Vick: tired of injury questions
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Vick: tired of injury questions
Jonathan Tamari
By now, it has been written over and over: the Eagles don't have a chance this year unless Mike Vick stays healthy and protects the football. But no matter how much the issue has already been discussed, questions keep coming and Vick today sounded frustrated by the subject.
"I really don't think I need to discuss what type of game I'm going to play. It's going to be what it's going to be. It seems like the questions are becoming repetitive and I'm tired of answering it because the only thing we can do is wait and see if I’m going to play a more disciplined game," Vick said after practice. "There's not too much more to say or to talk about."
The questions arose today after Vick was asked about protecting himself in a recent WIP interview, sparking a new round of radio talk about the issue.
"The goal is to protect myself. I put my faith in God to keep me on the field with my team and with the guys and that's about it. There's no reason to keep digging and to (be) talking about it and saying 'change your style, are you holding the ball too long?' I’m over that. That’s not the reasons and I think sometimes people make assumptions not really knowing what needs to be done," Vick said. "I think the correction to all of this is simple, protect yourself as best as I can, put my faith in the lord and myself and keep pushing."
The quarterback, who missed three games due to injury last year and left two others early, veered between defiance and acknowleding the need to stay healthy, as is often the case when he talks about his own safety -- and which perhaps contributes to the persistent questions about how he will play this year. One moment he'll say he knows he needs to be more careful, and the next he vows to not change his aggressive style. In the past, Vick has said he would change only to continue playing the same way, frustrating even some coaches. As Vick himself said, the only real way to gauge if he has altered his style is to see him in a real game.
A reporter asked Vick if he was irritated by having to discuss the topic again.
"Yeah, because at some point I start to feel like it’s personal like shots are being directed towards me for holding the ball too long, certain things, when that’s not the case," he said.
Vick missed three games due to injuries last year and left two others early. His biggest injuries -- broken ribs and a concussion -- both came from hits while he was in the pocket, but some have suggested he would be hit less if he made quicker reads and unloaded the ball sooner.
The franchise quarterback, though, acknowledged that scrutiny comes with his job, and that his health is crucial for the team's success.
"I accept responsibility for everything. I feel that my sole responsibility is this team, we’re going to go as I go. If I’m not on the field, I’m not helping the team in any shape, form or fashion. The turnovers, that’s my responsibility. It’s my responsibility to orchestrate the offense and make sure the team is well put together and suited and ready to play on Sundays," he said. "I understand the responsibility and the role that comes along with being a quarterback, and I accept it. Sometimes I just don’t accept people saying things and really not knowing what they’re talking about."
(Though he quickly added that he wasn't saying that his radio hosts fell into that category).
Make it happen Mike!!! Get rid of the ball quicker— Aussie Fan- Of course Mike is tired of hearing it. We're tired of seeing it, too. Play smart ball, and everyone's happy. If he's on the bench, only our opponents are happy.
- Well...well...well. So Mike Vick is tired of injury questions. Okay, Let's start asking him dog questions instead and then he'll be more forthcoming with the injure question answers. Vick will be answering injury questions as quick as a dog can lick a dish. You can bet on it.
- You got dog questions.......I have questions too about human being, I'm sure you know what I mean. — charmaine
- Sheil you've done a good job covering the fact that Vick got injured while he was in the pocket. Truth is, Vick did not get hurt because he held the ball too long. Vick got hurt because defenders came in unblocked and knocked him silly. I know there were lots of people who wanted to say the offensive line was great last year, but the truth is, the line struggled mightily in the early games, and Vick got clobbered as a result.— kingsolomonsmind
- well, well. A poster that actually WATCHED the games for a change. That's the way I saw it as well. Thanks. Oh, to be sure, there WERE games were Vick held on to the ball forever and a day a testament to his decision making (Just like another former Eagles QB who shall go unnamed here) but, the line wasn't doing him any favors either. Mostly during the early games, specifically, weeks 2,3,6, and 10. — essell
- He makes sense....get over last year and wait and see....He knows that this is his last chance....He served his time, he did not bail on his creditors, and he knows the team goes as he goes....but then the haters will hate and the media, (especially the self serving , self important talk show hosts) have no brains or originallity to think of anything else to say...The sophmoronic morning geek, the self procalimed professor (of what ...is that a BS degree as in what is found in the meadow )and the guy who thinks he is everybody's uncle, freind or cousin are so over.....that station is done thanks to the one down the dial who is fan freindly, original and entertaining....— nuggett
Comment removed.- Well AngryChair if you got some money of your own you wouldn't be angry and you certainly wouldn't have to worry about Vick's money. — charmaine
- a guy who has completed a full season ONCE in his whole career is tired of 'injury' questions? has anybody noticed that he is still saying the same thing he has always said? last year he was going to slide to "protect himself"...he still couldnt do it. " i play the way i play"...said that when he got frustrated with questions last year
yes its true that he most often gets knocked out of games while in the pocket but holding the ball too long and running around contributes because the cumulative effect of his getting tackled and hit over and over and over also leads to injuries....he is only 6' tall and a small guy and getting tackled by players weighing 50-75lbs bigger
there is a reason he gets hurt every year— IcanTakeit 
what's the O/U on the number of games this genius is going to miss, 6? birds are looking at 7-9, 8-8 at best— barry m goldwater- He is tired of injury questions. Too bad. Fans are tired of him and some of the coaches are tired of him too. Except Reid, of course.— Taser
- Now how would you know that when you can't even get to a game. Needless to say real fans are tire of pretend fans such as yourself. — charmaine
- I'm a bit tired of reading repetitious articles about the Eagles, and can actually relate to the players ire about it. As I've mentioned before the scribes today treat athletes like corrupt politicians. They lack any creative angles to their stories that also need a spice of humor to accurately reflect that it is games that are being covered...not real life news. Sorry. I know there's tons of fans that live and breathe the incessant badgering of local athletes often repeating themes ad nauseum. I'm old school and get nostalgic for the creative columnists of old. Not sure what's being taught in journalism courses these days, or what editors expect, but I can guess it's what these young and middle aged writers are producing day in day out. I've been a die hard Eagle fan for years, before Van Brocklin came to Philly and just soon after Van Buren lead the great teams in the 40's. I don't need all of this badgering, and certainly not every week during the season and every column during the off season. So Jonathan, keep trying, and remember to have fun, and we'll have fun along with you. T'is a game.— retzlaff
- "(Though he quickly added that he wasn't saying that his radio hosts fell into that category)"
Quite likely, they DO fall into that category (of not knowing what they're talking about)!
— SteveS11
