Vick: Glad to Get Last Start with Andy
Michael Vick was sound asleep on Christmas Eve, when his cell phone awoke him with such a clatter, he rose from his bed to see what was the matter, Vick said Monday.
Vick: Glad to Get Last Start with Andy
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Michael Vick was sound asleep on Christmas Eve, when his cell phone awoke him with such a clatter, he rose from his bed to see what was the matter, Vick said Monday.
Turned out a jolly man with a bushy mustache had left Vick a present.
"When I called him back, he told me exactly what had happened," that Nick Foles had a hairline fracture in the second metacarpal of his throwing hand, so Andy Reid wanted Vick to start the season finale this Sunday against the Giants.
In what we all assume is his final game as the Eagles' coach, Reid will go out with the quarterback he entrusted his future to, three seasons ago. Reid and Vick will go out together.
"It feels good that I have a chance to play quarterback this last game," Vick told your Eagletarian, just before his Christmas charity event in Vick's hometown of Newport News. Va. "Whether it's coach's last game or my last game, whoever's last game it is, it's the last game of the season (for the Eagles) and we want to win it."
Vick was the third quarterback Sunday, inactive against the Redskins. The sense was he had thrown his final Eagles pass. Can he switch back into starting mode so quickly?
"I just have to find a way to do it this week at some point," Vick said. "I gotta find a way to get back into game mode."
Is he ready?
"I hope so. I can't tell you I'm going to be as sharp as I was" when he suffered the concussion Nov. 11, Vick said. "I've really only had one week to work at it. But I'm going to do the best that I can, man, see what comes out of it, have fun doing it."
Vick said he isn't looking at this as an opportunity to show prospective employers he is healthy. The Eagles are expected to move forward with Foles. They won't owe Vick any more money if they release him a few days after the Super Bowl, and if they're willing to pay $3 million then, they can try to trade him during the spring.
"I don't think I really have to go out there and perform, show teams what I can do," said Vick, 32. "I think they already know."
Vick endorsed what Reid said earlier Monday, that Vick wanted to play again, even on a 4-11 team that is going nowhere.
"I've been telling coach, 'if you need me, I'm here,' Vick said.
"He's had a couple of weeks of practice here," Reid said of Vick. "I thought the first week, he was a little bit rusty out there, I thought this past week, he threw it around well, he feels good ... He obviously deserves an opportunity to play."
Reid said the choice between Vick and Edwards came down to the fact that Vick "had been the No. 1."
Good times all around. I'm not going to come on this board and bash Andy or Vick -- no need to make things more painful for all of us, especially given their imminent departure. I'll just say that I'd rather we lose this game, rest McCoy and every other productive/important starter going forward, earn a higher draft pick... and, for Vick's sake, I hope he plays well and gets another opportunity with another team next season. We as fans can say whatever we want, but Vick played hard, and got slammed, every game, for 3 years. Not his fault that the O-line sucks terribly.
Good luck to all going forward. Thank goodness this awful season -- and Andy's finally sunken regime -- is over.— glory08- Vick's quote before the year began when asked about Andy Reid potentially being fired if this season was a failure: "Not on my watch." — MidGreen
- The question was asked whether the bigger problem was Reid or McNabb.
Over the years, McNabb was beaten to a pulp. Who could forget him throwing 3 TDs on a broken ankle. Of course, the broken ankle didn't stop Reid from calling 50 passes. What would fans have said had Foles been subjected to abuse?
Reid's a QB killer and that's why his QBs have always regressed. He leans on the run only with back-ups and new starters, then he gradually morphs into a pass-happy freak, regardless of lack of talent at wide receiver position, down and distance, inability to protect, predictable play-calling, etc.
The fact is that since parting company, neither has done anything.
The difference is that Donovan, a worn-out vet fighting father time, was sent to a team in disarray, while Reid was given a "Dream Team (TWICE)," complete with new coaches, players and schemes.
With a No. 1 receiver, McNabb played 15 games (sitting out 1 game after clinching the Division).
