The word on the street is that Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Kevin Kolb(notes) is “likely headed” to the Arizona Cardinals “probably for a couple of second-round draft picks” once the lockout is lifted, but that “there are still some concerns about Kolb among Arizona coaches,” according to Scout.com.

“They wonder about his decision-making” and if he’s “the right fit for coach Ken Whisenhunt’s offense,” the site notes. They also aren’t fond of the idea that Kolb has thrown 14 interceptions and only 11 touchdown passes in the time he’s played.

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Source: Scout.com

Read More: Kevin Kolb (QB – PHI), Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

Kevin Kolb, Wally Pipped ex-quarterback-of-the-future of the Philadelphia Eagles, hopes to be traded, although he said he was ready to “roll with the punches” in an interview aired recently by ESPN. Kolb has been the subject of trade rumors throughout the NFC West, with the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks both potentially interested in a young quarterback who’s ready to start. Even the San Francisco 49ers appeared to be interested early, before settling on Alex Smith for another year in 2011. 

Kolb is a perfect fit for teams like the Cardinals and Seahawks, veteran clubs prepared to compete in a weak division in every position except quarterback. The Cardinals ended up with rookie John Skelton under center after a disastrous bet on Derek Anderson over Matt Leinart; the Seahawks have to decide whether they’re willing to commit another year to aging quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. 

Kolb is 194-for-319 with 2082 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in parts of four seasons after being drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He seemed ready to assume the Eagles’ starting role over the long term before an injury allowed for Michael Vick’s improbable comeback in Week 1. 

Cardinals offensive lineman Rex Hadnot had just finished up an informal workout with 30 or more teammates and other NFL players and there was only one thing on his mind.

No, it wasn’t the ongoing NFL lockout.

“Deuce Lutui is throwing a birthday party for his daughter and I want to know why I didn’t get an invitation,” Hadnot said. “Everybody was invited but me.

“So Deuce, if you’re reading this article, I want to know why I didn’t get an invite.”

One of the more gregarious and talkative linemen on the team, Hadnot might be in line for an even better invitation once the lockout is resolved.

With the retirement of Alan Faneca, he could be asked to step in and be the Cardinals’ new starting left guard opposite Lutui, their starting right guard.

He’s done it before. Hadnot, 29, has made 77 starts in the 98 games he has played in the NFL. The bulk of those came with the Miami Dolphins and then the Cleveland Browns.

Last season upon signing with the Cardinals as a free agent, he was relegated to backup duty and started only once. But with Faneca gone, the 6-foot-2, 310-pound Hadnot knows his chance awaits.

“I just want to do my best to put myself in a position where I can be one of the first five out,” he said of being a potential starter.

That’s why he regularly has been attending workout sessions organized by wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald at Arizona State. NFL players can’t train at their team facility or have any contact with their coaches, so they have been working out on their own.

“It’s helping out a tremendous amount,” Hadnot said. “Me being a guy who came in last year, I’m continuing to bond with my new teammates. It’s given us all a chance to work together as a team and when you see guys putting the work in, it should give you a better appreciation of what each and every man goes through on a consistent basis to try and prepare themselves for an NFL season.

“I’m excited about what we’re doing under the circumstances.”

Although Fitzgerald’s ongoing voluntary “minicamp” has attracted multiple Cardinals players, some have chosen to stay in their hometowns and work out on their own.

“We trust and have faith in each other that everyone’s doing what they need to do in order to get themselves prepared whenever we are able to go back to work,” Hadnot said.

The NFL and its players head back to court Friday and mediation sessions could resume June 7. But the longer the labor dispute continues, the more the start of the 2011 season is at risk.

Hadnot said he is optimistic that a new collective-bargaining agreement will be reached, saying, “I have faith in the leadership of both sides. We’ve got such a good thing going, it would be a shame to stall it any longer than it’s already been.”

Whenever things get resolved, the Cardinals will be working at a fever pitch to structure some roster stability. Their first order of business will be to find a new starting quarterback. But they also have questions on the offensive line.

Lutui and starting center Lyle Sendlein are not under contract and depending on the new collective-bargaining agreement, they could be unrestricted or restricted free agents.

Getting the offensive line solidified may even have to be done before the Cardinals acquire a quarterback. Philadelphia’s Kevin Kolb, who has asked for a trade and appears to be Arizona’s prime target, has had issues with his own line and will want some assurances he will be adequately protected should he join the Cardinals.

Again, the happy-go-lucky Hadnot is encouraged.

“We’ve got a great coaching staff and coach (Russ) Grimm does a great job of getting guys to play,” he said. “Whoever is out there, we will have a competitive line. I’m not even worried about that.”

The Arizona Cardinals wanted quarterback Kurt Warner to return last season.

They tried to keep safety Antrel Rolle and linebacker Karlos Dansby. Ideally, they would have kept receiver Anquan Boldin as well.

With those players leaving the payroll, Arizona spent an NFC West-low $89.9 million on player compensation last season, down from $119.7 million in 2009, according to salary numbers ESPN’s John Clayton maintains.

The year-over-year reduction did not stop the Cardinals from forcing one-week furloughs upon employees this week.

It’s easy for those of us without a stake in these matters to criticize wealthy owners for protecting their financial interests.

On the other hand, a team forcing one-week furloughs upon 150 employees would save $288,461 even if those employees averaged $100,000 per year in salary (and many earn far less). To what degree would such savings secure long-term financial stability for NFL franchises?

“My guess is they are not looking at this long term,” University of Chicago economist Allen Sanderson said by phone Friday. “One way is just sort of short term — we need to make the payroll this month and don’t have money coming in. The other is either politically, psychologically or from a public-relations basis, it shows some suffering on the part of one side.”

Owners clearly have an interest in demonstrating hardship.

“I suspect that is what is going on,” Sanderson said.

The money saved through furloughs wouldn’t be enough to significantly impact NFL teams, in his estimation.

“It’s like saying you’ll switch to Dunkin’ Donuts instead of Starbucks for coffee in the office,” he said. “You cannot save enough money from that kind of switch. Part of it is symbolic.”

Arizona faces challenges selling season-ticket packages during a lockout and following a 5-11 season. Failing to secure as many deposits affects cash flow. Team owners might be worth hundreds of millions or more, but businesses operate within budgets that exist separately from their owners’ personal finances.

Still, NFL teams have known for years a lockout was likely. Those that saw significant reductions in payroll last season would seemingly enjoy at least some flexibility in May, particularly if these moves are as symbolic as Sanderson suggested.

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross defended owners Wednesday. His team spent $119.9 million on players in 2010, according to Clayton. That was slightly below the NFL average. The Dolphins have cut salaries and promised to pay back employees or give them extra days off if the season proceeds as normal.

“We all have our problems, and we’re trying to minimize them as much as possible, and as fairly and equitably as we can,” Ross told USA Today. “We recognize that people affected are working for us. They don’t have all the upside, so they shouldn’t have all the downside. We’re just kind of delaying cash payments. We all know the position that we’re in.”