Michael Vick Promotion Might Haunt Philadelphia Eagles' Andy Reid

After Tuesday's stunning announcement, Andy Reid has seemingly painted himself and the Philadelphia Eagles into a relatively small corner. 

Reid's about-face in naming Michael Vick the starting quarterback until further notice surely has the potential to back fire on many fronts.   

On the surface, it would be difficult to argue that Vick has provided a spark to an otherwise moribund Eagles offense and would appear to give the team a better chance to win in the here and now. 

The post Donovan McNabb incumbent starter Kevin Kolb showed very little reason to believe that he was about to lead the team to a successful season— let alone become the next Aaron Rodgers as he had been routinely billed over the past several months. 

Although he never made the comparison, Reid himself consistently praised Kolb's ready for primetime capabilities and big upside potential as he figuratively pinched himself everyday to believe that he could be so lucky. 

Perhaps Reid was whistling in the dark? 

Perhaps he was forced to unload McNabb as some have speculated and needed to create a positive spin for fans as well as build the young QB's confidence?  

Perhaps he started to realize that he and the "so called young guns" overestimated Kolb's abilities or readiness with every misfired pass, every bad read, every unsuccessful effort to deal with a heavy pass rush, and every three and out through the pre-season. 

The only sense of hope was that when the curtain went up on the regular season, everything would magically click. After all, everyone knows— pre-season NFL games mean nothing. 

Unfortunately, things never fell in place for Kolb when the games started to count. Although his body of work was just two quarters, Kolb looked overmatched and devoid of confidence. 

Perhaps this sent shivers down the spine of Reid and the rest of the Eagles brain trust who had made such a  bold decision on Easter Sunday?

And, speaking of the "young guns", they seemed to quickly jump on the Michael Vick bandwagon. 

This is the same group that expressed pleasure when McNabb was traded and Kolb was installed as his successor. Subsequently, the group's recent enthusiasm for the former "NFL rock star" seemed to suggest greater confidence in Vick. 

With arguably the best quarterback in franchise history now enthusiastically wearing a maroon and yellow uni in the Nation's capital, there was no turning back. The Eagles brass had confidently looked forward to the "Kevin Kolb Era" as if it was a foregone conclusion that it would be filled with similar, if not greater, prosperity. 

As doubt transitioned from a creep to a steady flow— up stepped the pre-incarceration version of Michael Vick. Sleepless nights could be diverted for awhile why Reid and staff further evaluated Kolb or figured out the cure for his lackluster play. 

But, this all comes at considerable risk. Reid and team now have very little wiggle room and the potential for future troubles. 

Although it has been suggested that he has a tough exterior, it is reasonable to surmise that Kolb is smarting from a sense of abandonment by his coach and possibly the "young guns" who were singing his praises just months earlier. 

What if Vick's performance tails off?

Let's not forget that a UCLA Bruins colors-clad McNabb racked up something like 600 yards and 70 points in a half versus the same Detroit Lions team a couple years ago. 

Just like it was unreasonable to expect that McNabb would replicate that same level of play throughout the season, it is dangerous to assume that Vick will impersonate Steve Young in his prime the rest of this season. Even Reid described Vick as "playing out of his mind"— which tends to suggest a temporary state. 

What if Vick falls prey to the injury bug that is the occupational hazard of a 30-year old running quarterback?

In both of these scenarios, it would be very difficult for Reid, Kolb, and his teammates to simply hit the "reset" button and rally again around the "Kevin Kolb Era."

What if Vick continues to perform at a very high level throughout the 2010 season? 

Does a 31-year old become the QB of the future for the same team that just launched into a youth movement by jettisoning its more accomplished 33-year old signal caller? And, it is worth noting for a quarterback that has not been known for the pinpoint accuracy that the team was seeking for its West Coast offense. 

Perhaps Tuesday's move was simply "pure genius" on the part of Reid? 

With Vick having set the bar very high, the offensive line currently battered and broken, and Kolb not hitting on all cylinders— perhaps the risk of playing is greater than being unceremoniously benched after one half of live action? 

Only insiders really know the thought process as Reid and company continue to be unwaveringly vague and elusive when addressing the media. 

