Two days later, the answer was still yes.
"I was asked" late Saturday night "if Donovan [McNabb] would be my quarterback next year, and I said yes," Eagles coach Andy Reid said yesterday as he continued to sort through the remnants of his team's lopsided first-round playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys. "That's what I'm saying now."
When pressed on the issue, however, Reid admitted that there is a lot to consider between now and the start of training camp, and a lot of time to consider it.
"We'll look at all of this," Reid said. "Obviously, I haven't gotten to the points that you're asking here with comparing players, contracts, and everything else. I'm not at that point right now. We like Kevin Kolb and we like Michael Vick and we like Donovan McNabb. I think it's a pretty good situation to be in. The rest of the things will take place as we go through the off-season."
When the subject was raised again a short time later, Reid said he considered himself quite lucky.
"I am very fortunate because there are a lot of head coaches who aren't getting these questions right here . . . that are really looking for good quarterbacks," Reid said. "I've got stinking three good quarterbacks that could play in this league. I respect that and feel very fortunate to be in that position. I don't want to give up any of them. I like them all. The more you have, the better you are. That's a tough position to play."
Even though the Eagles haven't been able to win a Super Bowl with McNabb at quarterback, Reid clearly remains a big fan of the first player he drafted after becoming the head coach in 1999.
"I think he's a great player," Reid said. "I think his work over the last 11 years has proven that. I truly believe it's a team sport and it's not all about one guy."
Reid said he also believes Kolb is capable of being a starter in the NFL.
"Can Kevin Kolb play in the National Football League? Absolutely," Reid said. "Can he be a starter in the National Football League? Absolutely. The other two guys have proven it, and they've been top quarterbacks in this league for a number of years."
It wouldn't be surprising if the Eagles field trade offers for McNabb, Vick, and Kolb this off-season, and whichever deal is the most intriguing gets done.
