Some of us continue to maintain that the Vikings need a veteran back-up as insurance behind second-year QB Tarvaris Jackson (and no, Brooks Bollinger does not count). Whether Brad Childress agrees with this or not is a matter of speculation – he’s expressed nothing but confidence in his QB corps up till now, but who knows what is really being said, and planned, behind-the-scenes.
If by chance Childress should be thinking of obtaining a fall-back QB to install behind Tarvaris, one name that might pop up on his list is Kelly Holcomb, currently an employee of the Philadelphia Eagles. Holcomb has had some decent numbers in the past: In 2005 with the Bills he threw for 1509 yards and 10 TDs in 10 games, 8 as the starter; and in 2003 with the Browns he passed for 1797 yards with 10 TDs (and 12 INTS) in the same number of games and starts. Plus, he seems to really want to be a Viking. At least that’s the feeling one gets after reading what he said to FOXSports.com’s Adam Schein:
"Every now and again, you hear some rumblings and rumors about that. I think it makes sense. Coach Childress was a coordinator in Philadelphia. It is the same offense. Obviously the Eagles just drafted Kevin (Kolb) to go with Donovan (McNabb) and AJ (Feeley). I love the guys in Philadelphia and love the professionalism and Andy Reid and the staff and I’d like to stay. But there is a log-jam here and that situation you are describing, with the young talented quarterback in Minnesota, is one I’ve thought about."
What did Holcomb really just say there? Reading between the lines a bit, it appears that Kelly finds the QB situation in Minnesota as precarious as the rest of us. He’s being diplomatic of course – he’s not going to come out and say that Tarvaris and Brooks are both guys he could realistically beat out if he played well, but he did call Tarvaris “young and talented,” a nice way of saying “green.” It looks to me like Kelly is eyeing up the Vikings – he doesn’t believe Brooks is the answer as the back-up either, and Tarvaris is raw enough that, if some veteran guy came in and played well, he could possibly ascend to the starting spot at least for the first part of the season.
All fine and good for Kelly – but is Brad Childress listening? Is his enthusiasm for the Jackson/Bollinger tandem just la-la sunshine stuff or does he honestly think those guys are the answer? If Holcomb is indeed acquired (and you have to believe it wouldn’t take much to get him), then we know Childress never really meant it when he said he believed in Tarvaris and Brooks (and Drew and Tyler and whoever else they have chucking the rock around there). I personally would support the team prying Holcomb away from Philly and giving him a look as the back-up. He’s better than what we have, plus he seems to want to be here.
He does know we don’t have any receivers though, right?