No one knows how it will all play out. As we have already seen, fate can quickly twist and turn in different directions. 

Maybe Vick will put together the best season of his career and lead the team to success. Or, maybe it will all get very messy.

One thing we can likely count on, though, is that the 2010 Philadelphia Eagles season will not lack for drama. It brings to mind a sage observation of the world around us—  real life can often be stranger than fiction.   

Eight Key Questions That Will Define the Philadelphia Eagles 2010 Season

Part 9 of 9

The Final Word

Perhaps more so than anytime in the past ten years, forecasting how the Eagles will fare this season is particularly challenging. The team has engaged in an almost complete purge of the veteran players that led this period of unprecedented success.

Some players like Kolb will move from the supporting cast to a leading part. Other young players such as Allen and Graham will be asked to play important roles despite little or no NFL experience. And, players rebounding from injury such as Jackson, Bradley and Hobbs are being counted on to not only return to previous form, but perhaps to take their play to the next level.

There are clearly a lot of variables in the equation. Success does not hinge, however, on all these unknowns being answered affirmatively.

Some have obvious greater import than others. However, many are symbiotic in nature and the degree of success achieved in any individual area has the potential to overcome other less successful areas.

For instance, everyone can agree that a huge pass rush would take a great deal of pressure off the secondary.

On the other side of the ball, the importance of McCoy's play would surely be lessened if Kolb turns out to be "all that and a bag of chips."

Eight Key Questions That Will Define the Philadelphia Eagles 2010 Season

Part 5 of 9

5. Will winning leaders emerge?

With the offseason make-over, the Eagles became one of the youngest teams in the NFL. They also jettisoned three more leaders from the most prosperous era in team history with the departures of McNabb, Westbrook, and Sheldon Brown.

In the recent past, the club also lost other key leaders such as Dawkins, Jon Runyan, and Tra Thomas. That pretty much makes a clean sweep of the veteran leadership during that period.

Now, discussions center on Kolb, Brent Celek, Stewart Bradley, and DeSean Jackson stepping into leadership roles. It remains to be seen whether they can pull that off— and if they will model and elicit behavior that fosters a winning culture.

Kolb had been quiet and nondescript publicly in his clipboard toting days, but current players have praised his presence on the field.

Celek and Bradley seem to have the make-up and talent to gain followership.

Although Reid has given him a vote of confidence, Jackson appears more likely to become a T.O.-like diva than the next Brian Dawkins. Recent comments and actions seem to suggest that Jackson's current priorities might be finances, stats, and winning— in that order.

Leadership is critical for success in the tough and competitive NFL world. Only time will tell how this evolves with the current roster.

Eight Key Questions That Will Define the Philadelphia Eagles 2010 Season

Part 1 of 9

From the time that the team departed Dallas dazed from dual demolitions at the end of last season until now, the Philadelphia Eagles have engaged in a dramatic make-over.

High profile players exited, new blood was infused, and young players have been elevated to leading roles. With every "OTA", we get a little bit more data and insight that helps to highlight the keys to the upcoming season.

As mini-camp heads toward completion, there are eight key questions that will largely define success for the team in 2010. How these get answered will play a large role in determining whether the Eagles will be a legitimate contender, an also ran, or even a basement dweller.

1. Can Kevin Kolb be all that?

A much chronicled changing of the guard at the quarterback position is, of course, the biggest story of the offseason. And, it will continue to be the biggest storyline and key to the upcoming season.

Kevin Kolb, fresh off three NFL regular season starts, has been handed the role that had been held down for 10 plus seasons by Donovan McNabb.

There is considerable confidence amongst the team and fanbase that Kolb will more than adequately fill the shoes of the best quarterback in franchise history.

In fact, there is abundant sentiment that the team will be better off with the new signal caller as he might be a better fit for the "West Coast" scheme and considering the laundry list of McNabb transgressions, ranging from throwing accuracy to air guitar.

Bravado aside, Kolb is going to have to prove it between the white lines. Surrounded with an arsenal of weapons, Kolb will need to do more than rack up yards.

He will also need to avoid the turnovers that have dotted his NFL career thus far. There is no quicker path to the basement than a gratuitous ration of balls on the ground or passes to the wrong color uniform.

