NFL Free Agency 2011: Why Michael Vick Shouldn't Sign Eagles Franchise Tender
Should Michael Vick sign a Franchise Tender with the Philadelphia Eagles?
Before I get started, there are a couple of housekeeping notes. Vick cannot sign a franchise tender before the new collective bargaining agreement is signed, which isn't going to happen anytime soon. The two sides can still negotiate though.
The second note is that once the collective bargaining agreement is in place, it will come down to whether or not their is actually a franchise tag that can be placed on players. It might be something that is left out. In that case, the Eagles or Vick wouldn't be able to sign a franchise tender anyways.
Vick has said that he really doesn't care, or that it really doesn't matter to him. The only thing that matters to him is playing the game of football. His creditors that he owes money to will say something different.
Someone Kevin Kolb will figure into this decision, but that aspect of this falls more on the Eagles' side than it does Michael Vick. So in regards to this article, Kevin Kolb doesn't have an impact in terms of the decision that Michael Vick makes.
Here are the pros and cons of Michael Vick signing a franchise tender with the Philadelphia Eagles, and I will close the article out on what I think Vick should do, and what the Eagles will do.
Con: Deserves a Big-Time Contract
1 of 11
Michael Vick played his best football during the 2010 season statistically speaking.
He threw for over 3,000 yards, ran for 676 yards, and was responsible for 21 passing touchdowns and 9 rushing touchdowns. Other than the rushing yards, those numbers were all career highs.
One of the biggest issues will be his age, he will enter the 2011 season at 31 years old.
Vick deserves a big-time contract for his big-time performance in 2011. He is the starting quarterback and the leader for the Eagles' offense.
Sure he can sign a tender for one year, but he needs a long term contract because of his age, way he plays the game, and injury risk.
Vick deserves it. The Eagles took a chance on Vick and it paid off for them. Now they need to be the ones paying Michael Vick.
Pro: Still Sign a Big Contract in The Future
2 of 11
According to some reports, Vick would be expected to earn between $15 and $20 million dollars next year if he signs a franchise tender with the Eagles.
Even if he does sign it for this upcoming year, he would still have the opportunity to sign a big-time deal the following year.
Sure there is a risk of injury, but that can be said of any player in the league. If Vick signs this contract, it would help him in paying off his creditors to which he owes money to.
Vick isn't that concerned with the money as I think he should be. He still owes over $20 million dollars to creditors. He said after the Eagles' playoff loss to the Packers that "it doesn't really matter as long as I can play football next year."
Sure Vick is saying all the right things, but money is something that I think he needs to take a little more seriously. Especially the fact that he owes money to people.
But if he was debt-free then this would be a different story.
Con: Vick Will Get More Money Later
3 of 11
If Vick receives even $17 million dollars next year after signing the franchise tender and then agrees to a multi-year deal, then he would receive less money in that multi-year deal.
The Eagles would be a lot more confident in giving more money to a younger player because of the time left in his career. Granted, he doesn't have the wear-and-tear of a 30-year-old because he didn't play for two seasons, but he is still getting up there in age.
Vick would probably not receive $17 million dollars per year if he signed a multi-year deal with the Eagles now, but over the course of a multi-year contract signed this year, he would make more money.
Below are two examples and these are purely hypothetical numbers. The first being if he signs the tender, and then agrees to a 4-year, $24 million dollars contract. The second being if he doesn't sign the tender, but instead agrees to a 5-year, $45 million dollar contract.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total | |
| Franchise | $18 million | $6 million | $6 million | $6 million | $6 million | $42 million |
| No Franchise | $9 million | $9 million | $9 million | $9 million | $9 million | $45 million |
These are purely hypothetical numbers, but it goes to show that he will probably stand to gain more money overall if he signs a multi-year contract before the start of the 2011 season instead of signing a tender.
This could especially hold true if Vick does not have a very successful 2011 season.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Pro: Vick Could Use The Money
4 of 11
He certainly could. He owes more than $20 million dollars to people and groups like the Atlanta Falcons, his former employer.
Vick won't receive anywhere close to $17 million dollars this upcoming season if he signs a multi-year deal, so in the short term he would definitely benefit.
