Chip Calls an Audible: New Deal for Vick
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Chip Calls an Audible: New Deal for Vick
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
A couple hours before the first Chip Kelly press availability since the Senior Bowl, the Eagles made a surprise announcement: they've agreed with Michael Vick on a restructured contract, which reports indicate will be for about $10 million over one year.
What does this mean? Well, it means nothing good for Nick Foles, first of all. Vick has said he is not amenable to staying here as a backup. The Chipper, after reviewing 2012 film, must think a 33-year-old Vick is a better option for his offense than Foles, the bigger, slower-footed 2012 rookie. He must also think he isn't getting his longterm franchise QB out of the 2013 draft. So he's going to try to buy a year with Vick, see how it goes, and if disaster ensues, as it did for Andy Reid the past two seasons with Vick, then there's the 2014 draft and a more promising quarterback crop.
If you're a Vick fan, this validates your view that a terrible offensive line was the QB's main problem last season. If you're a Vick basher, it's easy to see how you might want to grind your teeth to dust, watching Kelly have to repeat Reid's mistakes instead of learning from them.
Kelly obviously will get quite a few questions on this matter at his 1:30 press conference. Among them will be how a two-turnover-a-game quarterback who hasn't played a full, 16-game season since 2006 is going to represent a step forward in rebuilding.
Of course, this contract doesn't mean Vick absolutely is the Eagles' 2013 starter, and I'm sure that will be emphasized today. But the odds just went from near nothing to overwhelmingly in Vick's favor. It's fair to say this is not the clean, fresh start a lot of fans were envisioning.
- I guarantee you Foles ends up in KC with the fat man if Chip doesn't want him. The only thing that will stand in the way of a trade is if the Eagles want too much back for him.
— fightins4ever - Vick's last stand. I like it. The guy wants to win as evidenced by his calling out of his teammates after that last disastrous game against the Giants. If a shade of 2010 Vick can return then he's a solid option.— gho_matt
- The problem with Foles is he got to play last year and it's clear that he lacks NFL level QB skills. Dick Vermeil said Foles is slow and plodding and would be a poor fit for Kelly. I think that the problem with Vick was a lack of off field preparation but that changed last year. By making hi compete and giving him a one year guarantee, Kelly put pressure on Vick. We'll see if he responds. The best thing that Kelly said was it's his responsibility to put players in the position to succeed and make plays. He's a stand up guy. Kelly doesn't know anymore about football than Reid did. The fans should coach the team!— MikeP
- Mike,
Be honest. If the fans coached the team we'd be a lock for 0 and 16 every year. Funny thought, but seriously -- please!— Jodisee - Vick was brown nosing his way back onto the team with all his meetings with Kelly. Bet he promised that he would TRY and learn to slide. You know that thing that kids can do on the ballfield but a grownman somehow is unintelligent enough to learn.— PsychoPathetic1
- Looks like "Big Balls" Kelly doesn't have them. Sticking with Bow-wow Vick is the death knoll for this next season.— peacefrog33756
- I am unimpressede with Kelly's judgement. First of all, he hired a totally undistinguished goup of assistant coaches and why on earth did he go to the Browns to get his coordinators? What people are forgetting is that Vick had a good offensive line in 2011. Peters, Kelce, etc were all healthy at that time and Vick still stunk. To resign an injury-prone, small QB who still has problems making decisions certainly is an indication that they consider Foles to be a poor QB. To me the biggest question is why did the Eagles waste a draft pick on Foles? Foles was a slow-footed pocket passer in college with a decent arm---- so what made them think that he could be a franchise QB? Of course, he wasn't as bad as most of the draft picks of this idiotic franchise.— Drumgoole
- Oh Nooooooo!!!!! Why can't we get rid of this guy? I am so done with this team. I was ready to get back into the Eagles again with a fresh new team, but now this? What a joke. Guess we'll never see what Foles can do.— Mr. Underhill
- Lurie would NOT get of rid of Andy Reid...now Lurie will NOT get rid of the old washed-up loser Vick...here comes another awful 2-14 season...LOL.— jim35
- Vick starts out with the role of Pederson in 1999 but if he excels he can play his way into a 3 year contract. Clearly Chip Kelly saw Nick Foles on tape and correctly concluded "career backup:. Like I said a month ago, no coach is going to come in here and build a team around a guy with slow feet and a weak arm.
Just in this division you have Griffin and Manning – 2 QBs with vastly more talent than Foles. In the rest of the NFC you have Rodgers, Brees, and Wilson.
No new head coach is going to battle those guys with a Nick Foles.
— sbdons1982 - It was time to move on. This is such a negative. Vick is turnovers and mistakes, 33 and brittle. Another lost year.— eugclark
- I think that this is a great move. If Vick wins the job and the offensive line is revamped then Vick has no excuse to play poorly. I do not think that Vick is done by any means. Foles did well last year but has very high ark on his long passes. They seem to take forever to reach the passer. Vick like McNab is a better QB when he does not have to think about what he is going to do but reacts quickly. Giving Vick one year is a win-win situation and it gives Foles a chance to develop. As far as Alex Smith, there is a reason why the 49ers did not play him after his injury. If they want a quick offense, Vick is the best option.— jpelle36
- Play calling and a poor executing O-line killed the Eagles last season. The two losers that Kelly hired for OC and OL coaches were pitiful in Cleveland. Is this the second coming of Morningwhig. They may all find themselves at Oregon if they fail to deliver this year. The Philly Fans will not wait another year for results. This Coaching staff must have miracles in them starting now!— jpelle36
- VICK SUCKS...Vick is an old washed-up turn-over machine that was the leader of the awful 2-14 team last season....Eagles are DUMB for bringing back the same old loser Vick who
HAS FAILED FOR THREE YEARS....Eagles and Vick will be again be an awful 2-14 this season....LOL.— jim35 - Wait a minute, the OL coach was from Alabama but the DC was another loser from Cleveland whose teams had very poor stats! I do not like this coaching staff outside of Kelly.— jpelle36