Forget the bag chips— the biggest question this year is whether Kevin Kolb will be all that?

Philadelphia Eagles: Donovan McNabb Trade Will Be Andy Reid's Demise

The Philadelphia Eagles offseason circus continues with the ongoing rumors and speculation regarding the trade of their franchise quarterback. The new year has not been kind to the team or to a couple of its all-time great players— which has largely been self-inflicted by Andy Reid and the Eagles front office.

No wonder that former GM Tom Heckert saw an equivalent job as more attractive in Cleveland of all places. At the time, questions arose as to why he would abandon ship, but every day it becomes more apparent that the vessel is seriously leaking water.

The new year kicked off in dismal fashion when an unsuspecting Eagles team closed out a highly meaningful season finale with a total meltdown against the arch rival Dallas Cowboys. For their efforts, the team traded the NFC's number two playoff seeding for the final wild-card slot and earned a return trip to the "Palace in Dallas."

As all Eagles fans painfully recall, the encore performance was pretty much "déjà vu all over again" as the Cowboys once again manhandled them and unceremoniously ended their season. Since then, Reid, Joe Banner and rookie GM Howie Roseman have seemed intent on adding insult to injury.

After Heckert's escape to Cleveland, the Eagles have been in the news ad nauseam at a "Brett Favre-ian" frequency. The organization has been a headliner on "Sports Center" for its cold release of Brian Westbrook, substantial winter roster purge, lack of meaningful activity in the free agent market, and marathon game of musical quarterbacks.

Throughout the entire period, Reid has continued to bumble his way through disingenuous sound bites, frustrating fans and the media as he has throughout his Philly stay. And as "Big Red" consistently reminds everyone, he is the decision-maker both on the field and in regard to player personnel—so its all his call.

Conversely, McNabb has been a consummate professional, continuing to say all the right things and handle a very uncomfortable situation with abundant class. Considering the teams shoddy treatment starting with Reid's tepid vote of confidence and the sudden reversal signaling the team's willingness to trade him to the highest bidder, a show of disdain or frustration would certainly be understandable.

Considering the huge role No. 5 has played in Reid's success as a head coach, he surely deserves better. And, if the player's destination turns out to be NFL Siberian cities such as Oakland or Buffalo— add a few exclamation points!

In fact, any success that he has had is intricately intertwined with the quarterback the team selected with the NFL's number two pick in Reid's first season after leaving his post as the Green Bay Packers' Quarterback Coach. Arguably, Reid might have been long gone if not for the exploits of the franchise's all-time greatest signal caller.

Upon closer examination, Reid went from a last place rookie head coach to "Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year" exactly the same time that McNabb emerged as a top-flight quarterback. The formerly unknown position coach suddenly became the latest Mike Holmgren inspired coaching whiz and has largely retained that stature with McNabb by his side.

With the coach/personnel director now turning his back on the player who has done great things for his career, is it only a matter of time before Reid crashes and burns?

The numbers and review of Reid's tenure in Philly suggests that this very well may occur. In 1999, with McNabb primarily toting a clipboard as an apprentice to starter Doug Peterson until the latter part of the season, the rookie coach led the team to an NFC East worst 5-11 record.

A deeper dive into the data paints an even more compelling picture that turning his back on McNabb might be the beginning of the end for Reid. In the regular season, the coach has enjoyed a 92-48 mark with McNabb, but a 16-19 record without him.

Doing the math, that is exactly a 200 point separation in winning percentage. Moreover, it is the difference between being held in high esteem throughout the league and collecting a pink slip.

Ten of his eleven playoff wins, all five of his NFC championship game appearances, and his 2004 Super Bowl appearance all share one thing in common— Donovan McNabb.

The only seeming exception was in 2006 when Jeff Garcia took over for an injured McNabb and Reid shifted his approach to rely heavily on Westbrook running the ball. Of course, using the same measuring stick for both quarterbacks, Garcia was a failure as he could not lead the Eagles past the second round of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia public opinion poll has tipped towards favoring trading McNabb and installing the unproven Kevin Kolb as the new starter. This has certainly been largely influenced by the Philadelphia media negativity that literally began before he was even drafted by the team.

