The McNabb-Vick relationship, more reaction, injury news
The relationship and eveolving dynamtic between Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick will be a topic of conversation throughout their time with the Eagles.
The McNabb-Vick relationship, more reaction, injury news
Daily News staff
The relationship and eveolving dynamtic between Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick will be a topic of conversation throughout their time with the Eagles.
As McNabb pointed out during late night news conference after the preseason opener, McNabb and Vick have had a relationship since Vick was a high school senior in Virginia and McNabb was the Syracuse quarterback.
Kevin Rogers, then the Syracuse offensive coordinator and quarterback coach, had McNabb host Vick during the visit because they were similar players and schools often have players host recruits of the same position.
Of course, if you follow Syracuse football, you know that Vick chose Virginia Tech and took them to a Sugar Bowl instead of following in McNabb's footsteps, while the Syracuse program fell on hard times. The legend goes that Vick chose Tech because he wanted to forge his own identity and be the "first Michael Vick and not the second Donovan McNabb."
"He was, I hate to say it, sort of a clone, or really identical to myself and the way I played," McNabb said last night. "We just communicated through that and he told me he was a big fan of mine and watched me all through high school and just wanted to get an opportunity to accomplish some of the things that I did. And watching him at Virginia Tech and communicating with him as well as watching him at Atlanta we kept in contact. You want to see nothing but the best for everyone.”
McNabb's support of Vick has continued since. In May, McNabb wrote about Vick on his yardbarker.com blog: "I am happy that Michael Vick has served his time and will now be afforded the opportunity to move on with his life. I’m sure he will continue to be remorseful and will learn from his experiences. Hopefully he will have the opportunity to continue his dream of playing professional football."
That opportunity, of course, has come with the Eagles and McNabb lobbied for Vick to be signed. He said the fact that he lobbied for Vick shuld allay any concerns about a potential quarterback controversy. He also was clear about the mentoring role he hopes to play in Vick's life.
"Nobody’s perfect and that’s including myself," McNabb said. "And you know I’m looking to just show him kind of how I prepare, show him me getting there 6:30 in the morning, working out in the morning, getting your body ready to go, get ready for meetings and then staying after until 6, 6:30 to watch film. Then let him know exactly what I do at home or to just kind of get away from football and get my mind focused on the next day and spending time with family. He’s already spoken of [how] he’s missed two important years of his daughter’s life, her being born for two months and then had to go serve his time. So just kind of bringing our families together and just kind of bringing them into our households and just kind of humble and understanding what it is we do over there.”
As for the potential backlash, McNabb said, "I think his guy should be rewarded with a second chance. And for all who are dog lovers, and I have dogs myself, I’ve looked past it and I think everyone else should as well."
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Some other Vick reaction:
DeSean Jackson: “He is a great player. He has a lot to prove to everybody and try to get back on the right track. On the field, he is very explosive. We got some things on this offense now, man.”
Leonard Weaver: “Man, I can’t wait. I am excited. Vick, I am excited about you coming here. Boy, I can’t wait to see you.”
Sheldon Brown: “He can definitely make a lot of plays. You definitely have to game-plan for him as far as defensive linemen, having to get up the field and create pressure. He’s one of those quarterbacks, similar to Donovan [McNabb]. The play doesn’t have to be perfect for him to make something happen. That’s what’s so great about him. I’m just glad someone gave him an opportunity to reunite with the league and the union and be able to perform because he’s a heck of an athlete. There is no ‘how are you going to welcome him.’ He’s our teammate and we’re 100% behind him. From day one, to be honest, we thought it wasn’t fair.”
Quintin Mikell: “He’s a great player, a good person, and everybody deserves a second chance. Everybody has been talking about what happened but at the end of the day, he paid his debt. We’re going to welcome him here and hope that he can put everything back together by putting the right people around him and love him up. He knows that we don’t care about people’s past and we’re looking forward.”
Joe Mays: “I know he doesn’t want to be in that position again so I think he’s going to be positive from here on out. That’s what the Eagles see. I’m just looking forward to him coming in and contributing the best way he can.”
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In some other news from last night, the Eagles are now down to Eugene Bright and Rob Myers as healthy tight ends. Starter Brent Celek has a partial shoulder separation. Backup Matt Schobel has not practiced recently and did not play with a calf injury.
And the offensive line, already a bit patchwork without three starters, lost left tackle Jason Peters again. Peters, in his first game as an Eagle, restrained the quad muscle that kept him out of the start of training camp.
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LeSean McCoy, playing in the NFL for the first time, had 55 yards on 10 carries.
“I was so nervous that the first four plays, I didn’t have my mouthpiece in," he said. "It was still stuck in my helmet.”
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Joe Mays also made his debut as the starting middle linebacker in place of the injured Stewart Bradley.
“We played nickel, but for the most part I felt comfortable," he said. "Everything was good. It was nice to go out there and play ball, finally getting a chance to do that and hit some other people.
