Vick: I Have to Accept Role Like a Man
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Vick: I Have to Accept Role Like a Man
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Michael Vick returned to Eagles practice Monday and addressed reporters for the first time since he was sidelined by a concussion Nov. 11 against Dallas.
Vick said he would embrace the opportunity to help rookie Nick Foles, designated the starter the rest of the way for the 4-10 Eagles by head coach Andy Reid.
"That's just the way things are right now," he said, when asked about not being the starter, perhaps ever again here. "I have to roll with the punches and deal with it, make the most of it, continue to work hard, try to get better, continue to help Nick out, continue to help (backup Trent Edwards), continue to help this football team, do my job as a leader ... regardless if I'm the starter or the third-string quarterback."
Asked if he agreed with Reid's decision, Vick said: "I'm a competitor, and I've always felt like and will continue to feel like I'm one of the best and can play at a high level ... I want to be out there, I want to play, but it's just not the ideal situation right now ... I have to accept my role, accept it like a man, continue to find positives out of it."
Vick said he doesn't know his future here, doesn't think sitting out the end of the season will affect his ability to get another job. The Eagles will have to pay him at least $15.5 million next season, unless he redoes his contract, but only $3 million of that money is guaranteed, and if is only guaranteed if Vick remains on the roster two days past the start of the offseason waiver period, typically two days after the Super Bowl. The Eagles can release Vick before then without any obligation or 2013 cap hit.
Asked of he wanted to stay here as a backup next year, Vick said he didn't know, would have to discuss that with agent Joel Segal, but he feels "I have a lot of football left in me, a lot left in my tank ... the future will take care of itself."
Vick also said that as has been speculated, he feels he actually suffered the concussion on the next-to-last snap he played vs. Dallas, when he was pancaked by the Cowboys' Jay Ratliff as Vick slid along the turf at the end of a run. "I was woozy," Vick said. Then, on a third-down incompletion to LeSean McCoy, Vick was pushed backward by former teammate Ernie Sims and hit his head on the turf. At that point, he said, he knew he had to come out because "I couldn't see."
This highlights one of the main difficulties of the NFL's quest to do a better job of dealing with concussions: you can't always know from the sideline when one has occurred. The player has to be willing to come out of the game, and as Vick said Monday, he was not, until he hit his head again, which might have dramatically affected the severity of the injury.
"The player that I am, man, when I'm out there, I'm going for the kill," Vick said. "If I'm not lying there and can't get up, then I'm going to get up for the next play and I'm going to give it everything I've got. That's just me, and maybe sometimes it can be, you know, sorta selfish, but I only know one way."
Asked about the perceived conflict a few weeks ago between the Vick camp and the Eagles over the imPACT tests Vick couldn't pass, Vick said: "I just roll with the punches. I don't question that. They're professionals, just like we're professionals in what we do. I respect their opinions and their judgment. Right now I feel healthy and I feel good."
Vick said that after being given a second chance to star in the NFL, following more than a year and a half in prison for dogfighting, "I can't be upset or disgruntled about anything ... This is what I love, and I realized that today, throwing balls on the scout team."
DUMP VICK...Vick is an awful 11-17 the past three years, and Vick has not even won a stinkin' playoff game...Vick is an old washed-up 33 year old who has now lost his speed....DUMP VICK..— jim35- Kolb has better stats and more wins then Vick with a less talented team since he left. Neither of them can stay healthy either.— Sidewinder7
- I agree that vick's best days are behind him, but no way can this debacle of a season be blamed on him. Bad coaching, bad blocking, no defense, no special teams - time to clean out the whole mess and start over. The Iggles will need lots of time to get ready for the 2028 super bowl run.— bigdaddyG
- Not only did Vicks play hurt this team...his attitude and work ethic hurt it more then people know. He has always been and always will be lazy and a me first person. He doesnt not stay late to study film....he never tried improving on his weaknesses he has just always relied on his physical ability nothing more..nothing less. Guess what Mike...you are not good enough to play in the NFL . Mora was right...you are a coach killer. Hope you have some money saved b/c your days our over. Andy was fooled by this guy and ulimately it hurt our team. So long big Red.— RealizticFan
- bye Vick!!! don't let the door hit you!— pennyrobinson
- The Eagles have been performing much better since Vick has been out. Much better.— sighpatrol
- Hey Sidewinder Kevin Kolb sucks!! He lost his job in Arizona. Also, realistic fan....Jim Mora Jr. who coined him a coach killer still hasn't landed a job in the NFL!! Why?? because he wasn't man enough to demand more from Vick. While his best days are behind him, the Eagles don't have a QB for next. Foles isn't even better than Cousins in Washington or Kapernick in San Francisco.— PSU_Chuck
- Colin K was a HIGH 2nd round pick, and is in his 2nd year on a GOOD TEAM with GREAT defense. Not a fair comp at all... Foles has impressed as a rookie behind a O-line with 4 backups starting. He has good size, pocket presence and plenty of arm. The next coach needs to work towards his strengths, and I think the Eagles do have a guy for the future. — cdedrick05
- I am impressed with the way he is handling it. He has a ton of influence on the players in the locker room, if he wanted to he couldreally make a bad situation much worse. Hats off to him for being a team guy— yourdaddy!
- I pray the Eagles owner won't be influenced by bigoted comments from fake fans who make racist posts under fake names. The Eagles have had more white QBs that didn't win SBs than Black ones but to haters, any white QB will do. Foles is a nice kid but he's nowhere near as good as MV7.
No QB can win a SB if he gets hit hundreds of times because linemen can't block. Keep Andy Reid and Vick and get rid of the closet klansmen masquerading as true fans of the Eagles TEAM. Super bowl teams have fans that support the team! I'd love to see Vick with blockers like Jason Peters instead of rejects and has been linemen that haters love and think are great.— allworld2 - I'm happy that he's saying and doing the right things. He's absolutely correct that he has nothing to be disgruntled about, he got a second chance to do the thing he loves. Not all people can say that. He didn't live up to the expectations, but I also don't think he's as bad as some think he is. He will get another job somewhere. I wish Vick the best, while I'm not sure Foles is the answer, I do believe that Vick's time here has run its' course.— phillykool
- Vick has been a class act with the Eagles. I hope he ends up on a contender next year and does well. Maybe Baltimore because Flacco certainly isn't getting it done and his contract is up.— gho_matt
- gho matt - as if he had a choice. 'class act' aside, even with Flacco's so-so performance, it is much better than Vick's. Get a clue!— hvitoloco
- Can we stop the Vick vs. Kolb talk now? Neither accomplished a damn thing in the past 2 years, and they are both headed for being back-ups the rest of their careers. This team wasn't going to be any better with Kolb at QB---and probably not much worse, either. Mabybe one more loss or one more win. Maybe.— Zee77
- Your Idiots! Look at the game against Washington when Castillo was the offensive line coach look at the defense with out the wide 9 or Babin,look at how Andy changed everything the actually worked,that game was a perfect example of what Vick can be,but with everything that Andy has changed&tinkered with has blown up in his face.This is not Vicks fault sad that so many are fueled by other reasons but the truth is this is not Vicks fault.— elbe2k
