Cleveland Browns Rumors: The Name Kevin Kolb Keeps Being Whispered

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

ArizonaCardinals.com

By Daniel Wolf 
Senior Writer

In the ongoing talk of the Cleveland Browns needing a quarterback--an old rumor that got way too much press for merely being an opinion--has been brought back to life.

A few weeks back, a former Cleveland beat reporter said he thought the Browns would consider Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb if the Cards were to cut him and move forward with John Skelton in 2012.

The "if" in the last sentence is italicized because it wasn't anything but a thought. Then the digital news realm went bananas, with some taking it as a solid rumor instead of one person's personal opinion.

It was not true. At least not until now. Maybe.

There are some whispers and rumblings among people on various social media networks and they are talking about the Browns and Kolb.

That initial opinion might have grown some legs.

Kolb was drafted by current Browns general manager Tom Heckert while he was with the Philadelphia Eagles. Heckert has also spoke highly of Kolb from his days as an Eagle to his time in Cleveland too.

Truth be told, it will be very difficult to cut a player who was traded, and given a big contract, just one year ago.

Kolb signed a five-year, $63 million deal before the start of the 2011 NFL season. This means the Cards would be willing to take a huge salary cap hit, unless they were trying to trade Kolb away. If a trade were to occur, a trade partner would have to be willing to take on his huge contract or convince Kolb to renegotiate the deal altogether.

Neither of these scenarios seem likely since Kolb missed much of the 2011 season due to injury. Though some claim he isn't suited to play in Arizona's offensive system and he is a pure West Coast offense quarterback instead.

When comparing Kolb and current Browns start Colt McCoy's on-field performance, it's clear McCoy has performed to an equal level of Kolb's. Adding Kolb would be more of a sidestep than a clear-cut move in an upward direction.

But this is for the Browns' brass to decide in the coming months.


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