Andy Reid names Michael Vick as team's starting quarterback

[SirClintonPortis]

Simply put, Vick gives the Eagles the benefits of a heavy duty running game without the Eagles needing to run much.

I'll bet Fat Andy will make some excuse to put in Kolb, but after 2-3 weeks of sucking, he caves in and goes with Vick.

[SolidSnake84]

I think this is the best move. Andy Reid is no dummy. Vick is recovered from his layoff, he obviously gives the offense a huge lift, and it seems like he knows the playbook better than Kolb for some reason.

If Vick stays healthy, he gives the Eagles their QB for the next 4 to 5 years, best case scenario 8 more years. I dont understand the knock on Vick for being 30 years old. All things considered he is a young 30 as he missed nearly 3 seasons..

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by SolidSnake84

I think this is the best move. Andy Reid is no dummy. Vick is recovered from his layoff, he obviously gives the offense a huge lift, and it seems like he knows the playbook better than Kolb for some reason.

If Vick stays healthy, he gives the Eagles their QB for the next 4 to 5 years, best case scenario 8 more years. I dont understand the knock on Vick for being 30 years old. All things considered he is a young 30 as he missed nearly 3 seasons..

Because until he proves long term that he's a passer you're basically looking at a 30 year old running back. One of the biggest questions facing Vick right now is did he just put up these ridiculous numbers against a prevent defense and a bottom dweller. Remember two games is way to small a sample size. Two good games from Kolb is all it took to get McNabb traded, now we're looking at two good games from Vick.

Admittedly the prospect of him having developed as a passer is terrifying. I thought when the Eagles signed him they were getting a 50% passer that liked to run. I didn't think that Andy Reid was THAT good with QB's.

The bigger question though is how do the Eagles approach this if they do end up with a Pro Bowl Mike Vick on their hands. They obviously just signed Kolb to the extension in part because the Eagles always like to go young. Vick is still in bankruptcy and hypothetically if his play over the last two weeks carry's over to the rest of the season he'll be looking at something like a 5 year $60 million contract. He is one of those rare players where getting paid has to be more important then being part of a winning team. For example a typical NFL free agent has the luxury of sacrificing a million or two to sign with the right team. When you enter bankruptcy you don't have that luxury.

Then you have to wonder if the Eagles frugal ways will come to the forefront? Will a guy like Al Davis (who has to be kicking himself right now) enter the fold for a dynamic QB with a cannon for an arm? Then you have to wonder if he can succeed away from Reid in a dysfunctional organization like Oakland, Buffalo, maybe even Minnesota (God knows Arizona wouldn't be able to afford him). Obviously it's way to early to seriously be thinking about how this is going to end, but I'm praying that either Jacksonville or a certain Washington team can expose him and we can go back to laughing at the Eagles for giving us McNabb.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by GusFrerotte

Reid is history in a couple seasons. Vick will revert to Atlanta form soon enough and then you will have an inefficient Kolb trying to take over late in the season. Mike has upgraded his passing ability, but that isn't saying much, since his last season in ATL he barely would hit the 100 yd passing mark, trying to do his Barry Sanders impersonation. Neither is beating Detroit such a great feat, especially since the Lions did comeback.

Vick is no Gus Frerotte, that's for sure...:cheeky-sm

[SolidSnake84]

I saw in the local Paper that Andy Reid said the decision was mostly based on the fact that he felt that Michael Vick has developed into a passer and has gotten himself away from the run first mentality.

[FRPLG]

I think it is the right football move but at the same time it shows how poorly run that team has been run for a few years now and how average Reid has become as a coach. They just spent an entire off-season trying to convince anyone who'd listen that a youth movement was afoot when there didn't seem a need to even have one and just 2 games into the season they bag it? They cut Kolb's knees out from under him. This couldn't have worked out any worse organizationally for them. Here again is prrof that they're one of those teams that is too smart for their own good.

[SolidSnake84]

Question is now, are they really believing that Vick is the future for that team? I mean if he plays well this season and the eagles make the playoffs, which they should, do they resign Michael Vick and let him battle with Kolb?

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by SolidSnake84

Question is now, are they really believing that Vick is the future for that team? I mean if he plays well this season and the eagles make the playoffs, which they should, do they resign Michael Vick and let him battle with Kolb?

Who they just gave a decent contract to over the summer?

