Kevin Kolb’s Departure From Arizona Better For Future Not Present

Sept. 30, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb (4) against the Miami Dolphins at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

The news was not so shocking when it came down on Friday morning that the Arizona Cardinals had cut Kevin Kolb.  It was more of a matter of when rather than if.  Although not reported, it is believed that Kolb refused to restructure his deal.  In a way, he did the right thing.  He is able to leave and still get paid pretty well to compete for a job elsewhere.  It doesn’t service Arizona in the short term as he had the most experience on the roster, however with the team retooling its offense, he wasn’t going to be the answer long term.

This now gives the Cards the chance to go draft a quarterback in the draft.  They can go get a second or third rounder, who could still compete for the starting job in the near future.  The Cards would then be free to draft another position in the first round and then if newly acquired Drew Stanton or the draft pick don’t work out, they can draft someone higher next season.

It’s not a guarantee that the plan would work, however, cutting Kolb probably saves the Cards more than just the cap space this year.  It saves them from delaying the inevitable and possibly setting the rebuilding plan back a year.

I am a Kevin Kolb fan.  He did not fall out of favor of me just yet.  He isn’t the best fit for what Bruce Arians wants to do on offense though.  I would have been fine sticking with him behind center while the Cards waited to see what they had in Stanton.  Stanton is wild card.  We don’t know what thee Carads have yet but it’ll be fun finding out.

As for Kolb.  I think the Cards certainly wouldn’t make the same trade today, however I don’t blame them for the trade at the time it took place.  They really were left without any options, so I will not blame the Cards for acquiring Kolb.  They had to do something after the debacle that was 2010 and Max Hall and Derek Anderson along with John Skelton.  Now, it’s time for the Drew Stanton era…or whoever else they get in the draft.