Michael Vick: Is His Resurgence A One-Year Burst or Long-Term Bust for Philly
Michael Vick has been unreal this season. The story was already a dramatic one for Vick. He had served his time for his dog fighting ring scandal. He then came back and made a competent backup in the NFL, story finished. You could end it right there and sell the movie rights.
The tale it seems, is far from over. For Vick and for the Eagles, there is much more to be told. Vick has come into this season and shined as the Eagles number one quarterback. It has not come without controversy. With Kevin Kolb waiting in the wings, one QB is sent to fume behind the scenes.
As Vick continues to amaze as QB, the ramifications of his miraculous season will be felt for many more after this by the Eagles franchise. Here are some issues that will affect the Eagles and Mike Vick after this year. Is he a bust that no team should take a chance on? Let's debate.
5. Yes: Injury
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This will always be a worry for an NFL team. But it is more so for the ever mobile quarterback. In the same season that Vick thrilled us with his running and passing, he has also gone down in a heap on the field. In Week Four against the Redskins, Vick suffered a rib injury trying to run the ball into the end zone. He missed a couple of week's after that.
Quarterbacks are not often in the habit of running the ball. For one, it leaves them susceptible to some pretty big defensive backs that would love nothing more than to level the QB in the open field.
Vick spends more time after the line of scrimmage than any QB in the league. A big hit on him is inevitable.
5. No: Kevin Kolb
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Michael Vick's gain has been Kevin Kolb's loss. The young quarterback was the future of the Eagles. Then Vick came in and ruined those plans with his amazing play. Now the Eagles have two star quarterbacks and only one position to play them at.
The wise choice would be to send Kolb to another team. Kolb has shown this year that he is much to valuable to be a backup QB for very much longer. The issue with that is how good Kolb can be. When Vick went down with an injury for a couple weeks this season, Kolb filled in without the Eagles missing a beat.
Sending him to another team may not hurt them at all. Vick could maintain his ability and the Eagles would never miss Kolb's arm. But then again, it could be like trading away a Favre or Steve Young right before they hit their prime.
4. Yes: Diminished Production
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If Vick does indeed suffer from diminished production, you can bet that the talk of Kevin Kolb taking back the reigns will start in earnest.
We all forget that at the beginning of the season, Andy Reid had quite the controversy on his hands. The Kolb or Vick question served to undermine the bigger questions the Eagles had to face. It is only when Kolb went down with a concussion that Vick proved his worth.
A slip in his production will awaken that debate and give Reid and the Eagles headaches.
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4. No: Increased Defense
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How can you be a bust if the whole of an NFL team's defensive strategy is changed to simply slow you down?
As the New York Giants showed last week, you may not be able to stop Vick completely, but you can slow him down. Vick looked human against New York and does so again today against the Bears.
The Giants were very comfortable to force Vick to his right side last week. They would have their defensive linemen lined up wide to corral Vick into the pocket or at the very least to his weaker side. The tactic worked to force Vick to pass first and run second.
Either way, Vick is a versatile weapon that can run around anything opponents throw at him. At least for the time being.
3. Yes: Reform
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Let me get this one out of the way. Michael Vick has been nothing but a model citizen so far this season. He has said the right things and has acted appropriately at all times. But the line between him and trouble is razor thin. Anything short of a traffic violation would cause the commissioner to question the ethics of the Eagles' QB.
This is a looming question that will do doubt be raised as the contract for Vick expires this season. At that time his past will again be trudged up. More than that is the mere possibility that he gets into trouble again. NFL players are not known to be the best at keeping quiet in the off season.
3. No: Franchise Tag
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News has surfaced that the Eagles may want to place the franchise tag on Michael Vick. That could prove detrimental to the emotions of Vick. The franchise tag has been a bur in the sides of NFL players. It keeps them within the realm of cost effectiveness for the team that tags him. Vick could garner much more money on the open market.
This being the best year of his career, I could see a very irate Vick being labeled a franchise player by the Eagles. This may be his last big pay day to make back some of that money he lost when he left the NFL.
Basically, the franchise tag gives the Eagles one of the best deals of the century.
2. Yes: Potential Lockout
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The NFL has a looming lockout hovering above their heads. With negotiations set to take place in the off season, the players could very well go on strike. This would be disastrous for 30-year-old Vick.
Michael Vick has showed himself to be one of the most athletic players in the NFL. But how long will this last? Couple that question with the fact that Kevin Kolb is four years younger and you have to think that it is not as clear cut as to what quarterback you take from here on out. With only a couple more seasons left of Vick amazing us with his athletic prowess, a lockout of even half a season would be horrendous to both the Eagles and Vick.
2. No: Andy Reid
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The relationship between quarterback and head coach is a fickle one. We have seen as recently as this year that the pair of leaders can turn against each other. Favre and Childress as well as Vince Young and Jeff Fisher, have showed that an overlaying issue, plus time and defeats, leads to one of the two being banished from the team.
It was clear that Andy Reid wanted Kevin Kolb to take the helm after Donovan McNabb left Philadelphia. It was only when Vick showed his worth that Reid's hand was forced. One small lapse in play and it could be good bye to either Reid or Vick. It is the oldest and most readily-told tale in the NFL.
But the issue has remained at bay because of how it was handled. Reid proved he is a coach that can make the hard decision right away. This one will not get the chance to blow up, not as long as Reid maintains control.
1. Yes: Style
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The Michael Vick method of football is exciting. It is volatile. Alas, it is dangerous. In order for Vick to be at his best, he must be able to run and gun at a speeds above those of most defensive players. This season he can split past some defensive backs and pick up enough yardage for the first down.
He also has the ability to fire the ball accurately on the run, a feat that benefits the young. Hos style will not change with age, but his effectiveness will. A QB that basis his whole game on energized football has but a small window to perform well. In a couple of seasons, Vick will show signs of decay. He will have fewer and fewer opportunities to open up the game as he does now.
1. No: He Is a Runner
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A quarterback has to be somewhat elusive. Even the most stone footed pocket passers do well to run every no and again. But those that are known for their running games never become legendary heroes.
Randall Cunningham was a great quarterback that will be remembered as such. But he will never be known as a legend of the game because he was not seen as a passer. Those are the quarterbacks that really shined. Joe Montana, John Elway, Dan Marino and Steve Young in their later years all had to do it with their arms.
It remains to be seen if Vick can do the job with only his arm. The day will come like it for Marino, when that is all that he has at his disposal. That will truly measure if he is a bust or not for the Eagles.
Vick has already shown he can learn to be more adept in the pocket. He is turning into a pass-first QB for the first time in his career. Perhaps he can be the first legendary running quarterbacks in the NFL.
Conclusion
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Michael Vick is truly a mystery. No one should be this good in the first place, let alone after a couple of seasons spent in jail rather than on the gridiron. But Vick is showing that he is a special talent. He is on the cusp of being a once in a generation talent. For the Eagles or any team, you take a chance on that kind of talent no mater the length of it's duration.
Vick may have only a couple of seasons being this awesome. But they are a couple of seasons you will not want to miss.
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