It has been a long road for Michael Vick, but yesterday Philadelphia Eagles coach AndyReid called Vick and told him he was the starting quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. What is shocking about this is that Reid consistently stated that Kolb would continue to be the starter when he returned from a concussion suffered in their week one loss to the Packers. Even before the start of their week two game against the Detroit Lions Reid once again reiterated that Kolb was his starter.
Enter Michael Vick starting for the first time since December 31st, 2006 he lit up the Lions defense for 35 points going 21 – 34, 284 yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles needed every point to hold off the Detroit Lions who mounted a comeback. Reid in a press conference said t he decision was made after watching the film of the Detroit Lions game and noticing that the Eagles offensive line is unable to protect their quarterbacks. Despite Vicks great day he was sacked six times, can you imagine how many sacks the Lions would have had with Kolb back there? Kolb surely does not run a sub 4.4 forty yard dash, and it is Vick’s elusiveness that allowed him to make plays in leading the Eagles to victory.
Most sports columnists are calling this a knee jerk reaction by Reid and a big mistake that he will live to regret, but I believe they are missing some very important factors. If you look at the first game against the Packers the Eagles could not move the ball with Kolb in the game, once he was injured and Vick came into the game the tide turned. On the heels of that and the Detroit game the fans in Philadelphia want Vick, and the players in the locker room have told media members they have more confidence in Vick. So if Kolb does not have the support of his teammates the very people he has to rely upon to catch his passes and block for him, then how can he lead them when they are clamoring for he other guy?
It is also a no lose situation for Reid, Kolb has a $12.2 million guaranteed contract, which means Kolb may be upset but pacified at the same time. The traded former 
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and his new team the Washington Redskins come to town in two weeks, and think of the mayhem if Kolb started that game and lost to McNabb? By starting Vick he saves Kolb from that scrutiny, and if Michael Vick fails he knows there are enough people hoping for that so the backlash won’t be all that bad. He can re-insert Kolb and make up something about lingering concussion issues with Kolb and safety was his main concern. If Vick works out by beating McNabb and leading the Eagles to the playoffs, then Reid looks like a genius and all the naysayers will all of a sudden say they knew it was the right move. People forget Andy Reid’s job is to win football games and most importantly win a Super Bowl (which he has never done in over 10 years of coaching the Eagles), and he doesn’t owe Kevin Kolb anything, it’s all about self preservation for Reid.
Vick is enjoying success right now because teams had no film on him for the last four years, but things will get harder as teams get film on Vick in the Eagles offense. Defenses will start to game plan for his scrambling and take some options away from him which will be the true measure of whether Vick has evolved as a passer, or is still a glorified running back. On top of all that can Vick keep his ego in check and keep himself from doing something stupid as he almost did when a man was shot near his birthday party earlier this year. Vick was cleared of any wrong doing, but being in the vicinity of the incident was not something he needed. As Vick’s profile grows PETA and all of the animal rights groups will surely come out of the wood work again to make people remember the dogs. All of these are things Vick is going to have to deal with, and when he inevitably has a bad game will he be able to stand up to the scrutiny and the eventual calls for Kevin Kolb!
