Reaction and Thoughts About What Might Happen

[Mitch]

What we will never know is whether the far better route would have been to not pay Kolb the $7M bonus and state with confidence that the organization and team liked what Skelton did to help steer the team to a 6-2 record down the stretch and intend to go with him as the starter.

The Kolb situation became all the more murkier when after he was re-signed we learned that he suffered lingering effects of his discussion for another 3 weeks after the end of the season, making it a 7 week recovery. That's scary for Kolb, particularly since this was his second concussion in two years, and is a glaring red flag for the organization, knowing the possible ramifications of what would happen if Kolb suffered yet a third concussion.

What I believe is that Kevin Kolb was a little surprised he was given the bonus---and that he started to wonder himself if it would be better to take a break from football for a while.

In reading his demeanor this pre-season, he has been donning the look of a player who is fighting himself---a player who feels indebted to the organization that gave up so much to get him on board---but yet a player, like Kurt Warner three years ago, who is brooding night and day over whether playing football, in light of repeated head injuries and trauma, is the smart thing to do.

Kolb has said all the right things---as he did when the Cardinals traded for him. But---let's be real---is his heart really into football right now?

I stand by my theory that two weeks ago the game became Whisenhunt's attempt to pick Kolb's spirits off the proverbial ash-heap. And while the results were mixed, it was clear after the game that Kolb was dwelling on the positives, and that's good for him, and possibly the team if and when the team needs to turn to him this season.

But I have a feeling that this may not happen, because it would not surprise me at all if the Cardinals settle things up with Kolb, release him and sign another QB like Brian Hoyer or Mike Kafka to come in and join the mix with Skelton and Lindley.

As Chopper pointed out today, Hoyer might have the endorsement of DOPP Jason Licht because of his ties with the Patriots.

In addition, the Cardinals even admitted that the Eagles snagged Mike Kafka one pick before them in the 4th round of the 2010 draft---which prompted the Cardinals to trade up in the 5th round to select John Skelton.

Wouldn't it be poetic justice if the Cardinals wound up getting a good contributing QB for their system in Kafka for free?

I also hope that the Cardinals will make a couple of waiver claims or trades in the next day. There need to be assertive attempts to bolster the roster. Which if that happens---which at this time of year the Cardinals usually don't act very assertively---in light of the decision to start Skelton, would mean this organization is making every effort to shun public perception in favor of putting forth the most capable roster.

 

[ARZCardinals]

Skelly gets the start....he tosses 3 picks and he'll be pulled

this could end up back and forth - at it's worst case

 

[Pariah]

What I believe is that Kevin Kolb was a little surprised he was given the bonus---and that he started to wonder himself if it would be better to take a break from football for a while.

This is pretty wild speculation and not very fair to Kolb. I wanted the Cards to start Skelton, but it's not as if Kolb was trying to lose the job. That's really pretty insulting.

 

[82CardsGrad]

This is pretty wild speculation and not very fair to Kolb. I wanted the Cards to start Skelton, but it's not as if Kolb was trying to lose the job. That's really pretty insulting.

Might not be fair, but, Kolb's heart has been questioned several times since he's been with the Cards, and this season many "experts" reported that he did not properly prepare himself (body and mind) this offseason.
Who knows for sure... but, his play and his demeanor has done nothing to deflect this speculation.

Nonetheless, does it really who our starter is in Game 1?? I mean, does anyone doubt that whoever that starter is, that he won't be the starter by week 4, if not sooner??

 

[THESMEL]

Skelton outplayed Kolb last year and this preseason, Kolb is valuable and not a large drop off of talent at this point if Skelton gets dinged. It is not either or it is better than average depth at the position. So our scouts and coaches and Larry was wrong about his value?
Orton or Kolb, I think we are abetter team with Kolb than with any available QB-
Let it ride -
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water like the stoopids did with Leinart!
Follow the plan- adapt if needed-
Skelton will take 2 full years of starts to fully develope his mental game, his physical skills and size are in the elite end of the talent pool.
Feed the Bean- play some D- protection more 5 recievers less- We can do it!

 

[DemsMyBoys]

Feeling good. We know who's going to start now let's play some football.

 

[Gee!]

What I believe is that Kevin Kolb was a little surprised he was given the bonus---and that he started to wonder himself if it would be better to take a break from football for a while.

Wow. Where did you get this from? From all reports. Kolb intended to be here unless we got Peyton. As the coaching staff told him that much from the get go in the pursuit of Peyton..

 

[Crazy Canuck]

This is pretty wild speculation and not very fair to Kolb. I wanted the Cards to start Skelton, but it's not as if Kolb was trying to lose the job. That's really pretty insulting.

 

[Darkside]

Feeling good. We know who's going to start now let's play some football.

Totally with you, I'm ready to get this thing rolling.

