In the minds of many outside of the organization, the Eagles have quarterback controversy on their hands, even if head coach Andy Reid doesn’t think so.

Reid reiterated Monday that the concussed Kevin Kolb is the starter, even after Michael Vick nearly led the Eagles to a comeback win.

“Let me state it again … Kevin Kolb is the No. 1 quarterback,” said Reid.

There, controversy avoided. Um, no.

Reid did tell reporters Monday that Kolb is still suffering the effects from the concussion he suffered, and while the team waits for test results, the quarterback hasn’t yet been ruled out. That puts Vick, who showed Sunday he still has his legs in his first significant action in nearly four years, that close to starting.

By many accounts, Kolb was awful before the injury. The premature conclusion to draw then, after one game, is that the quarterback who prompted the Eagles to let Donovan McNabb leave isn’t ready as an NFL starter. Bob Ford of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote a compelling piece on the topic, suggesting the scenario is now in play that the Eagles whiffed on their evaluation of Kolb and Vick is the better option to start.

Pat Kirwan wondered the same thing in his Monday piece, saying Vick could be the present, and Kolb is still the future.

Reid will be unwavering as he pushes this topic as far away as possible, but the issue at hand is self-perpetuating. During any absence by Kolb, the better Vick plays to help the Eagles win, the longer this non-quarterback controversy will linger. At least not until everyone stops talking about it.

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