Vick: 'I never thought this day would come'
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Vick: 'I never thought this day would come'
Daily News staff
The Eagles formally announced that Michael Vick has agreed to a 6-year contract. Sources have said the total value is $100 million with $40 million guaranteed.
A source confirmed a Pro Football Talk report that the sixth year of the deal voids if Vick takes 35 percent of the snaps in any of the previous 5 years so essentially this is a 5-year, $80 million deal.
"I never thought this day would come," Vick said during a news conference. "In my career, I wanted a chance to play again. To play again to this magnitude, I didn’t think it would happen this way. It just goes to how much I kept pressing forward and kept believing ... Faith is something we all have to have at the end of the day. I’m living proof."
Vick thanked the people in his circle who have supported him throughout his time. " I always wanted to commit myself to change."
Vick, 31, said it's "an outstanding feeling for me" to know that he will be with Eagles "possibly for the duration of my career."
Coach Andy Reid said Vick's redemption is "what America's all about."
The story is true hard work, keeping your nose clean and doing the right thing, then good things happen," Reid said. "It also can be an opportunity for a second chance and how you handle the second chance that is really the story here. None of this is possible without Michael being in the right frame of mind and working his tail off on and off the field. Bottom line."
Vick said as a competitor, his career wouldn't be complete without a Super Bowl.
"Nothing will make me happier than to put a ring on the finger of this guy next to me and mine too," Vick said, in reference to Reid. "That is my goal. That is my focus."
A lot of things happened in my life, good or bad, and I have an opportunity to move on," Vick said. "That's all I prayed for and that opportunity has come. It wasn’t easy. It was all in the unknown and I didn’t know what was going to happen. But it happened."
The financial security that deal provides also will help Vick as it relates to his financial problems, stemming from bankruptcy.
"That will be a breath of fresh air and now I can focus on football and being the best person and the best dad I can be and that means more than anything to me," Vick said.
Agent Joel Segal told reporters after the press conference that the contract was negotiated over the past few weeks and that Vick was committed to remaining in Philadelphia. Segal said Vick "ordered me" to get a deal done.
- And if the Eagles wind up winning the Superbowl this year, I better not hear you say one word. You're an idiot!
— madaboutit - Now it's time to pay DeSean!!— Pete H
- Sorry sports fans, no super bowl wins with this contract. This is just Reid believing that Super Bowl Championships are won with trickery and "Excitement" QBs. Reid will never learn that real championships are won with solid smart football. He has not learned that there are no secret weapons or shortcuts. He also will never be lucky enough to again have a Jim Johnson to carry his fat lame arse.— Carlos2
- Little Howie Eskin thinks this is good – he thinks anything the Eagles do is good.
I think we'll all be good when he's off the air.— mmds - frank105: where have you been? Even the dog lovers are back on the Eagles bandwagon! Hey, if you don't want to watch them...then don't. But sorry, you just won't have much company...— BackinAction
- He better sign a Pre-Nupt!!!!!— blueye7
- Pre-Nupt!!! Kijafa Frink gonna be all up in his bank account! Come on Mike... you can afford a good looking woman now instead of Jabba da Hut over there!— blueye7
- I just hope that anyone on here, pro Vick or not, if and when you fall, (because everyone at some point in life will fall)you come back with half the heart Michael has come back with and you make the most of your second chance.— philligrl
- good to see less of the idiot "dog killer" posters here today...apparently the idea of Vick cashing in on a 100,000,000 contract shows that the true losers are those posters themselves, and not Vick. Hurts for them to look in the mirror and now that the Eagles have committed themselves all-in with Vick, there is no reason for the idiots to continue posting here...nobody cared what they said said before and they sure as heck don't care now or ever. LOL— sedale
- Instead of an NFL contract, he should have been given the chair.— PROUD LIBERAL
- For what, I know some that killed people and didn't spend a day in jail let alone didn't get the chair. — charmaine
- At least Vick seems genuinely sorry. Unlike Kobe, who by the way is back on top in jersey sales. Says a lot bout America. Anyway, I'll take Vick any day over McNagg.— romanT
- Amen. Kobe and big Ben should be sharing a cell. — coloradoeagle
Comment removed.- With a name like snapperhead, I don't think I'd be calling anyone a scumbag. Quit being mad because the man was able to make a comeback, because its obvious you hate/dislike has nothing to do with dogs. — charmaine
