Mike Vick. Not changin’.
(Image via NJ.com)
The news that broke one week ago today – that Mike Vick had restructured his deal to extend his stay with the Philadelphia Eagles – was met by strong reaction by the team’s fans. As usual when Vick is concerned, emotions fell on opposite sides of the spectrum.
Toss out Vick along with Andy Reid and the dishwater. If we are truly in rebuilding mode, let’s start with something new. Let’s see what we have in Nick Foles.
Conversely, there are those who blame Reid and Marty Morhinweg and their horrific play calling as well as a cobbled-together offensive line in Vick’s recent struggles with the Birds. Philadelphia signed him because of what makes him dynamic, then wanted him to turn into something that he’s not. Let Vick be Vick! With a healthy o-line and more balance with the run game, Vick can help this team to succeed.
The debate will continue to rage this offseason among fans, but one thing we know about Vick – sooner or later he lets you know exactly where he stands. In an interview on Saturday with 97.5 The Fanatic, Vick made clear that he likes who he is as a person and a player and has no intention of changing who he is.
“Well if you think about what I endured [last season] and how many hits I took, I stayed upright for seven games and took about 180 hits. I am going to train the way I train, I’m not going to change anything. I’m going to be who I am and I’m not going to change. I think everybody just has to accept it. I am going to put in all the hard work to be the best player I can be, but it’s not just about me. It’s about team, it’s about unity, it’s about everybody playing together. That’s the only way we’re going to win.”
C’mon. Regardless of which side of the issue you reside those comments can’t really surprise you, can they?
Part of the challenge facing Chip Kelly this offseason is making an honest assessment of what he has at quarterback inVick, Nick Foles, and Dennis Dixon. What are truly their strengths and how can they be played up in Kelly’s offense?
We saw with Andy Reid’s time in Philadelphia with Vick that trying to turn the quarterback into a pure pocket passer simply will not work. And what do you do about the risky decision making that so often leads Vick to injury? If Kelly is to keep Vick and make him a starter (which remains to be seen), he has to accept him as he is – the good, the bad and the ugly. Another great offseason of film study is not going to transform the polarizing player into something that he is not.
And therein lies the reason for concern among so many Eagles fans.
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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports
Tags: All's Fair in Sports and War, Andy Reid, Brandyn Campbell, Chip Kelly, Dennis Dixon, Football, Michael Vick, Mike Vick, NFL, Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles, Philly Sports Muse, Sports Talk Radio, The War Room, War Room Sports