Loading ...A visit to the mound: The Michael Vick Era Begins
The new #7 for the Eagles has become the most polarizing figure in the country.
Though we are already four days into the Michael Vick era in Philly, the almostathletes held a Mound Visit over the weekend to discuss the much maligned former QB’s signing.
Sieck: OK, well I’m eager to hear both of your thoughts on this. It seems that plenty of people are up in arms about this. Dare I go as far to say that they have their panties in a bunch. I could go on with clichés all day, but here’s the thing: I’ve previously stated that I don’t have any problem with Vick getting a job in the NFL… BUT NOT THE EAGLES. It seems lost on everyone that 1) we don’t need a QB, and 2) this guy IS NOT that good. People talk about this guy’s ability like he’s Joe Montana or something. I don’t get the move at all.
Dave: They make it because he is a proven QB, without any championships, but he can play the position better than any backup currently on their roster and because he adds more versatility to a lackluster offense that Reid has been pushing out there since he took over the play-calling. While I don’t think the “Wildcat” will work (pro defenses are too good to have an option-esque type of offense work for more than one year, so the element of surprise is gone) he definitely adds another weapon that opposing defenses have to worry about it.
Brian: Despite the perpective from which I approach the signing (purely football or purely societal), there is no conceivable reason for this move. I suppose fans of Vick are still replaying that sick run against the Vikes, which has become the signature Vick highlight, in their minds, but what they’re forgetting is that he was a horrendous quarterback. I’m not going to dispute his athleticism, but after several references (by Lurie, Reid, and Vick himself) to Vick being brought in as a QB, I can only assume that he and the Eagles’ brass expect him to be just that. I can’t count the number of Vick jokes I used and heard when he was completing 53% of his passes in 2006. If Donovan were completing that paltry percentage, he’d have been out of here six years ago.
Dave: He was never that good of a QB, but he is better than A.J. Feeley or an injured Kevin Kolb. I don’t see why they signed him either, but he does fit here. He can backup McNabb and be a threat to run, or pass, while he is on the field. Imagine playing defense against the Eagles and seeing DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Brian Westbrook, Donovan McNabb, and Michael Vick all in the formation? And, while there has been no talk of it at Eagles camp, imagine if they use him to return kicks and punts? If he shows he can catch a ball, and do it in traffic, the Eagles will have one heck of a receiving corps.
Sieck: OK, they’re going to sign/bring a guy in for trick plays? Ridiculous. If I hear the word “wildcat” one more time, I’m going to vomit on my flip flops. I know Kolb went down, but they can stick with Feeley as the backup. McNabb is fine, I know he has his detractors (including someone on this esteemed site) but he’s still a top 10 signal caller in the league. The offense is fine.
Brian: From a societal perspective, this move smacks of desperation. Now that the Phils have (finally) removed the Birds from atop the city’s four-sport pedestal, Lurie is panicking big time, and frankly, I find it kind of
This expression doubled as Lurie's "I-can't-believe-the-Phils-have-supplanted-us" and "You-want-me-to-sign-who?" face.
amusing. Let’s forget his totally absurd “gold standard” reference to his team, a team that still has exactly as many Super Bowl rings as the almostathletes, and focus on his adamant stance on bringing in character people. Warren Sapp was passed over because he liked to toke weed, something an alarming amount of people seem to have forgotten about Vick’s past, and TO was labeled a cancer almost immediately after the Super Bowl loss. If these guys can’t play in the Eagles philosophical sandbox, how can they possible justify bringing in a convicted felon, drug user, and purported STD transmitter (Ron Mexico)?
Sieck: First, I think the notion of using him as a receiver is silly. I don’t think he’s built for it, and I really don’t think he has any desire to play the position. And yes, Brian, I totally agree with you that Lurie’s stance of bringing in “quality” individuals and then bringing in Vick is completely hypocritical. It’s a joke. After all, hurting dogs is way worse than smoking the pot. However, I do have to say this about the dog thing: I’m a big dog person and don’t for one second excuse Vick’s behavior, but Vick shouldn’t be on the team because he stinks, not because he committed a horrid offense. Look, there are all kinds of scumbags in the NFL that are probably also doing awful things, but they get a pass because they have talent or they haven’t been caught yet. Perhaps Vick’s biggest crime is getting caught. However, having said that, I’m certainly not looking forward to the protesters lining up at the Linc this year.
Dave: For the Eagles, it fits psychologically too. Think about it, Tony Dungy’s oldest son kills himself, so when Dungy retires he finds a project, a wayward soul who needs the kind of guidance a father can provide. So Dungy is on board and all about “second chances.” But what team will give him that? How about the Eagles with head coach Andy Reid and his army of dysfunctional sons? If anyone thinks someone like Vick – backed by the prestigious Dungy – deserves a second chance, Andy does. He has been in court with his kids almost as many times as he has been on the sidelines coaching football.
Everyone needs a hobby in retirement, right, Tony?
Brian: I found the whole Dungy angle self-serving and bizarre. However, I’ll give you one guess as to who the next Birds’ head coach is. And I’ve been saying this all weekend; this is not Vick’s second chance. He’s been in trouble before, so unless we only categorize chances based on some sort of felony being attached to them, he’s on chance three or four by my count.
