Kolb discusses the excitement of draft day and the bright future that lies ahead

[tr1]

http://www.nflplayers.com/news/draftDiary.aspx?id=6684

Special to
NFLPLAYERS.COM
05/01/2007

Kevin Kolb, QB - 5/1: Kolb discusses the excitement of draft day and the bright future that lies ahead for him as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Philadelphia Eagles selected quarterback Kevin Kolb with the 36th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. Kolb joins the Eagles after breaking virtually every total offense and passing record as a four-year starter at the University of Houston. In his final NFLPLAYERS.COM draft diary entry, Kolb discusses the excitement of draft day and the bright future that lies ahead for him as a member of the Eagles.

It's a sweet feeling knowing that I'm an Eagle now. I couldn't have asked for a better situation. It's great not only being drafted that high, but that Andy Reid, Marty Mornhinweg and Mr. Lurie think that much of me and also to play behind Donovan, who is obviously a stud in the NFL and has proven himself so well.

Looking back on the draft, there were some teams around where I got selected that had mentioned some stuff, but the Eagles did a great job of concealing that they were going to draft me. The person I am, I think conservatively, so I was actually thinking I'd go in the bottom of the second round. So it was a nice surprise. The Eagles' intrigue likely occurred during the interview process at the combine. From what I hear, that's when they first decided that I could be their guy. And then after the workout in Houston and meeting Coach Reid on the visit to Philly, that's what really sealed the deal for me.

On draft day I was at my family's ranch in Both, Texas and was with about 25 family members and close friends. I didn't want to have a big party just in case if I started to fall, I wanted to be around the people that helped get me there. I was actually just outside the house fishing when my wife came running outside with my cell phone saying, "I don't know this number, I don't know this number," and I knew Philadelphia was on the clock, so as soon as I saw the 215 area code, I said "oh my gosh," and sure enough the voice asked me if I was ready to be a Philadelphia Eagle. Of course I said yes and everyone got really excited watching it on TV. I was actually talking to Coach Reid, Coach Mornhinweg and Coach Sherman about two or three minutes before my name got announced on TV, but when we heard it on TV, we all went crazy because that's when you know it's been confirmed.

I think this opportunity to learn from the Eagles' coaching staff and Donovan is ideal. From what I hear Donovan is a heck of a guy. I've already been around Coach Reid a little bit and understand how he works. He's very direct, which is what I like. I have so much respect for Donovan and Coach Reid and when you have that much respect for somebody, I think that's when you're really ready to learn from them. This is my opportunity to learn and get better. At this point, maybe it's good for me to watch somebody like Donovan. I think I understand the situation pretty well and obviously he's a better player than I am right now. So he's the guy, the franchise guy right now and I understand that and will go in with the right attitude.

When I think about the Eagles' offense, I realize it's a good system. It's a quarterback-friendly system that gives you a lot of opportunities to make plays, asks you to do different things and it moves guys around quite a bit to create mismatches. So that's something I'm used to and that I like. Coach Reid really gives his quarterback a good opportunity to succeed and that's why I think you see a lot of quarterbacks succeed in his system. He understands the mind of a quarterback, how a quarterback needs to get into a rhythm in a game and he allows them to do that.

Going up to Philadelphia is certainly going to be different for me having been in Texas so long, but I'm very excited about it. My wife and I have been looking forward to getting our feet wet somewhere else anyways, so we're very open-minded and look forward to the experience. We're really thrilled to be where we're at. I actually flew up there Sunday morning for a press conference and got a chance to know the city a little bit. I've got to say I feel pretty comfortable about it so far.

I haven't had much time to celebrate, but then again I'm not much of a celebration type of guy. I see this as a time to get back to work. I'm already trying to get the playbook down and keep my body in shape. Next Thursday I go up there for a mini-camp and then I'll stay up there for about a month to get into the offseason program. I'll probably come back home in late July just before the Rookie Symposium. My wife and I will also start looking for a place up there during that time so we can be settled down and comfortable before the season starts.

[RW]

I'm sure #5 is at home crying over this right now.

[dockeryfan]

Andy wasn't at the Combine. So their interest started at the combine, and the fat man was on a leave of absence. Marty and Heckert fell in love with the guy and that's what started it all.

Here's the name of another QB that Marty Morningwood really really liked, who he convinced Reid to get.

*gulp* Mike McMahon.

[RW]

Marty Morningwood.......

[Westbrook36]

Andy wasn't at the Combine. So their interest started at the combine, and the fat man was on a leave of absence. Marty and Heckert fell in love with the guy and that's what started it all.

Here's the name of another QB that Marty Morningwood really really liked, who he convinced Reid to get.

*gulp* Mike McMahon.

Andy Reid has been scouting him since High School.

MM also convinced Reid to get Garcia.

[OWUeagleMD]

It slightly scares me off how hard-up these guys are over Kolb. I mean, they've been watching this guy for 6 years, and yet, the prevailing majority doesn't coincide with their estimation of him. It seems like they've fallen in love with a hot broad and failed to recognize that her thong hangs out of her shorts and she talks like she perpetually just finished a pack of ciggarettes.

[tr1]

It slightly scares me off how hard-up these guys are over Kolb. I mean, they've been watching this guy for 6 years, and yet, the prevailing majority doesn't coincide with their estimation of him. It seems like they've fallen in love with a hot broad and failed to recognize that her thong hangs out of her shorts and she talks like she perpetually just finished a pack of ciggarettes.

I'd like to know what the high school connection is...and Kolb says he's been around Andy...what's up with that?

[dockeryfan]

Andy Reid has been scouting him since High School.

MM also convinced Reid to get Garcia.

Andy also says this is the first time with the Eagles that he could go with the best player there without having any needs.

[Tom [Giants fan]]

See, tr1 can post positive things about other teams too. You guys are way too hard on him.

[dockeryfan]

Andy Reid has been scouting him since High School.

You've said this a few times now, but I haven't seen it. Link?