Exhale: Freddie Mitchell Finally Breaks Silence on Kevin Kolb Situation

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If you told me five years ago that on the eve of June 2011, Freddie Mitchell's name would be in a headline regarding the plight of the guy who replaced Donovan McNabb only to be quickly replaced himself by Michael Vick… Well, I probably would have believed the Freddie Mitchell part. And here we are:

"Freddie Mitchell warns Kevin Kolb about Andy Reid"  

FredEx was a guest of Howard Eskin and Ike Reese on WIP, a segment that was transcribed and posted to SportsRadioInterviews.com and picked up by Pro Football Talk. And, as you might have guessed, we have no objection to any of them making this a story.  

Mitchell's chortling response to Eskin reading a quote from Kolb saying that Reid texted him to pledge he'd do what's best for the quarterback is priceless. FredEx goes on to describe Reid's treatment of him with regard to his rift with Donovan McNabb, then his trying to trade him with too high a price tag, releasing him, and blackballing him. Who knows about all that. A Reid blackball wouldn't have kept a talented receiver off of Jerry Jones' team, and Mitchell's tryout in Dallas resulted his leaving town without a contract. All of that is neither here nor there in the current situation though.  

I actually think both the tenor and the message of Mitchell's response to the notion that Reid would be looking out for Kolb's best interests once the league re-opens are spot on. It is kind of hilarious to imagine that finding Kolb a good home is job 1. Of course, Reid has previously been criticized over reports that he traded McNabb to an NFC East team based at least in part on McNabb's preference for Washington over Oakland, so it's certainly possible he'll work to get the best offer from the best landing place, rather than try to bury a good quarterback in a poor franchise that won't be likely to meet him in the Eagles Super Bowl NFC Championship.  

But Reid, Mitchell advised Kolb, is not the quarterback's friend—and neither is anyone else in this situation but his agent. The Eagles will do what's "best for the Eagles."

On that final point FredEx and I agree, and as a Birds fan, I'm glad that's the case. It's admirable and wise that Kolb continues to play the good soldier and put the best spin possible on his current straits, including his coach. The combination of the Eagles placing him behind McNabb for a few seasons, then quickly making the change to Michael Vick after less than one half of football, followed by a lockout that is keeping his future in limbo, can't be an easy start to a pro career. 

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