NY Post back page depicts Vick as baby
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
NY Post back page depicts Vick as baby
Daily News staff
Nothing wrong with a good tabloid back page.
The New York Post took Eagles quarterback Michael Vick to task today for his complaints about the referees after Sunday's game, depicting him as a baby with a bottle (see below).
Vick sort of backed off his comments yesterday, not saying he was wrong, but that he should not have said anything. "I was kind of out of character and being too candid in that aspect."
Post columnist Steve Serby labeled Vick's remarks as "The Crying Game."
And the Giants defense told reporters yesterday that they did not see anything wrong with the way they played.
Here is a transcript of Chris Canty's session with reporters yesterday. Canty was the player whose hit led to Vick's hand injury.
Q: What do you think about Michael Vick’s comments?
A: He is entitled to his opinion. Obviously he has been a little banged up so you can understand where he is coming from and how he feels but again, it is his opinion.
Q: Do you feel like there was anything wrong with the hits?
A: No, I didn’t think anything was wrong with the hit when it took place. I didn’t think it was anything wrong with the hit after looking at it again today. It is unfortunate that he got injured. We weren’t out there trying to injure anybody. We are all competitors and we are all competing at the highest level. It is unfortunate for him. It is unfortunate for their football team but again, we are all competitors. We are all competing and playing hard.
Q: What did you see?
A: Obviously you want to play within the rules of the game. We are not trying to play dirty or anything like that. We are trying to make a concentrated effort to hit him legally. He is a short guy and I am not, so it is tough to get down there. At the end of the day, we are playing hard and competing hard. It is unfortunate that he got banged up but it is what it is.
Q: How do you feel about the officials not calling a penalty?
A: It is within the rules of the game. The officials are allowing us to play the game of football. The governing body sets the rules and the competition committee goes through all those things to allow us to play the game of football. It is what it is and at the end of the day, it is football.
The Giants' Mathias Kiwanuka was even more outspoken:
Q: What did you think about what Vick said after the game?
A: I understand his frustration. Nobody wants to get hit that many times. I just feel like if you’re going to be the kind of guy who’s going to be able to tuck the ball and run, once you put the ball away [the officials] can’t protect you as a quarterback anymore. You have to give that right up. If he’s going to stand in the pocket and continue to just pass the ball then he would have an argument. Once you put that ball away you’re surrendering [that right].
Q: Do you think he has a case that he doesn’t get flags as much as other quarterbacks?
A: I think he has a case with his team. I think they have to figure out a way to get better schematics to deal with that. It’s a double-edged sword. That’s one of their greatest weapons, but that’s also one of their greatest downfalls is the fact that he is such a good runner and he does put it away so fast and people can get to him.
Q: What about when he is in the pocket? He feels the officials aren’t protecting him like other quarterbacks.
A: I couldn’t see an argument for that because I feel like if he’s standing in the pocket, as a defensive player it’s tough to be able to get a legal hit on a guy so we always feel like [the officials] over protect the quarterback. If he’s just standing in the pocket, he doesn’t tuck the ball away at all, I feel like he’s going to get that call nine times out of 10. It’s hard to make that distinction of when he actually puts it away and becomes a runner and when he’s standing there.
Q: Were you relieved to see that the officials were actually letting you hit Vick?
A: I don’t think they had a choice. We got good pressure, we were getting there, they were legal hits. There weren’t a lot of flags. That was part of our game plan, was to get some legal hits on him.
**
To read Domo's Day-After Dissection on the Giants game, click here.
The problem Vick has is what all running QB's face. If the tacklers pull up on him, he could pump fake and take off and run for 20 yards. So they want to make sure he's stopped. This is the main reason why most teams prefer big, durable, pocket passers. They are easier to protect and less likely to be hit and, as a result, hurt. The hits that injured Vick, both in Atlanta and last week, didn't appear to be overtly vicious or excessively late. I think Mike was just frustrated immediately after the game on Sunday. We all know he has a history of not being a very durable QB. But the Eagles knew that when they signed him. Ironically, in past years, it was usually the Eagle's opponents accusing them of being excessively aggressive and hitting late. This is a different team.— Duger- Watching the pre game of Dallas and Skins, they showed film of Romo getting major hits on him. Problem now with Vick is that the rest of the league knows its getting to him, and other team d=coordinators will have their players coming after him even harder.— watsonmr
- I love that New Jersey Giants are still talking about the Eagles. We're in their head. They know they got a lucky win. Just looking forward to going to the next game in New Jersey with my Vick Jersey watching him slaughter that dirty D.— broadstreetbullynyc
- A non-story in Philly about a non-story in NYC...is the Daily News so down on its luck that it can't afford a reporter's subway fair to the Linc to get a real interview or story?— Eaglesfan in IL
