Reid's fortunes tied to Vick's

The joke at the postgame, postmortem round of beers was: "Where did Michael Vick watch Thursday night's debacle?"

Was he at home with his family gathered around the television as the Eagles got pasted by the lowly Seattle Seahawks?

Did he and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie hop over to Jeremy Maclin's pad for pizza, a few cold ones, and some indoor Nerf football? And in between the action, did Vick and Maclin hook up for several touchdowns, with Rodgers-Cromartie of course on defense?

Or did Vick simply watch the game in solitude, and once his replacement, Vince Young, tossed his fourth interception, flip the channel to FX for another episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia?

If only it were that easy to tune out this season. If only it were that easy for Vick and the Eagles to turn back the clock to August, when, at least for one day, it was sunny at the NovaCare Complex.

The Eagles held a news conference formally announcing the $100 million contract to which they had just signed Vick, and the franchise quarterback and coach Andy Reid took to the stage nearly arm in arm.

The two appeared married to each other. Vick's contract was for six years, but really the Eagles were on the hook for only two. And Reid was entering the second year of a four-year extension he signed in 2009.

But at this point, after a most disappointing 4-8 start that will end without a playoff berth and most likely a losing record, only Vick is guaranteed to return next season. Reid could be back, if only because Eagles owner Jeff Lurie and team president Joe Banner believe that only Reid can get the maximum out of Vick.

But what would be the point?

Let's say Reid dumps Juan Castillo as his defensive coordinator, brings in someone with a pedigree on that side of the ball, and the defense's problems are fixed to the point of competency - sort of like when Sean McDermott ran the defense.

Where does that get the Eagles with a healthy Vick - 12, 13 wins and a shot at the Super Bowl? Not likely. A more probable scenario is one that has become commonplace with the Eagles of late - 10 or 11 wins, a playoff berth, and an early exit.

That may be generous. In Vick's first 11 games at quarterback last season, the Eagles went 8-3. He didn't start the opener against Green Bay and didn't finish the first game against Washington - both losses - so he was 8-1 in games he started and finished.

Over that span, the last game being the Miracle at the New Meadowlands a year ago, Vick completed 63.2 percent of his passes, threw for 20 touchdowns, ran for eight more, and had only seven total turnovers (five interceptions, two fumbles).

Since then, starting with the inexplicable loss to Minnesota last December, the Eagles are 3-8 in games in which Vick starts. His statistics are also down across the board: 59.6 completion percentage, 13 touchdown passes against 13 interceptions, only two rushing scores, and four fumbles.

Vick is not most at fault for the Eagles' slide into oblivion. This season has been an abject failure from top to bottom. He is still an above average quarterback who at times is great (see: Dallas, Oct. 30). But his reckless style - freelancing, not sliding, taking hits - will never produce a championship.

In the four times Vick has been injured over the last two seasons - games he either didn't finish or played hurt - the Eagles have lost. In the six games he has missed because of injury, the Eagles have gone 3-3.

The Eagles, despite the grandiosity of Vick's contract - $100 million!, six years! - really owe the 31-year-old only $35.5 million in guaranteed money. Twenty million of that will be shelled out this season, $12.5 million next season.

The remainder is a $3 million bonus to be paid in 2013. If the Eagles walk away after next season, their salary cap hit would be only $4.2 million in 2013 and $2.8 million in 2014.

So what should they do? Should they bring Reid back for one last hurrah with Vick and see if they can catch lightning? Should they bring Reid back, but only under the stipulation that he turn his quarterback into a pocket passer? Or should they dump Reid, let Vick be a lame duck, and draft a quarterback in the first round?

Reid said Friday that he expected Vick to play next Sunday at Miami. If Vick's broken ribs are healed, Reid will certainly play him. He needs wins and he needs them bad. Whichever way Lurie and Banner are leaning, however, they should tell Reid to sit Vick for the rest of the season rather than risk further injury in meaningless games.

This isn't Nerf football.