Kevin Kolb is the richest backup QB in the NFL

You seriously cannot script this stuff.

Andy Reid, a man who I finally thought I understood after spending several years learning from his bizarre personnel decisions, playcalls, and mumbling, has outdone himself once again.  Just as I thought I could predict his next move, he completely goes opposite of what I had expected.  Instead of stubbornly sticking with Kevin Kolb, who he had repeatedly dubbed the starting quarterback, he has done the right thing and named Michael Vick – the better QB – the starter.

Let’s go back and recount how we got here.

1999-2009: Donovan McNabb reigns as the franchise quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, leading them to five NFC Championship Games, and one Super Bowl appearance. He becomes the Eagles’ franchise leader in wins, passing yards, and touchdowns.  During his tenure, he was never fully appreciated by Philadelphia fans because he couldn’t bring a Super Bowl Championship back to the City of Brotherly Love.

April 2007: QB Kevin Kolb is drafted in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft, and suddenly becomes the apparent successor to McNabb.  (This is one of the many times I have questioned Andy Reid).  The big question, of course, was when would Reid and the Eagles organization dump McNabb and turn the team over to Kolb?

November 2008: In a game against the Baltimore Ravens in which McNabb struggled in the first half, going 8-18 for 54 yards with 2 interceptions and a fumble, Andy Reid decides to replace him with Kolb due to his ineffectiveness (1st time not to injury or a blowout). At the time of the benching, the Eagles trailed 10-7, and Kolb had not yet faced a defense anywhere close to as good as the Ravens.  I was at the game, and this was yet another time where Andy Reid utterly confused me. What I had expected happened: Kolb struggled mightily, going 10-23 for 74 yards and 2 interceptions, one of which was returned 108 yards for a touchdown by Ed Reed, who broke his own NFL record for longest interception return for a TD. McNabb returned the following Thursday on Thanksgiving and played exceptionally, reasserting himself as the Eagles’ starter in 2008.

August 13, 2009: The Eagles announce they have signed Michael Vick to a one-year contract, with an option for a second year.  Vick, who had been released from federal prison after serving for establishing a dogfighting ring, has been mentored by Tony Dungy and has been reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.  Andy Reid, Joe Banner, and the Eagles organization seem to think Vick has changed, turned around his life, and is ready to play football.  His role is vaguely defined, but most experts predict the Eagles will use him in some sort of wildcat formation. The team already has Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb at quarterback, so many (including me) were confused as to Vick’s future role with the team. Kolb has already been appointed the successor to McNabb, so Vick’s role appears to be limited for the foreseeable future.

January-April 2010: Following a successful 2009 regular season which the Eagles finished 11-5, the Birds had a disappointing loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs.  After the game, Andy Reid repeatedly stated that Donovan McNabb would be the Eagles’ quarterback in 2010.  Even up to April 1, Reid assured fans, the media, and others interested, that McNabb would be the starter come September. At this point, I agree with Reid, and believe McNabb should stay, however, I get a looming feeling that Reid will change his mind very soon.

April 4, 2010: Whaddya know, I’m starting to figure out Andy Reid! The Eagles announce that they have traded Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins, for future draft picks.  Kevin Kolb immediately becomes the starting quarterback of the Eagles. I pretty much expected McNabb would be gone, because of previous decisions made by Reid (some that I didn’t agree with) including the refusal to re-sign Brian Dawkins, the release of Brian Westbrook, and the trade of Sheldon Brown and Chris Gocong. The youth revolution was already underway, and McNabb was the final piece to be dished out.

April 29, 2010: The Eagles announce they have signed QB Kevin Kolb to a contract extension worth $12.26 million over the next two years.  This cements Kolb as Reid’s chosen quarterback of the immediate future, and signals the beginning of the Kolb Era of the Eagles. We think.  I am utterly disgusted with this decision (see my post from April 29 here) because I do not understand what Kolb has done to deserve a contract extension, and because I would like to see competition between Kolb and Vick, who showed flashes of his former self in the 2009 season, including the longest TD pass of his career, a 76-yard toss to Jeremy Maclin, during the NFC Wild Card game against the Dallas Cowboys.  This is one of the most questionable decisions made by Reid, in my opinion. I apparently still don’t understand the man.