One thing I'm curious about though, was Whis was very specific to say Skelton is the starter "at this time" and that he didn't rule out even bringing Kolb in during the game. Which makes me wonder if he's going to pull a Warner/Leinart 2-minute drill thing with Kolb. I really wonder.

 

[Gee!]

Nonetheless, does it really who our starter is in Game 1?? I mean, does anyone doubt that whoever that starter is, that he won't be the starter by week 4, if not sooner??

For all we know Lindley could end up starting and be the QBofF..

BTW congrats on your anniversary..

 

[Shane]

and this season many "experts" reported that he did not properly prepare himself (body and mind) this offseason.
Who knows for sure

What so called experts questioned this?? I dont recall so such quotes being out there? In fact in som eof the pics in mini camps it was commented how Kolb had gained muscle and looked bigger and healthier??

 

[jlove]

Keeping Kolb or not has nothing to do with what type of player he is. He needs to be shown the door. Can he be a good QB? Yes, he showed his promise in Philly. However, he is not right for the Cards. The biggest issue, is none of the team trust him or respect him as a leader. As a QB, that's your job. He doesn't cut it here. There is a reason the offense picks up their play when Skelton is in. They respect him. Kolb has no handle on the playbook here either. Therefore, send him packing and grab up a guy like Hoyer or Kafka and let's do this thing.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Keeping Kolb or not has nothing to do with what type of player he is. He needs to be shown the door. Can he be a good QB? Yes, he showed his promise in Philly. However, he is not right for the Cards. The biggest issue, is none of the team trust him or respect him as a leader. As a QB, that's your job. He doesn't cut it here. There is a reason the offense picks up their play when Skelton is in. They respect him. Kolb has no handle on the playbook here either. Therefore, send him packing and grab up a guy like Hoyer or Kafka and let's do this thing.

Wow. Good stuff! What number do you wear on "O"?

If he leaves his bonus accelerates into 2012!

 

[82CardsGrad]

For all we know Lindley could end up starting and be the QBofF..

BTW congrats on your anniversary..

Hey - I've been claiming thart Lindley will be our game 1 starter come 2013... but, I wouldn't be surprised at all if he's starting before the end of this season...

And thanks on the anniversary wishes brother!

 

[82CardsGrad]

What so called experts questioned this?? I dont recall so such quotes being out there? In fact in som eof the pics in mini camps it was commented how Kolb had gained muscle and looked bigger and healthier??

Haven't seen anything in writing either way. Have only heard on the radio his desire being seriously questioned...

 

[Mitch]

Look---if you were an NFL QB who has already been paid over $30M in the past three and half years, and you have a family and have suffered two concussions in two years, the second of which debilitated you for 7 weeks, would the thought of taking a break from football cross your mind?

The fact that the Cardinals were so gung-ho in trying to woo Peyton Manning to Arizona---made it clear to Kolb that he might not be asked back. In that interim, did he wonder whether the Cardinals letting him go would be the best thing for him and his family?

He would have to be inhuman not to think about that.

Let's face it---Kolb was skittish before the second concussion. Perhaps he was worried about getting a second concussion in two years. Again, a human response.

My belief---for right or for wrong---is that Kevin Kolb is a far better QB than he has shown in his brief time in Arizona, but it looks obvious to me that his heart is not into football.

I think this is what Tommy Kelly was referring to---

I don't think Kolb is a coward---in fact, I think these two years have tested his courage more than he was even expecting or ever signed up for.

The seriousness about concussions in the NFL is on everyone's mind these days especially when great guys and family men like Junior Seau are committing suicide.

Playing QB in the NFL which often renders one helpless versus an on-coming train wreck, is about the last thing a person would ever want to do coming off of two concussions.

And the thing is---the most mitigating factor is---it's not like Kolb's livelihood and quality of life are dependent now on playing football. He's like a lottery winner---he can walk away from his job and never look back, if he wants.

As long as he spend his $30M wisely, he and his family are set financially for life. There's an oasis waiting for him if and when he wants to remove himself from the train tracks.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Look---if you were an NFL QB who has already been paid over $30M in the past three and half years, and you have a family and have suffered two concussions in two years, the second of which debilitated you for 7 weeks, would the thought of taking a break from football cross your mind?

The fact that the Cardinals were so gung-ho in trying to woo Peyton Manning to Arizona---made it clear to Kolb that he might not be asked back. In that interim, did he wonder whether the Cardinals letting him go would be the best thing for him and his family?

He would have to be inhuman not to think about that.

Let's face it---Kolb was skittish before the second concussion. Perhaps he was worried about getting a second concussion in two years. Again, a human response.

My belief---for right or for wrong---is that Kevin Kolb is a far better QB than he has shown in his brief time in Arizona, but it looks obvious to me that his heart is not into football.

I think this is what Tommy Kelly was referring to---

I don't think Kolb is a coward---in fact, I think these two years have tested his courage more than he was even expecting or ever signed up for.

The seriousness about concussions in the NFL is on everyone's mind these days especially when great guys and family men like Junior Seau are committing suicide.

