↵↵↵↵↵↵↵↵↵↵During the NFL lockout, there were only three things in life for certain: death, taxes, and the inevitable trade of Kevin Kolb to the Arizona Cardinals. That trade finally happened today.
↵It just made too much sense - a team with too many quarterbacks (in this case, the Philadelphia Eagles) trades one of them to a franchise completely barren at the position.
↵The risk is substantial: in trading away Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the Cardinals are giving up a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback. They are also handing over a high draft pick to Philadelphia in the process of bringing in a franchise QB.
↵This trade makes the Eagles look like geniuses. If Michael Vick can stay healthy, they will have an incredible defense and a loaded offense in the skill positions. This immediately makes them contenders for the Super Bowl in 2012.
↵Kolb coming to Arizona could be just as beneficial for the Cards, however. Kolb is an astronomical leap in talent and experience over incumbent John Skelton and offers Arizona an excellent chance at winning the NFC West with the current crop of players.
↵Sure, losing Steve Breaston hurts a great deal, but Larry Fitzgerald is a big play threat even when he's triple-teamed. If Kolb can actually throw him the ball in stride (a problem for Derek Anderson, Max Hall, etc.), he could have a career year.
↵As previously stated, this is a very risky trade for the Cardinals. They will now be fully reliant on rookie Patrick Peterson to be an impact player immediately, and hope that Kolb can quickly learn the Arizona offense and bloom in the system.
↵But like Emile Hirsch in The Girl Next Door learned, you have to take huge risks to improve your situation or change the future of your franchise. Sometimes, you've got to find out if the juice is worth the squeeze.