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The Arizona Cardinals might sign Peyton Manning in the next week, giving the team the elite starting QB it has lacked since Kurt Warner retired three years ago.

Or, of course, they might not sign Manning, leaving them with the same signal callers they finished last season with.

And while the Cards would undoubtedly talk about how much faith they have in both Kevin Kolb and John Skelton going forward, reports are circulating that the team is ready to part with last year's big investment after just one season.

According to Jason LaCanfora of NFL.com, the Cardinals are not ready to give the keys back to the 27-year-old QB just yet.

The reality is Arizona is willing to walk away from him at this point and isn't committed to him long-term, and anything short of a huge 2012 breakthrough won't change that. If he does begin next season as the starter, he won't be on a long leash, given how the team closed under John Skelton.

Kolb finished his initial injury-plagued season in the desert completing 57.7 percent of his passes for 1,955 yards and 9 touchdowns against 8 interceptions and 7 fumbles. He started just nine games -- finishing eight -- and did nothing to cement himself as the team's QB of the future.

That's not to say Kolb will never be a starting QB in the NFL -- for the Cardinals or anyone else -- because he's still young and has shown flashes.

And, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com, the Cleveland Browns would likely have interest should the Cards cut ties with the former Eagle in the coming days.

Adding Kolb makes sense for the Browns, even though he doesn't provide the playmaking ability of RG3 or the same buzz as Flynn.

So, at least Kolb wouldn't be unemployed for long.

But, the Cardinals did make a significant investment in the player last summer, and may be hesitant to part with him unless they can get a guy like Manning.

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    cardinalpowers wrote...
    I dont understand....
    why nobody will allow Kolb a legitimate opportunity to succeed. There was no line, a truncated off-season and one wide receiver(who wore a double team overcoat the entire season). Not one person here would except an evaluation of their job performance with out the benefit of training(full offseason), supplies(line and second receiver)and employer confidence(fans and front office). I hope Kolb moves on and does well.
  • Abuse
    SpaceRig wrote...
    Speculation
    I hope we keep Kolb if this Manning thing doesn't work out. Right now he's basically guilty of having a new offense to learn with no off season, bad luck with injuries, and a Defense that couldn't stop a highschool women's lacross team in the begining of the season. I also hope Kolb understands that there are about 5 teams in the league that wouldn't immediately be improved by adding a (healthy) Peyton Manning and all this talk is just business.
  • Abuse
    CardsFan_ wrote...
    Misleading article
    After checking out the link, the comments were in context of signing Manning, not just cutting him in general. The key there is "anything short of a huge 2012 breakthrough won't change that" - hard for him to have a breakthrough in 2012 if he's cut now. Bottom line is that if PM doesn't sign with the Cards, Kolb will be on the roster in training camp and will likely be the day 1 starter.
  • Abuse
    Jim K. wrote...
    Eagles are to blame....
    The Eagles are NOTORIOUS for making their backup QBs look GREAT and desirable for trade (just ask the Dolphins). The system make Kolb look dam-near unstoppable during his short tenure as a starter (until he was concussed). With a lack-luster bunch of QBs in last year's Free-Agent list, the Cards were limited. They had to show the fans, as well as Fitz, that they are 'committed' to winning; therefore sign the 'best' QB on the market.
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    dmg1223 wrote...
    Cut him, work more on Skelton
    Kolb's signing looks bad from the stand point of just cut him, but it looks great from the standpoint that his signing basically helped us lock up Fitz for 8 years! AZ had to show they were committed to winning in order for Fitz to stay, they did just that by trading for Kolb before last season. I don't think it's a lack of ability for Kolb but the concussions worry me, too many in a short span = career over. Cut him, go after Peyton, if you don't land him then you focus on improving Skelton.
  • Abuse
    aurelia7 wrote...
    Why Kolb?
    I'm not impressed with Kolb. With the deadline of giving him a bonus why not just cut him loose. Whether or not the Cardinals get Manning, Skelton did the job at the end of the season with the Cardinals increasing their wins with 8-8. And, if Manning doesn't accept the Cardinal offer, focus on Skelton for upcoming season. He did the job, and he can only get better as a QB.
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    Tennisgrandpa wrote...
    Kolb
    Where he's been a disappointment with the concussions and all, the talk about concetrating on Skelton if we don't get Manning ain't gunna cut it either. How many more seasons will Fitz go having to cough up blood trying to catch Skeltons horrible passes. If we don't get Manning I'm still wanting the Cards to go after another QB free agent. Skelton is too much of a maybe for right now, cuz Peterson and Campbell ain't gunna bail him out
    Dale
  • Abuse
    redbread wrote...
    Kolb has a Chad Pennington arm!
    Well maybe not that bad but pretty darn close. This team proved they could win with Skelton even when he played bad and it seemed to me like the team rallied behind him. We should let Kolb go and get a veteran QB to mentor Skelton and be a capable backup "Jason Cambell"....and everyone apparently needs to be reminded that this will be Skelton's first real offseason as far as taking any meaningful snaps. Keeping Kolb around will just cause problems when Skelton could named the starter and the team will have to put their confidence behind him.
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    Jim S. wrote...
    Kolb
    I would walk away from Kolb regardless of what happens with Manning. Shelton proved he can play !!!!
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    Imiss13 wrote...
    Skelton would be a good backup.....
    for Jason Campbell!! He is a free agent now and plays great and is proven. Look what happened to the Raiders last year after he broke his collarbone!! Skelton and Kolb just can't get it done. I watched all the games and with either one the offense was terrible.
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