By now, unless you have been living under a rock or in a hole, or you’re a dog and can’t read English (or anything else for that matter), you probably have heard Michael Vick signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. The contract is pretty basic: the first year, Vick will make $1.6 million, which is the exact amount the UFL offered; and, the second year, a team option, Vick gets $5.2 million. People can say a lot about Andy Reid, Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens, and the Eagles fan base, and there is a little of all of them that makes this a great fit beyond 2009.
Let’s face it…Vick will be nothing more than an injury replacement or Wildcat (Taser/Wild Hog/whatever you’d like to call it) formation QB. If he was released from prison before April, for OTAs, he might have had a greater value for a team in 2009. But, such is life when you do what he did. So, let’s look to the option year, and address all of what this means for the Eagles, and its members:
1. Donovan McNabb. As I said, 2009 is his. 2010, on the other hand, may not be. McNabb will have total control over whether the team will be his in 2010 if he performs well in 2009. Maybe McNabb’s biggest problem is he plays in the NFC East, and every one of the division rivals improved in one way or the other. If the Eagles split their games against the division, the team needs seven more wins to probably make the playoffs. Anything less, and 2010 will be a big question mark for McNabb’s return/retirement ceremonies. But, even if he performs well, the defense, without defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, the backbone, safety Brian Dawkins, and an up-and-coming linebacker in Stewart Bradley (out for the year with a torn ACL) might not unless they gel quickly. This year, McNabb may have to lead the Eagles to 35-40 points per game for the team to feel semi-comfortable of winning. Possible? Yes. Probable? No, and that will make Vick more valuable in 2010 and beyond.
2. Brian Westbrook. If there is one thing Eagle fans love about the team, it’s running back Brian Westbrook. He plays when he is hurt, and still racks up close to 150-200 all-purpose yards every game. Now, to the task at hand: 2009 & 2010 for him. The best thing about both years is he will have LeSean McCoy subbing for him, more than backups (like Correll Buckhalter) have done in the past. Fresh legs for Westbrook and McCoy will help the offense stay decent, and give Vick the running attack he really never had in Atlanta.
3. DeSean Jackson (and Jeremy Maclin). Because of Vick’s elusiveness, Jackson (and eventually Maclin) become even more dangerous. If Vick gets away from the pass rush, Jackson can easily sit down in the zone (since cornerbacks and safeties usually lose their man once the quarterback gets outside the pocket) and make a 15-20 yard gain into a 75-yard touchdown. Then again, he can do that now with McNabb, but much of that, he has to do on his own because McNabb doesn’t run anywhere near as much. McNabb makes him a better receiver. Vick makes him more dangerous. Now, imagine if Maclin learns the pro game well,…which leads me to my next point…
4. Young offensive nucleus in 2010. Seriously, imagine Vick at QB (he’ll be 30 in 2010, with 28-year-old legs, since he would have sat for 2 years), McCoy at tailback (22, by the time training camp in 2010 comes along), Jackson (23 in 2010) and Maclin (22 in 2010) as your offensive skill players. If everyone stays together, this has a chance to be the NFC East winner for a lot of years to come, which leads me to my next point…
5. Andy Reid. The coach has always been known as a guy who developed quarterbacks. People forget, as long as he’s been with McNabb in Philadelphia, Reid used to be in Green Bay and helped to develop a guy named Favre. To think Reid could let McNabb ride off into the sunset and not have a prepared Michael Vick waiting in the wings would be a foolish notion. McNabb, when he retires, is not going to take Reid with him. As tumultuous as Reid’s ride in Philly has been, he has produced winners there. If Reid can make Vick into the quarterback people think he CAN be, Reid’s finest hour is yet to come.
6. Michael Vick. I mentioned in the paragraph on the young offensive nucleus that Vick will be on fresher legs by two years for having sat for the twenty months in prison. Since he likely won’t get much playing time in 2009, maybe make it three years. Athletically, Vick should be fine. With coaching, he should be fine. The question fans, teammates, coaches and team executives will have about Vick in 2009, 2010, and beyond is whether he is contrite about the dogfighting he participated in. While it shouldn’t have an affect on him in the field, the constant asking by fans and the media and worry that he may not be doing enough may affect his performance. How he acts with his teammates (can’t pull a Terrell Owens now…) will define whether his contract will be picked up by the team in 2010. Vick is in control of his own destiny. It will be a difficult road for him. He can’t hang out with the guys he has lately (Young Jeezy…sorry, dude. Love your music, but Vick has to not be seen with those living a so-called ‘thuggish’ lifestyle.). Will Vick’s support system make the situation easier or harder?
This is the most important time of Vick’s life: a chance to resurrect his career from the trash heap. We wish we knew what Vick was thinking, but, hopefully, ‘Wait your turn, be patient, and be smart’ are the three things going through his mind.