After leading the Eagles to victory over the Lions on Sunday, this is what Michael Vick told Peter King in reference to his role as Kevin Kolb’s backup:
“I know Kevin can do it,” Vick said. “I saw him do it all summer. For me, I’ve had a taste of it now, and now, finally, I know it’s going to be there for me. If I have to wait another year, I can. I can be patient.”
Those are the types of comments that show how far Vick has come in his maturity. Although, what else is he going to say? In the last two weeks, he’s completed 37 of his 58 pass attempts for 459 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions.
He doesn’t have to say anything – his play speaks for itself.
Vick has put up Pro Bowl-type numbers in his two outings this year, but he knows Andy Reid makes the decisions. And Reid has already made it clear that Kolb is his starter for Week 3 and beyond.
But if I were Kolb, I wouldn’t get too comfortable. Sure, he has the backing of Reid and as long as he plays well, he’ll continue to receive his coach’s support. Reid went to bat for Kolb after he shipped Donovan McNabb to Washington on Easter Sunday and isn’t going to abandon him now for Vick. Reid also drafted Kolb and doesn’t want to be made the fool after choosing him over Vick earlier this offseason.
But again, Kolb better produce. Reid knows that in benching a nearly flawless Vick, he’s running the risk of not only having this situation blow up in his face, but losing games, too. Looking like a fool is definitely the lesser of two evils here.
The Eagles are at Jacksonville this week and host the Redskins next Sunday. Those are two winnable games and if Kolb can’t get the job done, I wouldn’t be surprised if Vick gets the starting nod again in Week 5 when the Eagles play the 49ers in San Francisco.
Or better yet, when they host the Falcons (Vick’s old team) in Week 6.
