Vick on his future with the Eagles: "I got a lot left in my tank"
Michael Vick spoke publicly for the first time since his concussion on Nov. 11, the first time since there were reports that he believed that inter-team politics played a role in his return from injury, and the first time since he was benched in favor of Nick Foles.
Vick on his future with the Eagles: "I got a lot left in my tank"
Jeff McLane
Michael Vick spoke publicly for the first time since his concussion on Nov. 11, the first time since there were reports that he believed that inter-team politics played a role in his return from injury, and the first time since he was benched in favor of Nick Foles.
Vick's future with the Eagles beyond the end of this season remains in doubt. Asked if he wanted to stay in Philadelphia and whether he would be open to returning as a backup, Vick said that he hadn't thought that far ahead.
"I just feel like I got a lot of football to play," Vick said. "I feel like I got a lot left in my tank. I'm enjoying the game. I feel fresh. I don't know. I got to talk it over with my agent and just see what happens. As of right now I got to continue to help this football team win these last two games and the future will take care of itself."
Vick, 32, has three years left on his contract, but the Eagles are only committed to paying $3 million of his $16 million salary for 2013. The team can back out of the guaranteed $3 million if they cut Vick three days after the Super Bowl on Feb. 3.
Andy Reid has yet to announce whether Vick would be Foles' backup or the No. 3 quarterback behind Trent Edwards, although indications are that he will be at the bottom of the depth chart. Vick returned to practice and was cleared by an independent neurologist last week. He said he took repetitions with the scout team at today's practice.
"It's different, but that's just the way things are right now and I have to roll with the punches and deal with it, make the most out of it, continue to work hard and continue to try and get better, continue to try and help Nick out," Vick said.
Vick was asked if he agreed with Reid's decision, one he announced on Dec. 3, to go with Foles as the starter for the rest of the season.
"I'm a competitor and I've always felt like and will continue to feel like I'm one of the best and I can play at a high level and I know I can," Vick said.
Vick said that he didn't believe not playing would affect his future whether with the Eagles or some other team. He missed five games because of the concussion. Earlier this month there was an ESPN report, citing a source close to Vick, that stated the quarterback thought that he was a victim of politics as the Eagles had decided to go with the rookie.
Vick was asked if he was on board with how the team handled his concussion.
"I just roll with the punches," Vick said. "Whatever the doc tells me I go with. I don't question that. They're professionals just like we're professionals at what we do. I respect their opinions and their judgment. That's just the way it was."
Vick suffered his second concussion with the Eagles against the Cowboys. The first occurred last September in Atlanta. He confirmed that the injury came on his second to last play when he was tackled from behind during a scramble. Vick was hit on the next play by Cowboys linebacker Ernie Sims and the back of his helmet hit the ground. He said that exacerbated the head injury.
Vick was asked if he regretted not leaving after the first hit.
"When I'm out there I'm going for the kill. If I'm not laying there and can't get up, then I'm going to get up that next play and give it everything I got," Vick said. "That's just me and maybe sometimes that can be sort of selfish. I only know one way. When I got hit the second time, I was like I got to come out. I couldn't see."
Biggest Scapegoat in Philadephia Eagles history...— Eaglemaniacle- Nah. — rayjay
- Gotta give it up for Vick this year - he's been tough as nails most of the season and hasn't complained one lick. Even now that he's lost his starting job. He's not a good QB anymore, but he's been a good teammate.— Fascism Rules
- Definitely left in on the field. No complaints from me.— tpizza
- DUMP VICK...Vick was an awful 11-17 the past three years...Vick is now an old washed-up 33 year old who has lost his speed....maybe Vick can try to be a back-up QB for Buffalo.— jim35
- You already said that on another blog. Got anything new? — Claire Voyant
- your an idiot....wait...a complete and utter idiot...you put the blame on Vick? LMAO...some great offensive line we have numb nut.....I wonder what Brady could do with our offensive line...wait I've got an answer.....get injured much faster than Vick did and be out with three concussions.....Ive seen high school offensive lines better than the eagles....Reid should go-not Vick...and you should get some common sense before commenting on this board buddy — PTDTax
- Scapegoat?
If Vick had the Patriots O line he would still check receiver 1 then receiver 2 then scramble.
I think Vick is playing this like a politician. The less he says the more it falls on Reid (making Vick look like a good player on a bad team).
If he goes to any other team in 2013 he will still be running his chuck and duck, playground style.— 1000hugs - Vick is biggest $100 million BUST in Eagles history...period.— jim35
- I didn't like him as a QB at VA Tech. I still don't like him as a QB. Move on Eagles.
