Mike Vick’s mishandling, Why the NFL should blackout their blackout policy, and the Vincent Jackson trades that never were.  This is Double Coverage’s look back at week 2 of the National Football League

MIKE KAYE

Last week’s columns, part 1 and part 2 can be found here and here.

1. As a long time Philadelphia Eagles fan, I will once again address the Vick/Kolb Situation. This will be the last time I discuss this in the Double Coverage column for, most likely, a while. First off, I am a huge advocator of Andy Reid, there are very few coaches I would pick over him and I defend him almost always.

However, I do have a serious problem with the way he has handled the Quarterback situation. Kevin Kolb was the team’s first pick in the 2007 draft, a surprise to us all. He rode the pine behind the greatest QB in team history and was finally given a chance this summer when said QB was traded within the division. Kolb would start with 3-time Pro Bowler Mike Vick backing him up.

Seven passes into Kolb’s first game as full-time starter, he suffered a concussion at the hands of Clay Matthews. Kolb threw three more passes before being replaced by Vick. And then it happened…Vick went off and almost won the game against Super Bowl-contender Green Bay Packers and then trounced the Detroit Lions. Kolb was named starter again earlier in the week, only to be replaced on Tuesday night by Vick once again.

I am a big fan of Kolb and have seen every pass he has thrown as a professional; he is the real deal. I think every youngster needs time and Andy took that away from him. I think Mike Vick is what he is, a runner with an arm and after seeing him in Detroit, a more accurate and patient arm then I remember. I think Andy believes he can take the wide-open East with Vick but I think that destroys all the margin of error that the fans and front office were willing to give to Kolb. Mike Vick has been to the NFC Championship before. If he doesn’t return to a game of that magnitude I don’t really think Andy will be forgiven.

Kolb could have won 8-9 games and fans would have understood but with Vick its NFC Championship or bust. Hopefully I’ll see them in Dallas, but that is still highly unlikey. My vote was and is for Kevin Kolb to get his time. It looks like the only time he’ll have is on the pine or in another uniform.

2. I believe it is time for the NFL to look at their blackout policy. In this economy, the rule makes no sense and to be honest, it’s bad business. Fans can’t afford tickets like they use to and it really isn’t their fault and the NFL is punishing them for that. So the idea is to ‘blackout” live games in local markets when the fans in said markets are already being laid-off and going through financial crisis. It makes absolutely no sense from a marketing and good-will stand point. Why would fans forgive a league that put them out of touch when they are already dealing with other major issues. Football is a release. I know I get stressed a lot less when football season comes around but fans of the Bengals, Chargers, and other teams are not allowed to have their breather. What the NFL (who is not hurting for money by the way) needs to do is lower their ceiling for ‘blackout” ticket sales because long time fans are suffering. In a recession like ours and a lockout looming, fans are the last thing you want to insult or discourage.

Quick Hits:

-The San Fran 49ers shot themselves in the leg Monday night by running a two minute offense and not using nearly the two minutes they had to win the game. The Niners gave the Saints enough time to score after a Vernon Davis 2-pt conversion tied the game. Next time, Alex Smith will know to slow it down, Quick Draw McGraw.

- Vincent Jackson’s four game suspension trade deadline passed without him changing cities because AJ Smith wanted too much for him. Listen, if you like the guy so much that you want a 2nd and 3rd for him…why not just sign him to the money he wants?

-Josh Freeman continues to impress me. He is essentially a taller version of young Donovan McNabb. He’s not as poised as Don, but he looks like he can lead with his arm, feet, and voice. He and Mike Williams have a lot of chemistry and they will be hooking up a ton. The Bucs are so concerned about the Williams-Freeman connection that Kellen Winslow is getting lonely somewhere on the field. Can you find him? I can’t.

-The Redskins gave the Texans the win last week. Mike Shanahan is the new coach but he hasn’t changed what the last three coaches established in the team and that is beating themselves. Donovan looked great but he was essentially the only one. Bye bye Larry Johnson.

-Braylon Edwards got a DUI early Monday. Anyone surprised?

-Mark Clayton is doing fantastic work for the Rams, too bad the Rams aren’t returning the favor. Clayton had 12 of the 14 points scored for St. Louis last Sunday as they lost to the Raiders. It’s great to see Clayton doing well but not at the cost of losses. I think he and Bradford will have a great partnership for a few seasons so they can hopefully turn it around. Hopefully Steve Spagnuolo will be there to witness said success.

Photo: AP

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