Head coach Andy Reid attended the Maxwell Awards in Atlantic City, N.J. on Friday night and talked with 97.5 The Fanatic's Mike Missanelli about a wide array of topics, but of course, the main issue was the state of the quarterbacks.
And Reid's opinion on Donovan McNabb has not changed.
"Donovan's our quarterback," Reid said.
A report on Friday indicated that there is a split in the front office regarding McNabb. The report stated that Reid wants McNabb and others want to deal him and move on. Another report stated that the Eagles have refused to listen to offers for McNabb.
Reid said that the opinion of team president Joe Banner and new general manager Howie Roseman are the same as his.
"I haven't changed my opinion and I don't think they have either," Reid said. "They've agreed and mentioned the same things I have."
Missanelli brought up a very good point. What if another team offers a first-round pick for McNabb, who is in the last year of his contract, can the Eagles turn it down?
"I'm not in any hurry to get rid of any of these quarterbacks at all," Reid said. "I've got the greatest situation in the National Football League. I've got three quarterbacks that I think can start, well I know can start in the National Football League and have started and have done well."
All three of the Eagles' quarterbacks - McNabb, Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick - are entering the last year of each player's respective contract.
Reid said that despite the widespread speculation that at least one of the quarterbacks could be dealt, all three could return in 2010.
"There's a pretty good chance," Reid said. "I'd say it's up there (percentage-wise)."
When asked whether McNabb could play next year without a contract extension, Reid added that the Eagles "haven't gotten to that point yet."
While a quarterback deal may not happen, Reid said that the team was in talks with wide receiver Jason Avant regarding a long-term deal.
Reid even discussed a non-move that happened Friday. The Chicago Bears signed defensive end Julius Pepppers and it was reported that the Eagles were interested in the free agent. Reid said that the deal will work out for both the Bears and the Eagles.
"That's how these things work. We've got a pretty good defensive line and that's the way we went with it," Reid said. "It'll work out good for both teams I think ... We'll be fine on the defensive line."
The Eagles also released linebacker Will Witherspoon on Friday. It is not out of the question, per Reid, that Witherspoon could return, but the Eagles can't talk with him for a week.
*Philadelphia Daily News' *Les Bowen tweeted Friday that the reason Witherspoon was released was that his contract was "expensive for a guy who might not start in '10."
Many Eagles fans indicated on our seven hours of live chat Friday that they wanted free agent safety Antrel Rolle in midnight green. The Giants broke the bank and signed Rolle to the richest contract for a safety in NFL history.
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 8:47 a.m., March 6
