Three Teams Want Kolb, Westbrook Wants to Return

As expected, the NFL and the NFL Players Association has agreed to a one-week extension to the collective bargaining agreement. The extension adds to the already murky future of the NFL's labor relations. Progress must be made by March 11 for another extension to be put into place, according to the mediator assigned to the case. This promises to be a very long process, and I don't really see the sides coming to any further of an understanding.

The Kevin Kolb sweepstakes are alive and well, according to Adam Schefter. It's unlikely that there will be a deal before the CBA is finalized, but it depends on the Eagles management. While there are definite upsides to keeping Kolb, it may be better to send him elsewhere (just not in the division this time, ok fellas?) once the new CBA takes effect. I've championed the idea of having Kolb and Vick develop Mike Kafka as Kolb's replacement, and I still believe this will be the best way to approach the situation. The lockout could also work in the Eagles' favor, because the longer the labor dispute goes into season prep, the more desperate teams like the Cardinals will be for a quarterback. If this happens, the Eagles could get some really good compensation.

And in former Eagle news, Brian Westbrook has said that he wants to return to Philly. For the eight seasons Westbrook played for the Eagles, he was one of the most consistent players and dangerous weapons. It wasn't until his final season, in which he suffered two concussions, that he began to falter. He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers to sit on the bench for most of the season, until Frank Gore was injured in a game against the Arizona Cardinals. While Westbrook can obviously still move the ball, the biggest worry for Philly (or any other team that considers taking him) is the fact that he had those two, close-together concussions. It would be sad to see his career end in a third, debilitating concussion, a scenario Westbrook must take into account. Westbrook did a lot for the Eagles, but if he returned, he must know he would be backing-up LeSean McCoy, just as he did for Gore in San Fran. Probably not the best situation for him.

Eagles Will Keep Vick, Where Will Kolb Land?

The Philadelphia Eagles are set to put the franchise tag on quarterback Michael Vick, a league source has said. It may be old news that the Eagles have long been considering tagging Vick to keep him for the 2011 season, with this confirmation, talks are sure to begin swirling about the fate of backup QB Kevin Kolb. Kolb went on the radio to again state that though he has full confidence in head coach Andy Reid, he wants to be a starter in 2011. Kolb waited for three years behind former Eagles QB Donovan McNabb and was set to begin a new era in Philadelphia when McNabb was traded to the Washington Redskins for draft picks on April 4, 2010.

Then came the fateful concussion in Week 1 against Green Bay. After Vick finished the game and started against the Lions and Jaguars, only to be injured in Week 3. After that, the revolving door of starting QB in Philly seemed never ending. Kolb was returned to duty, losing against a returning McNabb and the Redskins, and winning over the 49ers and future top-seed Falcons. Following a loss to the Titans, Vick returned as starter on the other side of the bye week, beating the Colts and the Redskins in a spectacular Monday night game. Now that the season is over, Kolb sees the writing on the wall and the tag looming over Vick's helmet. And, as one would expect, he can't stand to enter year five in the NFL as a backup. But where would he go?

There has been talk of Kolb being a good fit for the Tennessee Titans now that they have all but traded Vince Young, and it could be Kolb's chance to spend next year making his own name. If the Titans decide to pass on Kolb, the 49ers could be willing to talk with Eagles management if new head coach Jim Harbaugh finishes reviewing 2010 game tapes and decides he's not so excited to work with Alex Smith. This may end up being the case, with rumors already popping up about Kyle Orton and Carson Palmer, and if the Niners are serious, it's possible they could get a better deal trading for Kolb. A third team to throw into the mix could be the Redskins. Though McNabb says he'll be returning next year, there is a lot of speculation after his agent made some interesting remarks and his controversial benching in favor of Rex Grossman to end the 2010 season. After head coach Mike Shanahan's disastrous season, he may be looking to push the McNabb controversy away, despite the flashy mid-season contract extension the Redskins gave the former Eagles quarterback. While this would likely cost the Redskins quite a bit on both ends, it could give Shanahan (another) fresh start, ironically with yet another Eagles quarterback.

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