The quarterback position is always predisposed to over-analysis. Yet throw together a returning superstar, a "surprising" first-day draft pick, a familiar face who signed an extension and a new one with a strong résumé, and its no wonder the quarterback position has been more widely discussed, debated and scrutinized than any other position on the Eagles roster.

The great debate over the future at quarterback began back on April 28, the very moment the Eagles used their first pick of the draft, the 36th overall, to take Kevin Kolb. It's a debate that will likely linger in the minds of fans as long as the former Houston gunslinger and Donovan McNabb both remain in Philadelphia.

For all the analysis and attention, it's ironic that the quarterback position is one of the few for the Eagles with little uncertainty in terms of who will start September 9, when the curtain on the Eagles' season goes up in Green Bay.

Unless injury determines otherwise, McNabb is the guy. With his surprising return to practice at June's OTAs from an ACL injury that ended his 2006 season prematurely, McNabb emphatically recaptured the reins of the Eagles offense and took a major step in his journey towards being 100 percent come Week 1.

It will be interesting to see how the Eagles approach his assimilation back into football activities – including what limitations they place on him (if any) during two-a-days and the how many games into the preseason McNabb waits to get his feet wet.

More importantly, it looks like McNabb will be present and accountable come the start of camp.

"I think he'll be ready," head coach Andy Reid said regarding the start of training camp. "The way it looks right now, unless there's a set back (he'll be able to practice). I'll probably start off conservative with him and gradually work him into where he can take the practice."

There will undoubtedly be pressure on McNabb, who has missed significant time three of the last four seasons, to stay healthy for an entire season, but the Eagles hope a revamped ground game and one of the sturdiest offensive lines in the league will take some of the pressure of McNabb.

Number five's other initiative will be to regain the impressive form he's shown prior to injuries the last two seasons. In the ten games he played in 2006, McNabb compiled 2,647 passing yards, 18 touchdowns versus only six interceptions, and a 95.5 passer rating.

While replacing a quarterback like McNabb is nearly impossible, the Eagles have a packed stable of reserves should McNabb go down. The first man in off the bench would be A.J. Feeley, who began his second stint with the Eagles last year and played well enough to earn a three-year contract extension through 2010 this past offseason.

Entering his seventh season, Feeley provides a veteran perspective and a strong knowledge of Andy Reid's system. Not to mention, he's filled in well for the Eagles before (lest we forget his 4-1 run to secure homefield advantage in 2002). Feeley showed he can still produce last year in his lone opportunity, Week 17 against the Falcons. Playing with other Eagles reserves, Feeley completed 22 of 33 throws for a career-high 321 yards and three touchdowns in a 24-17 win.

The Eagles felt confident enough in Feeley to hand him the aforementioned extension, and to jettison Jeff Garcia, who filled in very well in McNabb's absence last year.

Joining McNabb, Kolb and Feeley at quarterback this summer is veteran signal caller Kelly Holcomb – the other piece acquired in a March 26 trade that netted linebacker Takeo Spikes. Holcomb has played for four teams prior to Philadelphia, and at times was a starter in Cleveland and Buffalo. On most teams, Holcomb would be a solid number two or a superior third option at quarterback. The crowded scene at quarterback for the Eagles means Holcomb's time in Philadelphia may not last past the summer.

And this brings us back to Kolb, whose arrival on draft day placed Holcomb on the outside looking in. Kolb etched his name into the record books at Houston, and has the size (6-foot-3, 218 pounds) and arm strength to be a success in the NFL. He has impressed at spring camps with his maturity and quick pickup of the offense. The next step in his development will take place at Lehigh.

Kolb indeed could be the future at quarterback for the Eagles. How immediate that future is anybody's guess – it could be several years away.

That issue is one for another training camp. Kolb's development at Lehigh will indeed be an intriguing storyline to follow, but McNabb's play, and his health, will be most vital to the Eagles' success in 2007.