Playing QB in the NFL which often renders one helpless versus an on-coming train wreck, is about the last thing a person would ever want to do coming off of two concussions.

And the thing is---the most mitigating factor is---it's not like Kolb's livelihood and quality of life are dependent now on playing football. He's like a lottery winner---he can walk away from his job and never look back, if he wants.

As long as he spend his $30M wisely, he and his family are set financially for life. There's an oasis waiting for him if and when he wants to remove himself from the train tracks.

We'll we know what you would do.

(Where is the evidence that there is a direct correlation between concussions and Seau's suicide?)

 

[JeffGollin]

I don't think we fans have a window into the minds (or hearts) of either QB.

Skelton will either play as well as he has to as a starter or he won't. If he doesn't, he'll be yanked. His replacement will be Kolb unless/until Lindley outperforms him.

It has little to do with real or imagined heart, motivation etc. and eveything to do with production. If the Cards decide that Hoyer, Kafka, Wallace or anyone else can outplay Kolb or Lindley and they'd feel more comfortable that either one would improve our QB situation, I'd be all in favor of our biting the financial bullet, adding him and dumping Kevin.

But not because Kolb lacks motivation or heart or might hurt lockerroom chemistry/but strictly because the coaches feel we'd have a better chance of winning by making the change.

And that's no lock - Kevin knows our system better and still has the opportunity to clean up his deficiencies and, therefore in the minds of the coaches might give us a better chance to win as Skelton's backup than do Hoyer, Wallace, Kafka or anyone else available.

 

[Darkside]

I don't think we fans have a window into the minds (or hearts) of either QB.

Skelton will either play as well as he has to as a starter or he won't. If he doesn't, he'll be yanked. His replacement will be Kolb unless/until Lindley outperforms him.

It has little to do with real or imagined heart, motivation etc. and eveything to do with production. If the Cards decide that Hoyer, Kafka, Wallace or anyone else can outplay Kolb or Lindley and they'd feel more comfortable that either one would improve our QB situation, I'd be all in favor of our biting the financial bullet, adding him and dumping Kevin.

But not because Kolb lacks motivation or heart or might hurt lockerroom chemistry/but strictly because the coaches feel we'd have a better chance of winning by making the change.

And that's no lock - Kevin knows our system better and still has the opportunity to clean up his deficiencies and, therefore in the minds of the coaches gives us a better chance to win as Skelton's backup than do Hoyer, Wallace, Kafka or anyone else available.

Agree.

 

[Gee!]

I always felt Jeff Gollin has a voice of reason..

 

[DemsMyBoys]

.

One thing I'm curious about though, was Whis was very specific to say Skelton is the starter "at this time" and that he didn't rule out even bringing Kolb in during the game. Which makes me wonder if he's going to pull a Warner/Leinart 2-minute drill thing with Kolb. I really wonder.

I just watched it again. My two cents is that when he said "at this time" he meant "after considering and looking at them both here's my choice". "At this time" meaning "I am announcing". I'm not reading a whole lot into it.

 

[JeffGollin]

I always felt Jeff Gollin has a voice of reason..

Thank you. I've always been sensitive to the difference between hope & fact...and fact & opinion.

I'm always rechecking myself to rely on trusted and corroborated info and retain a constant skepticism that "just because we heard something somewhere" doesn't necessarily mean it's right (or converesly - just because some yo yo said it doesn't automatically mean it's wrong).

It's a constant effort to figure out what's real as opposed to what may look real but really isn't.

This is why I'm seldom 100% positive about anything (There's always that nagging suspicion that I could be wrong).

 

[DoTheDew]

Mitch, I'm 99% sure that we don't have the cap space to "cut Kolb and sign another QB" unless we get it from another player. We've already restructured a ton of guys this off-season. Unless Fitz takes a paycut, I just don't see it happening.

I agree that his health probably scares him. Winning in football is great, but concussions are serious business. Football isn't worth causing yourself serious health problems by the time you're 40, especially when you're talking about the potential of brain damage.

 

[Darkside]

I just watched it again. My two cents is that when he said "at this time" he meant "after considering and looking at them both here's my choice". "At this time" meaning "I am announcing". I'm not reading a whole lot into it.

Fair enough.

 

[Darkside]

Thank you. I've always been sensitive to the difference between hope & fact...and fact & opinion.

I'm always rechecking myself to rely on trusted and corroborated info and retain a constant skepticism that "just because we heard something somewhere" doesn't necessarily mean it's right (or converesly - just because some yo yo said it doesn't automatically mean it's wrong).

It's a constant effort to figure out what's real as opposed to what may look real but really isn't.

This is why I'm seldom 100% positive about anything (There's always that nagging suspicion that I could be wrong).

Don't forget to add, "I'd just like to thank all the little people who made this possible," like all the pompous people do. At least you didn't pull a Sally Field.