Eagles Wake-Up Call: Reviewing The Kevin Kolb Trade
I’d say the Eagles won this one.
Opinions varied when Howie Roseman and Andy Reid decided to trade away Kevin Kolb – once the heir apparent – to the Cardinals prior to the start of last season. Is Michael Vick definitely the answer? And what happens if Vick goes down?
OK, both were legitimate questions, and without the Kolb trade there is no “Dream Team.”
In terms of value, though, this was a slam dunk. While Arizona was tying their future to Kolb to the tune of five years and $63 million, the Eagles received a starting cornerback in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and the 51st overall pick in this past draft. They traded that pick to Green Bay for the 59th and 123rd picks, which they used to select Vinny Curry and Brandon Boykin. Curry is a promising defensive end and Boykin is currently atop the depth chart at kick returner and pushing Joselio Hanson to be the nickel corner.
That’s a good haul for a QB that is having trouble separating himself from John Skelton.
Kolb got knocked out of the Cardinals preseason opener with bruised ribs. He’s going to give it a go against the Chiefs this week. It’s been a bumpy road for Kolb so far. Meanwhile, the Eagles defense has been strengthened by the deal.
WHAT YOU MISSED
About 900 people gathered for Garrett Reid’s funeral in Broomall Tuesday morning.
Commissioner Roger Goodell, Bill Belichick, Donovan McNabb, Mike Holmgren, the entire Eagles roster and more gathered to pay their respects. It was further evidence that Andy Reid is an extremely respected man in the NFL community.
Holmgren called Reid the son he never had. And he shared some of his memories on Garrett, who he knew for basically his entire life. His remembrances were both heart-warming and heart-breaking at the same time.
“He was a little rambunctious guy when I first met him. He had a great personality. That family – they were pretty active, now,” said Holmgren, sounding very much like Reid, his pupil. “I remember going over to dinner when I was recruiting and Andy was at San Francisco State, and we’d sit around the table, and as soon as the blessing was over the food, it was like Star Wars. It was a lot of fun. My thoughts and prayers are with the family now.”
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks ran routes for the first time since breaking his foot this spring. He plans to be ready for the opener against the Cowboys.
“Definitely. Definitely still on target,” he said. “No setbacks. Everything’s been going good. I’ve been running every day, no setbacks, feeling good. Getting better.”
The NFL is joining the NCAA, Major League Baseball, the NHL and NBA in a lawsuit against the state of New Jersey in an attempt to thwart the state’s plan to allow sports betting.
“The sponsorship, operation, advertising, promotion, licensure and authorization of sports gambling in New Jersey,” the lawsuit states, “would irreparably harm amateur and professional sports by fostering suspicion that individual plays and final scores of games may have been influenced by factors other than honest athletic competition.”
Governor Chris Christie signed a law in January to allow sports betting in 12 casinos, four racetracks and on the site of a closed racetrack. The regulations are expected to become effective over the next couple months.
COMING UP
There is an 11 o’clock mock game (closed to fans) in preparation for Thursday’s preseason opener against the Steelers. Will Reid be in attendance?