“There’s nothing like game experience because it’s game speed. We got a little taste of it today and I’m looking forward to it for the rest of the preseason so I can keep hitting and keep feeling good.”
he lobbied for TO too and we saw what happened with that,he cannot lead this team without convicts,he will go run and hide as usual when it gets too hot .— bigmama5
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- everyone is ignoring one fact: Kolb is not the QB of the future. Reid saw that he really stunk in camp this year. Kolb went down and vick was an excelled upgrade to help get rid of McNuggett sooner that Kolb ever could. Huge~out!— Huge
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- HUGE - I 100% agree on Kolb. Kolb=BUST - but don't tell Lonewolf - I think he has a Kolb jersey...— mebphila
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- tango, I bet you won't go and walk down south street and say that!— sexy623
- Eagles need a TE. O line is not looking good. McNabb not looking good. Trade McNabb now, before its too late to get anything for him.— fred13
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- say what you want about Don, but he is an honorable man and an outstanding, selfless human being. Do you realize how much harder this makes his job, with all of us crazy fans? Very impressive for him to lobby to get him in town.— sore richard
- Br5292, no we would just sick the Philly Dogs on him. HA! I believe both of you are trailer park trash!— sexy623
- What if Vick is listed as a running back? Everyone thinks we're short one. Put him in the backfield with McNabb and snap the ball to either guy. What if we trade A.J. Feeley for another pick? We got a second rounder from Miami for him the first time. Reid has a lot of good options.— Lockyer
- vick should be are starter and feeley should be our backup,, get mcnabb and kolb out of town— lj23
eveolving dynamtic?!— Leegles- Comment removed.
- B-E-A-G-L-E-S— Will T.
- Did someone say Jason Peters was the best left tackle in football? I sure hope he's better than he looked last night. Dude was terrible. And the Birds get no pass rush. McNabb looked like his average self. Are we looking at another 9-6-1 record?
- 1. Can Vick still play after 2 years? 2. Is this offensive line they've built going to play together? 3. Is Westbrook healthy? If these 3 things turn out well I think we are looking at a historic offensive season.— ArtieLange
- Mays, McCoy, Bright, and many other players vying for spots are today's main story, or should be, after action last night. Vick is an afterthought, if journalists were doing their job. Like the players, I welcome Michael Vick. Why not wait until he does something before using a lot of ink on him? That said, this is the best Vick story so far, getting comments from his new teammates.— tacklinjoe
- I am very excited for Mike Vick and Donavan Mcnabb. I hope that the fans of philly give these guys a chance before condemning them. After all, was'nt BIG BEN of Pittsburgh accused of rape, but he received a standing ovation by the Steeler fans last night. Wake up Philly!— G.Q. Rick
- Akers is far from done. The blocks weren't his fault.— HandNik
- he's here to play the wildcat, and be the general "athlete" on the roster like college teams have. and its perfect.— valentine
- Reid and Banner is gambling the season. Eagles offensive line, KO teams,TE's are terrible and he picks up a QB. Andy and Joe should be fired if this move fails and Kolb will play out his option this year and we be left with TWO losers at QB>— tulsaphil
- It only took four words into this article for a spelling error. This website is horrible.— mcarney
Interesting that the contracts of all 3 QBs expire in 2 years. Is Reid setting that as a personal deadline for himself and leaving the next coach the opportunity to start with a clean slate? 5, how do you know wiff got banned?— tpizza- Hey Seed - Sold. They have no shot at winning a Superbowl this year. 3 new starters on the O-Line, all 3 of which are injury / cuckoo prone. They have no free safety, no outside LBs, and the kicking game (kickers that is) is suspect at best. Schedule is not last place like last year. Oh, and the coach and QB choke in every big game. 10 wins max, probably more like 8 or 9. And I am a die-hard fan.— Dean1
- McNabb is nothing but Class! What a great move bring Vick in here! I'm proud of the Eagles. Vick deserves a second chance. He paid his dept, now let the guy live his life and have the chance to correct his wrongs.— ChrisM
- where is lonewolf today? this is proof positive kolb is a bust! so proof positive lonewolf is an idiot!— iloveprimerib!
- We never liked McNabb but we put up with him and now because of him we have a dog killer on our team. This team has been hijacked. I hope they lose every game. Former #1 Eagles fan. Unbelievable is all I can say.— neddyflanders
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- With Vick in town, McNabb will be on a short leash...uh, pardon the pun.— chak06880
- bigmama5, T.O, was NOT a convict. Get your facts straight.— chemlady
- Barbara Moss, get a clue. People that comment about an entire city beased on a sports teams decision are Idiots... Its a Sports Franchise. Its not your local church, your local community center, or your political leaders. If you seek moral perfection, start with the latter, not the Sports Leagues. Jeffery Dahmer choked, stabbed and cut up PEOPLE, and yet you say nothing about the city he lived in. Crime is everywhere. As to the "GO TEAM" comment, Don't buy a ticket, don't watch a game, don't support the franchise. Nobody cares about you. Your in a demographic that no professional sports league cares about... Old, White, and Women. But really, don't preach from your moral soap box, you've done something in your life that you shouldn't have, but nobody knows who you are, so it doesnt make news...— phillyinATL
Sheesh - with all this glowing praise for Vick from the players, what does this mean for Kevin Kolb? Is he a dead man walking, or does the team really believe in him as an eventual starter? If I were him, I would really begin to have some doubts. Still, I think it's too early for the Eags to give up on Kolb.
