Vick: NFL Network ranking 'a joke'
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Vick: NFL Network ranking 'a joke'
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Quarterback Michael Vick ranked 70th in NFL Network's Top 100 rankings. (Matt Rourke/AP)
There are two things Michael Vick has never lacked: confidence and the respect of his peers.
But in the NFL Network's Top 100 rankings, Vick came in at No. 70, which was way too low if you ask him.
"It's a joke," he told Mike Missanelli of 97.5 The Fanatic. "I won't say where I need to be. I'll let my peers and everybody else just decide on that. Maybe it was voted on by the peers, but I just disagree. I know how good I am and what I bring to the table for my football team. The things that I can do on the football field sometimes can be uncanny, but I give a lot of credit to my coaches and the people around me."
So far, eight quarterbacks have made the list. Tim Tebow came in at No. 95; Tony Romo at 91; Philip Rivers at 61; Peyton Manning at 50; Matthew Stafford at 41; Cam Newton at 40; and Eli Manning at 31.
Several high-profile quarterbacks, like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger have yet to be named.
In 2011, Vick ranked 19th in completion percentage (59.8 percent) and tied for 10th in yards per attempt (7.8). He threw 18 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
"They got me ranked 70. I think the thing right now to do is just go prove why I feel like I should be even higher," Vick said. "So if that's what they felt based on what happened last year, then I've got to deal with it. It's motivation, so thank you, because they've motivated me to become a better player this year, so I'll have that in the back of my mind as I go out and play this year as well."
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Buy 2012 Philadelphia Eagles game tickets Comments (60)
Huh. Seems to me his motivation should be 1) winning for his teammates, coaches and fans and 2) earning his contract. I guess if this is added motivation, so be it. But, he should have worded it such so he doesn't come across as someone who is only motivated by peers.— Commish- I wasn’t in agreement with the Eagles in acquiring Vick, and after trying the Wildcat package, I was even more convinced that Vick was a QB with great skills, but the inability to harness that potential.
After he replaced Kolb, however, Vick was spectacular, especially considering that was playing behind an offense which had prepared for a right handed QB in Kolb. Toward the end of the season however, Vick reverted to his reliance on athleticism.
In my opinion, Reid is responsible for at least some of that change. His play-calling leaned very heavily toward the deep pass, and teams began to blitz and deploy exotic defenses such as overloading on Vick’s left and forcing him to the right. Reid’s response was to go max protect, keeping Celek in to block. In my opinion, that was the wrong way to go. I believe he should have gone to the short passing game. As a matter of fact there was at least one game (I can’t recall the opponent) where Vick just ate them alive with the short pass. Again, Andy was in love with the Vick/Jackson deep connection, called those types of plays and Vick, like any other QB, after taking a serious beating, ran for his life.
Last year, of course, Vick still hadn’t had a full off-season as a starter, but he looked even worse. I’m not sure why.
As far as I’m concerned, the jury’s still out. I’m encouraged by his hard work and by the fact that just one year ago, Eli Manning led the league with 25 interceptions. However, I’m discouraged by Vick’s lack of understanding that he needs to protect himself. Further, I haven’t seen evidence that he can recognize the blitz and adjust appropriately. This is his year to make a definitive statement. Either he’s learned enough or he hasn’t.
If I had my dithers, we would have gone all in for RG III.
RG III + Dream Team II = Superbowl Win I. - How can we take your post even remotely serious when you prefer a rookie who hasn't taken a regular season game snap over a proven NFL QB? Proven as in has thrown and run for REAL NFL scores, not NCAA. Proven as in went to the NFL Playoffs, proven as in played more than ONE NFL season? RGIII is just a nickname for a ROOKIE, can he play an entire season before we anoint him the QB to beat in the NFC East?
Back to Vick's appraisal of himself - turn the ball over and win some playoff games, that will get your "ranking" higher, otherwise it is a joke until you win a SB regardless.— xlGmanlx - I don't think dithers means what you think it does. — bc3030
- Of course he's motivated to win for his teammates, coaches, and fans. He was being asked about the rankings so he was talking about the motivation the rankings could provide. Must we try to find the negativity in everything?— mx55
- Vick is an idiot. Why should he care about some stupid list. Eli Manning didn’t even make the list last year and ended up winning the Superbowl. This kind of thing only makes Vick sound like a selfish, me-first player.— GJK3161
- Why should you care what it sounds like rather than how Vick plays?
It sounds like you need a dose of your own medicine.