- He's got a lot of FUMBLES and INT's left in the tank.— 14 years of
- Was never good.— Sidewinder7
- LMAO im sure you were saying the sameeeee exact thing after he stole McNabb's job.......anyone ever tell you how classy you are? Short short memory spans in Philly huh? — PTDTax
- INTs?— 2ndNlong
- Just go away, Vick. The four years you were here we did squat.— dasher
- Michael, get it through you're head. You don't have a lot left. You can't make it through a pre-season qt let alone a full 18 games as a starting QB. When you signed your mega-deal in 2010. I'm pretty sure your lawyers explained to you that it was really a 2 year deal with a 3rd guaranteed in salary after a certain date. You've had your chance. THe injuries have slowed you. Yes, I believe you are still an effective QB, I don't think you'll ever ascend to greatness again. Your original incarnation was wasted. So, we got the reformed you. But, for those 7/8 games in 2010 you were beyond amazing. And then just like the Icarus you are... You got too close to greatness and you were burnt, and fell to earth later in that same season. Your speed, your greatest asset is beginning to fail you. You're athletic ability is not what it once was. Still very athletic, but no longer elite. As many of us sit and watch RG3 in amazement. I think back to watching you display that same ability. Before the time away and your own transformation into a pocket passer. One who relied on reading defenses (never a strength of yours), making protection calls, audibles, and game situations. At various times you have struggled with all of that. As well as your penchant to endanger or concuss yourself sliding head first You have become a turnover machine. You get caught from behind by DE's now. It's time to face reality. You can still be a starter. But, you may have to accept backup status until you get another chance. There are several teams you can start for right away currently in the league. It's just not the Eagles anymore. I wish you the best going forward and want you to excel. I can say I'm a Michael Vick fan.— SeenGreen
- You write this like Vick is actually going to read YOUR post.
Quite comical actually.— Claire Voyant - @jim35 you my friend are a moron.— eagles-fan-in-texas
- woo hoo!!! bye Vick!!!— pennyrobinson
- Short attention span theater is alive in Philly. Vick did not play well because he has limited intellect, he's too small, refuses to learn een how to slide and the Iggs gave him a very complicated game plan without an offensive line. Other than that, he did great. Fumbles and interceptions are coaching related as much as anything. Playing the same scheme every week telegraphs easily to even the dumbest defensive coaches ( see Sonny Ryan with the Dullest Cowflops).— jjthree
@Fascism Rules & Tpizza: Great posts and I agree. In my observations Vick never skirted the tough questions like D McNabb would. I wonder what happened to Vick after his great initial run after taking over from the injured Kolb...that is the question the media has never asked.
His great come from behind effort in December, 2010, a 38-31 win against the hated Giants, with a red faced Tom Coughlin ready to blow will go down as his finest hour.- I believe if Vick even had the offensive line he had in 2010 the eagles would be a playoff team. This Howard Mudd fiasco gutted the offense just like Washburn gutted thed defense. If Reid allowed McDermott to stay.. Kept Juan on the job for the o line and just drafted a better O line Vick would be a top 5 quarterback this year. But they hired a grandpop who didnt even want to show up to training camp and gave him a job in a superbowl year. This is more on Reid.— Zeru
- How is injuries to 4 of 5 starters Mudd's fault? Last year the line was good, Peters was best in league, Vick took sacks because well, that's what happens when you don't read defenses and hold onto the ball too long. Every year Vick has been in the league he has taken more sacks then the league average. That is telling when you are talking about a guy with his athleticism. — Sidewinder7
- @Sidewinder7 So has Cam Newton, and now, maybe RGIII. It's been the same for every running QB in the NFL. How is a terrible O-Line that can't protect his blindside worth ish his fault. Every QB makes bad reads, yu make more when your constantly under pressure (EVEN IN THE POCKET HE'S ALWAYS PRESSURED!!!). Take a new perspective on what leads him to make bad reads. He doesn't even call his own plays, and Andy's "West-Coast-style" offense calls for him to hold the ball longer instead of bombing it to DJack like in past years. — DJackFan
- Except when you actually watch the game and see all of the open receivers that Vic misses on almost every play - veteran QB's learn to check down. Vic was never able to keep his head up while scrambling to hit the open receiver. He could buy time, but he couldn't make use of that time.
That having been said, I do admire the man's toughness and willingness to leave it all on the field. At the same time I am dumbfounded by his lack of smarts in never learning to slide or throw the ball away - two skills which, had he acquired, would have him on the field even now.— PhillySnowball 
Vick came from nowhere and is going nowhere. Lurie should have fired Reid before that signing and, at least, should have vetoed it. This is another reason why you should dump your tickets until a owner deserving of your money takes over -- which may never happen as long as you pay Lurie for his non-management of the franchise. This organization is rotten to the core.- Give me a break. The Starship has been decommissioned.I guess nobody let the captain know; he must still be dizzy from all the unnecessary hits he's taken...— greenblood4200
- Im gonna say this and then you deadbeat fans,, (if your true fans at all) can have it. Im sure it was 2 years ago that when you watched the Eagles on Sunday, all I saw in the stadiaum was green 7 jerseys. Sometimes you gotta wash a season away. Like it never happened. The Eagles arent that good of a team. I have watched several Detroit games and if those guys stick by Stafford you can definatley give Vick a chance. Vick is better than Foles will ever be. Foles couldnt win in college and he sure as help isnt gonna win in the league. If they do decide to keep Vick and fire Reid im gonna almost guarantee you that any new coach will start Vick over Foles, simpley because he is a better QB. I hope Vick gets traded myself because their isnt a man on the planet that deserves what you so called fans do for the whole Eagles orginization. Atlanta still loves him. Sit back and enjoy the show because he has definatley 3-3 years left of winning to do and thats fact. Good luck with Foles.— blitzkrieg
- No coach in their right mind would start Vick at this point. There is a decade of evidence that Vick doesn't have it. Nothing new to see there. With Foles, everything is speculation at this point.
