It was third quarter of the first game of the 2009 season and the Eagles were comfortably ahead of the Carolina Panthers. They were playing away on that weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina and eager to attain their goal of going to Super Bowl after losing to the Arizona Cardinals in the previous season’s NFC Championship game .
Birds quarterback Donovan McNabb scrambled into the end zone for a touchdown to effectively wrap up the game, but at the end of the play, McNabb fell on the ground and one of the Panthers big 300-plus pound defensive tackles fell on him. That decision by the big fella cracked one of McNabb’s ribs and put him out of action for a few weeks.
Number five’s cracked ribs opened the door for backup second-year quarterback Kevin Kolb to have two big games in the next two weeks, one against the New Orleans Saints and another against the Kansas City Chiefs. The big numbers which the former Houston Cougars quarterback put up in those games, eventually led to the Eagles deciding to trade McNabb before the next season and make Kolb the Birds number one quarterback.
In the first game of the 2010 season, the Eagles were battling Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers at Lincoln Financial Field, when starting quarterback Kevin Kolb dropped into the pocket, couldn’t find anybody open so he rolled to his left then took off on a scramble.
Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews was lined up to the right side of the formation. He came off the line of scrimmage and went around Eagles right tackle Winston Justice. He had a long way to go, but he was in pursuit of Kolb. The quarterback kept his eyes downfield, but hesitated when he got near the line of scrimmage because he was hoping a wide receiver would come open.
That was a mistake because long-haired Matthews was coming at him like a out of control train. Matthews bear hugged Kolb, trapped both of his arms around his waist, so he couldn’t brace his fall with them, then slammed Kolb head first into the ground. Kolb’s head hit the ground with a thud.
When number four got to his feet, he had no idea where he was. Kolb had a concussion and was taken out of the game in favor of backup quarterback Michael Vick. The former number one pick in the draft took over and led the Birds back in the game with 103 yards rushing on 11 carries and another 175 yards passing.
The concussion sidelined Kolb for another couple of weeks and during that time, Vick shined, so much that Andy Reid decided to name the former Atlanta Falcon the team’s starting quarterback. On the day in which Reid named Vick the starter I was at an event with Vick to motivate youngsters in the city to do better in school, when he looked at his cell phone then asked to be excused.
I learned that Reid had texted Vick and told him to give him a call ASAP. Vick left the event and later that day Reid told the rest of us about his decision to name Vick the starter.
On the fourth week of that season, Vick took off on a scramble and was sandwiched in between two Redskins tacklers at the goalline. He wound up with some broken ribs and had to miss the next two games.
Kolb took over and played well enough to lead the Birds to a couple of wins, over San Francisco and Atlanta, before starting in a loss to the Titans. The following week Vick was back at the helm against the Indianapolis Colts and he led them to three wins in a row.
That’s brings us to the preseason opener of the 2012. The Eagles were hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers a few weeks ago, when the team’s starting quarterback Michael Vick dropped into the pocket looked down field and gave his receivers a chance to get open. He waited and waited until letting the ball go with center Jason Kelce being pushed back into his face.
As Vick followed through on the throw, his hand hit the helmet of Kelce and Vick winced in pain. When he got to the sidelines, he started shaking his hand and looking at it closely. Before too long, Vick was escorted off the field and his hand was x-rayed. It was a just a bruise and nothing was broken.
Things didn’t work quite as well for backup quarterback Mike Kafka. His left hand was stepped on after a play in the Steelers game and was fractured in the process. This would cause Kafka to miss at least the next couple of preseason games, maybe all three.
In the next preseason game on Monday night against the New England Patriots, Vick tried to make a miraculous throw to DeSean Jackson who had beaten the Patriots defenders deep downfield.
Vick, who has played a total of 12 offensive plays this preseason, got blasted while trying to make the throw and wound up with some bruised ribs which have sidelined for a couple of weeks until the season starts.
The injuries to Vick and Kafka have opened the door for both rookie quarterback Nick Foles and veteran quarterback Trent Edwards to play very well in three preseason games.
The youngster from the Chicago area, who was supposed to be the number two quarterback for the Birds this year, has to play great football on Thursday night to have any chance of staying on the team. The backup quarterback job may be out of the question and it was all caused by injuries.
The last thing Eagles fans have seen Kafka do was throw a blind screen pass which was picked off by a Pittsburgh defensive linemen.
The other way to look at this is how much more reps did Foles and Edwards get this SUmmer and preseason games that they otherwise would have not gooten.. Vick is a 10 Year Veteran now, and yes, he needs reps to work with his OL and Receivers, but when you really think about it, the Offense system,coaches and most of his offensive weapons are teh same.. And as far as a QB needing reps to gain confidence, I don’t that’s an issue with Vick as it could be with other QB’s.. We may look back on this (and even Vick and Coach AR himself) and say what a blessing in disguise this was.. Vick took very few snaps, but took very few hits and look at all the progress Foles and Edwards made that would have never occured.. The 1 QB who needed the reps and playing time this Summer was Mike Kafka and I don’t care what the Team says, there are ?? About his ability to win games at the NFL Level, he is still an unknown since he hasn;t been able to play much to demonstrate his comfort with the Eagles System. Kafka had no off-season workout last year due to Lock-out and was a rookie the year before so when you think about it.. he really hasn’t had the reps and especially with teh #1 and #2 that he would have received this Summer if not for his injury.. I would place him on PUP list and buy 5-6 weeks of him participating in Practice and kepp Foles as back-up and Edwards at the 3rd QB.. then after the 5th Week determine if Kafka is worthy of keeping around and relase or trade Edwards to a Team who maybe has a QB injury.. This would be GM Paulman’s Plan of Action
Paulman- Kafka is not eligible for the PUP list because he participated in training camp workouts.
You are indeed a scholar and sometime gentlemen Xtian999
and you are correct, Kafka cannot be placed on PUP and isn’t injured serious enough to be placed on IR (Unless he comes up with a mysetrious Injury in the next 48 hours.. I sugesst someone take him rock climbing,power-sailing or some other dangerous activity where..
If you look at putting together the best 53 Man Roster for 2012 it has to be
Vick,Foles at #2 and Edwards as the emergency #3 QB.. WIth FOles quick development, it appears the Foles has the upside and big arm that kafka simply does not posess and will be relegated to back-up duty.. I rather have an Edwards who has started 35 games in his NFL Career as a back-up if need be than another QB trying to find his way..