— bc3030 - Hey there Mr Wonderful, you finished first in another poll. America's most beloved athlete.— 4in5out7gone
- Well now this comes from a person who knows from experience what it feels like to finish first on a poll PWT most beloved PWT LOL LOL LOL, keep trying loser, you'll get there one day. — charmaine
- Mr. Vick, shouldn't you be worried about finishing off some wounded dogs via electrocution instead of these silly NFL network rankings?— Bobski5000
- There are a lot of reasons to criticize Vick - but the whole dogs thing is a bit tired at this point, ok? — proLogic
- Now Mister Vick you are good but" the things I can do on the football field sometimes can be uncanny" lmao stop it Mike ... you came up small in the play-offs vs GB and last year was bad so let me see some uncanny SB wins then u can be a super hero !!! No excuses this year !!!!
R— diehardeagle - I guess Joe Flacco isn't a QB. He was number 74 on top 100 and they didnt include him in the list of QBs already names. I guess he must be a running back or something— ravensSB47champs
Comment removed.- No actually Jeffrey Nalley was awarded #1, and if you don't know who Jeffrey Nalley is, then your concern for animals is as fake as it appears to be. — charmaine
- BURN!! LMFBAO — papabear702
- If he feels he's better than 70, then good, go out and prove it. But to say it's a joke makes him look petulant and arrogant. I really don't think Vick gets it at all.— proLogic
- i think McNabb is a better qb.... we made a huge mistake... have the birds won a playoff game since #5 rolled out?— Wizmix
still ranked too high; should be in the mid to late hundreds somewhere.— Sam Crow- Eagles will never the Superbowl with Vick and the front office knows it. He’s gone after this year.— GJK3161
- If this is true make it easy on yourself and don't watch the team until after this year, last thing the Eagles need is a bunch of fake fans, who can't afford a ticket to the game in the first place. — charmaine
- Which starting Quarterback with little to even moderate success in the NFL isn't a bit arrogant? I never wanted a timid Quarterback. Your Quarterback sets the tone for your offense. I think Vick has done an outstanding job given this is his first year as the Eagles starting QB in off season training and he's setting the tone for participation. We will see how that effects his play this year. But this is a guy that came off the bench and lead the Eagles to a playoff apparence in the first year of rebu— Dexter
- They know all of that, these are just people who are going cry like babies regardless to what. These are the same people who wanted Kevin Kolb as qb, these are the same people who don't go to games anyway, these are the same people who follow each and every article written about Vick, but yet they claim not to like him. Who cares whether or not they like him, hell they can't even afford a bus ride across town to go to a game, which is their real reason for the hate they display. — charmaine
- Vick came off the Bench in 2010 to lead the Eagles to the play offs, if anyone remembers 2009, the Eagles should have never been in the playoff and, imho, blew the Eagles draft position. Dallas embarrassed the Eagles in 2009 in that final game, and the next week in that playoff game.
The Eagles in 2009 was not a stellar team, and should have never made those playoffs.
The kid had a great season and runner up for League MVP in 2010, in 2011 the entire team was a new team, 8 of the 22 Starters were rookies or free agents.
It's delusional to believe the Eagles, playing on an abbreviated schedule, with a completely new defense, players and contributors would be a playoff contender even with Jesus Christ as Quarterback. That's just not a logical conclusion and no NFL Fan could have come to such a idea on their own.
— Dexter - Seems like the 49ers with an entirely new coaching staff and a VERY mediocre Alex Smith had no problems last year making a playoff run. Please stop making the excuse the Eagles were the only team with a big change in staff/coaching/scheme last year and no off season! The three main guys, that being the head coach, the O-coordinator, and the starting QB were all there! — gdibig
- Actually gdibig, San Frn only made one major change in the off-season, and that was replacing the head coach with a competent one. OC/DC still the same, the Defense was all pretty much the same minus the addition of Carlos Rogers, which if you asked ANYONE with any kind off foresight would he make the probowl, you would have been laughed off. I hate when idiots try to make the San Fran claim, when in fact, it was a team more than ready to make the push, they just needed the right coach. — papabear702
- He's going to Tunick this season anyway, so it doesn't even matter.— Eintracht Frankfurt
- This comment has been deleted.— Quixote II
- How many times have you been in the qb position.....huh Look who's calling someone ignorant the captain of PWT lol lol lol — charmaine
- Agreed Quixote. The gimmick plays & athleticism will only get you so far. But if a QB can combine those talents with even a little of the fundamentals of greatness (think Steve Young or Doug Williams), THEN we're talking CONTENDER.— FloridaGreen
- If you are the QB of an 8 - 8 team, who can't play a whole season is this really what you ought to be worried about?— Bama
- @Quackote II, FloGreek and you other haters out there, let us Eagles fans know when you disagree with something then you can throw your stones at a glass house somewhere. Who cares what you haters think about the GREAT Mike Vick Experience? He was voted in at #70 when he should have been at least voted in at #40. That's a good number ranking of where he should be. Cam Newton? He's a friggin rookie! He should be WAAAAAY back in the 90's somewhere. Mike Vick is neither selfish or a "me-first" player. Wake up and smell the grass, you dumb haters. Without Mike Vick, the Eagles will go nowhere. Why not stand up for your Eagles QB sometimes instead of dumping on him all the time? GO MIKE VICK GO!!!— Panthro2011
- These people aren't fans, they are just a bunch of cockroaches that come of the woodwork whenever Vick's name is mentioned, they don't go to games and can only see one when its on local tv. — charmaine
- Hilarious...
