Sources: Vick will be back
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Sources: Vick will be back
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles will bring Michael Vick back next season, team sources said today.
Vick is currently third on the quarterback depth chart and is slated to earn $5.25 million in total salary. That salary would be an exorbitant amount for the Eagles to pay a third-stringer. But if he were to be the backup, Vick's salary would not be significantly more than what other NFL backup quarterbacks earn.
And with his additional role in the Eagles' wildcat/spread formation offense, Vick would warrant the higher scale, according to one team source.
"As a coaching staff, we all have confidence that he'll get in there and do that," Eagles coach Andy Reid said last week, referring to Vick's wildcat role. "He can run the offense, too. That part of his game. That's a neat thing."
This scenario, of course, presumes that either starting quarterback Donovan McNabb or backup Kevin Kolb will be traded. At the NFL owners' meetings, Reid said that the Eagles were "entertaining" offers for all three of their quarterbacks.
McNabb, however, has been the subject of various trade rumors and appears the most likely to go now that the team has all but admitted that he is on the market. There was a report earlier this week that Oakland had emerged as the leading candidate in a trade for McNabb and that a deal was imminent. But team sources have indicated that something may not get done, if at all, until the draft.
The team is already on the hook for $2.5 million of the Vick's quarterback'ssalary, having paid a $1.5 roster bonus on March 9, and with that guaranteeing $1 million of his $3.75 million base salary if they chose to release him.
But a source said the Eagles aren't likely to cut Vick and in fact, they aren't shopping the 29-year-old anymore. That may have something to do with the relatively low interest teams have in trading for Vick. And, of course, the Eagles could just be trying to generate some demand.
Read tomorrow's Inquirer for more on this story and the Eagles.
none of the above..we need new blood— flamingo- I am a true believer in the phrase "You make your own destiny." The Eagles' arrogance and incompetence since the Dawkins debacle is coming home to roost. This team will not finish .500 this season. Little underachieving for the best roster of the best organization in the NFL, don't you think?— Dean1
- If the Eagles keep Vick and continue to push him omto us, then I will get another season of Sundays back. I did a lot last season instead of watching the Birds, maybe I'll be able to continue that streak.— jcc1960
- It used to be said that of any fans Philly fans were the most knowledgeable when it came to talking about their teams, now days I beg to differ on this. This new age XBOX/ Playstation fan knows nothing about the game anymore. The knowledgeable fan knows you do what’s best for the team and putting it in the hands of an inexperienced mid-grade QB like Kolb who has the propensity for turning the ball over regularly ain’t what’s best. I continue to make the point #5 has carried this team for all these years with less talent all around him now he has a collective group of good talent around him, only idiots would call for a trade at this point but again that’s what a lot of the fans in this town have become. As far as Vick being an Eagle that’s great to have another dynamic QB like that ready to go in case something happens to McNabb. All this talk about dogfighting get over it that’s the past, all the talk about he’s not the same player get a grip it was one year back after how many years of layoff, his talent is still there. The real knowledgeable fan understands these things this new age Philly fan dreams of Kolb as the future. Trade Kolb for what you can get bring in a good rookie QB to train we’ve wasted 3 years with this kid time to cut the cord and move on.— realtruth
- UGH! - Oh well, I guess it is another year of not watching the Eagles— phillydude
Comment removed.- The dynamics of the Eagles QB situation is summed up best by jtj06. The QB transition was being planned by the Eagles ever since they drafted Kolb 3 years ago. The people that say the best chance of winning is with McNabb can not see beyond the end of their nose. He will be 34 years old by the end of the season and his performance has already begun to decline. The Eagles are looking to the future and they should be commended for taking this approach. They are itching to get Kolb in the saddle, who knows the system and has shown enough potential to warrant this opportunity. Vick provides 1. a more than capable back-up to Kolb, 2.insurance in the event Kolb does not measure up and 3.an ideal back for running the wildcat offense. The Eagles are fascinated with the wildcat offense and this is why they obtained Vick. Vick and Kolb were never on the trading block, as Reid says they were, this was just a smoke screen to keep McNabb's value as high as possible. McNabb has been a very good QB and the main reason the Eagles want to replace him is because of his age. The combination of Vick/Kolb and the wildcat offense could provide for some exciting times in the upcoming seasons.— Beck
