Vick, Eagles Deny Concussion Rift
Eagles coach Andy Reid hotly denied an ESPN report that concussed quarterback Michael Vick "thinks he's a victim of politics" amid repeated failures to pass baseline testing that would allow Vick to return to the field.
Vick, Eagles Deny Concussion Rift
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Eagles coach Andy Reid hotly denied an ESPN report that concussed quarterback Michael Vick "thinks he's a victim of politics" amid repeated failures to pass baseline testing that would allow Vick to return to the field.
Reid said he has spoken with Vick and there is no disagreement over the handling of his treatment. The Eagles have started rookie Nick Foles in the two games since Vick went down, and at 3-8, it's plausible that they might want to stick with Foles.
Eagles head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder said the imPACT test Vick is struggling to pass is graded by league concussion experts in Pittsburgh, not by the Eagles. "There's no conspiracy," Burkholder said.
Vick later released a statement through a spokesman:
"I want to thank my fans for the thousands of well-wishes. I also appreciate the support of the entire Eagles organization. I feel strong and healthy. As a professional athlete, I want to play in every game, but the NFL has a specific protocol to protect players. My focus is to complete this process successfully, so I can rejoin my team on the field."
Burkholder said Vick has reached a plateau in his recovery. He can run without symptoms, but complicated eye-tracking triggers balance problems and fatigue. Eye-tracking is part of the test Vick must pass. Burkholder said the team has been approaching this as something that can be rehabbed, and he hopes Vick can pass the imPACT test Monday.
Burkholder said running back LeSean McCoy is in the second of the five recovery phases, able to undertake light exercise. "His symptoms are down to almost nothing," Burkholder said. "His major complaint is fatigue."
Burkholder said that unlike Vick, McCoy has passed the imPACT test, but can't be cleared while he's still experiencing symptoms.
Obviously, Vick and McCoy will not play Sunday at Dallas.
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The Eagles elevated their 2012 sixth-round WR, Marvin McNutt, to the active roster. They still have one open space as they enter the weekend.
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Center Dallas Reynolds (ankle) was a full practice participant. Though Reynolds is listed as questionable for Sunday, one would have to think he is going to play. That would move Evan Mathis back to left guard.
Still in Mississippi after a death in the family was defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. Andy Reid said Cox will join the team in Dallas. He also is listed as questionable, with a tailbone bruise, but is expected to play.
For Pete's sake just put Vick on IR and use the remaining five games to evaluate Nick Foles. That's the logical thing to do.— soulman386- You're right, but you know that logic and Andy don't usually fit in the same sentence. — Roll Tide!
Vick just take the injury payout and call it a career. The Eagles are going to cut Vick and no team will pick up a 33 y/o scrambling
QB that's injury/turnover prone and can't read defenses.- If Foles isn't any good who is going to play qb? Perhaps Vick is still ours best option. — swinger18
- Agreed, Swinger. I'd have no problem with Mike and a good offensive line and traditional running game. Mix in the prototypical NFL big, tall WR. In other words, a more traditional, hard nosed NFL offense. The only thing going for Foles right now is he is tall. Other then that, who knows?
Almost sounds like Marcus Vick is sounding off to ESPN, not Mike. For all of his past deeds, he has been a model player here and I would have no problem if he came back.... - For the first time in the 40 some odd years I've watched this team, I can't remember contemplating that the players and/or staff would be feigning injury. I wouldn't put anything past this band of deadbeats. I think the character and chemistry of this team (or the lack of) is all on Lurie and obviously AR. No matter how bad some of the squads that have taken the field historically , they always played their hearts out-These guys, not so much.— Mike Boryla
- If it measures "cognitive function", then Vick will never pass the ImPACT test.— scootch
- Vick has a tough task in front of him. How does a stupid man prove he is not concussed?— 2ndNlong
- We've got Marvin McNutt!— looneytune
- Yeah because black quarterback/athletic and stupid seem to be synonymous in the white community when evaluating people. A large part of it is jealousy. Seems Vick was reading defenses pretty well when he had someone blocking for him. He failed because of lack of planning not because of ability.— Zeru
- I'm not sure why you had to go with the race issue here. There are white QBs who do a poor job of reading defenses or making good decisions on the field too. I have never been a big Michael Vick fan as a QB, but I do believe that he gives it his very best every time he is on the field and risks his body to injury trying to make a play. I agree however that it doesn't matter who is at QB right now - that offensive line is atrocious. — Roll Tide!
- Who said anything about not being able to read defenses is because he's black? He can't read defenses because of his lack of preparation. A zero blitz on the line of scrimmage on your aware side and a guy comes off scott free? That's on the QB you either get the ball out fast or you tell the RB to pick him up. Many people act as if this is Vick's second year no it's his 11th! 11 years 3 years in this system and ZERO playoff wins. He had probably the best line for 2 years straight and came up with a first round exit and an 4-8 season until they beat 4 backup QB's. Vick is done there is no light. He's short, small framed, injury prone, turnover prone, lack proper preparation, and on top of all that he's 33 y/o. Sorry Zeru but Vick's reign at the top was short like leprechauns.
- Many black quarterbacks are labeled as not able to read defenses and it is often true, but not due to intelligence. We can all agree that most black QBs are more athletic and quicker then their white counterparts. At the high school and college level they are such athletes they do not have to learn the skill of reading defenses, they can freelance and be very effective. Then they get to the pros and are no longer effective, like Vick. Vick said himself that he didn't listen to Mora because he thought he could do anything. On the flipside, Reid drilled the fundamentals of being a pocket passer into McNabb, and he ended up 4X the QB Vick is. Newton and RG3 both show real good throwing skills and are also great atheletes. Their success in this league will be determined by their coaching and how interested they are in learning the position and throwing the ball. Like Newton did against the Eagles, sure you can run around on bad teams, you get to the playoffs and a good team will eat you alive. No quarterback has ever been great based on how well they run. And are 3 dumb white QBs, Jeff George, Ryan Leaf, Cade Mcnown. Doesn't get dumber then that, no matter what race. — Sidewinder7
- "No quarterback has ever been great based on how well they run"
Have you ever heard of John Elway, Fran Tarkenton or Steve Young? - Let me assure you that not all white folks feel that way. Well, at least I'm one caucasian who doesn't. I'm also a fan of Vick since his days with the Cavaliers.
— Atomic Fury
