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.
Mike vick was never a great QB. He is a dog killer, who used to be a fast runner, but age has caught up with him. Let him go, pick up Bulger and call it a day.— lgdoran- I'm beginning to get so sick of the eagles and the worthless media that follow them. Andy Reid blinked....FRONT PAGE NEWS!— kozykoz26
- lol did you really say Bulger? Wow....— EaglesBleedMoney
- I think Big Red and staff liked a little of what the saw last year when Vick was in the Eagle version of the Wildcat. Opens up some possibilities and keeps defense on their toes should they keying on KK. He's obviously viewed as an asset vs. a liability.— dy_by_dx
Comment removed.- Dog Killer is only a danger to poor defenseless animals.— beaglemommy
- Comment removed.
im sorry, but until kk proves himself, mike vick is the best qb on the roster.- Comment removed.
- kolbmachine show, where are you from?— Phila26
We know this guy can help the Eagles in some way. He is an amazing talent but it's impossable to root for him on any level...— delcodanno- Vick will be our starter before Halloween... I am taking bets.— Skena
- Vick snapped the necks of dogs choked them out and drowned them. That is not a mistake that a man without any emotion or feelings. Bulger for back-up I said it, we know we are banking on Kolb, cause Vick sucks.— lgdoran
- to all the mike conVick apologists Question:how many 300 yard games did conVick throw for in his overrated career???..answer:2....Q:how many 300 yard games does Kevin Kolb have???...answer:2 in two games....this is wolf breaking it down for the couch-potatoes...the Eagles donot need mike conVick-mike conVick needs the Eagles.....Birds 2012-SB..wolf.— wolf 4
- I still don't understand the negativity. You have an experienced NFL starter as a back-up. Even if he comes in and just hands off the ball the other teams defense has to gameplan for him. If he comes in and wins a game if Kolb gets hurt will that change people's mind. He may never be a starter in this league again but I will take my chances with him backing up Kolb.— Drew777