- I find it embarrassing that Vick actually is getting a decent amount of votes. Has he shown anything at all that resembles even a shred of a starting caliber quarterback since his arrival? No. A couple of nice passes and playing an option wildcat quarterback does not signify his re-emergence as a star in this league. And to what some other posters are saying here. What is with all of the eagle drivel and very little Phillies coverage. Heck, they've been the best team in town since 2007 and they still play second fiddle. The Eagles, Flyers and Sixers need to all be glued to their TV sets this summer and take notes on how the Phillies are run, and how they play. They do it right. But for the birds... McNabb's time is up, thanks for the memories 5. Time for Kolb to prove the FO right, help them save face. Vick...have fun on the bench buddy.— Omorales510
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- Beck, if it comes down to Vick or Kolb I positively guarantee Vick will not be playing back up to Kolb. After the first three of four accurate throws to the opponents D you will see the rolls reversed. The talent level between the two are like night and day with Vick being leaps and bounds above especially in running a wildcat scheme.— realtruth
- realtruth: I'm part of this "xbox/playstation" fan age, and yes, I totally disagree with you. Why would you trade away Kolb, who hasn't even been given the fair chance he deserves to start? He doesn't have the tape or stats to warrant a true opinion on him, but he has flashed the ability to be a good player in this league. His propensity to turn it over is vastly overrated in my opinion. He has seen solid playing time in only 3 games, in 3 years. Two of those came against very opportunistic defenses in the ravens and saints. And Andy pretty much threw him to the wolves against the Ravens in 2008. If he comes out in 2010 and stinks it up, turns the ball over like Kurt Warner in 2002-2003, then yes by all means pull him and admit he was a mistake. But until then, nobody outside of the organization really knows what they have in Kolb.— Omorales510
- I hate that guy Vick. I hope the eagles lose 16 games.— q2again
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- I think it's fair to say we all want a little change. Part of me says stay with DNab until the end of his contract. Let's do one more year. The other part of me says let's throw caution to the wind and start Kolb. I'm kind of curious to see what he can bring although incredibly fearful. The question is are our expectations to high? Can Kolb come in and take us to the promised land first year? And do we have the patience? Michael Vick is a weapon if used properly. I'd still have a backup. I think he's simply an instrument to an otherwise perpetually confused offense. Don't know about you guys but I can't make heads or tails of our play calling. I'm more concerned about our defense. I have those two Cowboy games scorched on my retina. I was so embarrassed at those games. My non-Eagles friends looked at me like I was fool for even caring. I'm as frustrated as the next Gang Green fan. But I want a clean break. I'm willing to see what it offers.— broadstreetbullynyc
- Omorales510, #1 Kolb was a bad pickup from the begining if we waited a year we could have had Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco, so Kolb was a bad knee jerk decision on Reids part. You say he has flashed the ability to be good, well so did Tod Pinkston and Freddie Mitchell, a couple more bad decisions by Reid. Anyway flashing against the 22nd and 26th ranked passing D's last year doesn't say much to me. You can tell how a QB is going to be down the stretch when he's thrown into the fire and the INTs the kid throws are just plain stupid (I've gone back and watched the games) and you can't coach that stuff away. Speaking of being thrown into a fire, take AJ Feely in his first meaningful starts the kid to this team into the playoffs I don't see Kolb doing the same. As suspect as this D might be next year you can ill afford to have Kolb giving the ball away like he has. I say draft a capable QB groom him and part ways with a bad decision.— realtruth
