NFL Free Agency: Is Kevin Kolb Better Than Kyle Orton? Not Really

What makes Kevin Kolb better than Kyle Orton? 

I have often wondered what makes Orton that kid that no one wants on his team. He performs well, exceeds expectations, and yet seems always to be casted off for a "better" replacement.

Moreover, Kolb is always said to be this great QB, yet it has never materialized. 

Why did Tim Tebow get the nod with the Denver Broncos? His statistics were alright in his test run at the end of the 2010 season (82 QB rating, 218 pass YPG, 4 pass TD, 3 rush TD, 3 INT), but Orton had been playing at such a high calibre.

It is somewhat understandable that they are going with the young, marketable Tebow, yet that does not mean that Orton shouldn’t be sought after by other teams to start in 2011.

Kolb is seen as a great option for every team looking for QB.

But what makes him a better option than Orton, especially at an inflated price?

Moreover, Andy Reid is known for being a great QB coach and can get the most out of his signal callers (c.f. McNabb, Vick, Favre). Reid started his coaching career as an assistant coach in 1992 (the same year Favre joined the team) and was promoted to QB coach in 1997 due to his great work with MVP Brett Favre.

So here is my question: Why is Kolb valued as a stud quarterback that everyone was fighting over whereas Orton is not getting as much love?

Let’s look at the numbers and tell me why Kolb gets so much more love. 

Orton:                                                              Kolb:

                                           Profile:                                                             

Height: 6’4"                                                      Height: 6’3"

Weight: 225                                                     Weight: 218

Age (as of Week 1) : 28                                  Age (as of Week 1): 27

                                          Career:               

Experience: 62 Games (60 starts)                 Experience: 20 Games (8 starts)

Win/Loss: 31/29 (3/10 last year)                     Win/Loss: 4/4

QB Rating: 80                                               QB Rating: 73

TD: 71                                                            TD: 11

INT: 48                                                            INT: 14

Difference: +23                                              Difference: -3

                                       Last Season:

QB Rating: 87.5                                              QB Rating: 76.1

Yards: 3,653*                                                  Yards: 1197

Yards per Game: 281                                     Yards Per Game: 200

Completion %: 58.8                                        Completion %: 60.8

TD: 20                                                             TD: 7

INT: 9                                                              INT: 7

Difference: +11**                                            Difference: 0

Sacked: 6.8 percent of drop backs                           Sacked: 8.4 percent of drop backs

*4th in the league through 13 games, behind P. Manning, Brees and Rivers.

** Same as Brees, better than Cutler, Eli Manning

Is Kolb better statistically than Orton? No.

Why did NFL.com title their article “Cards gets their ace” when talking about the trade for Kolb? It just does not translate for me.

It reminds me of the Jason Bay signing in New York. Coming from Fenway with those gaudy numbers, how can you not temper expectations moving to Citi Field?

We all know how much the Mets love that signing now.

Now, compare that to working with QB guru Andy Reid vs. Ken Whisenhunt (not calling him a scrub, but he is definitely not on Reid’s level or we wouldn’t be having this conversation because Derek Anderson would be a stud) and going from the ever-contending Philadelphia Eagles to the hapless Arizona Cardinals.

How does Philadelphia get a 25-year-old Pro Bowl cornerback in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie AND a second-round pick, whereas Denver is looking solely for a third-rounder for Orton?

Someone help me here.