Michael Vick: Why the Dynamic Superstar Will Capture the 2011 NFL MVP Award
Michael Vick is one of the most polarizing players in the NFL, though, with time, that trend is starting to disappear. He is also one of the most exciting players to watch, as most scrambling quarterbacks are. Beyond that, he seems to be a guy guaranteed to surprise.
He surprised us last year by not getting MVP votes after Tom Brady won the award unanimously. While Brady's win was expected, I figured Vick would have gotten a few votes for his great comeback year.
With the 2010 season behind him, we all know Michael Vick can play, and that he's better than ever. As a result, he is going to win the NFL MVP Award in 2011, and here's why.
10. He's a Quarterback
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Yes, Michael Vick is a quarterback. Now that I have made the most obvious statement in some time, let me clarify. The MVP award is almost always won by a quarterback. Occasionally a running back wins it, but quarterbacks, since they're seen as the leaders of their team, automatically have a leg up.
This pretty much limits Vick's competition to Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and the like, unless a running back decides to break Eric Dickerson's record next year.
9. Eagles Should Have a Good Record
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Perhaps unfortunately, awards in the NFL are partially determined by how the team as a whole plays. Whether that's justified or not is a matter for another time, though no matter what you think of it, the team with the best regular season record at least has a candidate in play if they don't win the award.
The Eagles might have a tough road in the East, with the Cowboys being considered a sleeper after a poor 2010, but they should be able to surpass the Giants and Redskins, building upon their record last year. If the Eagles are in that 11+ win range, Vick will be thrown about as an MVP candidate.
8. Highlight Reel Possibilities
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Being on the highlight reel doesn't translate to MVP votes directly. Instead, it's a transitive property situation that can only mean good things. After all, we all know about Blake Griffin in basketball now since he's on SportsCenter with a huge dunk a couple times a week.
Michael Vick is flashy and athletic enough that he can make great moves with the football. If he can make ones that both help his keep and prevent him from being injured, then people will talk about his gridiron performances, which could help.
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7. Weapons on Team
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Having great weapons to throw to doesn't necessarily make winning the MVP a cakewalk, but it does make it easier. DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy, Brent Celek, and others are great young weapons for any quarterback to have, and all the pieces seem to click well.
Tom Brady didn't start winning the MVP until he had Wes Welker to throw to, and Kurt Warner had Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt to throw to when he won his two MVP awards. With these weapons surronding him, Michael Vick has a good chance to win.
6. Running and Passing Combination
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What makes Michael Vick unique from most quarterbacks in the league is his ability to gain a lot of rushing yards on top of his passing yards. While a quarterback gaining 300 yards is plenty good, Michael Vick has proven that he can rush for 1,000.
Scrambling quarterbacks generally don't win the MVP Award, but there are not all that many elite ones. Vick, as a result, is a rare breed, and that may be just the selling point he needs for any doubters out there.
5. He Makes Teammates Better
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This one may be controversial, but one thing is for sure: Tom Brady is known for this, and this is why he is considered an elite quarterback. Vick is not known for this at all, but after his performance in 2010, he could turn himself into that kind of quarterback.
Vick was always a household name, but after this season, DeSean Jackson became a household name as well. Would he have been one with Kevin Kolb at quarterback? It's possible, but I doubt it.
4. Fewer Interceptions
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Michael Vick was pretty good at keeping the ball out of opponents' hands to begin with, but with the Eagles he has gotten much better in this regard. In his final three seasons with Atlanta, he has interception counts of 12, 13, and 13. Those aren't bad numbers, but they could be improved upon.
That's exactly what Vick did last year by only throwing six of them. If he keeps that number in single digits again in 2011, that will greatly help his MVP case.
3. Image Repair
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Deep down, this is a story of a man who, after serving his time for committing a crime, is playing the best football of his career. When he was in the race for MVP this past season, there was some animosity to him winning the award should he be voted in.
It will be a year later in 2011, and time is the one thing that can be counted on to ease the burden of any situation. There will be fewer people calling for his head this time around, and if he's in the running for MVP again, it should go over better. Those that might not have voted for him last year could do so this year. Even if it's just one or two people, that could be the difference.
2. He Has Better Pass Control
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One thing that was always a weakness for Vick is that he was always seen as a running back who could sometimes pass. It took that time away from football to actually become a true quarterback.
In 2010, Vick had a completion percentage of 62.6%. By comparison, he failed to crack the 57% mark in any other year of his career. That improved control means him a far greater threat than he used to be in the pocket, and defenses will have to watch out.
1. 2010 Season Provides Great Foundation
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If you haven't figured it out by now, Michael Vick seemed to turn into an entirely different football player in 2010. Instead of being a good running back, an okay quarterback, and an average passer, he's become a very good runner, a very good passer, and a great quarterback.
When everything falls into a place for a quarterback like that, it's usually not a one-year situation; that attitude usually sticks around for good, and it helps Michael Vick become one of the players with the inside track for the 2011 MVP Award.
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