Public sentiment has also been fueled by exactly one good performance by Kolb against a poor Kansas City defense that did not get within two car lengths of him as he leisurely surveyed the field. The remainder of his body of work has been littered with turnovers and pedestrian results.

Unlike Aaron Rodgers, to whom he is so often compared, Kolb was not considered to be a top talent by personnel directors or scouts coming out of college. Instead, he was largely considered to be a reach when Reid pushed to choose him in the second round in 2007.

Additionally, Kolb seems to fit the more traditional West Coast offense mold, but is not well suited for the current personnel of the club. Over the past two seasons, the Eagles went the route of drafting fast, but smallish wide receivers. While McNabb possesses the strong arm necessary to hit on deep passes, the biggest knock on Kolb is his limitations in the vertical passing game.

This is not to suggest that I am anti-Kolb, but as Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan once famously declared, there seems to be a little "irrational exuberance"—and we all know the crash that ensued.

Outside fans and the national media would have different poll results and are transparent in their belief that Philadelphia does not appreciate the player for what he has done or could still do for the team.

When Reid finally does pull the trigger to trade McNabb, it is likely that his coaching flaws will no longer be covered up by his quarterback's ability to overcome them.

Pick your favorite beef. It could be the stubborn failure to address glaring personnel needs such as undersized defenders. Or the dearth of viable receivers that he bestowed upon McNabb except for a couple seasons.

Perhaps its Reid's poor game management or the pass/run ratio imbalance? Or maybe its the inability to convert on 3rd or 4th and inches?

Shake them up, throw in a bunch of interceptions—and you have a losing football team. Goodbye Super Bowl talk. Hello playing out the string.

Somehow, the team found a way to overcome those coaching transgressions and win with McNabb at the helm. With Reid no longer showing McNabb the love, that is probably about to all change.

The trade of Donovan McNabb is likely the beginning of the end for Andy Reid— at least in the "City of Brotherly Love."

Philadelphia Eagles and Donovan McNabb: Is a Second Round Pick Worth Packing in the 2010 Season?

With Andy Reid's pronouncement this week that the Eagles are entertaining offers for all three of their quarterbacks, the Donovan McNabb trade rumors have returned to red hot status. Despite adamant denials from the St. Louis Rams organization, the scenario that would have McNabb heading to the city of Clydesdales and the "Gateway to the West" seems increasingly plausible.

One rumor has the Eagles five-time Pro Bowl quarterback being exchanged for the 33rd pick of the upcoming NFL draft — the first pick of the second round.

There are several indicators that suggest that there is validity to this deal getting done. Other potential suitors have been rumored and speculated, but the feasibility meter seems to point directly to the Rams.

The first signal comes from this week's change in posture towards McNabb by Reid, which strongly suggests that the Eagles are leaning towards trading the best quarterback in franchise history and retaining his protégé Kevin Kolb. If the team truly intended to keep McNabb, it is unlikely they would openly admit their willingness to trade him.

This indicator seems to be further validated by the Eagles recent player purge and lack of interest in signing any accomplished free agents on the market. These actions suggest the team is in more of a rebuilding mode than trying to make a run at a championship.

By the process of elimination other teams seeking the services of a new starting quarterback can either be ruled out or minimized in terms of probability. This primarily derives from other recent activity by those teams, the total void of speculation involving those clubs and/or McNabb's willingness to accept a trade to that particular destination.

To that end, it would not seem that any amount of money would be enough to lure McNabb to accept a trade to the dysfunctional Oakland Raiders organization. It is also very questionable whether he would accept a trade to teams such as the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks or Cleveland Browns.

Additionally, recent activity involving the quarterback position involving the Browns, Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals would suggest that they are heading in a different direction. That being said, McNabb would be a major upgrade for all of those clubs and the Cardinals are just one year removed from narrowly missing a Super Bowl championship.

The Washington Redskins could clearly use a quarterback of McNabb's ilk; however, it would seem very doubtful that the Eagles would want to compete with their former leader head-to-head in the NFC East.

A dark horse team that has not been mentioned in rumors is the Carolina Panthers. Their recent release of Jake Delhomme officially handed the starting role to young Matt Moore, who finished the season with a few solid performances.

