Kevin Kolb is by no means happy about his new role as the backup quarterback for the Eagles, but he says that he trusts head coach Andy Reid to do what he thinks is best for the team and that he'll continue to support his friend Michael Vick on and off the field.
"I want to be out there," Kolb said Wednesday is his first comments to the media following yesterday's surprise announcement. "I feel like I'm a starter in this league and I'm a competitor. But at the same time, I'm a team player and I'm going to do what's best for our team, do what I can for Mike. Again, it's tough because I feel like I could be out there, but Andy always takes the best interests of the team first and he always takes the best interest of his players too. So you have to trust him."
Kolb confirmed that he was the very first person informed of Reid's decision.
"He did tell me first and we discussed it and he went with it because he thought that was what was right," Kolb said. "He said my future is as bright as ever ... I still have a lot of faith in this organization and me being here, so that's the way I'll approach it and always keep the faith.
"The NFL is a tough spot and you have to compete every day. I understand that, I understand that Mike's playing great. Again, I want to be out there. The hardest thing is you want to go to battle with your guys. We've spent a lot of time together and I want to be out there fighting every down with them."
It's certainly a tough pill for Kolb to swallow after preparing all off-season to lead the team as the starting quarterback.
"It's something I didn't expect," he said. "I don't think anybody expected it. There are some changes and part of being an NFL player is being able to adapt to those changes and still making it work so that's what I'm doing right now.
"But now that I'm in the place I'm in, I'll support Mike just like he supported me and he's playing great and I hope he continues to play great and we can keep winning."
As for the internal reaction, Kolb said his teammates have been supportive, but there is still business at hand.
"There was obviously a lot of change this morning," Kolb said. "I think everybody's compassionate, but at the same time, in this league, you have to pick up and you have to roll ... If we let this linger in the locker room, then it'll hamper us and we don't want that to happen."
-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 12:29 p.m., September 22
