Tag: Kevin Kolb (Page 13 of 13)

McNabb expects a new contract from Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback Donovan McNabb begrudgingly said that he expects to receive a new contract from the team when his current one expires before the 2009 NFL Season.

Donovan McNabb“Everybody wants a new deal,” McNabb said Wednesday. “But, that’s not why we’re playing this game. We’re playing this game to win, and things happen. I’ve been answering this question the last couple of years, so I guess to eliminate that part of it, hopefully [a new contract] will happen, but we’ll see.”

No matter, McNabb’s future is uncertain. Kevin Kolb, drafted in the second round in 2007 to be McNabb’s eventual successor, hasn’t done much in limited playing time to prove he’s capable of being a top-notch QB. McNabb isn’t due to become a free agent anytime soon, so the Eagles would have to trade or release him.

If management decides to rebuild after missing the playoffs for the third time in four years, the 32-year-old McNabb could go. If the decision-makers feel the team needs only to retool its roster to make a Super Bowl run, McNabb probably will stay because he’s their best option.

“I’m still under contract. I guess it would be solidified by, so I don’t have to answer this question, getting a new deal,” McNabb said. “I don’t truly focus on that. I expect to be here, and I will play this game like it’s not my last. You just go out and try to put everything on the field and give all your guys that confidence knowing that you’re going to sell out for them.”

Not that Kolb is ready at this point to take over the offense, but I doubt McNabb returns next year in Philly. The Eagles are a long-shot to make the playoffs and the organization might be ready to head in another direction.

Personally, I hope McNabb gets the hell out of Dodge. I think he has taken way too much criticism throughout his career and he might be better served playing out his career some place else. But we’ll see how this story develops throughout the offseason.

Donovan McNabb will start on Thanksgiving

Andy Reid noted Monday night that quarterback Donovan McNabb would keep his starting job and start on Thanksgiving against the Arizona Cardinals.

Donovan McNabb“Donovan is the quarterback. I don’t want to leave here until you understand that,” coach Andy Reid emphasized at his news conference Monday. “Donovan is the quarterback for this football team.”

“Sometimes you have to step back to step forward in a positive way and Donovan will do that,” Reid said. “This has nothing to do with Kolb’s performance or Donovan’s performance.”

“As I sit here right now, he’s my starting quarterback,” Reid said. “I need to coach better. Donovan needs to play better and the guys around Donovan need to play better.”

“I think I know Donovan McNabb better than anybody in this room,” Reid said. “I know [seven] turnovers, that’s not him. That’s no part of his game. You back up an inch and you evaluate it and you should be able to step forward a mile after that.”

So what if McNabb plays poorly again in the first half? Does an unprepared Kolb then go back in? The mess has only begun in Philly. McNabb could do himself and Reid a huge favor with a solid performance.

Reid could follow McNabb out of Philly at season’s end

Andy ReidAfter he was benched at halftime of the Eagles’ embarrassing 36-7 loss to the Ravens on Sunday, there’s little doubt that the writing is on the wall for quarterback Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia.

But what about head coach Andy Reid?

After a couple of dreadful performances (and I mean dreadful), it’s hard to back McNabb at this point. His play last week in a tie against the Bengals was downright embarrassing and even hard to watch. It seriously looked like he was trying to throw into double and triple coverage just to see if he could still complete the pass. And his brilliant outing Sunday against the Ravens was JaMarcus Russell-esqe: 8 of 18 for 59 yards, two interceptions, one fumble.

But Reid deserves plenty of criticism for throwing an unproven Kevin Kolb to the wolves after the Eagles had just cut their deficit to 10-7 at halftime. They were still in the game and while McNabb didn’t necessarily deserve to go back under center, Reid’s decision was inexplicable. It’s not like Kolb had a full week to prepare – he was thrust into a horrible situation, unprepared and against one of the nastiest defenses in the league. Reid essentially sealed his, and his teams’ fate by benching McNabb when a win was still very much in reach.

So now what, Andy? Go back to McNabb in hopes he can save your fleeting playoff hopes? Or go with a second-year quarterback and pray he does his best Matt Cassel impression?

Everyone likes to criticize Mike Martz for not running the football more, but what about Reid? He’s had success throwing the ball over his career, but he also continuously kills his team by not creating offensive balance. He might be the most overrated coach in the NFL and his decision to bench McNabb might not only cost him the playoffs this season, but also his job in Philadelphia. If McNabb goes, shouldn’t Reid, too?

Is this the beginning of the end for McNabb in Philly?

For the second week in a row, Eagles’ quarterback Donovan McNabb looked absolutely atrocious as the Ravens crushed Philadelphia 36-7 on Sunday. But unlike last week, McNabb didn’t even finish the game as he was benched for Kevin Kolb in the second half.

McNabb was just 8 of 18 for 59 yards, two interceptions and also lost a fumble. Kolb didn’t fare much better, completing 10 of 23 passes for 73 yards and two interceptions, but one has to wonder if McNabb’s benching may signal the beginning of the end for his time in Philadelphia.

At 5-5, the Eagles’ playoff hopes are fading fast and the Eagles might want to start preparing for the future with Kolb. Chances are McNabb will remain the starter until Philly is completely knocked out of postseason contention, but it’ll be interesting to see if Andy Reid makes the switch to Kolb towards the end of the year and then the team parts ways with McNabb in the offseason.

As for Baltimore, this was quite a rebound performance after the Giants dismantled them last week in New York. Rookie Joe Flacco was efficient, completing 12 of 26 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns, but more importantly, the Ravens’ running game was solid again (Le’Ron McClain finished with 88 yards and a touchdown) and the defense was dominant. They remain in the playoff hunt, but they could use a San Diego win over Indy to keep the Colts a game behind in the Wild Card race.

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