- 14 years of- Took the words right out of my mouth.— mrjarn
- Vick is a $100 million bust and now is old and washed up...maybe he will b a back-up QB with Buffalo or Oakland.— jim35
- He made it through only 1 full season in his career. ONE. Look, he's just okay, nothing special. He was once special for his legs, never was for his arm (accuracy) and head. That only gets you so far in this league. Blitzkrieg enjoy your new team with Vick on it, Ill watch Foles and the Eagles. Big prediction there saying a guy with a few gms under his belt is bad. Its all we got for now and Ill hope youre wrong. Difference is, I know youre wrong about Vick.— peteike
- WOOF WOOF : )— bag-of-donuts
- according to market value if they can get Vick for 3 mil and bring him back it would be a bargain and a cant miss situation...... the O line killed this guy this year.
— pr0f3ss0r - The morons in this picture are most of the fans who have written earlier. The guy takes a beating every week and gets no respect with a bad O line and worse play calling. Might some of you prefer a Caucasian QB just because. Sad and pathetic people using this blog.— hankhammer2
- Vick will be a back-up QB for Buffalo..— jim35
- Mike - you are delusional, your NFL days are through. Good riddance _ I can't wait until the day you are no longer on the Eagles roster. I wish Reid has never bought you here.— rayjay
- Mike - you are delusional, your NFL days are through. Good riddance _ I can't wait until the day you are no longer on the Eagles roster. I wish Reid has never bought you here.— rayjay
- Jim35......what a complete and utter idiot....you weren't crying about Vick 2 years ago, or even last year...lol....for everyone on this message board, why not talk about the pathetic useless digusting excuse of an offensive line we have instead of putting the blame on Vick? food for though...I think anyone who put this all om Vick knows nothing about football period. The offensive line is the problem, and its reid's fault for not having anyone to back up all the injuries...start pointing fingers somewhere else because Vick isn't the problem.— PTDTax
- only idiots on this board are the ones who still, through all the evidence, think Vick is anything better than mediocre. Why start him at QB on any team when you already know his ceiling. Throw in his injuries and its a complete waste of time and would set back any superbowl goals or growth of a young qb. But its all the olines fault. Vick apologists, amazing. He cant win a superbowl and to quote another negative poster, never ever ever.......ever— peteike
- Vick gets the blame and Foles get the accolades. The O-line sucks, the defense is terrible and Vick gets the blame. Hmmm, Vick wins more games throwing on his back than Foles does standing up. Football is a TEAM game but posters and haters blame one player. Keep Nick behind that great Eagle O-line. I'm sure the Birds will win a SB in my dreams. SB teams have fans that support the whole TEAM!— lbg
- A lot left? That assumes he had a lot to begin with. Good riddance dog killer.— Scope33
- The NFC was up for grabs this season, a marginal record could have landed eagles in the wild card. And The eagle staff blew it. Andy Reid is the worse play caller player in the NFL. He never utilized Micheal Vick running ability. Mike has been in the red zone more than two dozen times this season and Andy Reid always preferred to call a pass plays. Andy reid called plays like the eagles had A J Green, Calvin Johnson, OR Dez Bryant on the team. Vick has never had a grab it out the air receiver while he was with the eagles. Yet Andy Reid insisted on thowing the ball in 1st and goal, 2nd goal, 3rd and situations. Who throws the ball from the two yard line, with one of the fastest quarterbacks in the NFL? Some of the Slowest qb's in the league have the green light run it in from the 2. You have one the fastest and most elusive players in the league and you refuse to call a quarterback sneaks, a bootlegs, or play action? Why wasnt Vick given the green light to run?. Vick and Shady never had a chance with the most pathetic offensive line in history. There is not a quarterback in the NFL outside of Ben Roethlisberger, and Tim Tebow who is could have withstood what Vick was hit with in Philly in regard to punishment he took. This bears repeating: I have never seen a Quarterback the beating Vick took You have no OFFENSIVE LINE, A SOFT DEFENSE, A coach who suffered a nervous break down and its all Mike Vicks Fault? Vick is, and was, Philly tough. He deserved better— jay919
