Question of the day: Is Michael Vick the answer in Philadelphia?

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Writers from around Tribune Co. weigh in on the topic. Check back throughout the day for more responses, vote in our poll and feel free to leave a comment of your own.

Dan Pompei, Chicago Tribune

The Eagles have invested too much time, money and energy in Kevin Kolb to pull the plug on him right now. They have to at least give him a chance to see what he can do.

That being said, it’s obvious that Michael Vick can help this team. On Sunday he looked more like the Vick we remember from 2006 than the Vick we remember from 2009. At the very least, the Eagles need to devise a plan that would enable Vick to be getting somewhere in the vicinity of 20 to 25 snaps a game on a regular basis.

And if Kolb does not find his groove quickly, his percentage of snaps should decrease while Vick’s should increase. It’s is very possible that by midseason, the Eagles won’t be able to keep Vick off the field.

David Teel, Newport News Daily Press

You don’t trade your Pro Bowl quarterback unless you’re sold on his replacement. And you don’t bail on that replacement 30 minutes into the season, no matter how inept he was, no matter how electric his backup.

Kevin Kolb’s first-half struggles Sunday probably had Eagles fans pining for Donovan McNabb, shipped to Washington during the offseason. And when a concussion sidelined Kolb, those fans reveled as Vick’s skittish arm and unparalleled feet nearly rallied Philadelphia past Green Bay.

Good for Vick. Better to talk about his football than his birthday party.

But a season opener does not a hero (Vick) or bum (Kolb) make. Eagles Coach Andy Reid has this right. When doctors give the OK, Kolb reclaims his job and gets ample time to prove his worthiness.

[Updated at 12:34 p.m.:

Athan Atsales, Los Angeles Times

Anyone who has followed Coach Andy Reid’s Eagles realizes it doesn’t matter if Michael Vick could be the answer because, unless Kevin Kolb has an extended injury, Vick will remain the backup. Reid has been grooming Kolb for three years to take over for Donovan McNabb, and one bad half of football (with a concussion to boot) isn’t going to change the coach’s mind. Any coach stubborn enough to trade McNabb within the NFC East is stubborn enough to stay with the guy he has proclaimed as Philadelphia’s future.

On the other hand, Eagles fans who watched Vick rush for 103 yards realized he could be the answer to the patchwork offensive-line problem. One thing for sure, if Kolb is not cleared to play this week and Vick leads Philadelphia to victory at Detroit, Philly fans will discover if Kolb has the moxie to make it in a town full of knee-jerk-reaction followers. The Vick question could be haunting him all season.

Keith Groller, The Morning Call

Yes, Michael Vick looked good on Sunday against a Green Bay defense that prepared for Kevin Kolb. Yes, Vick did wonderful things with his legs, even flung a few accurate passes and brought life to a team that was wobbling — literally and figuratively.

But no, everything done in this Philadelphia Eagles off-season, including the shipping of Donovan McNabb south on I-95, was based on the premise of Kolb being “the guy.” You don’t scrap that plan after one shaky half in the first game of the season. Running as much as Vick did against Green Bay, how long do you think he is going to stay healthy, especially at age 30? And he and the West Coast offense remain a questionable fit.

When Kolb returns, he’ll likely be on a short leash — something Vick knows all about — but Kolb must be given more time to prove whether he’s the answer.]

Keith Groller
The Morning Call
Yes, Michael Vick looked good on Sunday against a Green Bay defense that prepared for Kevin Kolb. Yes, Vick did wonderful things with his legs, even flung a few accurate passes and brought life to a team that was wobbling — literally and figuratively.
But no, everything done in this Philadelphia Eagles off-season, including the shipping of Donovan McNabb south on I-95, was based on the premise of Kolb being “the guy.” You don’t scrap that plan after one shaky half in the first game of the season. Running as much as Vick did against Green Bay, how long do you think he is going to stay healthy, especially at age 30? And he and the West Coast offense remain a questionable fit.
When Kolb returns, he’ll likely be on a short leash — something Vick knows all about — but Kolb must be given more time to prove whether or not he’s the answer.