Phil Sheridan: Kolb, Bradley concussions: Two heads-up calls Reid missed

On a day overflowing with bad decisions, the most serious had nothing to do with roster moves or football strategy.

The Eagles got very lucky with Kevin Kolb and Stewart Bradley on Sunday.

If either of them had taken a hit after returning to the game despite concussions, the Eagles' coaches and medical staff could be answering some much tougher questions today than whether Michael Vick will start at quarterback next week.

First Kolb, then Bradley left the game after taking blows to the head in the second quarter. First Bradley, then Kolb returned to the game. Bradley was at middle linebacker for several plays on the Packers' drive that ended in a touchdown catch by Donald Driver. After a press box announcement that he had a "jaw" injury, Kolb threw three passes for 7 yards on a three-and-out possession near the end of the first half.

"They were fine," coach Andy Reid said after the game. "All the questions that they answered and the things they did with the docs registered well. As it went on, they weren't feeling well so we took them out."

When the teams came back for the second half, it was announced that both players had concussions and would not return.

This stunning turnaround contributed to the general sense of disarray on a day when the Eagles almost ran out of offensive linemen and looked confused and disorganized right from the illegal-formation penalty on their first offensive play. But this was much more serious, since it meant two players had been needlessly placed in harm's way.

Ten, 20, 30 years ago, this would have been business as usual in the NFL. But it was a bad business, and the league has finally stepped out of the Dark Ages when it comes to brain injuries and their consequences. Last December, the league issued stricter guidelines for dealing with concussions during games.

The Eagles didn't allow media to talk to Kolb or Bradley. No one from the medical staff was made available after the game.

If the Eagles didn't violate the letter of those guidelines, they trampled all over the spirit of rules meant to protect players.

"He wants to be out there with us," safety Quintin Mikell said of Bradley. "He was fighting it, but at a certain point, it can't be in our hands to make that decision. Because if it was up to us, we would go out there and kill ourselves to play. And that's what we want around here. We're warriors."