Michael Vick, the $100 Million Man

Late last night while watching a riveting episode of the real basketball wives of LA my Android phone began to light up with twitter and Facebook updates.  Normally this only happens during a natural disaster or a must-see TV event. However, in this case it was breaking news of the Michael Vick contract worth $100 million over six years.   

Michael Vick has come full circle from first receiving the deal of a lifetime with the Falcons at 136 million for 10 years—then to prison. Now earning an unprecedented second chance at a $100 million deal this time.  Michael Vick is known today as one of the most controversial athletes on the planet where millions of people love him and millions of people love to hate him. Either way the name Michael Vick is almost as recognizable as the name Michael Jordan. 

After the news broke of the deal Vick agreed to I knew that there would be hoards of negative responses from around the blogosphere.  Some from people that hate him for his illegal actions—actions that ultimately landed him in prison—and other responses from those that hate him because they don’t feel his style of play is acceptable for the NFL. 

On my commute to work I tuned into some morning sports talk radio shows, one of which was Sirius NFL radio, where I heard former NFL offensive lineman, and now ESPN contributor, Ross Tucker expressing his displeasure of the deal stating “The Eagles should have waited until at least game 5 before they gave him that contract” in order to see if he could duplicate his performance from last year.  To that thought, if the Eagles waited they would have had to wait until the end of the season when other teams may have had a hand in raising the price tag for Mike and causing a bidding war for his services. Either that, or the eagles would have had to choose who they would rather use their franchise tag on, Vick or DeSean Jackson. 

The truth is Vick has a lot to prove now.  On the surface the contract looks good and it looks like Vick should be on the hook for treating each and every one of his teammates to dinner, but in reality due to his legal financial obligations Vick will only receive an allowance of $300,000 per year for the next two year.  In the next six years Vick’s contract will pay out about $2 million per year after his creditors get their percentages as a part of his bankruptcy. 

Michael Vick is back in the position he was in before he went to prison, only this time he's a little bit older, more mature and dedicated to being a leader.  Under the guidance of Andy Reid, Vick has become what the Eagles wished Donavan McNabb was.  A pass/run threat quarterback with the bravado to handle the toughest critics in the NFL—the Philadelphia fan base.  

Over the next four years Michael Vick will continue to be the most pulverizing figure in the game and only time will tell if the Eagles made the right choice in placing all their chips in Vick's basket.