The Michael Vick era?

The Kevin Kolb Era looks to have lasted less than a half.

At least for now.

All signs point to Andy Reid announcing today that Michael Vick will start Sunday when the 0-1 Eagles go into Detroit.

Kolb, who suffered a concussion after completing just 5 of 10 attempts in a miserable debut as the Birds’ starter Sunday, has apparently failed a couple of baseline tests since and is generally in a bit of a fog.

That makes Vick the starter. Ironically, the last game he started was on Dec. 31, 2006. Yep, that was the day he and the Falcons lost the NFC title game to the Eagles.

Reid has made it clear that, even if Kolb misses Sunday’s game again the Lions, he remains the starter. In other words, when he’s healthy again, he’s back under center.

That’s easy to say. But here’s another scenario. Vick is lights out Sunday, a distinct possibility against a Lions defense that will have two new starters in the secondary. Then let’s say Kolb continues to struggle next week. Vick again gets the call in Jacksonville. Should he win that game, the pressure on Reid will be immense to keep Vick as his starter with Donovan McNabb and the Redskins coming to the Linc the following Sunday.

Does Reid really want Kolb returning just in time for the bizarre scene that will welcome McNabb to his old stomping grounds.

Maybe worse, what happens if Vick plays well and gets a win against the Lions, only to have Kolb come back against Jacksonville. Should Kolb put up another feeble first half, he and Reid likely will be able to hear the outcry from leather-lunged Gang Green fans all the way down in Jacksonville.

Of course, Vick could make all of this a lot easier if he falls on his face on Sunday.

But that would make the Eagles 0-2 and on the verge of a crisis.

Just another season in Eagle-ville.

Comments