In a stunning development the Philadelphia Eagles have named quarterback Michael Vick their starting QB for the remainder of the 2010 season. After spending an entire offseason moving towards their future the team has done a complete 180. How did we end up here?
I used to think that the fatal flaw of the Eagles organization was its arrogance. For over a decade the franchise has operated like they have won several Super Bowls. But now I realize that arrogance isn’t the main issue hurting the Eagles.
It’s incompetence.
Think about what this team has accomplished over the past several seasons. In 2007, the Eagles traded their first round pick to the division rival Dallas Cowboys to trade back into the 2nd round and select Kevin Kolb as their quarterback of the future.
After the 2008 season, the Eagles allowed one of the best defensive players in franchise history and the heart and soul of their roster to walk away in free agency without a replacement in place. After Brian Dawkins signed with the Broncos, the Eagles used 3 different players at free safety in 2009 (Sean Jones, Quinitin Demps, and Macho Harris) and none of them came close to the production Dawkins put up.
via NFL.com
This offseason the Eagles traded former franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb to the division rival Washington Redskins for a 2010 2nd round draft pick (the pick turned into FS Nate Allen) and a 2011 mid round draft pick.
In summary the Eagles made two separate trades to improve teams within their division in order to anoint Kolb as their future. They even traded the best quarterback in franchise history for a draft pick to select the replacement for the best safety in franchise history that they let walk away one season earlier without any plan in place.
When McNabb was traded on Easter Sunday, the team justified the decision by saying that Kevin Kolb was ready to start in the National Football League and it was time to give him an opportunity to play. The team spent the rest of the offseason praising Kolb’s performance, anointing him as the future of the franchise, and giving him a lucrative $12.25 million contract extension.
10 passes later, it all changed?
On Monday, Andy Reid reiterated that there would be no quarterback controversy in Philadelphia. He said, “let me say it again. I know I’m using poor english. Kevin Kolb is the number one quarterback.”
Poor english? More like a flat out lie. Less than 24 hours later, Kevin Kolb was no longer the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Reid can attempt to justify this decision by citing the outstanding performance by Vick over the past two weeks. But let’s have a little perspective. Vick has been great in his six quarters of play but he has faced a Green Bay Packers defense that didn’t game plan against him and a Detroit Lions team that has a grand total of 2 wins over the last 2 seasons combined.
Does Michael Vick make the Eagles a better team this season? Probably. But even though Andy Reid can say that with Vick at quarterback the Eagles have a realistic shot at winning a Super Bowl, I have a rude awakening for him.
They don’t.
Let’s not sugarcoat the fact that this is a team that has allowed the most points in the entire NFL over the first two weeks of the season or that they have an absolutely atrocious offensive line.
The Eagles won’t be able to win because when it comes down to that moment when you have to look your coach and leader in the eye and he tells you that he believes in you, how can you believe it? How can you trust an organization that will say one thing one day and do the exact opposite the next?
via NFL.com
The 2010 season was developed as one to build for the future. Kevin Kolb was finally going to get an opportunity to play under center and take his lumps with the understanding that it would benefit the team in the long term.
The Eagles have sacrificed their long term agenda for a few extra wins in the short term. It’s not only short sighted, it’s flat out stupid. If the team is in a win now mode, why did they trade Donovan McNabb in the first place?
Even if Vick has tremendous success and is signed to a long term contract (his 2-year $6.75 million deal is up at the end of the 2010 season), the path in which the Eagles took to get to this point has to be severely criticized. You can’t trade the greatest quarterback in franchise history to give the young guy a chance, praise the new quarterback all offseason, and then destroy his psyche and trade value based on a 35-32 win over the worst team in the NFL over the past decade.
And if Vick isn’t resigned after the season? How can you possibly go back to Kevin Kolb and tell him that he is the guy at quarterback? I thought he was that guy this season.
At a Tuesday news conference to announce the quarterback change head coach Andy Reid was asked for his thoughts on Michael Vick’s redemption arc. He responded by saying, “one of the great things about America is that you are given a second chance.”
I guess that’s true unless your name is Kevin Kolb.
Mike,
I’m as much of a diehard Philadelphia sports fan as you are. We relentlessly support our Eagles, Flyers, Phillies, Sixers and every other professional team that has the privilege to bare Philadelphia on its jersey.
Now as contradictory as Andy may be, and as counterproductive as logic leads us to believe, how can you not be excited to watch number 7 lead the Eagles for the rest of the season. This is a rejuvenated player who we used to dread facing in the regular season and the playoffs. His electric style has put energy and excitement into a team that Kolb was leading to its demise.
After many questionable offseason moves, including trading down to select Kolb, trading Don this offseason and most detrimental trading Dawk, I’m ecstatic to have an exciting player behind center to compliment our explosive receivers.
Only time will tell if this was a step in the wrong direction, but for now I couldn’t be more excited.
Mike,
I’m as much of a diehard Philadelphia sports fan as you are. We relentlessly support our Eagles, Flyers, Phillies, Sixers and every other professional team that has the privilege to bare Philadelphia on its jersey.
Now as contradictory as Andy may be, and as counterproductive as logic leads us to believe, how can you not be excited to watch number 7 lead the Eagles for the rest of the season. This is a rejuvenated player who we used to dread facing in the regular season and the playoffs. His electric style has put energy and excitement into a team that Kolb was leading to its demise.
After many questionable offseason moves, including trading down to select Kolb, trading Don this offseason and most detrimental trading Dawk, I’m ecstatic to have an exciting player behind center to compliment our explosive receivers.
Only time will tell if this was a step in the wrong direction, but for now I couldn’t be more excited.
Vick certainly brings a new energy and excitement to the team and there’s no doubt that the Eagles will be very entertaining to watch this season. I just question whether this was the right move for the long term direction of the organization.
One things for sure. Sunday’s will be VERY exciting in Philadelphia this season.
Vick certainly brings a new energy and excitement to the team and there’s no doubt that the Eagles will be very entertaining to watch this season. I just question whether this was the right move for the long term direction of the organization.
One things for sure. Sunday’s will be VERY exciting in Philadelphia this season.
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