Eagles' Garcia to Kolb: Only one chance at first start

Jeff Garcia remembers the morning, the anxiety, the nervous energy, the anticipation, and, perhaps most of all, the drive to the stadium for his first start as a San Francisco 49er. He had waited for his big chance for what seemed like a lifetime, through five seasons in Canada and part of one behind Steve Young.

In week four of the 1999 season, with Young sidelined after yet another concussion, Garcia finally was the man.

"The feeling I had that day was hard to match after that," Garcia said yesterday.

The first start. For a quarterback in the NFL, it's like a first love. Such intense expectations and emotions, with the possibility of a disastrous ending.

Some quarterbacks, such as Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco, experience the love right away and start in Week 1 of their rookie seasons. Some quarterbacks, such as Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Donovan McNabb, end up starting at some point during their first year, either because the No. 1 guy gets hurt or because he gets benched. And some quarterbacks, such as Garcia, Aaron Rodgers and Kevin Kolb, have to wait their turn. And the wait can seem endless.

Unless McNabb miraculously recovers from a fractured rib, Kolb will make his first start for the Eagles on Sunday after watching from the sideline for the better part of three seasons. Although Andy Reid yesterday did not rule out McNabb playing in the game, Kolb took all of the snaps with the first-team offense, and Reid said that if McNabb can't play, Kolb will get the start.

With three quarterbacks on the Eagles sideline with 12 combined Pro Bowl appearances watching the one with no experience, the reaction from fans is likely to be mixed, and Kolb knows it. He's never started a game. He hasn't thrown a touchdown pass. He's thrown only 24 completions, and none longer than 16 yards.

Last week against the Panthers, Kolb struggled to complete anything. In his only other meaningful action, last season in the second half against Baltimore, he posted a 15.3 passer rating with 13 incompletions, two interceptions and zero touchdowns.

"I've gotten opportunities and haven't done the best job with them," Kolb said. "If I'd come out and had five touchdowns and zero interceptions and zero fumbles, this wouldn't be an issue. But, because I haven't had much success it's totally fair, and I look forward to the challenge."