The Panthers, though, have the ingredients to make a Super Bowl run with a top notch quarterback such as McNabb. The factor working against such a move is that the team would have to gulp hard to pay McNabb along with the balance of Delhomme's contract, so opting for Moore to catch lightning in a bottle might be their financial MO.

A few other teams that could benefit from the addition of McNabb include the San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Chicago Bears. None of them have hinted having any interest, and the Bears are already heavily invested in Jay Cutler.

At first glance the Rams 1-15 record last season would seem to make that an undesirable destination for McNabb, but the connection with former Eagles coaches Steve Spagnuolo and Pat Shurmur could be the difference. From the team's perspective, though, a trade for a young quarterback such as Kolb would seem to make much more sense than to add a veteran in the home stretch of his career.

Earlier in the offseason, the Minnesota Vikings appeared to be a likely trade partner for McNabb's services, especially considering the presence of head coach Brad Childress and a championship caliber team. Recent statements by Childress and others around the NFL tend to strongly signal that Brett Favre will return to the team for the upcoming season.

Similarly, the retirement of Kurt Warner seemed to make Arizona a perfect fit, particularly since McNabb has a second home in the area. The view has changed, though, as the Cardinals allowed key players to leave, have voiced their backing of Matt Leinert, and traded for Derek Anderson.

The more the tea leaves are exposed, the more it appears the Eagles will have Kolb behind center next year and McNabb will be wearing a different uniform. Those same tea leaves also appear to have the likeness of Rams horns amongst them.

The Eagles' actions, inactions and words make it increasingly clear they plan to move McNabb. If the deal does not occur with St. Louis, expect things to evolve with another team.

Taking a step back to see the forest for the trees, it begs to ask the question whether a second round pick is adequate compensation to suffer through a potentially dismal 2010 season and beyond?

Many Eagles fans as well as Philadelphia sportswriters and sports radio talking heads have bought into the irrational exuberance about Kolb's potential. If a McNabb trade does become fait accompli, it would be great if Kolb becomes the next Aaron Rodgers—but the reality is that such a scenario is highly unlikely. And, that does not even address whether he could win the ever elusive"big one."

If the Rams deal goes down, the afterglow of an extra second round pick in this year's draft will surely fade when the Eagles are playing out the string of meaningless games next season. Then the offseason talk can shift to what the team needs to get back in the playoff hunt in 2011.....

Will the Eagles Capitalize On QB Riches?

Now that the Saints have partied on Bourbon Street and paraded through New Orleans to celebrate Sunday's Super Bowl triumph, media and fan attention quickly turns to key offseason issues throughout the rest of the country. One of the biggest story lines in the NFL, which has been brewing over the past month, involves the Philadelphia Eagles three headed quarterback quandary.

The airwaves and Internet are filled with opinions and speculation about the possibilities and ultimately what the Eagles should do with their three starting-caliber quarterbacks. With so many teams in desperate need of a face lift at this most critical and impactful position, several of them should be looking for the Eagles to share the wealth.

Philadelphia clearly seems to be in a very enviable position, and if handled correctly, it could help propel them towards that ever elusive Super Bowl championship. But, the key question now is whether Andy Reid and company will do just that, or will they bungle a golden opportunity?

I staked my opinion a couple weeks ago in a post ("The Philadelphia Eagles: Seven Semi-Controversial Steps to a Super Bowl Title") regarding Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick. With the situation continuing to evolve, it now appears the Eagles best course of action might be to wrap their arms around one of their QB's and aid their efforts to fortify their team by trading the other two.

Initial trade rumors primarily revolved around McNabb and Vick, but now speculation has also turned towards Kevin Kolb. Perhaps this is because teams contacting the Eagles are getting a message that Donovan is not going anywhere?

Or, maybe it is a matter of teams setting their sights on a player that best fits their particular scenario. Not ready for prime time clubs could be looking to rebuild around a young quarterback such as Kolb. Conversely, teams such as the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers or possibly the Minnesota Vikings feel they have all the pieces to go with an established veteran such as McNabb or Vick.

Although going young would likely be their first choice, rebuilding organizations like the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins might be willing to take a shot with any of the three players due to their dire need for a quality signal caller to propel them in the right direction.

