Will Madden users be tempted to use Michael Vick?


I love football, and I love video games. So when the two combine in the masterpiece that is the Madden NFL franchise, there's a good chance I'm going to pay attention.

Player ratings for entire teams are slowly leaking as the release date of the game gets closer and closer, and the ratings for the Eagles are now out and ready to be scrutinized. It's interesting because not only do we get to see what the developers think about the players, but we get to see how they believe the roster will shake out.

So let's take a look and see what the EA guys got right and where they missed.



Quarterbacks Kevin Kolb | Overall Rating: 75

Kolb, as the starter, is obviously the highest-rated quarterback on the team with a 75. It might be a little high for a guy with only two starts under his belt, but they also seem to be playing it on the safe-side with Kolb because of the uncertainty surrounding him.

They give him an 82 rating for short accuracy, and 79's for middle and deep accuracy. From what I saw, I might drop all those ratings a few points, but it's all fair.

The ratings I found most interesting were the brand new "swagger" rating (70) and an 86 in throw power. The swagger rating is basically a personality rating. If the player makes a good player, or a series of good plays, his attributes rise based on his "swagger."

With that in mind, a 70 is very low. I'm not sure if that's simply because of his inexperience or if the developers see some sort of character flaw with Kolb. For as much as I'd drop the other ratings for Kolb, I'd probably but up the "swagger" rating as it appears Kolb's entire career will hinge on the momentum of the game.

An 86 throw power, by the way, might seem like a bit much but when compared to other quarterbacks it seems to fall right about in the middle of the pack -- another safe rating.

Overall, I'd probably knock Kolb down to about a 73 by dropping his accuracy ratings a couple points here or there, but a 75 is certainly a fair rating and should be something that is easily increased if you can perform well with him in Franchise mode.



Michael Vick | Overall Rating: 73

As opposed to Kolb who seemed to get the benefit of the doubt, Vick looks to have been cut short in a lot of key areas.

They give him a speed of 88, which is fair, a throw power of 92, which is also fair, but his accuracy ratings don't seem to reflect reality. Vick was given an overall 69 throw accuracy, with a 72 short accuracy, 64 middle accuracy, and 67 deep accuracy.

Vick always had a reputation in Atlanta as an erratic thrower, but that always seemed to be more about his decision-making than his accuracy. He seemed able to thread the ball through a needle, but he first had to jump the hurdle of actually reading the defense and making the correct play on the fly.

For me, I would probably bump up his accuracy ratings a couple points and perhaps drop his awareness rating from a 67 to somewhere closer to a 62.

Again, the overall rating would probably only move slightly, if at all, but it's going to be those key things that will either make him worth keeping on your roster or nearly impossible to use effectively if need be.

Interestingly enough, however, Vick has a "swagger" rating of 88. Compared to Kolb, the EA developers clearly believe Vick is much more of a momentum-driven type of player.



Mike Kafka | Overall Rating: 65

Honestly, there's nothing too interesting about Kafka's rating. He was a fourth-round pick who will be the third-string quarterback, so a 65 rating is even a bit generous. I was expecting a rating in the low 60's, so this is actually good news for anyone unlucky enough to lose Kolb and Vick at the same time.

The one interesting thing to take away from EA's assessment of Kafka is that they don't believe he could hit the Grand Canyon from 40 yards away. He has an overall accuracy rating of 82, which is pretty good. His short accuracy is an impressive 87, his middle accuracy is a respectable 77, but his deep throw accuracy is a putrid 55.

A 55-rated deep ball? With a rating like that, Kafka could target a wide open receiver in the middle of the field and hit the Gatorade stand on the sideline.

They also only gave him a throw power of 79, so it's likely the guy filling the Gatorade wouldn't even feel the ball hit him. I'm not going to pretend like Kafka was a guy I scouted, but from his highlights it looks like he's completed a fade or two, so I'm not sure why they felt the atrocious rating was necessary for Kafka.



Final thoughts...

The ratings for the Eagles' quarterbacks seem right to me, for the most part. It appears as though Kolb will be a serviceable player in the game that can be molded through Franchise mode, but he might become a bit frustrating for Eagles fans playing online.

Also, if the game will allow it this year, I expect several people to get incredibly annoyed with the high rate at which people using the Eagles will bust out the Wildcat with Vick taking the snaps.

