Read the opposing arguments from Babe Ruthless and Bleacher Fan.
In the blogosphere we live in breaking news happens all the time. This debate was written by both Babe Ruthless and Bleacher Fan with Kevin Kolb penciled in as starting quarterback for Sunday’s game. That all changed late Tuesday afternoon when Andy Reid announced that Michael Vick would be starting on Sundays. That decision, however, didn’t change the core of this debate, which centers on which quarterback Andy Reid should name as starter for the Eagles.
In Team Vick’s corner is Bleacher Fan. Bleacher Fan takes the obvious route and compares the career numbers of Vick and Kolb, which are decidedly in #7’s favor in basically every angle. Vick’s numbers are better this year and it’s apparent in the six quarters that when Vick has been under center (a small sample size, I know) that the team plays better. Whatever rust Vick compiled while wearing an orange jump suit appears to have been knocked off. He’s a proven winner from a team standpoint while his counterpart just hasn’t proven that at all.
In Team Kolb’s corner is Babe Ruthless. Babe, quite frankly, just hasn’t boarded the Vick Train just yet. According to the Babe, it just isn’t a smart move to give the keys of the franchise to the artist formerly known as Ron Mexico. Vick has done nothing off the field to warrant being given yet another opportunity… after being given so many chances before. Besides, his one start came against the Lions, so who really knows how good of a game that really was?
It’s no secret that the Andy Reid is a loyal guy. He drafted Kevin Kolb in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft as the so-called heir apparent to Donovan McNabb. The team spent all off-season working with Kolb as the number one guy. Heck, the team even gave him a contract extension. Count me among those who were surprised that the Eagles even picked up Vick’s $5.2M team option to come back as a member of the Eagles this season. It’s funny how things work out. Vick has a chance to parlay this season into a nice contract next year, depending on how the NFL labor situation works out.
The bottom line in the NFL is winning right now, here, in 2010. Michael Vick gives the Philadelphia Eagles the best chance to win, therefore the victory goes to Bleacher Fan, though the Babe does get points for humor.
Babe Ruthless wrote that Vick’s start this season came against the Lions and therefore he hasn’t proven anything on the field in his return. But yet, in three career starts, I don’t think you can say Kolb has proven anything either. Not with the pedestrian numbers he has posted to this point in his career. That is not to say that he won’t succeed in the future. He obviously has the talent, and other teams think so because they were calling the Eagles inquiring about him. He seems to have a good attitude, but a good attitude and a buck will get you something off the dollar menu at Wendy’s.
The Eagles offensive line is also a mess and there is no doubt that Vick can get out of any mess his offensive line creates, if necessary. That’s something Kolb can’t do. In that sense, this is absolutely the right move for the 2010 Philadelphia Eagles. With the Cowboys struggling at 0-2, and the Giants, Redskins, and Eagles all sitting at 1-1, the division is there for the taking.
It wasn’t my job to determine what’s best for next year. It’s not Andy Reid’s job, either. A coach just doesn’t do that two games into the season. But two games into the season what’s best for the 2010 Eagles is to have Michael Vick under center. He gives the team the best chance to win.
Posted by Loyal Homer 
