Reid loses his grip

By John McMullen

Philadelphia, PA (The Phanatic Magazine) - Whether you liked him or not, you always knew Andy Reid was in total control of the Eagles universe.

I can't say the same today after Reid reversed fields again. In fact, "Big Red" is becoming more adept at changing directions than Michael Vick against a Lions' blindside blitz.

Andy's latest bizarre about-face started when he denied telling Peter King of Sports Illustrated that he believed Kevin Kolb would be "crucified" by the public and media if the signal caller played poorly again.

Later, through a team spokesperson, Reid admitted making the comment, which totally contradicts his earlier claim that the decision to start Vick over Kevin Kolb for the "rest of the season" was based solely on Mike playing "out of his mind," and not because Kolb was awful throughout the preseason and the first half of the opener versus Green Bay.

Here's Reid's actual quote to King: "A young quarterback needs time to mature as he grows in the game. I don't think Kolb has lost one thing. He's a franchise quarterback. He will win games, and championships, for the Eagles. But I think it's a different deal when you go out there and can't make a mistake or you're going to get crucified, which is the way this thing might have gone if he went back in there now."

It's anyone's guess why Reid pulled the trigger on Vick now.

One NFL scout told me Reid was never really a Kolb fan and the Eagles made the decision to draft him while he was away caring for his sons.  Another "insider" said the decision was based on the poor play of the offensive line and yet another source claimed Kolb's health was still of concern.

I don't buy any of it.

Occam's razor tells us that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.

In this case, the simplest explanation is that Vick is better than Kolb -- a lot better.

It's time to think A.J. Feeley now. The Eagles swiped a second round draft pick from Miami for Feeley. If the organization can do the same for Kolb by snowing a Tom Heckert or Brad Childress, it should have done it yesterday.

As for Reid, an uncharacteristically wishy-washy week has me thinking the Eagles' mentor has lost something of his fastball.