We all knew this day would come. The day when Kevin Kolb would finally get his shot. I’m not talking about insignificant preseason contests, clean-up duty in blowouts or two quarters on the road against a ferocious defense. No, I mean getting all the first team practice reps in preparation to run onto Lincoln Financial Field as the starting signal caller for the Eagles.
Andy Reid believes in Kolb. His teammates say they are confident he can lead, but it’s not like they’re going to trash the dude, even off the record. This ain’t Dallas. Dictator Reid runs a pretty tight ship down at NovaCare.
The fans are a different story. They’ve seen enough of Kolb’s indecisive and erratic play to make their own assessment of his abilities. Safe to say, they’re not impressed. They want Jeff Garcia under center on Sunday. They would have settled for AJ Feeley, if he hadn’t signed with Carolina. Hell, Koy Detmer would be welcomed back with open arms. Anyone but Kevin Kolb.
Eagles Nation needs a villain. Someone to point the finger of blame at. We’re past the point of crucifying Reid for his decision to draft the Houston quarterback back in ‘07. What’s done is done. For better or worse, the organization and those who cheer for midnight green are stuck with Kolb. At least for one more week.
Should Kolb fall flat on his face versus the Saints, fans will feel justified in voicing their angry criticism. Then they can beat the Garcia/Vick drum loud and proud. Should he perform admirably, Reid and Co. will feel validated in their evaluation. You can bet Reid will flash his signature coy smile at every opportunity. The smile that tells everyone who chooses to notice, “I told you so.”
Expecting Kolb to fail and wanting him to are two completely different notions. Booing him after five or six straight incompletions is one thing, but hoping he throws five or six straight incompletions in order help fuel the fires of hatred is wrong.
For this reason, I wish the game was in New Orleans, not Philly. It doesn’t take a Rhodes Scholar to predict the reception Kolb will receive if his first pass sails over DeSean Jackson’s head. Kolb knows what he’s getting himself into. He’s heard the catcalls and curse words before. Normally, they are directed at McNabb or another target. On Sunday, he will be the one in the line of fire. How he handles the dissenting attacks will go a long way in determining his level of success.
I have no idea if Kolb has what it takes to run the offense for an entire game. I have no idea if he can hack the pressure being heaped upon him. I have no idea if he’s capable of going toe-to-toe with the likes of Drew Brees. I have no idea if he’s the right guy to guide the Eagles to victory.
But I can’t wait to find out.
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You Eagles fans are amazingly predictable in your need to scream and boo somebody (anybody) at your home games up there in Philly Cheese-steak land!
I’m willing to bet money that Kolb gets booed off the field in the first half in favor of Jeff Garcia if Coach Andy Reid does decide to start him in this game against the Saints.
Why would the Eagles waive Hank Baskett to bring in Michael Vick? That’s just insane in my modest opinion!
Good luck on Sunday against our Bless You Boys in the Black and Gold… …NOT!!!
Ooh, a classic “NOT!” joke! Those are ALWAYS funny.
Following the preseason, I was fairly high on Kevin Kolb’s prospects, and had high hopes. I was brought back down courtesy of his appearance last week, which was pretty ugly. I’m keeping my fingers crossed, but if he doesn’t play well, then at least the Eagles made the right move to get a very good backup in Jeff Garcia, should disaster strike.
wait a sec, the “aint’s” have fans ?
cutting a 5th string WR for Vick is sooooo insane
Harry Oh:
You are so un-funny it’s not even funny! Wait a minute, do people still refer to the Saints as the “Aints” anymore? I didn’t think so…
Yes the Saints have fans like me who have been supporting them since the very beginning and have never given up on them even one time in all those 42+ years and they even have their own share of bandwagon fans continually jumping on board more and more as they get closer to a legitimate run at the Super Bowl.
Get used to it son because the New Orleans Saints are not going away for a very long long time to come!
I don’t know why you felt the need to come to this site and insult the Eagles fans….maybe you just weren’t raised properly. And you have a lot of guts.
I do believe the Saints fans were the ones to popularize the paper bag look… as in over the head.
Much more insulting to a player than an occasional boo, in my humble opinion.
Regardless, I wish New Orleans luck this season, with the exception of next week.
Yes, and I took opposition to all of the Saints so-called “fans” who wore their Schwegmann’s bags to the games in those days by pulling as many of them off people’s heads as I could as a seven or eighth year old kid at the time too.
I don’t believe that I insulted any true Eagles fans with my comments. I was just speaking the truth. You didn’t like what you heard (read) and so you took offense to it. That’s totally natural and I commend you for that.
I was raised well, thank you very much, but I just also happen to speak my mind whenever and wherever possible in order to make appropriate points that need to be made from time to time. This Eagles blog visit was just one of those occasions where it seemed appropriate enough to me.
Best of luck to your Eagles as well the rest of the way through the ‘09 season, after this weekend of course!
Hey Red – Get your bags ready, your going to need them after sunday…
P.S. Calling them the “Aint’s” is way more funny than a “not” joke.
Who’s Red anyway?
Whatever you say my friend; whatever you say…
the bags will be back….
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