Eye on the Eagles

Here is the transcript from Kevin Kolb's press conference after signing a four year contract with the Eagles.

On how happy he is to get the signing out of the way:

“Oh, I’m pumped. It was getting down to the wire and I think everyone was getting a little bit antsy. I’m very excited and I know my family is as well, and I hope the Eagles are just as excited as we are.”

On whether his signing took longer than expected and what the delay was:

“Maybe not expected, just a little more than what I would’ve wanted. I know that a lot of times it comes down to this point and luckily it didn’t get any further. Like I said, I was getting a little bit nervous and I definitely wanted to be there (at training camp) with the rest of the guys, and especially not miss anything and get behind. That’s my biggest fear. I want to keep that respect I’ve earned so far.”

On whether there was a doubt that he would get signed before camp:

“No, I really though it would [get done] just because of the two sides that were working. We’re obviously very fair and so are the Eagles. [President] Joe Banner and everybody else around here did a good job to get it worked out and gave us a good, fair deal.”

On how it feels to have all of this money now:

“Yeah, it’s been about twelve hours so I’m not sure it’s sunk in completely yet. And I’m not sure it ever will. It’s nice, it’s perfect. It is a lot. To me, that shows me that they’ve opened some doors that they weren’t going to open up anymore, contract wise, and it makes me feel special. It shows me what I’ve done here so far and that they respect me, and they want me around for awhile. So, it’s a mutual feeling, obviously, and we’re very excited to be at this point.”

On whether DT Brodrick Bunkley’s contract situation last year affected his mindset for his signing process this year:

“Like I said before, my biggest fear was getting behind. I think the players and the personnel, more than the fans, understand that sometimes it takes a little longer than usual to get a contract done. But, personally, I wanted to be there just so I could get that catch up time. We’ve had a month off and I would like those three days before everybody gets there to get back in the groove. Obviously, the rookies and selected vets are stages behind the ones that have been here for so long. So, we have a lot of work to do and it’s going to be a long season. I need to be ready to go.”

On whether signing the deal renewed a confidence in him:

“Yeah, sure, how could it not? Although, I know I have to be patient and wait my turn, at the same time, I feel like we have mutual feelings about my place here and what I can bring.”

On what he wants to establish at training camp:

“I think just consistent progress. I think the thing that I lack right now is consistency in my game because there are a lot of unknowns, the offense, the different mechanics that they’re teaching me. I have a long way to go and I want to consistently get better everyday, and hopefully by the end of training camp the guys won’t know whenever I step in the huddle and will have just as much confidence in me as they do with anybody else.”

On how he will handle the focus on him regarding the public:

“Well, I think in the past I’ve done a good job of blocking that out and just playing football. That’s what I have to do again. They’re not going to help or hurt my progress. I have to do what I have to do on the field, and I know, and the coaches know what it is to get better. As long as I can stay focused on that they’re won’t be any bumps along the way, and hopefully it will go pretty smooth.”

On whether he has talked to anyone about what training camp is like:

“Yeah, definitely. I’ve talked to a lot of people including the veterans and people around the city. They’ve said, ‘Just get ready.’ It’s exciting, and at the same time it kind of gets you amped up for practice. When you’re doing two a days for 17 days in a row you can get in a lull, and that’s where the fans come in and they help you. You push through those times and realize what you’re out there for and get some energy in the air.”

On his leadership abilities:

“I think the biggest thing for me is consistency. I think that’s what they want to see out of me right now. With the veterans, you want to get in there and block out your adolescence. They know I’m young, and if I can get in there and show a little bit of confidence—I’ve already had some of the guys tell me I’ve done a good job with that—then they’ll start to follow. Hopefully, we can get some wins under my belt in the preseason.”

On whether it is hard to learn how to defer to other people:

“Somewhat. But, you know how it is. When you’re in this position for so long like I’ve been—I’ve been playing since I was in the seventh grade and played as a coach’s son—you get used to leading and learning your surroundings. Even if guys you’re playing with are 33 and 34 years old, they are ten years older than me. Sometimes that’s difficult, but you have to find a way to do it because you’re the guy in charge and you have to get it done to win games.”

On how much of a help QB Donovan McNabb has been:

“A lot so far, and I can tell it’s going to be a lot in the future as well. I’m very anxious to get into the season and see how he handles everything as a whole—wins, losses, trouble on the field, trouble with the media, everything. I know he does a great job of that, I’ve seen it already. The biggest thing for me is just sitting back and watching and picking and choosing. He’s definitely a good one to learn from and he’s very open with everything that he does.”

On whether there are any plans for the bonus money:

“I am conservative with everything that I do. So, my wife and I will live just like we always have with a few extra things. We’ll put it away and hopefully our kids will be able to see it.”

On whether it would be disappointing if he didn’t get any snaps during the regular season:

“No, I’m not looking at disappointment right now. I’m excited. I’m excited to be in training camp, excited to get the contract done. In all, I’m excited to be where I am. I love the opportunity I have and I think everyone is on the same page with my progress, and that’s what you want as a young quarterback. Whatever happens, happens. I’ll roll with the punches and we’ll get going.”

On whether a grooming year would be okay with him:

“It all depends on the guys in front of me. Obviously, I’m the last in line right now. As long as Donovan stays healthy, he’s the guy. We all know that. He’s very talented and still has a lot of years to play. Whatever happens, happens. Like I said, I’ll go with it.”