Vick: "I'll be dangerous"
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Vick: "I'll be dangerous"
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
A year ago May 21, Michael Vick was released from federal prison after an 18-month stay on dogfighting crimes.
The Eagles quarterback is still not back to being a starter in the NFL.
"Being a competitor you always want to start," Vick said Monday, his first day participating with rookies and selected veterans during organized team activities. "I know in my future that's there for me. I'll be a starter in this league again. Right now I'm just having fun honing my skills.
"You're going to have an opportunity to be a starter. And I'll say, 'OK, I'm going to go back to the drawing board and work on a lot of things that I didn't have a chance to work on because I was forced into action so fast.' I have to work on those things and when I get back to doing them I'm going to be dangerous. That's all I can say -- I'll be dangerous."
Vick is currently the backup to Kevin Kolb, who was also in attendance at Monday's practice. There is the perception out there that Vick has to show the Eagles coaches that he comprehends coach Andy Reid's version of the west coast offense for the 29-year-old to remain on the team or perhaps be traded.
"I expect to be here at the start of the season playing the role and doing what I'm doing," Vick said. "I enjoy this organization, the locker room and the staff. It's a great place to be. Unless something else happens, I expect to be here."
During the off-season, Vick campaigned for a new job. He was on the market, the Eagles said, but they didn't receive much in offers from other teams.
"Actually, I understood," Vick said about the lack of interest. "Because I'd been out of football. I didn't play behind a center for three years. I know how good I am. The [Eagles] coaches know how good I am. I know I could have landed some place, but it wasn't meant to be. But now my skills are back. I'm ready. I'm faster than I've ever been before. I'm quicker, light on my feet. So I guess somebody missed out this time around. But I guess I'll make it work here and they'll see."
Vick said that he's working most on improving his accuracy. He was shaky during today's session. Of course, a little over a year ago, Vick was wearing a different kind of uniform.
"I celebrated the anniversary -- well, I didn't celebrate," Vick said of his release from Leavenworth. "But I thought about it and it brought back a lot of memories -- how far I've come on and off the field because my goal when I came out was to make sure I took care of all the issues off the field and tried to excel on the field. It's been a lot of hard work."
Vick was asked what he remembered most about leaving prison in Leavenworth.
"The thing I remember most is just freedom, just being free," Vick said. "Something I never thought that would be taken away from me. You don't think it would happen to you until you're actually in that situation."
Kolb, meanwhile, had different reasons for showing up for the early OTAs. He's hoping to fine-tune his understanding of the offense and wanted to shake off a so-so performance during minicamp.
“Minicamp didn’t go as smooth as I would have liked,” Kolb said. “So I just want to continue to get completions, continue to work on my fundamentals and get better. And when I leave here I want to say, ‘Alright, just stay where you’re at.’ And that way when I get into training camp I’m ready to roll and have that confidence going into the season.”
Here's some other news from Monday's practice:
-- Ellis Hobbs participated in individual drills and installations, but skipped 7-on-7s and team drills. The cornerback, considered the starter on the right side, is trying to come back from last season's neck surgery. Here's the full story.
-- There were several other veterans, aside from Kolb, Vick and Hobbs, that joined OTAs after forgoing two practices from last week: LB Ernie Sims, RB Mike Bell, DE Darryl Tapp, OL Mike McGlynn and CB Dimitri Patterson.
-- LB Moise Fokou, who did take part in last week's practices, wasn't required to be at this week's four days of OTAs.
TheKolbINTERCEPTIONMachineShow learn how to spell before you rip on our Birds.— sjulax05- We have two backup QB's!— NObama2012
- I'll take vick over kolb any day without question... The crazy part is it sounds as if the honey moon phase is going to be short and sweet for kolb... He had a so so mini camp??? Are you kidding me!!!! He's already starting off on a sour note give me a break... HE can't even make it through minicamp with having to return for extra work give me a break!!!! I just hope Jeff and Andy didn't forget that they traded No. 5 (the winnest QB in this franchise history, 3rd winningest in the last ten years behind bradey and manning to the skins... Whom we have to face twice a year til they trade him or he retires???? Thank god we did keep Mike or else we'd be bad for an awfully long time... I hope all eagle fans are bracing for the dark ages again with kolb at the helm!!!! All them McNabb/black QB haters in this town will be callin for VICK and hoping that the McNabb Trade i was a bad dream or nightmare even!!! What a joke this has got to be the first time in years I havent been lookin forwarded to seeing the start of the season because we are going to be really really bad this season if they don't put the job in more capable hands... I cant wait to see what Lonewolf and all of the other stupid Kolb supporters will have to stay once this disaster start to unfold!!!!— DJ_Bootleggah
- am i the only one who read how the Eagles starting QB wanted to shake off a so-so performance during minicamp?? and when Kolb said “Minicamp didn’t go as smooth as I would have liked,” .. “So I just want to continue to get completions, continue to work on my fundamentals and get better??...— the tru 1
- Will he be "dangerously committed" a la Randall?— DSqd
- yep something tells me Vick will be important piece in this offense before year is out— DMC5
- yep something tells me Vick will be important piece in this offense before year is out— DMC5
Comment removed.- Hey Mrs. Hill, are you a dog fighter? you must be if you would wish that pathetic piece of trash Michael Vick well. You are no better than him. Someone should do to you what he did to those dogs and then maybe you wouldnt' be so pro Vick. You are a pathetic human being.— dogmom32404
- I just have to say this, you people who are contiuing to make comments about dogs, didn't like Vick in the first place and I do agree most of you are just jealous. If you all that concerned about dog fighting and animal cruelty why did it take Mike Vick to make you show your concerns, dog fighting, animal cruelty was around long before Vick and continues right now. Especially for those in Philly, if you were so concerned why do you have such a problem with dog fighting and animal cruelty. You people act like you have never done anything wrong, however the fact is you just didn't get caught, and when you were caught it didn't raise a red flag because you are "nobody's", not saying that in a nasty manner only meaning you (just like myself) are everyday unknown folks, and nobody cares about what you do right or wrong in your life, had it been me or you in the same situation Vick got caught up in, trust me you wouldn't have read two words about it in the news and by now it would have been long forgotten. GET A GRIP— charmaine
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- "I will be dangerous" does he mean in or out of the kennel, because I see little evidence of danger on the field!
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