Vick has always been that player your buddy forbid you from using because you could just run everyone deep and roll out to the left side and you were gone for at least 30 yards and wound up with some ridiculous number of rushing yards at the end of the game -- 200 or so.

He doesn't have that kind of speed anymore -- in the game or in real life -- so it might not get that bad, but the gadget plays Vick will be a part of could be off limits in your buddy's house very quickly if it's abused.

*Next up: LeSean McCoy and the running backs.
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Mike Kafka will be the emergency third quarterback.


The final two of the Eagles' fourth-round picks, quarterback Mike Kafka and tight end Clay Harbor, have signed four-year deals, according to the team's official website.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but the signings mean that the Birds have only four guys left to sign -- Brandon Graham (first round), Nate Allen (second round), Daniel Te'o-Nesheim (third round), and Riley Cooper (fifth round) -- with nine of their draft picks already on board.

Kafka is all but guaranteed the third quarterback spot by default. The Eagles had brought in Joey Elliott, an undrafted rookie quarterback out of Purdue, but he was waived recently after it became apparent he wasn't going to challenge Kafka.

It's possible that Kafka could be the true backup to Kevin Kolb were something to happen, but Michael Vick will be the guy dressing every week so he can run the Wildcat and contribute on some gadget plays.

Kafka will likely spend the entire season as the emergency third quarterback and, barring an injury to Kolb or Vick, won't see the field.

Harbor is a much more intriguing prospect given the question marks behind Brent Celek at tight end. Cornelius Ingram is a guy everyone is excited to see, but he could see more time at wide receiver than tight end. Also, Ingram isn't the best blocker and the Birds might not be comfortable keeping two tight ends with basically the same skill-set.

The same goes for Martin Rucker. He's a guy the Eagles really like, but he struggles as a blocker and could find himself on the practice squad again if Harbor does well in training camp.

Versatility will also play into Harbor's favor as he can play an H-Back type of role and could fill in for Leonard Weaver at fullback in a pinch. If there's one thing Andy Reid loves more than a running back who can catch out of the backfield, it's a guy he can plug in at several different positions.

If Harbor can play well enough on special teams to gain the support of Bobby April, the Eagles' new special teams coach, he will have a great shot of making the team.

As for the four remaining unsigned rookies, I wouldn't expect them all to be signed any time soon. At least not within the next month of so.

Cooper will likely be the next to sign on, as he's only a fifth-round pick, then Te'o-Nesheim, then Allen, and lastly Graham. It's possible Graham doesn't sign on until right before or a week or so into training camp like Jeremy Maclin did last year.

Graham has said he doesn't want to hold out, but he was a higher pick than Maclin was last year and getting his deal done will be much more difficult than the other three guys.

I would, however, based on history and an educated guess, expect Cooper to sign on within the next two weeks.

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Kolb and Vick should compete for McNabb's old spot.


Once Donovan McNabb was shipped off to the Washington Redskins, Kevin Kolb was immediately named the starting quarterback. There was no debate, there was no competition, and no one really seemed to question it.

However, what good does it do to simply hand the job over to the kid without making him earn it first? The popular answer is that quarterback competitions can tear a team apart. At the end of training camp, one half of the team is pulling for one guy and the other half is pulling for the other guy.

The downfalls of such a situation are obvious, but it's probably unlikely that these grown men can't separate their personal feelings from their play on the field.

For instance, it's pretty clear that a lot of the young guys on the team wanted to see Kolb get his chance while McNabb was still in town, but they still did their jobs on Sunday without a hitch.

Of course, the obvious respect and admiration they had for McNabb helped that along.

But if it were me as a player, I would question why in the world this guy simply had the job handed to him while I'm working my tail off in 90-degree weather to battle the guy behind me every day just to keep mine.

And perhaps even more importantly, what message does it send to Michael Vick and Mike Kafka that they're not even going to be afforded the opportunity to prove themselves? If either guy came out and played better than Kolb in training camp and the preseason, wouldn't it make sense that they should get the nod?

The NFL is in the business of winning, not protecting the feelings of the players. If Kolb doesn't like the fact that he's being challenged, then he is playing the wrong game. Football should be a battle every day to prove to the coaches that you're the best man for the job.

If you can't do that day in and day out, then perhaps someone else should be given the opportunity to do so.

Now I'm not saying that Vick or Kafka would have a real shot at taking the spot from Kolb, but to simply close off the idea and anoint Kolb the starter doesn't help anyone. It doesn't help the rest of the team, it doesn't help the morale of the guys behind him (by default), and it doesn't even help Kolb.

