Obviously everyone is still baffled with that pick. I think I got over it real quick. Here's the scenarios IMO.
First scenario, is that the kid comes in, competes, and shows so much that by next year or two, he's better than Donovan. What's wrong with that? If that's the case, and he makes the team better, what's the problem? Chances are, if he's better, we wins a SB. The team can trade Donovan (recall what the Vikes got for Culpepper) and move on with a better QB.
Second scenario, is that he sits on the bench, until his contract is up. He's played pretty well in the games he played, but Donovan is simply amazing (which implies several more wins). The kid shows great potential, and teams around the league call for him. Again, what's the problem with that? The team has a chance to get a free 1st rounder or so, and still have Donovan, and be able to draft Donovan's replacement in 4 years.
Third scenario, is that Donovan's career ends prematurely, due to injuries. Possible? Sure, given the last 5 years. The Eagles have the first of the candidates to replace Donovan and can draft another one without any pressure. And, the kid would have been already with the team and the coaches and will step in right away.
And the last scenario, is that the kid stinks. He can't play as well as advertised, and in three years, he gets released. Not the first 2nd round bust, not the last one. Draft busts happen to all teams. Heck, McDougle was a much worst bust, yet the Eagles haven't exactly suffered exclusively because of him.
Now what were the alternatives?
Assume we drafted one of the DBs still on the board. Obviously, the Birds didn't feel that anyone of those was good enough to start, and obviously, they thought that if they draft one of those guys, he can't upseat Considine from the starting job (and obviously Dawk's not going anywhere) and they'll have to sit for a year or two anyway. The best case scenario, is that whoever is drafted, actually starts. The worst case scenario, is that whoever is drafted, actually is a bust.
In other words, in both best case scenarios, both players, the QB and the DB can either become world beaters, in which case the QB has obviously much more value to the team. In both worst case scenarios, neither makes the team, both end up in the NFL Europe or the CFL in 4 years.
Obviously the argument that needs to be presented, is the fact that a DB was a more pressing position of need for the birds, and whoever was drafted, COULD at least contribute in miscellaneous packages that more DBs play (where as only one QB can play all the time ). Which argument can be dismissed that they felt that whoever was on the board, would not be able to actually make that much of a difference.
Either way, time will tell. In three or four years, this might be conteplated as THE pick, or it might be just another bust.
In my book, the birds made a potential trade yesterday - their first, for a future first, a 3rd and a 5th. They thought that they could develop Kolb much like they did with Feeley, then trade him for a first rounder if they don't need him. And usually, the team that trades for a QB is a bad team, which implies that the first rounder will be pretty high.
First scenario, is that the kid comes in, competes, and shows so much that by next year or two, he's better than Donovan. What's wrong with that? If that's the case, and he makes the team better, what's the problem? Chances are, if he's better, we wins a SB. The team can trade Donovan (recall what the Vikes got for Culpepper) and move on with a better QB.
Second scenario, is that he sits on the bench, until his contract is up. He's played pretty well in the games he played, but Donovan is simply amazing (which implies several more wins). The kid shows great potential, and teams around the league call for him. Again, what's the problem with that? The team has a chance to get a free 1st rounder or so, and still have Donovan, and be able to draft Donovan's replacement in 4 years.
Third scenario, is that Donovan's career ends prematurely, due to injuries. Possible? Sure, given the last 5 years. The Eagles have the first of the candidates to replace Donovan and can draft another one without any pressure. And, the kid would have been already with the team and the coaches and will step in right away.
And the last scenario, is that the kid stinks. He can't play as well as advertised, and in three years, he gets released. Not the first 2nd round bust, not the last one. Draft busts happen to all teams. Heck, McDougle was a much worst bust, yet the Eagles haven't exactly suffered exclusively because of him.
Now what were the alternatives?
Assume we drafted one of the DBs still on the board. Obviously, the Birds didn't feel that anyone of those was good enough to start, and obviously, they thought that if they draft one of those guys, he can't upseat Considine from the starting job (and obviously Dawk's not going anywhere) and they'll have to sit for a year or two anyway. The best case scenario, is that whoever is drafted, actually starts. The worst case scenario, is that whoever is drafted, actually is a bust.
In other words, in both best case scenarios, both players, the QB and the DB can either become world beaters, in which case the QB has obviously much more value to the team. In both worst case scenarios, neither makes the team, both end up in the NFL Europe or the CFL in 4 years.
Obviously the argument that needs to be presented, is the fact that a DB was a more pressing position of need for the birds, and whoever was drafted, COULD at least contribute in miscellaneous packages that more DBs play (where as only one QB can play all the time ). Which argument can be dismissed that they felt that whoever was on the board, would not be able to actually make that much of a difference.
Either way, time will tell. In three or four years, this might be conteplated as THE pick, or it might be just another bust.
In my book, the birds made a potential trade yesterday - their first, for a future first, a 3rd and a 5th. They thought that they could develop Kolb much like they did with Feeley, then trade him for a first rounder if they don't need him. And usually, the team that trades for a QB is a bad team, which implies that the first rounder will be pretty high.
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