Vick scrambles to say he wasn't dissing Kolb
Michael Vick said he didn't really mean it the way a lot of people took it, that quote after Sunday's game about how the Eagles might have won if Vick had played all four quarters.
Michael Vick said he didn't really mean it the way a lot of people took it, that quote after Sunday's game about how the Eagles might have won if Vick had played all four quarters.
"Absolutely not. I don't know how you can take that comment and try to make it seem that I'm trying to say that I'm a better quarterback than Kevin. It was about me having more time to bring us back and win the game," Vick said yesterday.
Vick said he feels sorry for Kolb, who was not feeling well yesterday, Reid said, and was sent home. Presumably, that means Kolb (and Stewart Bradley) did not do well on the NFL's day-after concussion tests.
"I've been with Kevin the entire offseason, worked out together, we've spent time in training camp together. I've seen how he's progressed in his confidence . . . [Kolb's injury] was painful to the entire team," Vick said. "He's our leader . . . to see him have to go out early was tough. We also know Kevin will come back strong."
While Vick was speaking on a conference call in the Eagles' media offices, a TV on the wall showed Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon debating whether he should be the Birds' starter on ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption." Lots of talking heads are waving the Vick banner this week, including Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin on NFL Network Sunday night; listening to them, it seemed absurd that the Eagles would do anything other than make Vick their starter.
Does it at least feel good to have your praises sung again, after so long?
"I always knew I had the ability to do it, the ability to play this game. It's all about getting the opportunity, and when you get an opportunity, you just have to step up and make the most of it. Right now, I'm the backup, and my job is to fill the void when called upon," Vick said. "It feels good for people to be acknowledging what I can do, building that confidence throughout the locker room toward the coaches, to let them know they can trust me and they can count on me. That's my role, that's my job as the backup quarterback, and I just want them to be able to trust me."
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