Nothing in life is simply handed over, so why should his spot on this team be any different?

I've probably taken a different stance in the past and sided with what the Eagles are doing with Kolb and the quarterbacks, but upon further review, it just doesn't make sense. Every other guy, even the established superstars, will have to fight for their job -- so why not Kolb, a guy who has done little during his three years in the league?

As the old adage says, "nothing in life worth having comes easy."
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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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Ricky Sapp could be the very best value in this draft.


After taking one guy per round in the first, second, and third, the Eagles have since made six picks in the fourth and fifth rounds. Of those picks, half has been offense and half has been defense.

In all, the Eagles have drafted six defensive players heading into the sixth and seveth rounds. They still need a running back (fingers crossed for LeGarrette Blount), could use a punter, and will probably take an offense lineman.

I mean, it just wouldn't be an Andy Reid draft without taking a flier on a BYU offensive lineman in the late rounds. And with two compensatory picks (back-to-back) the Eagles cannot trade anyway, expect at least one of them to be an offensive lineman.

But, anyway, let's take a look at the six guys the Eagles have added in the fourth and fifth rounds.



Round 4 (pick 105): Trevard Lindley, CB, Kentucky

Lindley is only 5'11, 185 pounds, so lack of size could be an issue. He was regarded as a top-flight talent before injuries hampered his performance last season and really hurt his draft stock.

He's a guy who will get burnt every once in a while because he goes for the big play, but he will also get that big play and make the most of it. That just happens to sound like another cornerback the Eagles have, doesn't it?

However, unlike that other cornerback, Lindley seems willing to tackle. The problem is that Lindley's size makes it difficult for him to tackle consistently without hurting himself. He could stand to be a bit taller, but 5'11 is tall enough. He will have to get in the weight room and add some muscle if he doesn't want to be the next Lito Sheppard -- a lot of talent on the sideline.



Round 4 (pick 121): Keenan Clayton, LB, Oklahoma

Clayton, at only 6'0, 230 pounds, is a guy without a position. He probably fits best at the WILL position, but he's also a guy who the Sooners tried out at strong safety because he doesn't seem to have the strength needed to play linebacker.

The Eagles will probably try to use him as a linebacker, but he could be a project and give them a few headaches trying to find a place for him. Reid did, however, say that Clayton is the guy he's most excited to see in offseason workouts.



Round 4 (pick 122): Mike Kafka, QB, Northwestern

I thought the Eagles were going to target John Skelton, but once again the Eagles show that the amount of time they spend with a player means nothing. They watched Skelton throw and met with him three or four times, but passed on him for Kafka. They spent 15 minutes to Brandon Graham, but traded up for him in the first round.

Kafka comes in as the third-string quarterback behind Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick, but looks to become the backup next season once Vick is allowed to walk.

Coach Reid has made it clear that there is no open competition for the starting spot, so I don't really understand taking a quarterback this high.



Round 4 (pick 125): Clay Harbor, TE, Missouri State

I honestly don't know a whole lot about Harbor except that he was a guy who stood out at the Combine and made a real impression with great hands. He'll come in as the backup to Brent Celek and, at 6'3, could be a guy used a lot in the redzone.

The biggest thing the drafting of Harbor is the prospect of Cornelius Ingram, a fifth-round pick last season, moving to wide receiver. He's got the ability and the hands to play the slot and contribute in the redzone, and Harbor's presence could allow that to happen.



Round 5 (pick 134): Ricky Sapp, OLB, Clemson

At 6'4, 250 pounds, Sapp will not be playing defensive end for the Eagles. They drafted two defensive ends before him, and currently have six on the roster, so moving Sapp to compete at SAM makes too much sense to ignore.

Currently, the only guys battling for that spot are Alex Hall and Moise Fokou, so adding a guy who could have been a first-round pick in the fifth to compete with them is a win-win situation for the Birds.

I'll even go out on a limb and say I believe Sapp could win the job if/when the position move is made.



Round 5 (pick 159): Riley Cooper, WR, Florida

Cooper is 6'4 and a great special teams player, so taking him in the fifth round should turn out to be a real steal. He's going to take time to develop as a wide receiver, but should be able to dive right in to Bobby April's special teams and make an instant impact.

A pure special teams player is something the Eagles need now that it looks like Tracy White will be allowed to walk, so this looks to be a good pick for the Birds.
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