He completed 300 of 469 passes for 3,875, 64% completion, averaging 8.26 yards per pass, 31 TDs/8 Ints. For 104.6 QB rating. What would his stats have been with 16 games?
Players lose skills with age, but coaches should improve.
Some, NOW, attribute Reid's success to Jim Johnson's defense, but Johnson's defense didn't score points and we were the No. 1 offense.
Also, Johnson's bend-but-don't-break defense didn't win field position battles. They were great inside their own 20, but they gave up a lot yards.
Some will do anything to avoid admitting that McNabb (although goofy) was great and Reid hurt his career by not giving him weapons.
Could you imagine him, in his prime, with Green Bay's receiving corps?
Would you have imagined those stats with only T.O. and Westbrook? - And who cares whether it was MORE Reid or McNabb? Each had his faults which were evident during our SB loss. My call? McNabb was good, Reid was ok. I wish we had gone in another direction in 1999 cause 14 years later, we still got no SB WIN! Let's see what the gold-standard owner does now...
— desjones - "As sharp as I was"... har-har. He's definitely as delusional as he was.— COskier
- Got one more rant . . .
In his only SB win, Peyton Manning threw 1 TD and had 2 turnovers. On the other hand, his defense forced FIVE turnovers.
I don't think you read it right. So, I'll repeat it -- THE DEFENSE FORCED FIVE TURNOVERS.
Shouldn't some of those turnovers have been converted into points?
AnwyWHO, it should also be noted that Joseph Addai ran for 130 yards. Do I need to repeat that?
Guess who won the MVP?
Yep, Peyton.
Until that time, Peyton had been known as the QB who couldn't win it all (for 9 long years).
Suddenly, after 5 turnovers, 130 yards rushing, 1 TD and 2 Manning turnovers, he has become the 2nd coming. NOT!
Guess what Manning's done since his SB win?
Well.... let’s put it like this, each season has ended with an interception, OKAY? You want more? I'm glad you asked.
Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson have better QB ratings in the playoffs (during their SB seasons) than "The Great Peyton Manning."
Peyton's the bomb during regular season . . . but just watch what happens during THESE playoffs. - Im OK with this... Edwards has been a mentor for Foles all year so why would Andy want to reward him with a little playing time? With the rust that Vick will show, it will probably mean amother loss which will help next years coach with a better draft pick. Rock on Andy..— outta work
- Vick will come out sharp, strong, and perform very well. This is good chance for Vick to show Jets that he can beat the Giants. Good for Vick, Good for Jets. Good luck Vick!! Next year we will see you with Jets team.— fairfan63
- Foles will be out for at least three weeks. That's mean if it was in regular season he will miss at least three to four games, WOW!! For Rookie, and young QB that's a lot of games to miss it. And the injured is not even that serious. I'm wonder if Eagles will keep Foles as starter for the next season!!— fairfan63
- Sportyrider71 - very nice sentiment for Christmas Eve... I just don't want Vick to come up big in a meaningless game, and cause us to drop back to 8th in the draft. We seem to recently have the Giants number, and they are slumping as bad as the Eagles right now. Say goodbye to Joekel with a win...— Bobphxville
- die hard lapdogs(ppizza-realtruth-charmaine-tyrone-CYO-etc-etc) are dancing in the street,,big red wants to raise conVick value on the free agent circuit,very few teams have interest in conVick,he's washed up and carries too much baggage,only O.J.Simpson had more.....Foles was donovan like playing with a broken hand and still throwing for 350 and one play from winning the game.....wolf.— wolf 4
- Sportyrider71, what's thae status on your KKK application for life long membership?
Go Eagles!!! Yeah! Dude you are a joke and a loser!!!— Eaglehaslanded - This team hasn't got much chance next year. Foles is big, takes his licks and shows he's got at least a 50/50 chance to succeed. Can you imagine rookie Kolb being thrown into this baptism of fire?— escapedcamden4monterey
- That's a real shame about Foles. Would have been great for a rookie Eagle QB to put the nail in the Giant's coffin. Foles showed a lot of guts Sunday. Bringing a team back with a broken hand, throwing for those yards and completion rate was very promising. Kudos to him.— tpizza
