And now the questions start for quarterback Kevin Kolb. Again. Will he be a starter? Will he be traded?
The same uncertainty that clouded Kolb's future last year will reappear now that the 2010 season has come to a close with the 21-16 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs on Sunday. When the Eagles traded Donovan McNabb last Easter night, Kolb was named the starting quarterback. However, Kolb was knocked out of the season opener with a concussion and Michael Vick never relinquished control of the job.
"Last offseason was pretty up in the air too. I feel like I know how to approach it," Kolb said after the game. "I know how to think about it and I'll just go back to work and make sure that I'm ready to go whichever way it takes me."
Kolb did start three straight games after Vick suffered a rib cartilage injury and won two of his three starts. Kolb also started the regular season finale against the Cowboys with the backups as the starters rested. In all, Kolb started five games this season and completed 60.8 percent of his passes for 1,197 yards and seven touchdowns against seven interceptions. Kolb's best performance of his career came in the Week 6 win over Atlanta when he completed 79.3 percent of his passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns for a 133.6 passer rating in a 31-17 rout. Kolb earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in the Atlanta game.
The fourth-year quarterback is under contract for the 2011 season while Vick's contract expires in March. If the Eagles decide to keep Vick, what would happen to Kolb? Would he be a backup again? Or would the Eagles be willing to deal him if the price was right.
"There's a lot that Andy (Reid) has to think about," Kolb said. "I want to be a starter and I think it's time. I'm open to whatever. I look forward to learning what's next for me. Whichever situation I'm in, I'll focus on being here, being somewhere else, being the starter, being the backup … whatever it leads to I'll focus on that. It's not going to be hard for me to focus. It's just going to be which avenue am I going in. Just like always, I'll let the road take me where it may and keep working to get better when I get there."
Of course, just like last year, Kolb isn't in control of where he will play next season. With that in mind, Kolb is just going to prepare ""mentally and physically"" as if he will be the starter for the Eagles.
"Obviously, I would like to know. What are you going to do? I don't control that,"" Kolb said. ""I'm just going to continue to trust in Andy and trust that they're going to make the right decision."
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 11:30 p.m., January 9
