Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Posted: 2:33 p.m.
By Reuben Frank
CSNPhilly.com
If the offer is good enough, the Eagles wont hesitate to trade quarterback Kevin Kolb even if theres no resolution to the lockout before the draft and they can obtain only 2012 picks in the deal, according to two high-ranking league officials who are very familiar with the Eagles thinking.
In other words, head coach Andy Reid would have no problem trading Kolb after this year's draft and going into the 2011 season without either Kolb or the draft picks that his trade would bring the Eagles.
Because of the lockout and continued labor issues between the NFL and the players, teams are currently unable to make any roster moves, including trades involving players. Teams are currently allowed to trade picks for other picks, but the Eagles cant make a move with Kolb until theres a new CBA in place or some sort of court ruling begins temporarily governing the leagues operating procedures and allows for player movement.
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So the only way the Eagles could get picks in this years draft in exchange for Kolb is if the labor impasse is resolved in the next five weeksby April 28, when the draft is scheduled to begin. The draft is currently scheduled to be held whether or not theres a new CBA by late April.
Assuming the labor impasse is resolved after the draft next month but before the opening of the regular season in mid-September, the Eagles would have nearly five months to trade Kolb for picks in next years draft before opening day. In past years, the trading deadline has been in mid-October, but theres no guarantee a new CBA will include that.
With 2010 NFC Pro Bowl starter Michael Vick now under contract for 2011, the Eagles have been actively shopping Kolb, who was the teams opening-day starter in 2010 and is widely considered the top quarterback available this offseason either in free agency, the draft or via a trade.
Kolb, who will be 27 in August and is entering his fifth NFL season, said throughout the 2010 season he wants to be a starter in 2011, and the Eagles would love to accommodate his wishes and pick up two premium draft picks along the way.
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In five career starts in which hes played more than a half and been on the field with the Eagles usual starters, Kolb has thrown for over 325 yards three times. Hes averaged 306 yards in those five games, winning three and losing twoto the eventual Super Bowl-champion Saints in 2009 and to the Titans last year in Nashville.
One of the two league officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the Eagles are hoping to acquire at least a first-round pick and a second pick somewhere in the first three or four rounds for Kolb. SI.com reported Monday the Eagles already have a firm offer for a first-round pick.
The source said the Eagles would not have traded Donovan McNabb last year unless somebody offered at least a high second-round pick. They eventually shipped McNabb to the Redskins for their second-round pick in 2010 (No. 37 overall, which became Nate Allen) and a conditional pick that wound up being a fourth-round pick in this years draft.
Andy isnt going to just give Kolb away, the source said. He wouldnt have just given Donovan away. People said he wouldnt get a second-round pick for Donovan, but he did.
Andy spent all those years in Green Bay with Mike Holmgrem, and they groomed all those young quarterbacks (Aaron Brooks, Mark Brunell, Ty Detmer, Tim Hasselbeck) and traded them for picks that helped really build that franchise, so he knows the value of making this kind of deal. But you cant give him away. And you have to make sure you keep Michael Vick healthy, because your backup if you trade Kolb isnt going to be as good as Kolb is.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com.
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