Michael Vick Should Think Twice Before Tying His Fate to Andy Reid

Looking at what Michael Vick has accomplished so far with the Eagles, think about what could have been if Philadelphia had drafted him back in 2001 instead of the Atlanta Falcons.

Well, that's one thing Vick apparently has thought of a lot heading into his tenth NFL season. According to Ashley Fox of ESPN, Vick has mentioned this to coach Andy Reid quite often:

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"I tell coach Reid all the time, 'I wish you could've [brought] me here first. I wish you could've drafted me,'" Vick said. "That's just an 'if.' We've got to live in the now, and I've got to take full advantage of the time I have now.

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We're really at that stage now where "wishing" comes into play?

That's rather bold for Vick to say considering his past, and although that obviously can't be changed, being in a different city is nothing but that—a different city. Now, Vick is just expressing how fortunate he feels to be playing for Reid, and time is of the essence as he'll be turning 32 before the 2012 season kicks off.

However, Andy Reid has nothing to do with Vick's current situation and state with Philadelphia. Had the dog fighting scandal never happened, Vick would likely still be under center in Atlanta, and Donovan McNabb may never have left Philadelphia.

And even if the Eagles had taken Vick, would he really develop as the improved passer he is now? Only once in six seasons with Atlanta did Vick toss over 2,500 yards, and he actually ran over 900 yards twice.

McNabb came from a more NFL-structured offense at Syracuse, so the pro-style learning curve was much greater for Vick to grasp. Also, the Eagles had no reason to draft Vick in 2001, as McNabb was entering his third season.

Yes, Vick would have developed more as a passer earlier in his career, but this is also a quarterback that has tossed 20-plus touchdowns only twice. If anything, the most realistic path for Vick had the Eagles selected him 11 years ago would have been a trade to Atlanta.

The Falcons held the No. 1 pick in 2001 and needed a potential franchise quarterback anyway, so how could have Philadelphia selected Vick to begin with? It would have taken one helluva trade that's for sure.

During the McNabb-Reid era, the Eagles went to five NFC championship games (four consecutive) and one Super Bowl. Vick has only played in one conference title game (2004 season), and the Eagles haven't won a playoff game since 2008 (before Vick).

In short, Michael Vick's early career and how it has transpired was not affected by the Eagles or Andy Reid. As for past few years, it's a reasonable argument as Vick has somewhat revived himself in 2010 and 2011.

Regardless, the success Philadelphia enjoyed at the turn of the century would not have been excessively better with Vick at the helm instead of McNabb. The only facts we have to go by are how each quarterback's career panned out to right now.

And for Vick to think that his would have been different is irrelevant. There's no sense in wondering what might have been when you can learn from the past—although some parts were much more unfortunate than others—to be better in the present and future.

John Rozum on Twitter.