Vick gets six-year, $100 million deal
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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.
- He hasn't proven anything yet except in the eyes of Reid. Vick won't be here in two years, except as an expensive back-up, unless he starts to play better. Yes, he is a very rich boy, but his history, on and off the field, is mostly poor - A couple of absolutely amazing games that gave me hope, and an equal number where he couldn't pass, nor could he run.
— Dr Bri - He hasn't proven anything yet except in the eyes of Reid. Vick won't be here in two years, except as an expensive back-up, unless he starts to play better. Yes, he is a very rich boy, but his history, on and off the field, is mostly poor - A couple of absolutely amazing games that gave me hope, and an equal number where he couldn't pass, nor could he run. — Dr Bri
- His biggest problem-He has Andy calling the plays, especially in the last 2 minutes!! He should get $200 mil.!!!— sarah89
- Looks like 40 mil guaranteed, so if they 3 good years out of him, it's a good deal for the Eagles. Now watch Juqua, Joselio and (maybe) Jamaal go...clearing $8-10 mill for DJax + others.— jmk1512
Comment removed.- Wow, 8 good games = 100 Mil. Imagine if the Eagles had Manning, Brady or Rodgers. When defenses caught up to his shortcomings last year, he struggled bad, granted part was coaching and the line. But the line still sucks, and the coach is the same. HMMMM.— craigmack
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- What has Vick done to earn this? Looks at his game against Pgh. and Cleve... Sorry Eagle fans, another six years without a Super Bowl win...— greenflyer
- let D-Jax alone...see IF he can play this year and then franchise him next year. He is NOT a long term player ...I would rather miss this and lose than tie up a bunch of money on a speedy guy who gets slow. The birds very seldom miss on their own players (see Dawk - painful but correct)— ziggy
- LOL. While I'm thrilled to know that Vick will be the face of the franchise and our starting QB (health permitting of course) for the next couple of years at least, i'm just as excited at knowing how furious this is going to make the Vick haters and loudmouths. Keep makin' 'em mad Mike! The hypocritical K-9 posse couldn't destroy you, now go get us that ring.— Miracle Ink
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- WOW.....Speechless. In for lots of sportcenter highlights in September / November and losses come December. Horrible move by this organization. Nothing to do with his dog past .....he is just a horrible QB.— RealizticFan
- Perfectly said. But watch out you will be called a "hater" now. — Eagle GREEN Mt State
- Not being a hater just plain stupid. A "Horrible Quarterback" is just a stupid opinion. — rwilson065
- Rags...to riches...to rags...to riches...quite a story.— kelprod2