How does this work for them? Vick plays well...they can't resign him because he'll cost too much. Or they do resign him and do what with Kolb? Now you are paying two guys to be your starting QB? I mean I understand it is about winning but at the same time it has been 2 games. I don't see how they came to an earth-shattering decision like this after 2 games. For god's sake just say Kolb is still banged up. Make something up so it doesn't look like you're benching the guy you just dumped your HOF QB for.

[CRedskinsRule]

I did not realize Vick had been sacked so much. Peter King and Ross Tucker just said his stats for his 4 years as a starter where he had 15 or 16 games: 33, 46, 33, 45. And he has 9 so far in 6 quarters. For someone with his elusiveness that is a lot.

In checking McNabb's numbers in years he played 14+ games: 42, 33, 44, 23(only 16 game season), 35.

I am not sure how that will play out, but 9 sacks in 6 quarters is a lot of pounding.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Who they just gave a decent contract to over the summer?

How does this work for them? Vick plays well...they can't resign him because he'll cost too much. Or they do resign him and do what with Kolb? Now you are paying two guys to be your starting QB? I mean I understand it is about winning but at the same time it has been 2 games. I don't see how they came to an earth-shattering decision like this after 2 games. For god's sake just say Kolb is still banged up. Make something up so it doesn't look like you're benching the guy you just dumped your HOF QB for.

Lol, as I said before two games seems to be the magic number in Philly. You play well for two games you get promoted to franchise savior. First with Kolb last year against a feast or famine New Orleans D along with a great outing against a rebuilding Kansas D and now the same thing has happened with Mike Vick.

[SolidSnake84]

What is the consensus here? Will Michael Vick be an Eagle next year??

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I think Reid took some time, reflected on the matter, and changed his mind. Simple as that. I don't think anyone was pulling his stings. I watched nearly all of his presser today and he seemed very comfortable with the decision and explained that right now Vick is one of the hottest QBs in the NFL, with the fourth highest QB rating.

Every necessary precaution is going to be safeguarded regarding the return of Kevin Kolb from a concussion. The league is dead serious. To expose him to further unnecessary risk would be unwise on the Eagles part. I would be surprised if the medical report didn't have an influence on the teams decision.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by Longtimefan

Every necessary precaution is going to be safeguarded regarding the return of Kevin Kolb from a concussion. The league is dead serious. To expose him to further unnecessary risk would be unwise on the Eagles part. I would be surprised if the medical report didn't have an influence on the teams decision.

I still don't know how the Eagles got away with sending Kolb and Bradley out into the field despite their concussions.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by SolidSnake84

What is the consensus here? Will Michael Vick be an Eagle next year??

Yes. Reid will NOT be. Kolb will be a backup or traded because they overpaid him, and that's not a backup's salary.


Starting Vick IS the right move for them this season, but he's not a long-term answer like they claimed Kolb would be.

I knew Kolb would not only fail to live up to McNabb's success, but will not be a capable starter. Despite the media's and Reid's claims I've heard, he looked horrible in his chances to play. Reid benched McNabb for having a bad game, Kolb came in and played even worse against that Ravens D. He threw a 108-yard pick 6 to Reed and another INT. He finished 2008 with 0 TDs, 4 INTs and 2009 had him with 4 TD/3 INT. Even in his big game against New Orleans with 391 yards in a 48-22 loss where they abandoned the run and he attempted 51 passes, he had 2 TDs and 3 INTs. Week 1 this season looked just as bad with 5/10 for 24 yards and a fumble before the concussion. He's a 4th-year QB in the same system, he should be past these mistakes. He's not as turnover-prone as Cutler...he's more comparable to Sanchez or even Patrick Ramsey, but I think the Eagles are quickly realizing they made a gigantic blunder by thinking they could replace McNabb with Kolb. He doesn't even look capable to start, forget about going to 6 NFC Championships. (to surpass McNabb's success)

They made an even more stupid mistake by handing him $12 million guaranteed in an extension through 2011, before he did anything on the field.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Who they just gave a decent contract to over the summer?

How does this work for them? Vick plays well...they can't resign him because he'll cost too much. Or they do resign him and do what with Kolb? Now you are paying two guys to be your starting QB? I mean I understand it is about winning but at the same time it has been 2 games. I don't see how they came to an earth-shattering decision like this after 2 games. For god's sake just say Kolb is still banged up. Make something up so it doesn't look like you're benching the guy you just dumped your HOF QB for.

Similar situation with San Diego and Rivers/Brees. They'll franchise Vick if he plays well, then try to trade him, IMO.