In terms of economic theory, the Eagles are clearly in a great position due to overall demand outstripping supply throughout the league. In fact, they might hold the only attractive excess supply of projected starting quarterbacks currently in the NFL.

Of course, in a free market system, capitalizing on the excess inventory comes down to the decisions, actions and tactics deployed by the supplier. How the Eagles brass play their cards has the potential to make a huge difference in the team's near-term and future success.

And, its not just who they decide to keep, move or let walk– it is going to be all about the art of the negotiation and the deal.

The most pressing situation involves Vick as the clock continues to tick towards Philadelphia's early March option expiration date. Because they would be obligated to pay Vick $5.25 million for his services if they exercise that option, many believe they have a short window to trade him and otherwise will have to let him walk.

My perspective is substantially different. By now it is clear that teams around the league are interested, so the Eagles should not be bound by this trigger date. If they can work out a deal of commensurate value prior to then, fine. If not, they need to pony up and keep him– for the time being.

General Managers around the NFL are not inquiring about Vick to make him a back-up. Clearly the whole Wildcat thing was a bust. They would want Vick as a starter– and wouldn't shy away from those financial terms, particularly since both sides would be willing to renegotiate a longer deal.

The Eagles need to lock him up (pun intended) if need be, and use the abundance of potential suitors to extract a 2nd or 3rd round pick. Anything less than that will signal a serious organizational weakness in negotiating skill. And, surely, they can't let him walk for nothing.

Its no secret, the most controversial and critical aspect comes down to the whole McNabb versus Kolb debate. Who will Reid clutch in a bear hug and who will he tender a parting handshake?

Since the post playoff meltdown press conference in Dallas, the signals have been noticeably mixed. The weak organizational vote of confidence for McNabb has been conspicuous. While McNabb has clearly stated his desire to finish his career in midnight green, black and silver– the team has played things straight down the middle.

Perhaps this is to avoid tipping their hand and maximize negotiating strength? Or, perhaps Reid and the team had not reached a conclusion or are ambivalent until they assess market value of each player?

Retaining both McNabb and Kolb is certainly a viable option– as long as the plan is to have the latter carrying the clipboard. A training camp competition is a bad idea on several fronts, but if Reid were inclined that way, he should just go ahead and trade McNabb for a high draft pick.

The conditions seem to be right, though, to trade Kolb now and invest the spoils in shoring up the current team weaknesses. Would swapping Kolb to the Rams and former Eagles coach Steve Spagnuolo for free safety O.J. Atogwe be a possibility?

In the absence of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the door is open to creative deals. For the other teams in the hunt for a new quarterback, it would certainly seem that each would possess a safety, linebacker, offensive lineman or defensive end that would fancy the Eagles' interest.

My point of view has been abundantly clear that the best choice to lead the Eagles is McNabb, but how the Eagles brass capitalizes on their current embarrassment of riches at this valued position can have profound impact on the team's prospects over the next three years.

Shrewd decision making and handling right now could re-position the Eagles as a true Super Bowl contender– starting this coming season. Certainly, a good portion of it will be about the "who" and the "what, but the "how" will be critically important, too.

Kolb Shows What Reid Sees in Eagles Easy Win

The Eagles raced to an early lead yesterday and maintained clear control of the game throughout the day, soundly defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 34-14. The score makes the game seem much closer than it really was, as the Chiefs were aided by Jeff Garcia's fumbled snap in mop up duty. The Eagles dominated on both sides of the ball and Kevin Kolb demonstrated what Andy Reid has liked about him.

Kolb threw early and often, carving up the Chiefs defense for 327 yards and 2 long touchdowns. He also eliminated the deadly turnovers which have plagued him in other performances. Overall, Kolb looked poised, confident and completed more than 70% of his passes. He also displayed the requisite NFL arm strength and some nice touch.

All of this needs to be tempered a bit by the fact that Kolb was virtually under no pressure all day long thanks to his offensive line and the Chiefs lack of pass rush. He is also coming off previous appearances where he turned the ball over when opponents limited his time and showed more complexity. Of course, all aspiring young quarterbacks go through the "school of hard knocks" as they develop, especially when jumping into the fire against a top flight defense such as the Ravens.

