Quarterbacks

When Chip Kelly coached at Oregon, the Ducks went to the Rose Bowl one year with a 5-foot-11, good-running quarterback. Another season, they made it to the BCS championship game with a 6-3 passer who ran only sparingly. During Kelly's career in Eugene, which included two seasons as offensive coordinator and four as head coach, the Ducks also started a 6-6 guy without much mobility, another 6-3 quarterback who ran pretty decently, and finally a 6-4 solid combination of passing and running skills.

Is Connor Reilly Temple's answer at quarterback? Or is Reilly's promotion to first string a way for the coaching staff to motivate senior quarterbacks Juice Granger and Chris Coyer? Granger and Coyer were expected to battle for the starting position this spring. Reilly, a redshirt junior who also plays for Temple's baseball team, was ranked fourth on the depth chart. But Reilly's arm strength has impressed the coaches in spring camp. "He was just in a system [under former coach Steve Addazio]

The Penn State quarterbacks may be new to the heat of competition once the 2013 season begins, but that won't stop coach Bill O'Brien from expanding his rather complicated offense. With Matt McGloin gone after a record-breaking season, Steven Bench and junior-college transfer Tyler Ferguson have gone head-to-head during spring practice, with neither quarterback having gained any advantage. Bench, who will be a sophomore, and Ferguson will be joined by heralded incoming freshman Christian Hackenberg in preseason camp.

Nick Foles insisted Wednesday that he fits Eagles coach Chip Kelly's offense, a belief that has been challenged by those who say Kelly's system at Oregon was at its best with a mobile quarterback. Foles said he knows the offense the Eagles expect to run, and he can play in that offense. "I wouldn't be right here right now if I didn't," Foles said. "I think I would be somewhere else. Yeah, I believe I fit here. I want to be here. I love this team, and I love this city. " Foles is usually mild-mannered, but he was adamant when reporters peppered him about his playing style.

Temple quarterback Clinton Granger has not received any promises, he said. Everything he wants, he said, he has to earn. And now the Washington High product nicknamed "Juice" is in position to earn the Owls' starting job. He entered Friday's first day of spring practice tied atop the quarterback depth chart with fellow senior Chris Coyer. Head coach Matt Rhule plans to have the Owls pass more this season, something that has raised the receivers' morale, Coyer said. Last season, Coyer threw for 946 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions.

PHOENIX - Andy Reid understands the importance of having a good quarterback. Fourteen years ago, he ignored the public pleas of Eagles fans to take running back Ricky Williams in the draft and selected Donovan McNabb. No, McNabb wasn't perfect. But he was good enough to help the Eagles make it to the NFC Championship Game five times in 11 seasons and earn six Pro Bowl invitations; good enough to finish his career with one of the best touchdowns-to-interceptions differentials (plus-117)

PHOENIX - The Eagles will hold a private workout with Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel, Eagles coach Chip Kelly confirmed Wednesday. Kelly was not certain if he would attend the workout, but quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor will be present. A 6-foot-5, 237-pound dual-threat quarterback, Manuel would seem an ideal fit for Kelly's offense. Kelly once recruited Manuel at Oregon, but Manuel wanted to stay closer to his Virginia home. "I knew him coming out of high school, thought he had a really good career at Florida State," Kelly said.

The answer to the New York Jets' quarterback woes could be . . . ex-Eagle Kevin Kolb? Or could it be Geno Smith - if he slips past the Eagles, who have the fourth pick in the coming NFL draft? The speculation about Kolb has heated up for several reasons, according to several sources. The Arizona Cardinals owe Kolb a $2 million payment if he's still on their roster Saturday ("which is some pretty sweet St. Patty's Day drinking money," quips thescore.com) so he's expected to be cut. Also, his base salary is $9 million, with a cap number of $13.5 million, and Arizona just signed according to profootballtalk.com.

Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has suspended a scheduled book tour because he has received threats through social media, his spokesman said Monday night. Vick has been promoting his autobiography, Finally Free . The book tour included stops at Barnes & Noble stores in Exton and in Northvale, N.J. His next appearance was scheduled to be on Saturday in Atlanta. Vick appeared without incident at a bookstore in Charlotte, N.C., on March 2. "Michael Vick is committed to helping make his community a better place," Chris Shigas, a spokesman for Vick, said in an e-mail.

MICHAEL VICK and his family have been threatened lately through social media, as have bookstores where Vick planned to promote his book, "Finally Free. " Vick has canceled appearances at three Barnes & Noble locations because of the threats, which have been reported to law enforcement, Vick spokesman Chris Shigas said Monday. Shigas called the threats, first reported by Tim McManus on Phillymag.com, "very disturbing. " Vick has been a lightning rod since he returned to the NFL with the Eagles in 2009 after serving 19 months in federal prison for running a dogfighting operation, but the public furor seemed to abate over the past few years.