Read the arguments from Babe Ruthless and Bleacher Fan about which current NFL back up quarterback should be the starter.
It is always said that the most popular guy in town is the backup quarterback. I certainly hear it everywhere. I even hear it at the high school level. We all hear it often at the collegiate level (this has been going on in Athens, Georgia for much of the season with the 6-5 Georgia Bulldogs). Of course we hear it at the professional level. Backups often get to play due to injuries to the starting quarterback, as was the case this week in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers having to go to Charlie Batch after an injury to Ben Roethlisberger (Editor’s note: Now Batch is out for six weeks). Matt Leinart also took over for Kurt Warner out in Arizona after Warner took a blow to the head. There were other injuries, too. The point is that backups are very valuable and there are some backup quarterbacks who deserve a shot at starting. This is evident in the city of Brotherly Love with current backup quarterback Kevin Kolb.
Remember the stink that was made when Kolb was drafted with the 36th pick by the Eagles? I sure do. I was one of the ones making the stink. I thought it was too high to draft a backup quarterback and one who many experts were not as familiar with, for the most part. Plus, I was not sure it sent the right message to Donavan McNabb. Fast forward two years later… I have changed my mind.
Kolb, in his third season, deserves the chance to start. It is hard to say McNabb needs to be benched at this point, especially after a comeback win over the Bears last Sunday night. Kolb made his first start earlier this season in week two against the Saints, due to an injury to McNabb. Yeah, the Saints won big 48-22, but Kolb still threw for 391 yards and completed 31 passes. He followed that up by throwing for 327 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-14 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week two. Kolb is the only guy in NFL history to throw for at least 300 yards in his first two career starts. He has since been confined to the bench as McNabb has remained healthy and effective. But in his time as a starter he proved he has what it takes to be successful in the NFL.
Benching McNabb is not the answer. But, can you imagine Kolb’s gun slinging arm with the exciting duo of DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. That would be quite a show. As it is, that possibility may not happen. But, I compare Kolb to Matt Schuab who sat on the bench behind Michael Vick with the Falcons for three years before finally being traded to the Texans. He has since, quietly, established himself a capable quarterback, when healthy.
Kevin Kolb deserves a shot. He has too good of an arm to be sitting on the cold bench in Philadelphia. Hey NFL teams, please give him a shot soon!!!
