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AP: e7075aca-69c3-4039-90bd-f7c290687e68
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb, center, heads to the locker room with a team trainer after being hit by New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis (98) during the first quarter of the NFL Hall of Fame exhibition football game, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012 in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Scott Galvin)
Affirmation or aberration? That's the question coming off the Hall of Fame Game.

And, yes, Paulie Preseason is posing another QB Question. Specifically, we're referring to the performance of Kevin Kolb. As you might recall, his first pass attempt was intercepted and his last snap resulted in a game-ending injury. Yes, that Kevin Kolb.

Or, as a wise-acre fan tweeted me (@PaulCalvisi…#Ding) before I'd even left the sidelines in Canton: Kevin K(L)OLb. LOL instead of O-L in the middle of Kolb's last name. Funny guy. Everybody is a comedian. Except, there's just one problem here - no one is laughing.

Not when we're trying to figure out whether Kevin Kolb's performance against the Saints was the exception or serves as confirmation? Play or can't play? Deal or No Deal? In other words, would the real Kevin Kolb stand up?

Better yet, would the Kolb haters please sit down. Don't make Paulie Practice go all Allen Iverson and proclaim that we're talking about the first quarter of the first game in a five-game preseason. Don't be the skydiver who pulls that rip cord too early...at your own peril.

Paulie Patience realizes that we're a nation suffering from chronic attention deficit disorder, but does anybody remember the Cards' win against Dallas last season? Does anybody care that Kolb shook off the rust from his four-game absence and, in the second half, got in a rhythm and looked genuinely comfortable both in the pocket and in the offense?

Shouldn't that serve as the best barometer of his skill set to date? In other words, ever since that fourth quarter and overtime against Dallas (7-11 passing, including the game-winning TD pass), what has transpired exactly?

Uh, OTAs. Mini-camps. Less than two weeks of training camp. And one-half of one quarter in the first preseason game. That's what. Hence, until the sample size gets a little larger, our default setting still goes back to the second half of the win against the Cowboys.

And, yes, we can see the eyes rolling. Right about now, the dude with "K(L)OLb" caustically emblazoned ("Caustically? Forget it, he's rolling…") across the back of his #4 jersey is screaming - what has Kolb done for the Big Red lately? Well, if we're existing in 2012, isn't it only fair to cite that John Skelton was mostly operating against the Saints' second-string defense?

Or perhaps we should state this in terms of a vice. Since most of America seemingly gambles on football, perhaps we should go Paulie Poker and offer the following comparison: when you are "pot committed" to the tune of $20 million, you don't just fold your hand. Right? You've invested way too much not to hang around and see another card. Right? #Ding.

In fact, once upon a time, let's not forget that the Cardinals were "pot committed" with Matt Leinart. Anybody remember what happened next? With a three-interception half against the Raiders in the third preseason game, Leinart did what? He showed his hand.

So, with school just starting again in AZ, the lesson learned? Don't make the decision until the QB(s) make the decision for you. Because to fold now, would be akin to "fLOLd."

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    fenix3030 wrote...
    And Then?
    And then he got hurt, and then?? and then he threw an interception and then??? and then he got hurt again and then???? NO AND THEN!!!
  • Abuse
    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    This was the stupidest article EVER
    It seems u were trying to sound intellegent and smooth like Wolf. LOL ^.^ Holy crap dude! What is your freekin problem? Did u forget the wins Skelton came through with? Or are u stuck on the two little Kolb wins and his other crap load of losses? I don't care! I'm gna rain on ur little Kolb parade and put it all out there and be the 1st to say -- Kolb sucks dude. Skelton doesn't have the stats. But he has more potential. Idk if he's the QB of the future. But with a great run game, defense, and recievers, he can win a SB.
  • Abuse
    Suspence wrote...
    Agreed fitzismyhero
    All the Kolb backers remind me of the Leinart backers... Only difference is I used to hear people say "well Leinart could be good someday..." True, he was young and you could see some upside to that. Kolb on the other hand is not a young QB and I just don't see any upside to a guy that can't even stay upright!!!!
  • Abuse
    BeardofOdysseus wrote...
    Poison Picking pt1
    First off, mtj8nau, I would like to shake your hand. Before anybody makes a snap judgement, it is true we need to see some game in the last 2 preseason games when the first teamers are playing a little less vanilla. We also need to see if the Cardinals are actually going to have a solid running game. If they are productive on the ground that would only serve to make Kolb a better choice.
  • Abuse
    BeardofOdysseus wrote...
    Poison Picking pt2
    It will change a lot of how the Cardinals operate the offense. D Coordinators will need to honor the run and not play so downhill on us. D Linemen will play to stuff gaps instead of penetrating through to the QB. It will force safeties to play a couple more steps into the box, potentially freeing up larger pass windows. LBs will play more home, or read first instead of being blitz happy. Give Kolb back his confidence and a little more time and he can be a good quarterback.
  • Abuse
    BeardofOdysseus wrote...
    Poison Picking pt3
    I understand that first pass thrown in the HOF game was one of the worse passes in the history of existence but he is the more accurate of the two. Everyone applauds Skelton's resiliency, but are we forgetting we are applauding his ability to bounce back from his high number of mistakes. If the running game sucks, play Skelton because he can take the hits but he is not the better QB. Besides, if Kolb does get hurt then Whiz can play Skelton instead of having to pick Skelton over the guy Whiz wanted. Also, Cards fans at large, who you want for QB is irrelevant.
  • Abuse
    BeardofOdysseus wrote...
    Poison Picking pt4
    Remember when you all wanted and fell in live with Max Hall.
  • Abuse
    The influence Peddler wrote...
    Stats
    You may not like Kolb but his stats are considerable better. QTR back rating 17 that is higher than Joe Flaco. Skelton near the bottom-third to the last. Also Kolb outperformed Skelton even though he was sacked 7 more times. He also threw less inteceptions in 2011. May not look right but stats dont lie.
  • Abuse
    cardiac card wrote...
    influence peddler
    neither does wins vs losses and being injured vs being able to take a hit
  • Abuse
    redbread wrote...
    Paulie Poon Flap
    This was only a preseason game and yet Kolb looked as crappy as I remember him looking last year and about as durable also. Paulie, did you forget about the one and six start? Oh yeah, he looked good against the Cowboys "who sucked" last year looking more like them boys from brokeback mountain. I'm remembering the 2-6 with Kolb and Skelton beating the 49ers who were relevant, even though I would rather beat Dallas than anybody.
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