One other enormous public relations nightmare is giving Vick Jaws’ #7. Now we all know Jaws isn’t a Hall of Fame QB, but he represents the polar opposite of all things Vick. He’s a standup member of the community, he has parlayed his playing days into a posh analyst’s job, and he, predictably, has stayed out of the conversation despite the fact that his number has been denigrated. I know some people don’t think there’s much to a number, but any athlete will tell you that there is something to the ownership of a number, something that should remain sacred.
Sieck: Well, I’ll abstain from comment on Jaws, because I don’t like him. I’ve had two encounters with the “standup member of the community” and neither went well. I’ll leave it at that. In other news, have you guys heard that the Birds just signed O.J. Simpson to be their running backs coach? I think their next move is going to be to resurrect Hitler and give him the GM job.
Finally, people need to be more thoughtful about this. What do they really expect Vick to do? He’s a football player. Do folks really expect him to go get a job at Dairy Queen or something? He’s going to play; I just wish it were somewhere else. As long as he straightens up and flies right, it’s unrealistic to expect him not to play.
Vick may bring publicity and outrage, but he's not bringing a Super Bowl ring.
Does everyone forget that this guy went to Green Bay and beat the Packers to get to the NFC Championship game? How about the 30 yard run against our beloved Eagles that got called back because of a mysterious holding flag. He was that close to a Super Bowl. The guy can change games in an instance. Or at least the Mike Vick from two years ago could.
Not saying I like the guy, or agree with it, but the deal is done so we might as well use him to the best of his ability. Thats just it tho, just because he is in a formation doesnt mean he is getting the ball, but you still need your best guy, or 2 other defenders on him to be safe, he is just another body that will be a threat, and in my book that makes about 7 birds at any given time. Even if he never sets foot on the field, he isnt on one of the other 16 teams we face, or, hopefully, any other we’ll see in the post season. If you look at it that way, he cant hurt us. And sorry im not buying into the publicity stunt, the reason people are watching the phils is because its baseball season, which happens every year…. except for that strike….when the eagles are on they’ll have the fans no matter what.
After hearing mcnabb talk it sounds like Vick and him will be seeing time together, and both will be taking snaps while the other is on the field. Some can argue its been done already and teams will be ready, but you really think teams can game plan for westbrook, jackson, maclin, vick, and mcnabb, throw Celek in there and thats a headache for any Defensive Coordinator….o and the dynamic Hank Basket.
I’ve heard McNabb has been texting with Vick for weeks now. Why is this news coming out Monday? They’ve already interviewed McNabb about it Friday. So you need to have another little press conference again to explain that it was you who talked the Eagles into getting Vick? I think that is a total lie, and I think that was done from Lurie and Banner. Lurie and Banner did not want to take full responsibility for a move that would cause the problems it has. Also, yes, Lurie made this move partially for the Eagles losing some of its status as the top sport in Philly. Phillies have been taking over, many bandwagon jumpers who never even watched the Phillies now all like the Phillies now. Which goes back to an Old AlmostAthletes piece about going to Phils games and having to now deal with so many young drunk kids who have no idea about anything, but just there for a good time. The Eagles will always be one of the most popular in this City. They did hit the panic button though. Vick can add SO much to our team with his athleticism. I think of plays where you see McNabb, Vick and Westbrook in the backfield. Or on random 2nd or 3rd downs and McNabb runs out and Vick comes in. Defenses would be a little uneasy on what to do. Their are plenty of plays you can do now. Yea, Wildcat can work. But like Dave said, Defenses are too good in NFL. Even the Lions can figure things out, they just lack talent. Wildcat for that 1 week with Dolphins against Patriots was a high percentage play. Ever since that week, it took coaches 1 week to look at footage and figure it out. It is now a low percentage play. I am sure all coaches who have the Eagles to deal with, will figure out plays to stop most scenarious. It wouldn’t be that much of a suprise if they bring Vick in on a random down. Gee, I wonder what the Eagles will do this play? It’s a matter of stopping Vick, once he runs. But just ask the Eagles, because they made him look like an ass in the NFC Championship. Hollis Thomas almost murdered him.
I would’ve really enjoyed the Eagles not having Vick. as a QB he’s as worthless as Ryan Leaf. As an Athlete? Yea, ok, Hes amazing. But the Eagles have Mcnabb, Westbrook, McCoy, Jackson and Maclin. We really did not need Vick. There are many guys from Audubon that are not agreeing with me. Not that I care at all what they say. But when I hear the Eagles now are a Super Bowl team..that just baffles me. Since when did Vick become Tom Brady? When did Vick ever go to the Super Bowl? And we have the exact same chances of getting to the Super Bowl with the weapons we already had.
As an athlete, you have to respect a piece of the decision. out of 64 QB’s (1st and second string on the 32 NFL Teams) He is in the top 32. If the guy flies right and does his job for the next 2 years he’s grossed over 7mil. And from there if he is moved, he will get another lucrative deal. Public patience will need to be exercised for this highly scrutinized personality. This is a serious case of “the back up QB is the most popular guy on the team”