Vick gets six-year, $100 million deal
Michael Vick's return to prominence is now complete.
Vick gets six-year, $100 million deal
Jeff McLane
Michael Vick's return to prominence is now complete.
The Eagles and Vick have agreed to a six-year, $100 million contract with $40 million guaranteed, league sources confirmed Monday night.
The team later announced the deal, first reported by Andrew Brandt of ESPN.
The 31-year-old Vick is signed through the 2016 season. In 2007, he lost nearly everything when he was convicted on dogfighting charges and sent to prison. In the last 12 months he's gotten nearly everything -- a starting job, endorsement deals and a blockbuster contract -- back.
"I'm very happy we were able to reach an agreement with Michael on this long-term contract," Eagles coach Andy Reid said in a statement. "It's a product of all the hard work Michael has done to better himself over the last couple of years, both on and off the field. I'm very proud that he has been able to achieve success again in this league, but he'll be the first one to tell you that there is a lot of work yet to be done by him and this team as a whole. And there's no doubt in my mind that he will continue on that path. I give a lot of credit to Joe Banner and Joel Segal for getting this deal done."
Banner, the Eagles president, and Segal, Vick's agent, negotiated the contract. Vick did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Vick's deal makes him among the highest-paid players in the game -- again. His per year base salary of $16.7 million is less than only Patriots quarterback Tom Brady ($18.01) and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning ($18 million).
Brady signed a reported five-year, $78.5 million contract with $48.5 million guaranteed in Sept. 2009. Manning's deal came last month when he inked a reported five-year, $90 million contract with $54.4 million of that guaranteed.
In 2005, the Falcons signed the 2001 No. 1 overall draft pick to a 10-year, $130 million contract. Two years later Vick forfeited most of the remaining money on the deal when he was charged with running a dogfighting operation. He eventually filed for bankruptcy while serving an 18-month prison term. Vick is still in bankruptcy and owes creditors millions.
This six-year deal replaces the one-year franchise tender Vick signed in March. The Eagles had until Sept. 20 to give Vick a new contract or they would have had to wait under after the season to re-sign him. All signs, however, pointed to something getting done.
Vick would have made $16.2 million from the one-year tender, but the Eagles locked him up on Monday, confirming their commitment to him as their franchise quarterback. They also trimmed his 2011 figure to $14.4, clearing some salary cap space.
With Vick done, the Eagles could now turn their sights to DeSean Jackson, who wants a new contract. The wide receiver, in the last year of a four-year contract that will net him roughly $600,000, held out from the first 11 days of training camp.
If if wasn't clear before, however, it is now: Vick is the face of the Eagles franchise. It's a remarkable turn of events. Signed in Aug. 2009 to a two-year deal, Vick came to the Eagles in a cloud of controversy. He spent most of his first season in Philadelphia as the third-string quarterback and occasional Wildcat weapon.
When the Eagles traded away then-franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb to Washington in April, 2010, Kevin Kolb was named the starter and Vick his backup. But when Kolb suffered a concussion in the season opener, Vick came in and nearly guided the Eagles to a comeback victory. He won in the next two games as Kolb recovered and was named the starter soon after.
He went 8-3 as a starter as the Eagles won the NFC East crown. He had statistically his best season with career highs in passer rating (100.2), completion percentage (62.6) and passing yards (3,018). He earned his fourth career Pro Bowl nod and was named the 2010 Comeback Player of the Year by the Associated Press, Sporting News, and Pro Football Weekly.
In January, he signed with two small companies in endorsement deals and was welcomed back by Nike in July.
The Eagles have a press conference with Vick and Reid scheduled for Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.
Desean next— stikolaboloni- It will mean much more to us when we see how much is guaranteed and how the money is divided between the years.— Penfold18
- Just walk a straight line Mike.— KurtNimphius
- Update is saying $40 million guaranteed.— Penfold18
- cmon ,, do the math that 16.5 miliion a yr he was making 16 mill a year already, this just keeps him for 6 yrs, now lets throw a bone to Jackson ( no pun intended) sign him up for 6yrs— caddymike
- His contract is guaranteed 40 million, he probably will not be here the whole 6 years...Doubt heavily he'll be here at 37...If it works out, great...If not, they'll trade him after 2 or 3 while the value is still there,ala McNabb... — bearsfriend
- 100 million dollar QB and what $$$ offensive line. Vick might want to buy his own line.— tulsaphil
- MRD-What G-ant fan wouldn't hate Vick after last year...and really it has nothing to do with dogs, unless of course you are talking about the G-ant D!!!— sarah89
- Agree with Phillies09, MV7 got his NOW it is TIME for DJax to get HIS! You hear me Jeffrey Lurie, Joe Banner, and Andy Reid. Pay Number 10!— dudega
- Thank God!!!!!! Suffered through Mr Smiley McNabb for 10 years.
Vick is a leader- McNabb was a clown.— Manny Trillo 
Comment removed.- Pop bottles Mike!— franknbeans
- With the friggin offensive line with two rookies starting, I hope Vick asked for at least 70 million of that 100 million contract guaranteed and a gold plated wheelchair .He will be lucky to see one year of that six year contract .— zogger
- Hell I feel like I just got paid,lol. I totally remember when he first signed withe Eagles and damn near every fan in Philly said he sucked and wasn't a QB. All of the writers doubted him and mashed him in their articles every chance they got.
I'm so glad to see Jeff McLane's mouth being completely shut about Vick...he was the main one...calling for Jeff Garcia,lol...and this is supposed to be a football city. Vick made all of you haters eat your words....now shut the hell up and support our QB for the next 6 years.— elijah29 - Again pathetic! You are with us are you against us. Didn't work for Bush amd doesn't work here. There is a middle ground. I can support the team and still think this is a mistake. Am I not supposed to say anything about the linebackers either? How about the play calling? The use of challenges and timeouts? Do we as fans just have to accept EVERYTHING or we are haters? — Eagle GREEN Mt State
