Eagles President Joe Banner was on WIP this Saturday morning with Glen McNow and Ray Diddinger. I thought Joe was very impressive in his interview.
He had a confidence and assuredness which sounded great over the air. Maybe he knew the questions and rehearsed the answers but Joe answered each question immediately and directly when asked.
Joe said they drafted Kevin Kolb because he was the best guy on the board. According to Joe, Kolb was the guy that their evaluations led them to draft. He said that they're thinking when approaching the draft is you can't go wrong by drafting players who you think will be outstanding.
As for how the drafting of Kolb would affect Eagles starting quarterback Donovan McNabb, Banner said that players of McNabb's caliber are not threatened by challenges like this one. He said that guys who achieved on a level of Donovan McNabb have faced and overcome challenges and setbacks throughout their career.
When asked about McNabb and Kolb and when will Kevin take over for Donovan. He said he has no idea when Kevin Kolb will play but that they'll still do well as long as they bringing in the best players they can get.
Banner felt their trading away their first round pick was a good move as long as their evaluations of the three players they wound up drafting was correct. Of course they grabbed Kevin kolb, Tony Hunt and Stewart Bradley with those picks. Joe said there's a chance that Hunt and Bradley could help them this year.
Joe said he believes that a number of NFC teams are improving but haven't been given credit for it. He didn't mention the names of the teams. I agree with him, I like teams like San Francisco and Arizona. I know people have been saying it for year with the Cards but I really think you're going to see them come on.
Joe says he's confident they'll have all of the rookies signed by the end of the week and that includes Kevin Kolb. He wouldn't comment on the negotiations with L.J. Smith.
I didn't agree with Joe's claim that all of the Eagles teams which went to the NFC Championship game were capable of competing with the top AFC teams. Those Eagles team which had a mediocre run blocking offense line a lousy set of receivers were never going to beat the New England Patriots.
I must take my hat off to Joe for the National Volunteer Award which he received recently for his work City Year which is a national community service organization.
