Report: Cardinals willing to walk away from Kevin Kolb, QB could land with Browns
Mar 13, 2012, 3:31 PM | Updated: 4:45 pm
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.
