NFL Offseason: Philadelphia Eagles Wisely Planning for Life After Mike Vick

Earlier this offseason, it was reported that head coach Andy Reid and the Philadelphia Eagles had made initial inquires about Peyton Manning. Michael Vick shrugged off the news by saying that he was unconcerned and that he is "one of the best" quarterbacks in the NFL.  

While this was no doubt the case in 2010, it was nowhere near the case in 2011. Vick did miss extensive time due to injuries last season, but that in itself is part of the problem. Vick's playing style will always leave him vulnerable to injury. The Eagles would be smart to get a talented backup behind Vick with the aim of getting him ready to take over sooner rather than later. 

The Eagles are smartly looking at any and all avenues when it comes to setting themselves up at the quarterback position for the post-Vick era. As John Madden is fond of saying, the worst time to be looking for a quarterback is when you need one.

It would seem that the Eagles have now turned their attention to the draft as a possible avenue for finding Vick's successor. First, there was offhanded buzz that the Eagles were dark-horse contenders to trade up for Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. Then, the team dispatched quarterbacks coach Doug Peterson to Texas A&M to watch quarterback Ryan Tannehill in a private workout. 

This would not be the first time the Eagles took a quarterback relatively early with an established starter already on the roster. Back in 2007, the Eagles tabbed Kevin Kolb as the heir apparent to Donavan McNabb, well before anyone thought the Eagles were getting ready to move on from the McNabb era. 

How seriously the Eagles are in finding a quarterback in this draft is anybody's guess, but they are smart to start looking now and not waiting for the wheels to come completely off the Vick Express.