Fast forward to more recent events:

September 12, 2010: In Kevin Kolb’s debut as the Eagles’ starter, he struggles mightily, fails to read the blitz, completing 5 of 10 passes for 24 yards and no touchdowns.  Kolb suffers a concussion on a big hit and is forced out of the game.  Michael Vick replaces Kolb in the second half, and leads the Eagles back into the game, nearly stealing it away from the Green Bay Packers. He finishes the day 16 of 24 for 175 yards and 1 touchdown, along with 103 rushing yards. Fans, commentators, and the Eagles become confident in Vick’s abilities and believe he should be the starter.  I predict that, as long as Kolb is healthy, Reid will stick with him because of his track record: he signed him to a $12 million contract extension in the offseason, and has repeatedly told the media that he is the Eagles’ quarterback of the future.

September 13-19, 2010: Kevin Kolb fails concussion tests during the next week, and is not cleared to play for Week 2 in Detroit.  Michael Vick will start his first game since 2006. On Friday, Kolb finally is able to practice and says he “feels himself.” Right before Sunday’s game, Andy Reid announces that Kolb will be the starter in week 3, regardless of the outcome of the game, quelling any QB controversy that may be brewing. Vick plays tremendously vs. the Lions, going 21-34 for 284 yards, 2 TDs and 37 rushing yards, leading the Eagles to their first victory.  I begin to doubt Reid’s choice in naming Kolb the starter, because Vick has re-established himself as a top-tier quarterback in the NFL. At this juncture, I still expect the opposite of what I don’t want Reid to do: stay the course with Kolb as the starter, even though Vick has played better.  My reasoning? Oh, I don’t know, maybe its the repeated statements of “Kolb is our guy,” “Kevin is the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles,” or perhaps that ridiculous $12 million contract that is guaranteed for Kolb.

September 20, 2010: It looks as if I have finally figured out Andy Reid.  He once again, adamantly states that Kevin Kolb is still the starter for the Eagles, and will start Sunday’s game vs. the Jaguars.  Michael Vick is OK with the decision, saying Kolb should start, its his team. I admire his acceptance of this realization.  Kolb accepts his position, and says he is proud of the way Vick has filled in and acted.

September 21, 2010: Well, now I have no idea what to expect from Andy Reid.  Merely 24 hours after re-affirming his position that Kevin Kolb would start for the Eagles, he contradicts himself and declares Michael Vick the starting QB not only for Week 3, but for the rest of the 2010 season. Reid says the decision had nothing to do with Kolb’s injury, and that this will help his “maturation process.” I am befuddled. How could Reid, who has invested confidence and $12.26 million into Kolb, reverse a decision that he had so confidently made and repeated over the past several months?  Kolb has been waiting since he was drafted to get a chance. And he finally does, but then Reid decides that he isn’t ready, despite telling Philadelphia and Kolb himself that he has utmost confidence in Kolb to start at QB for the Eagles in 2010!

So basically, I expected Reid to do the opposite of what I wanted him to do, and he did the opposite of what I expected him to do. In summary, he did what I wanted him to do in the first place! So why am I complaining? Paying a guy $12.26 million to be a backup is a big waste of money.  Waaay back in April, I said that Reid should have open competition between Kolb and Vick.  Now, after committing to Kolb, and going with Vick instead, Reid essentially has admitted failure in decision-making.  In Reid’s eyes, Kolb is still not ready to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.  By using language such as “maturation process” and “the future is bright,” Reid is basically saying, we’re back to where we have been for the past 2-3 years.  Mike Vick will be the quarterback of the Eagles, while Kolb waits for his chance and continues to learn.

Michael Vick has been named the starting QB of the Eagles for the remainder of the season.

For right now, Reid made the right decision in starting Vick.  He is the better quarterback and will help the Eagles win games this season.  He is also a better fit because of the injury-ridden, struggling Eagles’ offensive line.  Being more mobile than Kolb, Vick responds to blitzes much better.  He is the clear choice right now. However, his contract is up at the end of this year. Kolb is due more money next year. But who’s to say that he will be ready to go next season, assuming Vick is no longer with the Eagles?  I can only imagine what decisions Andy Reid will make next.  Depending on Vick and Eagles’ success this season, Reid and the front office will have a lot to think about in the off-season.