepper, depending on what kind of ego he still has intact.

They will make a move with a veteran quarterback this offseason in order to help and have some insurance for Kolb, but with the Eagles there is no telling who they could bring in or how long he's been out of football.

Perhaps Kelly Holcomb is looking for a glorious return.
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Now it's confirmed, Trotter is an Eagle once more.


For all of the criticism that Andy Reid has endured during his tenure as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, perhaps the most repeated is the fact that he refuses to throw all caution to the wind for one year in an effort to win the Super Bowl.

However, Reid may be reversing his normal trend by bringing on former Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, who Jay Glazer and Adam Schefter are reporting have signed a one-year deal with the Eagles. This will be Trotter's third stint in Philadelphia.

Just last year Trotter's career was thought to be over due to knee injuries that forced him into only a backup role in Tampa Bay. But, let's also not forget that Trotter was thought to be on the decline the last time the Eagles brought him back before the 2004 season. After a loss to the Steelers, he supplanted Mark Simoneau and brought the run defense from the mid-20's to 10th.

Also, as no Eagles will ever forget, that was the Eagles last Super Bowl appearance. The presence of Terrell Owens certainly helped make the offense more explosive, but the Eagles defense rode Trot's axe all the way to Jacksonville.

It's yet to be seen what he will be doing, but Reid very rarely brings in a player who can't help on special teams, also something Trotter did during the 2004 season.

Jeff Feagles certainly can't be happy about this signing.

It's also thought that Trotter could be brought in to push Gaither for a starting spot, perhaps coming in on running downs and being replaced by Gaither in the nickel.

The one thing is certain is that the axe man is back where he belongs, and that's in a midnight green jersey lighting a spark for this defense. Tracy White may have some pocket change here soon as well, since there's no way Trot hits the field without his signature 54.

Also, to make room for Trotter, the Eagles have cut Jeff Garcia as anticipated. Maybe now he should go back to Oakland so they can sit JaMarcus Russel.
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Before Mike Vick, this was the #7 creating a stir in Philadelphia.


In what could be bad news for Donovan McNabb, the Eagles have gone out and signed Jeff Garcia. Of course as Eagles fans we remember Garcia for leading the Eagles to the playoffs in 2006 after the season appeared to be lost.

While McNabb is hurt again, these are extremely different circumstances. First of all, there's no guarantee that Garcia is even going to be the backup/starter if McNabb can't play. Andy Reid has said numerous times that Kevin Kolb is the backup, and the signing of Garcia may not change that. He may only be a stopgap until Michael Vick is available as a backup.

So, realistically, Garcia could wind up only being on the roster for this week. Of course, that's assuming that McNabb doesn't miss any time. If he does, then Garcia could remain with the Eagles until McNabb returns.

Again, as I've stated several times, I don't expect McNabb to miss any time, and think this is just a precautionary move that could signal Reid's waning confidence in Kolb as the backup.

Not to be lost in this news is the signing of A.J. Feeley by the Carolina Panthers. Josh McCown was put on IR today, and the Panthers obviously don't have much faith in Matt Moore as the backup. Feeley has been brought in as the No. 2 guy, but could wind up as the starter if Delhomme struggles again in Week Two the same way he did against the Eagles.

Apparently the Eagles attempted to re-sign Feeley, but he turned them down in favor of Carolina. Before we start thinking that Feeley was upset at the Eagles or anything to the effect, the more likely scenario is that Feeley feels as though he could supplant Delhomme in Carolina. Obviously, he'll take even the most slim of chances to become a starter again.

For now, Garcia is great insurance if McNabb would be unable to start and Kolb doesn't play well (but really, what are the chances of that happening?), but nothing more than that. He hasn't been brought in to challenge McNabb or take over Vick's spot or anything like that, so let's kill that before it even has the chance to start.

The Eagles have now confirmed the signing. The next move will be to make room for him on the roster. Antonio Dixon could have had a short stay in Philadelphia.
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