The Eagles defense returned to form, looking a lot more like the week 1 version than last week's edition. The Chiefs seemed resigned to the fact that they would not have the time to get the ball down the field, so running and short passing would be the only real way to move the ball without risking the health of Matt Cassel or turnovers. It seemed obvious all day that they were never going to mount a serious threat to win the game. Their only touchdown came late in the game after Garcia fumbled his first snap deep in his own territory.

With Brian Westbrook de-activated due to an ankle sprain, rookie LeSean McCoy filled in nicely, racking up 84 yards and his first NFL touchdown. Additionally, DeSean Jackson and Brent Celek each broke the 100-yard mark receiving and scored on long passes. These three, along with Kolb, provided a window into the future and a great deal of optimism about their ability to make big contributions as needed. Of course, Kolb and McCoy are clearly back-ups at this point, but it is comforting to know that they will be able to step in and perform well if needed.

The other major story line in the game was Michael Vick's return to the NFL. He participated in 11 plays, mostly designed to run, with very little productivity- unless the team opts for a nostalgic "2.7 yards and cloud of dust" offense. The Chiefs appeared to have little trouble defending the Vick Wildcat, and the best that can be said for it was that Kolb and the Eagles found a way to overcome it. The Eagles either need to get much better at designing or executing on it, or greatly curtail it, as they will not be able to waste plays as they face better teams.

Yesterday's win runs the Eagles record to 2-1 and puts them back on track. The early bye week turns out to be a blessing as it should allow McNabb, Westbrook and Kevin Curtis to avoid missing another game and risking further injury. Additionally, Jackson will have time for his groin to heal and would be well advised to avoid the Dancing with the Stars acrobatics and splits that he displayed after his touchdown catch.

Brees' Saints Breeze Past Mistake Prone Eagles

Just as last week, it was hard to tell where the Eagles performance started and the opponents performance ended. Unlike last week, it was the opposite scenario with Eagles fans wondering if their team was that bad or the Saints are simply that good after the 48-22 drubbing.

The Eagles failed yesterday in all three phases of the game, but were especially bad on special teams. The main culprits were Ellis Hobbs's costly fumble to open the second half as well as some shanked punts and multiple penalties that negatively affected field position all day long. It was going to be a difficult match-up anyway to contain the Saints high powered offense and take advantage of their somewhat vulnerable defense with an inexperienced QB behind center, so it was particularly damaging to have the special teams unit turn in a dismal performance.

Drew Brees wasted no time as he drove the Saints the length of the field with relative ease for a touchdown on the opening drive. Eagles faithful were hoping that after a few adjustments and shedding opening drive jitters, the defense would reverse course similar to a week ago. Unfortunately, the big pass rushing, turnover creating defense never appeared yesterday. Outside of some brief resistance in the second quarter, Brees and the Saints pretty much breezed all day.

Although they surely did not need help, Hobbs' fumble and Kevin Kolb's subsequent interception on the next possession meant the Saints only had to go a total of 46 yards to score 14 points. They barely had to break a sweat, taking only 7 plays to widen their lead to 31-13 and put the Eagles in a catch-up mode that was surely not going to bode well for them.

Kolb had some good moments throughout the day, completing over 60% of his passes, including 2 TD's and racking up 391 yards through the air. The highlight for the day was his 71 yard touchdown strike to a wide open DeSean Jackson on the Eagles first drive. Unfortunately, this performance was marred by three completions to the team in gold and black. The first two interceptions were similar mistakes to those that have haunted him in past outings, namely ill advised throws where he did not see the coverage underneath. And, like the Ravens game last season, the second one turned an attempted scoring pass into a long defensive return for a touchdown. His third interception was meaningless and closed the lopsided game, but it really had no chance as it was badly under thrown.

Besides Kolb, many of the Eagles offensive players played well, if that is possible in a 26 point route? Brent Celek and Jackson continued to look like stars in the making. The line provided time for Kolb to throw, Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy looked good and Jason Avant made several nice catches working the middle of the field, including a touchdown.

One other aspect of the offense that was unappealing is the team's apparent infatuation with gadget plays. On the day, they ran nine "Wildcat" formations, including one with a three man line. Although these "creative" plays bring back memories of those back yard touch football games and might make the highlights on ESPN Sports Center, they do not seem like a recipe for a NFL championship team and would seem to be unnecessarily flirting with injury.

