The "New Michael Vick Experience"

Do you remember the "Michael Vick Experience" commercial?

For those who don't recall it let me try to refresh your memory.

A young fan is loaded into a roller coaster seat and sent out onto a playing field where he is terrified by would-be tacklers. Just when it seems like the ride is about to end the fan evades a defender thanks to the seat he is strapped into. As the fan approaches the paydirt he is sent into the air and flips into the endzone where is left gasping for air while having a look on his face that says, “Did that just happen?”

Part of you found the commercial comical because the kid was screaming as if he were being chased through the woods by some crazed maniac. The other part of you also laughed because some of it was true.

Vick had an instinct that doesn't come along too often. And it made us think that he really could pull off some of the things we saw in the commercial.

He knew where defenders were on the field when he ran and he knew how to make them miss. At times he looked like Gale Sayers on his feet.

He had breakaway speed like Eric Dickerson and he could see the field like Barry Sanders.

With talent like that why wouldn't you want to get on the "Michael Vick Experience?"

Hopefully, Nike doesn't come out with another ad like that because the fan will be left standing on a sideline with a clipboard in his hands for about 90% of the ride. Maybe they will get some Gatorade or sunflower seeds to chew on to help pass the time, too.

Could the other 10% be much better?

If you are patient it could be worth the wait.

Occasionally the fan will get into the game, line up as a wide receiver, running back or as a quarterback either under center or in the shotgun.

And when the fan enters the field in the “New Michael Vick Experience” there is a chance he could be left standing there acting as a decoy.

Every now and then a lucky rider may catch a pass from Donovan McNabb, hand the ball off to Brian Westbrook, or maybe just maybe score a touchdown.

The "New Michael Vick Experience" is how fans need to anticipate the return of Vick to the Philadelphia Eagles.

I am sure Vick will sporadically make great plays like he once did, but there is no way you can miss two years of football and simply walk back onto the field and not miss a step.

The new ride might be a little slower and there may be some kinks that stop it from running smoothly, but the fans need to be patient and wait for the payoff.

In fact, everyone needs to be patient.

Andy Reid understands this, which is why he will use Vick sparingly throughout the season. It is the most effective way to use him too.

Let's face it; Vick is not a great quarterback. He is however a great football player. It is up to Reid to determine how to get the most out of Vick.

The best way to do this is to limit his playing time and not get caught up in the hype of the Wildcat offense and the desire to hop back on the old ride.

If you use Vick too much his weaknesses will eventually be exposed and his offensive threats will become useless. It will also give teams more film to study and the opportunity to figure out how to stop the Eagles' version of the Wildcat.

But if Vick is used at the proper time the Eagles could have a ton of success with him in there.

Think about the flea-flicker for a moment. When you see it used and it is executed perfectly it tends to produce big plays.

So why not do it every play?                       

We all know the element of surprise makes the flea-flicker work well. Coaches also set up defenses an entire game for that one moment to pull off a game changing play.

The same applies to the "New Michael Vick Experience." Fans will go on a ride that does not seem to be too entertaining until all of a sudden Reid calls Vick's number.

Eagles’ fans should not expect too much from Vick. And even when he does get on the field you still shouldn’t expect a whole lot. But when he is given the opportunity to make a play happen the wait will be well worth it.

The “New Michael Vick Experience” may not start running again until Week Six of the regular season, but once it gets rolling there is a chance it could produce some intensely gratifying results as long as you stay patient.