Vick: Never thought I'd see $100 million again
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Vick: Never thought I'd see $100 million again
Jeff McLane and Jonathan Tamari
Michael Vick went back to Leavenworth.
After the press conference, and the cameras and the handshakes and hugs, Vick sat down in a quiet office, leaned back in a chair and reflected on where he was and where he is now. Three years ago, he was in a federal prison. Today the quarterback signed a six-year contract with the Eagles worth $100 million -- his second nine-figure deal.
"I used to sit in my prison bunker and be like, '100 million -- I'll never see that again,'" Vick said to The Inquirer. "You know, because you're getting up there in age. I was 29 when I got out and I thought if I could just get a fraction of that -- maybe 25 ... 30. That would be good. That would be good. I just got it to where I know I'm going to have to work.
"So just mentally what I put myself through and how it just seem like in the blink of an eye I'm sitting right here right now. But even over the duration of those two years it was a long time. But it was all worth it, man. It was a lot of hard work, sacrifice."
Vick, of course, lost nearly everything he had when he was charged and convicted of running a dogfighting operation in 2007 -- football, freedom and much of the ten-year, $130 million contract he signed with the Falcons in 2004.
But he got it all back and is now the first NFL player ever to ink two nine-figure deals. There have been eight nine-figure contracts in the history of the league. Vick has two. The Eagles have handed out two, the other going to Donovan McNabb.
"Breaking barriers," Vick said. "I'm always breaking barriers."
While Vick could theoretically earn $100 million from the deal, it is unlikely. The sixth year voids if he participates in more than 35 percent of the snaps in any year of the deal, a league source said. There would be no way the Eagles keep Vick around for a sixth season if he played less than 35 percent of the snaps for five years.
The Eagles and Vick agreed to the deal on Monday afternoon, but Vick said he did not go out and celebrate. Instead he stayed home with his fiance, Kijafa Frink, and his children and watched the movie "Diary of a Wimpy Kid."
"I just chilled in the house with the kids and the family," Vick said. "That's just me -- conservative."
Vick was extra conservative driving to the NovaCare Complex Tuesday morning for practice and then to put his signature on the future.
"I made sure I put my seat belt on," Vick said. "I made sure I did that. Extra precaution."
It appears the Eagles may be starting to take the same appraoch to quarterbacks as the Flyers do with goaltenders. Let the revolving door begin.— tnk97- Wow... yeah... 3 starting QB's in 12 years... What a revolving door... tsk tsk. Shuddup and be grateful we aren't in a situation like the Broncos or 49ers, or Seahawks, or Carolina or... — Cr0we
- Please read my post over again and go S L O W and it is OK that your lips move when you read. I said they may be key words MAY BE ! And yes they may have had only had 3 quarterbacks in 12 years but who was the starting quarteback in week 1 of 2010 ? And where is he now ? — tnk97
- I'm hoping he's like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in how they still give it 100% despite their massive contracts. My fear is Vick will take a step back and be more concerned about protecting Vick the Franchise so he can make sure he collects all of that $100mil.— echosmyron
- First of all only $40 million of the money is guaranteed. Second, the guy owes millions to his creditors. He is actually only taking home about $300,000 for himself. At the end of this contract he will have paid off all his creditors and the next contract will provide him with the big bucks so he has to be at the top of his game to cash in for the next contract and any promotion money he hopes to make. — mindstorms
- Maybe we should all just wish him and the team well this season. None of us are going to see a dime of it. Of all the posts I just read, you guys act as if the money is coming out of your own pockets. The Eagles believe in him. We should too.— madaboutit
Comment removed.- No, he should win one for ungrateful fans like you, clown! — madaboutit
- My, my you guys sound like idiots!!I wonder what all of you would being saying, if mike brings home a championship!! stick with your comments when that happens. Are any of you even eagles fans, because it dont sound like it— ray rhodes
- Comment removed.
- What exactly is he talking about when he uses the word "sacrifice"?
Did he do some volunteer work with lepers on his own time or something?— CatoTheElder - He spent his time behind bars, he shouldn't have to be punished again outside of them. Mike put in alot of work off the field and hes making a difference in the inner city communities that has a problem with dog fighting. His wrong doing has turned into something positive!!! now go bring us home a championship mike. Thats what every eagle fan should be talking about, not his money!!! No ones talking about big Ben and them rape charges
— ray rhodes - u know what? u philly freaks and the media just make me LOL. may I remind u something? we're talkin about an organization that is so brilliant and such a gold standard that it has NEVER EVER EVA won a super bowl! nope. not even one. they go after guys that are already hurt. they dont want haynesworth. they dont want plex. they dump stew b even though they got no real linebackers. they got no real ol. they still refuse to pay action jackson. they got more corners than they need. they admit bunk was a BUST. another BUST. their first round pick is already a 100 years old and they didnt get him in right away either. and now u freaks actually think they gonna win the big one?! why u people so STUPID?!
WOOT!
now turn off that iggle $#@% and tune in to the Phightins!
P-H-I-L-L-I-E-S PHILLIES!
- There are what... ten teams that haven't won a Superbowl? Maybe even more. That's a third of the teams. You make it sound like we are the ONLY team to have never won. You just simply need to get over yourself. — Cr0we
- I'm a big Philly/igg's fan, and it stings that there isn't a Lombardi trophy in the Linc, and not only that we are the only ones in the NFC Beast without one, it's needed to complete the resume no doubt — xlGmanlx
