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."
Vick is just saying exactly what his seven PR Pros that he hired tells him to.— frank105- It is comical that Eagles fans somehow think this signing will work out for them. This has a lot of ways to go south fast. — JonKap
- Jealous and spiteful much? — Cr0we
- I'm gonna pray for you, dude. You need your head examined. — madaboutit
- I hope he plays up to the value of the contract and not down to the level we saw late last year and through this pre-season. As an Eagles fan I'd love to be wrong but i'm not holding my breath that the former is going to happen.— Eagle GREEN Mt State
Comment removed.- While it's true he's just saying what his PR pros tell him too. The alternative is worse. He could ignore what his PR pros tell him to do. Because like it or not, anyone in his shoes is going to have PR pros working for them or the team.
I hope it works out for him and the Eagles. But I worry that now that he has his contract he'll stop being as careful of his life and reputation.— Elbarad - Comment removed.
- Im more worried about the fact no running QB has ever won a superbowl. Ok sort of Steve Young but not really, he didnt win as a scrambler. Its still better than going a decade with mediocrity of potential pocket passers that dont amount to top 10 qbs, which happens to a lot of franchises. Ill take the playoff runs, gotta make it to the dance to win it all.— peteike
- Roger Staubach, Steve McNair, Fran Tarkenton, Steve Young: All scramblers and all capable of winning a Superbowl... and if all goes well, Vick could be better than any of them. Steve Young had ALOT of support... — Cr0we
- Well my expectations of him just grew exponentially. People will be much more critical of his performances on and off the field now. I still don't think he should own dogs.— blueye7
- I hope he plays at the level he's capable of so he can get the most out of the deal...He owes his creditors 19 million, agent,taxes...do the math...ouch.— bearsfriend
- Comment removed.
- Hmmm.. the Number 2 paid and widely considered the best QB in the league had no Superbowl ring until a few years back and very few playoff wins. That would be Eli's bigger, better brother. — Cr0we
