NFL - Are You Ready For Some Football?! - Off Season

[Al B. Sure!]

Which team will QB Kevin Kolb play for in 2011?

50%
Arizona Cardinals

8%
Cincinnati Bengals

13%
Miami Dolphins

13%
Philadelphia Eagles

16%
Seattle Seahawks
Total Votes: 90457

http://www.nfl.com/

Surprised the Buffalo Bills aren't on there.

I'm skeptical about Miami, as well. Not because of Chad Henne but because Miami got burned by Philly not many years ago. Remember AJ Feeley? The Dolphins gave up a second round pick to Philly for him and paid him big bucks only to have him flame out over 8 games. I can't imagine Miami doing that again (plus the crash and burns of Daunte Culpepper, Trent Green, Joey Harrington, and, to an extent, Chad Pennington should make Miami wary of a quick fix at QB).

Cincinnati just drafted Dalton and Carson Palmer seems to be easing up on his trade demands. Drafting AJ Green might have done a lot to placate Palmer.

The Seahawks just spent a bit on Charlie Whitehurst...


Arizona's the only one that would make sense, especially since they didn't select a QB in the draft. Larry Fitzgerald had been lobbying for Kolb a few months back. McNabb, however, by all accounts, wants to play in Arizona but the fact that he's long in the tooth might be a turn off to that organization.

[Ben Kenobi]

I don't think Miami needs Kolb. Whitehurst is going to do fine for Seattle. Kolb + Fitz will tear it up, Philly would be idiots to trade Kolb.

[OzzyKP]

Arizona's the only one that would make sense, especially since they didn't select a QB in the draft. Larry Fitzgerald had been lobbying for Kolb a few months back. McNabb, however, by all accounts, wants to play in Arizona but the fact that he's long in the tooth might be a turn off to that organization.

They seem to have done well with long in the tooth QBs.

[H Tower]

Not everyone is as much of a homer as you are, and for a place that's not even your home.

It isn't? Since when?

[Al B. Sure!]

Philly would be idiots to trade Kolb.

More Ben Kenobi Mike Vick hate combined with some unsubstantiated Kolb hype?

Jeff Lurie is paying Vick $15.975 million next season on a franchise tag. Kolb is in the final year of a contract in which he received an extension two years ago.

Only one QB will be in the team's long-term plans and after this season, the other will be an unrestricted FA. If the Eagles want to get some value out of either player, they will have to trade. Considering Vick's injury history and playing style, it would be wise to have a good backup in Kolb, however, but if there is enough interest that a team is willing to give up a second round pick for Kolb, which is the expected going rate (although the number of teams that drafted QB's this draft might deflate that), I can't imagine the Eagles turning that down.

At the right price, the Eagles would be idiots to NOT trade a backup QB who has a lot of AJ Feeley potential. Between the McNabb trade, a possible Kolb trade, and Vick playing at a high level, the Eagles are looking like bandit kings when it comes to dealing and acquiring QB's (and not to mention the 2nd rounder they got a few years ago for Feeley's terrible ass).

Whatever they end up doing whether trading or keeping Kolb will probably end up as a good decision. Andy Reid and the Eagles front office seem to know what they're doing, particularly about the quarterback position.

[MRT144]

I really like the strategy. I'd much rather be good/elite in one or two areas than be mediocre in all. With parity the way it is, you can see teams do really well with an exceptional offense, or exceptional defense while lacking on the other side of the ball. Once you have something really good about your team you can build around it.

Plus if Detroit is going to have the best D line in the league that'll help in the secondary too. Give the QB less time in the pocket will lead to worse throws and can make up for a crappy secondary. Plus of course, free agency is coming, so anything can happen. In the later rounds Detroit traded some of their picks to teams for existing corners/safeties, but who knows if they are any good.

If Fairley has a season 1 impact like Suh did (and playing next to Suh I think it's likely), it's gonna be ****ing mayhem for the NFC North teams. I can't imagine AP taking a run up the gut the same way, and I the way the interior line of the Bears is...

[MRT144]

3rd rounder for Kolb. What is Philly gonna do with him on the bench? I feel like Philly needs to get rid of him more than other teams need to get him.

[-Jrabbit]

There are a lot of teams planning to play unproven, castoff, and/or rookie QBs.
There are also a LOT of QBs of varying pedigrees who will be on the market, both via trade and as FAs.

The lack of a CBA is really going to compress the decision window. We don't know if the unrestricted line will be set at 4 yrs or 6, and the rookie minicamps - a critical evaluation period - aren't happening this year.

It all adds up to a decent demand/value for Kolb, who at least has a few years of service time and has shown decently in his limited opportunities. It's a good sign that he has done significantly better as a starter than as a backup. He's very expensive (nearly $9million iirc) to have on the bench and this is the last year of his contract, so it's now or never for Philly to get any trade value for him. With so many other backup QB options out there, the logical thing to do is trade him and invest the money saved in other areas of need.

[SlowwHand]

It isn't? Since when?

You realize that I'm talking to Al, and that Al is a Giants fan and Eli Manning fanboy, and that he lives in Philly?

[ColdWizard]

But you quoted H Tower.

[SlowwHand]

I quoted H Tower because he made it sound like only Lions fans thought the Lions had a good draft. In doing so, I made an unidentified reference to Al. My fault.

[Ben Kenobi]

More Ben Kenobi Mike Vick hate combined with some unsubstantiated Kolb hype?

The smart man would package Vick out now that he's actually got some value in front of him. Instead?

Jeff Lurie is paying Vick $15.975 million next season on a franchise tag.

Not only do they pay through the schnozzle to keep Vick, they also lose all the development time put into Kolb.

Kolb is in the final year of a contract in which he received an extension two years ago.

You don't think he's going to be motivated in a contract year?

Only one QB will be in the team's long-term plans and after this season, the other will be an unrestricted FA. If the Eagles want to get some value out of either player, they will have to trade. Considering Vick's injury history and playing style, it would be wise to have a good backup in Kolb,

Hypothetical scenario. Vick gets injured in the first game and is out for the year. Vick's age and playing style makes him an injury magnet. You trade Kolb, you're out his development, and a capable backup in case Vick inevitably goes down. The smarter bet is to make someone else pay through the Schnozzle for Vick, collect your draft picks and get solid future players for Vick. Then let your opponent worry about his age and injury history.

At the right price, the Eagles would be idiots to NOT trade a backup QB who has a lot of AJ Feeley potential. Between the McNabb trade, a possible Kolb trade, and Vick playing at a high level, the Eagles are looking like bandit kings when it comes to dealing and acquiring QB's (and not to mention the 2nd rounder they got a few years ago for Feeley's terrible ass).

I suspect they could get way more at present then Vick. Vick's stock is higher than Kolb, trading Kolb when his value is low is just stupid.

[SlowwHand]

So Kolb waits a year, worse case scenario. I doubt that his value goes down. I don't know that I agree that his value is down now.
Personally, I think they need to trade him now and get someone in return.

[H Tower]

I quoted H Tower because he made it sound like only Lions fans thought the Lions had a good draft. In doing so, I made an unidentified reference to Al. My fault.

Oh god, one of my posts sounded like Al, I need to change my posting style, quickly!

[-Jrabbit]

Both QBs have value; both have downside. Kolb is unproven; Vick has huge baggage. Bottom line: Then Eagles believe they can win it all with Vick, and obviously don't feel as confident about Kolb, who has less than a season of game time under his belt.

They may be right; they may be wrong. But I believe the idea is winning now.