• March 19, 2024

A Case For Trent Edwards To Start On Sunday

On Christmas Eve, news broke that Eagles quarterback Nick Foles would miss the final game of the season with a broken hand and that former starter Michael Vick would likely get the call on Sunday against the New York Giants.

It will, in all likelihood, be Vick’s final appearance as a Philadelphia Eagle. With a heavy cap number next season, the former Falcon is unlikely to return to the rebuilding Eagles, with the team set to go into rebuilding mode after a second straight disappointing season.

But should it be Vick who gets the call on Sunday over third-string quarterback Trent Edwards? I don’t think so.

It would be more beneficial to the future of the franchise if Edwards got the start on Sunday instead of Vick. Before the season began, the Eagles signed the former Buffalo Bill to a one-year extension that will keep him in Philadelphia through the 2013-14 season with the idea that in case the team decided to part ways with Vick after the season that they would have a capable veteran backup under contract. But although Edwards impressed the team with his play in the preseason, the Eagles don’t know if they can count on him to win in the regular season.

This is a great opportunity for the Eagles to get a look at Edwards in a meaningful situation to see if they can count on him to be the second-string quarterback next season. All that the team has to go off of with Edwards is what he accomplished against third and fourth string players last August. They’ve got a chance to put the 29-year old in a position to play a regular season game, working with LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin, and Brent Celek against a desperate New York Giants team that needs a win in the worst possible way to keep their playoff hopes alive.

When a football team is eliminated from playoff contention, the remainder of their regular season games become all about giving other players opportunities to perform so that the front office can make the most accurate assessment possible about what they have to work with to turn things around the following year. There’s no benefit to the Eagles playing Michael Vick on Sunday.

Vick’s run in Philadelphia is over. The Eagles are prepared to move on him from him as the team’s starter, and I believe that Vick is ready for his next opportunity elsewhere. He won’t be coming back at a reduced price, and he certainly wouldn’t return to be the team’s backup or even to compete with Nick Foles for the starting job. Vick is a competitor, and he’ll want to move on to a team that will make him the unquestioned starter.

To be fair, there is an argument to be made for Vick to start as well. Andy Reid may want to do his quarterback a favor by giving him a chance to strut his stuff one more time for his next employer. Over the last month and a half, Vick’s body has had plenty of time to heal and recuperate from the pounding he took over the first eight weeks of the season. He’ll be fresh, and the offensive line has made some slight strides since the last time number seven was under center.

Reid also knows that the demotion was a tough pill for a fighter like Vick to swallow. The former Pro-Bowler has made it clear that he wants to be on the field, regardless of what the team’s record is. It hasn’t been easy for him to sit on the sidelines, but he’s handled the situation with class.

When you consider those factors, perhaps Vick has earned the right to start.

You could even consider the fact that this is likely going to be Andy Reid’s last game as the head coach of the Eagles. Reid has had a terrible season as a head coach, but he’s not a quitter. He’ll want to go down fighting, and not make things easy on the division rival Giants. If you’re Andy Reid and you want the best chance to end your 14-year career in Philadelphia with a win, Michael Vick is clearly the best option.

If the Eagles were doing everything they could to prepare for 2013 and field the best possible product, Trent Edwards would get the call. However, in this case they’re not doing whats best for the team.

And while I would much rather see Edwards on Sunday, I can’t blame the organization for going in the direction they’ve chosen. Even though Andy Reid’s success has significantly declined since 2004, he helped bring Philadelphia a lot of great memories and he should have the right to out on his terms and pursue one last victory in Eagle green.

Denny Basens

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SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
December 25, 2012 3:18 pm

Trent Edwards is a damn bum.

paulman
paulman
December 25, 2012 3:44 pm

This is probably the only Decision that Coach Ar has made on his own for about the last 6 Weeks old so with Tom Donahoe and Rosenan calling the shots
Playing Edwards or Vick in the final means nothing at all
Vick is a goner as is Coach AR and his Staff too, so even if Edwards had played, next year is entirely a new deal with a New Coaching Staff which Edwards will be able to impress or not since he’s under Contract for 2013 and will return and I would be surprised to see Vick get hit a few tones where Edwards will likely come in anyways..

