Michael Vick: 5 Reasons QB Won't Be Healthy Enough to Validate Superstar Status

Michael Vick is the most exciting player in the NFL and would be an MVP candidate if he could stay healthy. Unfortunately, Vick is constantly battling with multiple injuries and has made a habit of being a game-time decision.

The Eagles traded away Kevin Kolb and ousted the best insurance policy in the NFL. With their entire season depending on Vick's health, early injuries to their star quarterback have the Eagles and their fans on edge.

A deep hand bruise and a concussion may be the first injuries Vick has sustained this season, but they won't be the last. Here are five reasons Vick won't be able to stay on the field long enough to validate his superstar status.

Trying to Extend the Play Puts Him at Risk

The Eagles have home-run hitters all over the field. They live on the big play and their big plays usually come when Vick is able to extend the ball with his legs.

The problem is that in doing so, he puts himself at risk. In trying to extend the play, Vick is opening himself up to pressure. While he is elusive enough to extend the play and is one of the best quarterbacks in the league at evading defenders, he's constantly getting punished for standing tall and getting punished for hanging onto the ball for too long.

He's Playing with Fire When He Scrambles

Obviously the best part about Vick is that he can hurt defenses in multiple ways. Defenses who choose to play man and vacate the middle of the field are going to be punished by Vick's legs. He has to be accounted for on every play, which keeps defenses on their heels.

Even so, defenses are gunning for Vick and Vick is playing with fire when decides to become a running back. Vick pays a price nearly every time he decides to take the ball and run. Him absorbing running back punishment on a weekly basis doesn't adhere to him being healthy for 16 games.

He Doesn't Protect Himself

Vick needs to learn that a couple yards aren't worth risking his season for. He doesn't slide or run out of bounds nearly as much as he should and it's proving costly. The shots he takes trying to get that extra yard or two aren't as important as maintaining his health.

Vick's desire to fight for every yard is admirable, but he's jeopardizing the Eagles' season every time he elects to take on a defender rather than duck out of bounds or submit and slide.

His Offensive Line Is Porous

Vick might be able to avoid falling victim to an absurd amount of sacks, but his line isn't protecting him well enough. They tried to protect him by keeping him inside the pocket, but Vick's line isn't good enough to uphold a pocket for him, as the concussion he sustained is evidence of.

Vick has come under fire, as defenses recognize the inadequacies that the offensive line presents. Vick being on the move and Vick running for his life are not one in the same, and the latter has been the case far too often thus far.

Refs Don't Protect Him Like a Franchise Quarterback

The numbers don't paint a complete picture of the bias refs show towards Vick. When guys like Drew Brees and Tom Brady gets touched, the refs are overly cautious. They are quick to throw the flag when their helmet even gets grazed, because it rarely happens.

Vick gets hit so often that the refs take a completely different approach to officiating with him. In their defense, they would be throwing a flag or two on every drive if they took the overly-cautious approach to Vick.

Even so, Vick has a point. He's on the ground constantly and the borderline late hits and blows to Vick's head are not treated the same as the refs treat other franchise quarterbacks. Some may think Vick's gripes are unwarranted, but the inconsistencies in officiating are real.