Shipping out McNabb not the answer in Philly

Matt, I can understand your point. I want to try to offer some unbiased perspective. McNabb has been very good for Philly, in leading them to 5 NFC Championship games. But, I don't understand why everyone sees this as the worst possible scenario. Kolb did perform well in the limited action he saw earlier in the year, and now has a few years under his belt that allowed him to learn the nuances of the offense. Remember, Aaron Rodgers was in a similar situation with Favre two seasons ago. Lots of people thought it was a mistake to let Favre go (or retire or whatever) and turn the reigns over to Rodgers, but it turned out to be the best for both parties. Rodgers is a Pro Bowler, and trading Favre allowed GB to get some picks in order to get younger and more athletic in other areas. Now Philly is probably closer to a championship now than GB was then (even coming off the NFC Championship loss), but if the coaching staff feels Kolb is ready, why not use McNabb to get better in other areas? Not to mention he hasn't exactly been the most healthy of QBs, and now will be getting into his mid-thirties. Getting a first and a third, or two seconds, or whatever the package may be allows Philly to potentially upgrade at LB, RB, OL, or S, or whatever position they feel needs tweaking. Plus, it frees up some money for the subsequent draft picks and a long term contract for DeSean Jackson. Now, I'm not advocating this is the right thing to do, but it certainly isn't as ridiculous as it sounds.

Eagles fans understand your point that McNabb is a known quantity. That at this stage he may be, probably is, better thatn Kolb. McNabb is a good, not great quarterback that wins most of the games he should. He is good enough to have your team in contention every year. What he is not good enough to do, is take the Eagles to a championship, which is what fans in Philadelphia are looking for. He consistently comes up small in the biggest of games when playing good teams. The media talks about how he has never lost a first round playoff game until this year's debacle. Look back at those games, the Eagles were favored in every one. All but one of those wins was at home, only an average Minny team last year was on the road. Yeah, we don't know if Kolb is the one or not but we won't be sure until we see him. We have seen McNabb and the verdict is that he can't win a championship. The sooner we turn the page the sooner we can find someone who can. The annoying national media always talks about "be careful what you wish for." "You should be happy to have a competitive team every year." "You could be a fan of a team like Detroit." Competitive is not good enough. I don't care about other teams' fans. I want to win a Super Bowl and I know McNabb can't.

Philly went out and got Michael Vick this past year NOW WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE THAT TELLS KOLB about how management views his future? If he stays in Philly he might as well change his first name to "Backup QB" because that will always precede his name.

Anyway we went over this three times in the past two weeks in different stories. There doesn't seem there is much more to be said.

My feeling is that Aaron Rodgers won his starting job in the film room and on the practice field. Certainly Favre would have been welcomed back had the Packer coaching staff lacked faith in Rodgers. Like Rodgers at the time, Kolb has had limited on field opportunities, but he sure looked sharp the game I saw him play. The question is how is he progressing off the field, in the film room, QB meetings, locker room? What's left on Kolb's contract?

Mike points out how McNabb has faired much like Favre. Consistent winners in the regular season, winners of occasional playoff games, but often coming up short in the big contests.

Philly has a nice problem. It has three starting-caliber QBs, two of which it will probably convert to draft picks in the next few months. It seems clear to me that Vick will be traded, probably for something like a mid second rounder or maybe a third. The team that takes the other end of this trade will be getting a big bargain in my view.

Very hard to say what Kolb would bring. Honestly, you could make the argument that he's better than any QB coming out this year, so he should warrant a tirst, but that's unlikely for a guy without a body of work. As Matt noted, a couple of games don't prove much, see Derek Anderson.

McNabb? The same things that make Eagles fans crazy make it hard to determine what he's worth at this stage of his career. He's a proven winner, unlike say, Cutler, but he's always been on good teams and he's not exactlly known for accuracy. Probably the Eagles would not let him go except for a decent first round pick.

If I'm their GM, I sit and wait, knowing the teams that need QBs are under more pressure than I am. Worst case, they could carry all three again next season, although that doesn't make a ton of sense. If someone makes a can't pass up offer for McNabb or Kolb, you take it.

Now this is a general comment and isn't directed toward any one post BUT when ever Eagle fans talk about McNabb on these boards they are hell bent to move on because he's past his time, he'll never win the big one AND HE'S NOT KNOWN FOR HIS ACCURACY . Then they turn around and expect some team to pay a FIRST round draft pick for him BECAUSE HE'S A PROVEN WINNER...................LMAO

You can put money on Vick being gone and the only ones who might give you decent return value for McNabb is Arizona or Minn. who have everything else in place and think they need to DO IT NOW before their stars become free agents and the wheels fall off their chances.If McNabb gets into training camp you have him for the rest of the 2010 season.With Vick gone Reid isn't going to go into the season without a backup he can trust.......THEREFORE Kolb will be there also

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The real truth is that next season will be McNabb's last. HE IS RETIRING FROM FOOTBALL. The Eagles already know this...that is why McNabb is not demanding a new contract. Reid and the Eagles knew this when they gave him more money for 09-10. McNabb will try to make it in the TV booth. Reid promised him this last shot before he retires. Kolb will then take over. And, make no mistake, Kolb is the better QB. Reid won't even open up competition for the starting spot..he knows Kolb would win and he'd have to break his promise to McNabb.

jim,

You either work for the Eagles in the front office, are best friends with Andy Reid, or you are a lunatic who thinks he's 'got it all figured out!'

Mark,

Or, McNabb made a friend aware of this.

I think the additions to the offense has changed the way Mcnabb reads/performs in the pocket. He used to be a rhythmic work the ball down the field qb, due to the wrs inability to get open or seperation deep.he would run the progression of his reads while 5 or 7 step dropping.Now he waits to read at the end of his drops,sometimes after bouncing in one spot for a sec or two.No O'line should be asked nor expected to hold for 7 to 9 sec on every play,IMPOSSIBLE when they are not rotated in and out like the D'line.That is where the leadership,cunning of a veteran QB who has seen it all,to help the line in all of those instances. D-lineman are too fast,big x-plosive to think they will be held in check on every dropback.Farve,brees,P. manning has it.Where is it in mcnabb? It's his last call if he is'nt gone by FA.

Well said to the post by "winning is on the line" - these Eagles fans want the best of both worlds. They want McNabb out because he is so bad, but yet they think other teams will just give away a first rd pick for a past his prime, can't win a big game qb. If he is as bad as you say, then why would a team part ways with a first or even second for a washed up qb?

In response to those that keep pointing to Rodgers in GB - he is the exception, not the rule! Look at Matt Cassel. He came in for Brady last yr and played well, but then when given the chance to be the man he lead the Chiefs to how many wins - 3?? My guess is that Kolb would fall in the middle of a Rodgers and a Cassel. I think the Eagles would win more than 3 games simply because the Eagles are a much better team overrall then the Chiefs but very, very few backups will become an Aaron Rodgers.

For those who think McNabb should go need only to look back on all the years he was injured and the replacment came in. With the exception of Garcia, they literally SUCKED! That just shows me how good McNabb is. I love the Eagles, but hate Eagle fans. Fickle as hell and most of them only see with blinders on. Those who want Kolb after two games (and 1 he had a pick and a fumble) are seriously just hoping for a spark that turns into a championship. While everyone gets frustrated when McNabb throws at the receiver's feet, it still is better than 25 or so other QB's in the league. So KNOCK IT OFF!