Reid: Never thought about benching Vick
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Reid: Never thought about benching Vick
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Remember those three days in between Andy Reid saying on Sunday that he was evaluating the quarterback position and the Eagles coach then releasing a statement on Wednesday that Michael Vick was still his starter?
Well, that time lapse did not mean he was contemplating benching Vick for rookie Nick Foles, Reid said. Nope, Vick is his starter and he "will continue to be the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles."
"My point wasn’t that I was going to bench Michael Vick, it was that I needed to step back and evaluate before I came to you," Reid said Thursday and the Eagles opened practice in preparation for Monday night's game in New Orleans.
So, Reid was asked, Vick will start for the rest of the season?
“Michael’s the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles,” Reid answered.
Reid was, understandably, in full damage control. He obviously can't have a quarterback controversy distracting his 3-4 Eagles as they face a must-win game against the Saints.
Vick said he had a conversation with Reid after the coach's Wednesday statement in which they "talked about some things that we both needed to discuss." The quarterback provided no details, but he did admit that he let the situation affect his psyche.
“I’m human," Vick said. "It does tend to bother you because I have emotions just like everybody else. It’s not like you can just block certain things out. You want to have that comfort level. You want to know that everything is going to be what it’s going to be at the end of the day. … I kind of let it get to me, to be honest."
On Tuesday, wide receiver DeSean Jackson said on NFL Network that he didn't think Vick has looked comfortable in the Eagles offense this season. Vick said that he was comfortable, but that he has tried to cater his game to "what everybody wanted me to be."
"The most important thing is I just got to let it go," Vick said. "I got to get my swag back, I got to get back to playing the way I love to play it and not worry about what’s going to happen because that’s out of my control.”
Vick has had an up-and-down season. He's accounted for 13 of the Eagles' 17 turnovers, but has also engineered three fourth-quarter comebacks. On Sunday against the Falcons, he wasn't always sharp, but he did not turn the ball over.
Reid said he thought that Vick actually played one of his best games of the season. Still, both coach and quarterback left a lot of room for interpretation when after the game Reid said that he was going to evaluate the position and Vick said that it was obvious his coach was considering a change.
“That was the question that was thrown at me," Vick said of his response after the game. "So I didn’t know that conversation took place. So, hey, it’s all hindsight now. You got to move forward. I can’t continue to entertain that. I got to stay focused for this team.”
Vick said he and the team were moving forward. He called for a players-only meeting Wednesday in which several veteran Eagles stood up and voiced their grievances. There was some questioning of effort, but no individual players were called out, one veteran Eagles player said.
that's why they are 3-4!— 14 years of- Dumb, Dumb, Dumb, Dumb....... Fat and Stupid are no way to go through life Andy...— toiletofphilly
- FAT ANDY lies every time his lips move. Can never believe a word that comes out of his mouth. Glad I never had a father like him.— oneway
- The ole players only team meeting. That just means the season isnt going well. Time for changes. The second they brought Vick onto this team, this was the exact scenario so many fans dreaded. Here it is folks, I guess there is solace in knowing he and Reid can go down in flames together. If Im Lurie though and you can get a young QB experience at some point this season I make that happen. Now may be too soon, but I wouldnt let Reid keep Vick the starter if they lose the next 2 gms. No more excuses for Vick if he doesnt produce against the Saints D— peteike
- Blab, Blab, Blab, same old bull....these fools are all talk.— Bob112
- Bwahahahahaaa!
http://www.theonion.com/articles/michael-vick-its-great-to-have-the-support-of-an-i,30202/— c.ley - "Never thought about" benching Vick -- that is just a totally ridiculous statement. Either he is stupid (for not thinking about benching Vick) or he thinks we are all stupid (for thinking we would believe that he never thought about it).
— Copper34 - The man is lying through his bristles.— watsonmr
- Reid is going to ride the Vick train to unemployment. Funny thing is that Lurie's has no balls to let Reid continue to start unproductive players who are vastly overpaid. Time for Lurie to man up— lonewolf 10
- Who cares. This season's a wash. AGAIN.
— jibberjabber - These guys need to get back to reporting on things that are actually happening instead of writing speculation about what people might be thinking. It is clear that Vick was misled in his press conference and asked a question which indicated that Reid had said he was thinking about making a change at QB. Vick responded based on the information presented to him by reporters. It's downright pathetic the extent to which some of these guys will go to try to drum up some non-existent controversy just to create a story to write about. Sports journalism has devolved into the Jerry Springer hour.— JimG
- This team displays no connection with the city in which they play. Join me in demanding ownership return humility, integrity and work ethic as core values of the organization. I want a team that brings their lunch pails to work. Hard-nosed football was once played in this town; I want it back!— bentlip
- Leadership is more than calling a team meeting to discuss effort level while the ship is taking on water!— bentlip
- So Vick spoke at a players 'only' meeteng huh?While it can be appreciated that he'd try to assume some kind of leadership it's difficult to imagine anyone actually listening.Leadership is best exemplified through actions,not 'word's.I guess monday night we'll havbe a chance to see that part..........— aloha gary
- I didn't know he had a brain? Where does he keep it in his closet?
He really has Laurie in his back pocket! Lets trade them for a case of yahoo!— lost eagle