Flanking out QBs and putting slightly built receivers in exposed positions could very well end up with those players lying prone on the football field. It surely does not help the team develop rhythm or the air of confidence to execute in crunch time.

Perhaps the coaches felt they needed to resort to gadgetry to help out Kolb, but the suspicion is that we will see a lot more of this, especially now that the team needs to justify signing Michael Vick. Although they mostly did OK on those plays yesterday, this does not feel like a winning formula from this vantage point.

Another thought that went through my mind yesterday watching the defense was whether the dramatic reversal in performance relates to losing Brian Dawkins' leadership presence? Somehow you can imagine him forcefully reminding his teammates not to get too enamored with their performance against the Panthers and that it was not going to be that easy going forward, especially against the Saints. Who would be filling that role on this year's team?

Very few can tell which way the Eagles head from here. Is it the Dr Jekyll from week 1 or the Mr Hyde from week 2? What a difference a week makes. Lets hope that the Special Teams unit tightens up over the week, the defense summons their Buddy Ryan spirit again and the offense dumbs things down a little to focus on flawless execution. If so, the Eagles could slip by a weaker Chiefs team, heal Donovan's broken ribs over the bye week and come back ready to fulfill its promise in week 5.

Eagles: Week 2 Happenings and Prospects

The Eagles started out the season with a dominant defensive performance that helped to ease concerns about having a new defensive coordinator and losing Stewart Bradley and Brian Dawkins. Unfortunately, their win against the Panthers was dampened by losing Donovan McNabb to a rib injury. Most of the news and discussion since then have been about things other than "x's" and "o's."

Events of the Week

Although the Eagles won in a blowout in week 1, the immediate focus after the game was the health of their starting quarterback, and then a series of personnel moves and a couple NFL office rulings. I guess you can throw Dr. Phil's visit on top of that since his comments certainly made their way to the Eagles locker room.

By game's end on Sunday, word had already been disseminated that McNabb had suffered a broken rib on a 3rd quarter touchdown scramble. This led to a series of personnel moves and a ruling by the NFL office (see NFL Office Needs to Re-Examine Its Priorities and Logic for more on this paradoxical decision.)

The Eagles quickly signed recently released (by Oakland) Jeff Garcia to bolster the QB position and moved Michael Vick to the active roster to allow him to practice with the team. To make room, the team released wide receiver (and Hugh Hefner's rival) Hank Baskett and put former Pro Bowl player Shawn Andrews on the Injured Reserve list. The former was a mild surprise. The latter was a major surprise.

With McNabb doubtful to play this week (and probably next), Andy Reid has reinforced that Kevin Kolb is the starter "right now." This is coach speak for "Kolb is on a short leash, so don't be surprised to see Garcia or Vick next week."

Placing Andrews on IR appears to be throwing in the towel on his physical and mental health for 2009, and possibly beyond, to remove weekly distractions and uncertainties. It also would seem to be a decision made out of frustration and could come back to haunt the team against opponents with big pass rushes like the Giants or Vikings, and might limit some of their aggressiveness overall. Of course, that assumes that Andrews would have made it onto the field for at least portions of the season.

The NFL determined that no penalty or fine was in order for the late hit that injured McNabb. However, the NFL office did take extreme exception to the Eagles end zone celebration circle in the same game and handed out $60,000 in fines for this gratuitous act of elation.

Prospects for Week 2

Kevin Kolb may look fairly good against a less than stellar Saints defense, but it is probably going to take a great performance to out score the high powered Saints offense. The Saints have picked right up where they left off last year, when they were the NFL's most prolific offense, scoring 45 points in the season opener. Of course, there is a vast difference between the Eagles defense and the Lions defense that they faced last week.

Look for Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy to lead a strong rushing attack on Sunday, and for the Eagles to keep things short with Kolb. The Eagles pass defense will be effective, but will not be able to totally contain Brees. In the end, the Eagles will miss McNabb, give up a cheap touchdown due to a turnover and fail to be able to put together a winning drive in the 4th quarter.

Saints 27

Eagles 23