He will make the most money this upcoming year if he signs the franchise tender, so it wouldn't hurt him at all financially if he signs it—in the short term, but Vick needs to be focused on the...
Con: Needs to Think Long-Term
5 of 11
He needs to do something that not many NFL players do. He needs to think long-term and he needs to think big picture.
According to a Sports Illustrated article published in 2009, "By the time they have been retired for two years, 78% of former NFL players have gone bankrupt or are under financial stress because of joblessness or divorce."
Vick has already gone bankrupt a first time, and he literally cannot afford to go bankrupt a second time.
I have shown in a previous slide that he will most likely get more money if he agrees to a multi-year deal this year, as opposed to waiting and signing a franchise tender this year.
If Vick thinks long-term, then he shouldn't sign a franchise tender.
Pro: He Will Get More Money Now
6 of 11
This might be something that he thinks about. I need money now, and I want to get it now. But in the previous slide I showed you why that's not necessarily the best option.
He could definitely use the money now, all of us would like the most money upfront. It is sometimes difficult for these athletes to think long-term.
If he was able to receive more money now, then he has a better opportunity of paying back his creditors quicker, so that he can go on and live his life without a huge weight on his shoulder.
Con: Needs to Pay Off Creditors
7 of 11
As I have mentioned in previous slides, Vick owes about $20 million dollars to creditors. The main one being his former employer the Atlanta Falcons.
In 2005 the Falcons offered and agreed to a contract with Vick worth $130 million dollars over 10 years with $37 million dollars in guaranteed money.
Vick now owes the Atlanta Falcons some of that money that he used to fund a dog-fighting ring.
As I have also mentioned earlier, I believe that he stands to gain more money overall if he doesn't sign a tender, and instead agrees to a multi-year deal.
Con: Doesnt Need All The Money Now
8 of 11
The way that Vick's debt settlement program work allows him to give a partial amount of his salary to pay back creditors, but still allows him some spending money. Basically, all of the money is not going directly to the people that he owes money to.
Because of this, it is not necessarily important that he gets all the money up front to pay off his creditors.
He owes alot of money, and he will still need some more after he finishes paying them off so that he can provide for his family.
I think that it is more important for Vick to get more money overall for playing in the NFL, than opposed to receiving more money upfront. He just doesn't need to get all of the money right now.
Michael Vick Should Not Sign a Franchise Tender...
9 of 11
I don't think that it is in Michael Vick's best interest to sign a franchise tender. Yes he will receive more of the money upfront, but he won't in regards to the rest of his football career.
There is also the risk of injury during the 2011 season. He does play a violent game, and a catastrophic injury could also mean the end of his career.
If Vick decides to think long-term, and I think he should, then I don't think he will sign a franchise tender.
But Vick just has one thing in mind, and that is playing the great game of football.
"I believe everything will work itself out."
With uncertainty with the CBA, I think it will be in Vick's best interest to try and negotiate and agree to a long term deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
If Vick does sign the tender, but gets injured next year. It could cause a huge decrease in the amount of money he can make in the future.
Vick's stock will never be as high as it is now, and Vick needs to take advantage of that now by agreeing to a long term contract, and not signing a tender.
...but The Eagles Will Most Likely Sign Him to One
10 of 11
I believe the Eagles and Vick will sign a tender though, but I don't think Vick should.
This would be the smart decision for the Eagles. If Vick goes out and has an unproductive year then you can release him, or offer him a much lower salary. There always is the chance and risk of injury as well especially with how Vick plays the game.
This is also the lowest risk that the Eagles have. The Eagles would have one more year of both Vick and Kolb and if Vick struggles this upcoming year, Philadelphia might start moving forward with Kolb at quarterback.
Signing him to a tender allows them one more season to evaluate both quarterbacks, and they will then get to make the most informed decision during the next off-season.
It's in the Eagles best interest to sign him to a franchise tender, but it is not in Michael Vick's best interest.
What Do You Think?
11 of 11
Should the Eagles offer Vick a franchise tender?
If the Eagles do, should Vick sign it?
What do the Eagles do with Kevin Kolb?
I have expressed my opinions through this article, what are yours?
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")