Biglion821
Biglion821
December 25, 2012 4:27 pm

This would be a great opportunity to see Edwards check down or every throw? No thank you, if I am going to watch this last final pile up in a train wreck of a season I want something to entertain me.

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
December 25, 2012 4:41 pm

boy, McNabb must have been mighty good huh?

prepare yourselves for the basement for the next 7 years with Rosie heading this pathetic excuse for a team…..

GO RG3!!!!

jakedog
jakedog
December 25, 2012 4:50 pm

Hey songs brother merry Christmas

paulman
paulman
December 25, 2012 5:40 pm

Eagles 2013 Schedule

6 Games versus the NFC East (Cowboys,Redskins & Giants)
4 Games versus the NFC North (Packers,Bears,Vikings & Lions)
4 Games versus the AFC West (Broncos,Chargers, Raiders & Chiefs)
2 Games versus Basement Teams from the other 2 NFC Divisions (South & West)eams – Arizona for sure and either Carolina or Tampa Bay

16 Games Total

If Eagles can split (3-3) within the NFC East and go 2-2 versus the NFC North
next Season, they could have a shot of going 3-1 versus a bad AFC West (outside Broncos) and beat basement dwellers Arizona and Carolina/Tampa for a 10 Win Season

This 2013 Schedule will be about the easiest we have seen the Eagles have in some time, so a quick rebuild with some instant success is possible,not likely but is possible…

paulman
paulman
December 25, 2012 5:41 pm

Then again, these other Teams are lookng at the Eagles as a probably Win too.. Stay Tuned..

Horatio
Horatio
December 26, 2012 12:57 pm

I like how putting Vick behind center is considered a favor for the guy. Putting him back behind this offensive line is more like murder.

daggolden
daggolden
December 26, 2012 6:03 pm

“Nick Foles will not run a Chip Kelly offense if he decided to come here, rest assured of that,” Jaws told Jon Marks and Sean Brace on 97.5 The Fanatic. “If a coach like Chip Kelly…that runs this up-tempo, spread, speed-style option, these guys come here, there might be a future for Michael Vick. I know he’s [32], I know he’s been beat up, but I’ll tell you, some of the things I’m seeing, Michael Vick can do the same things these guys are doing in the spread option.”. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Biglion821
Biglion821
December 26, 2012 6:23 pm

Dag, if Lurie and Roseman decide for the incoming coach that Foles is the guy, guess what? Chip Kelly will not be here.

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
December 26, 2012 7:40 pm

Biglion…exactly…that’s why we’ll continue to lose under Foles.

jakedog
jakedog
December 26, 2012 8:18 pm

Songs, you are a smart man but suffer from the same afflictions as these other dumb ass black men, you are too produced, it clouds your thinking, get out from your thinking, it’s now your world, take advantage of it , peace

paulman
paulman
December 26, 2012 9:09 pm

If Chip Kelly is the Next HCoach of the Eagles, I will have to start looking for another Team to follow.. Enough of the gadget,small but fast crap Type of Offense.. We’vew just had this “genius” type of System with Andy Reid for the last 14 Years, enough already, lets get to basic,fundamental football and outwor and out execute and yes, let’s see the Eagles beat up Teams again

tsjohnson5
tsjohnson5
December 26, 2012 9:22 pm

If the Panthers throw their hat in the ring…like it’s rumored they are going to do…Kelly is going with the QB who prevented him from winning a National Championship. I’d be SUPER surprised if he didn’t.

paulman
paulman
December 26, 2012 9:49 pm

Owner Bill Richardson is getting up there, and not the best of Health,and wants to win a Super Bowl desperatley before his time is up. He even fired both of his Son’s from the Football Side of the things of the Panthers Organization
He wants a Winner now and go all in– Remember the Panthers Fired their GM about halfway thru the Season.. So Kelly if Hired could geta Dual Role of HC and GM or Football Ops giving him say on Player Personnel, Drafting and Scouting since there is no one in place right now..
I still see Richardson talking to Mikle HOlmgrem about coming back to Coaching