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About 24 hours after the Arizona Cardinals fired head coach Ken Whisenhunt, it was reported, and by some pretty reliable people, that there was a 95% chance Andy Reid would be the team's next head coach.

Reid had just been fired by the Philadelphia Eagles after 14 mostly successful seasons, but was looking for another job and the Cardinals seemed like a good fit.

We know how it shook out, however. Reid never made it to Arizona for an interview -- much less a job offer -- and he was hired by the Kansas City Chiefs to run their on-field operation.

So what happened?

Jamie Dukes, a former Cardinal and now an analyst on NFL Network, has a theory on that and shared it Friday with Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 620.

"He's already gone, but I would've grabbed Andy Reid in a second," Dukes said in response to a query on whom he'd hire as head coach if he was the Cardinals' general manager. "And the reason I would've grabbed Andy Reid because I knew one of two things -- he's going to bring Donovan McNabb or Michael Vick with him -- because you've got to do something at quarterback. That's what it all boils down to."

Dukes making reference to the importance of the quarterback position is hardly earth-shattering stuff, but the names he threw out are. Vick lost his job in Philadelphia to rookie Nick Foles partly due to injury, and McNabb didn't suit up for any team in 2012 after a less-than-promising one-season stint in Minnesota.

But the interview got more interesting from there.

"I found it telling also that Andy, while he flirted with the idea of coming to Arizona, he didn't want any part of Kevin Kolb," he said. "What that tells me is that until they solve that quarterback issue, it doesn't matter who they bring in."

Kolb, of course, started his career in Philadelphia under Reid, and eventually became the Eagles' starter. In 2010, he lost the job due to a concussion, and Vick played MVP-caliber football in his absence, leading the Eagles to the playoffs. Following the season, Kolb was dealt to Arizona in a trade that sent Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round draft pick to Philadelphia.

listen Listen: Jamie Dukes, NFL Network Analyst
Dukes made some though-provoking statements on the AZ Cardinals' head coaching search and QB condundrum.
Kolb's time in Arizona has been punctuated with several injuries that have allowed him to play in only 15 of the Cardinals' 32 games over the last two seasons. Despite the litany of ailments that have kept him on the sideline, team president Michael Bidwill showed some support for Kolb at a press conference last week.

"I'm not ready to give up on Kevin Kolb yet," Bidwill said.

Kolb has thrown for 3,124 yards in 15 games as a Cardinal, completing 58.5 percent (255-of-436) of his passes for 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Kolb has four years remaining on his contract, which he signed in July of 2011.

18 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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    mesa mad man wrote...
    Reid
    I cant tell from your article - the headline makes it sound like Reid said that he didnt want any part of him, but the quote from whoever this analyst is (i had to google him because the name rings no bell at all as a cardinal) makes it sound like he is just assuming thats why Reid wouldnt want to come here. If the latter is the case, analysts say stupid things all the time - bottom line is it doesnt mean anything if it didnt come from Reid himself. If Reid did say it though, i think thats good too - maybe Kolb can use that to try to prove people wrong.
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    lightningrod wrote...
    No part of Kolb?
    Yeah, I mean if you could go to KC and have Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn, who wouldnt jump at THAT opportunity. The guy knows a collection of "dream team" players when he sees them and how to use them! LOL
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    AZCards54321 wrote...
    Jamie Dukes
    This guy is a horrible analyst. He just assumes things all the time, he's one of the few people the thinks that McNabb can still play. At this point I'd take Kolb over Vick and McNabb. All Vick does is turn the football over, he holds on to the ball way too long. Not good at going through progressions. My only concern with Kolb is his injuries, cuz I think the guy can play in right offense.
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    nonsoon wrote...
    ok...
    "analysts' offer more than just facts and news, they provide opinion and speculation. Cassle and Quinn are the answer vs. Kolb...too funny
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    Joe1013e wrote...
    Wow! Just Wow!
    I wouldn't want McNabb or Vick. Both are finished. Andy Reid failed to build an O-Line and yet no one seems to acknowledge that little detail. He had too much power and say so over personell, just like Whisenhunt. Reid is overrated and always will be overrated.
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    CroDawg wrote...
    All good points
    I don't think Reid ever considered AZ because he wanted complete control and knew he was not anywhere near going to get that here. And as far as the credibility of this guy- McNabb or Vick? Does it need any further comment?
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    AZSPORTFAN wrote...
    @ CroDawg & mesa mad man
    CroDawg, You are correct on Reid, he never planned on coming here because of the control thing. Mesa mad man has a point ..... I hope Kolb comes in and shows everyone wrong. I personally think he will under the right coach.
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    bjbbjb wrote...
    Dukes...
    Not going to rip Dukes as a whole, cause he has some experience in the game, but his evaluation of quarterbacks is pretty awful. I'm not saying Kolb is the answer or isn't, but how are you going to pretend McNabb is still a viable option at quarterback. He was pretty ineffective his last two seasons in the NFL, and has been out of football for a year and a half. He says Reid would be "bringing him with him", but it's not like we couldn't have had McNabb anytime we wanted over the last couple years. He would have signed here in a second, but we didn't want him.
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    hm wrote...
    McNabb? Geeeez
    Anyone that has seen Brady Quinn or Matt Cassel play QB, would realize this analyst has no clue. You have to wonder how these guys get their jobs.
  • Abuse
    DZAZ99 wrote...
    Par for the course...
    ..for the worst drive time sports show in any major market. These two were horrible when they put on the "morning zoo" wacky times with dimwit and know nothing.. in the afternoon drive it's completely un-listenable.
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