— GJK3161 - The only thing that matters is winning. All this other stuff, Mel Kiper Jr. type stuff is elementary. Vick hasn't proven himself a winner. He is in control of his own destiny. Shut up and make it happen on the field.— jet2012
- 2 playoff wins in a decade of football, id say hes ranked pretty high.— Sidewinder7
- Vick is a more athletic version of McNabb. But Vick is a Okay at BEST QB. If Vick didn't have that Elite and electrifying running ability of his he wouldn't be where he is today. He would have probably been labeled a BUST. I mean, Vick throws bullets down the field but 50 percent of the time they be bad spirals. I'll support the man, but he's gotta stop running without taking a look at any receiver when the ball is snapped. GO BIRDS!— Ace-Philadelphia
- Beyond all else, when I read the phrase "The things that I can do on the football field sometimes can be uncanny,..."
I can't help but think of a guy who spends too much time reading and believing his own press clippings.— andyd - 2 years ago he said all the right things but now that he has his money the thug in him has come out again.— sickoflosing
- What? — SDNP
You guys either don't know what uncanny means or seriously do not comprehend the English language in written form. What Vick does on the football field is just as he said, "can be uncanny" He didn't say, at least it isn't written that he said, I am uncanny. He's a professional athlete, those guys have a totally different mindset. They are competitive, and rather you want to believe it or not, each one of those guys think they are the best on the field. It's called a survival mechanism. Is Joe Flacco the best QB in the NFL? Probably not but he thinks he is and if he didn't think he was the best he wouldn't survive in the NFL. Some of you cats just need to move out of your parent's garage or basement and join the real world. Get a life and stop attempting to criticize another person for having the courage to fulfill his dreams and ambitions in life.- Well, time to go out and let your playing do the talking.— alwaysphil1
- Have you ever gotten Atlanta or the Eagles out of the first round of the playoffs, Mike. Call us when you do.— 1republican
- Comment removed.
- O.K. Dog killer...how do you think you rank any better than what is listed. You don't even have a .500 record as a starter with this team.— sackvicknow
- Comment removed.
- AR and vick will NEVER EVER win a SB as a pair or apart,it's beyond their abilities.12 games or less for the dog killer this season and he's gone.Then we'll hear more of fatboys lame excuses.No SB again this year bootlickers.— sewell guy
- Comment removed.
- Vick stinks, he is an overrated $100 million bust...Vick is the worst QB in the NFC East...Eli has won TWO Superbowls, Romo has a MUCH higher completion % and has thrown more touchdowns than Vick, and even RG111 is ten years younger and is bigger, faster and more accurate than the interception machine Vick...also the new kid Cam Newton is bigger and better than Vick...LOL.— phil500
- Vick is like T.O. and Iverson....an old fraud who thinks he is better than what he really is.— phil500
- 2 playoffs wins in roughly 10 years? The ranking is unfair..the loser should be lower.— Dean Winchester
- @Blessed Charmine. STFU— 4in5out7gone
- Good catch Raven. Flacco will be the Eagles QB next year because the Ravens treat him like the Eagles treated Dawk.— Blue Hens Rule
- Good catch Raven. Flacco will be the Eagles QB next year because the Ravens treat him like the Eagles treated Dawk.— Blue Hens Rule
- That makes absolutely NO sense! — Panthro2011
- Vick got a big contract but has no money. It all goes to the bankruptcy judge, just like OJ did. He's on a $500/week allowance— Blue Hens Rule
- doesn't matter how good Vick is or where he is ranked...he will get hurt..he always does— sedale
- Comment removed.
- He was booed out of Atlanta and will be booed out of Philly.— 2ndNlong
- The rankings are a joke. There's no way to rank players accurately, and no need. Within the joke, putting Vick at #70 is about right. I think he still confuses being brilliant in certain games with being a great QB. But even on potential, Vick doesn't look like he'll ever be as good as Drew Brees, another short quarterback. Brees can find his guys and the throwing lanes, as well as any 6'5" guy. Vick can't.
Even when he gets the turnovers and decision-making ironed out, he probably won't be a premier QB, just a guy who has some great games. And he seems okay with that, with being the guy who twice a season can look unstoppable. If he were thinking of football, he wouldn't argue with the #70. He's thinking of speed, arm strength, and all that, as though they are wins or scoring drives.— armchairGM
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Sheil Kapadia is in his fifth season writing about the Eagles and the NFL for philly.com. His earliest
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