Michael Vick will only get better next season (Part 2)
Continued from part 1
Jackson became the first player to return a punt for the game-winning touchdown. However, the entire Eagles squad deserves praise for the victory. They scored four touchdowns in the space of about seven minutes to trail 10-31, before they began their scoring
frenzy in the fourth quarter.
Vick has had a lot of difficulties throughout the past couple of years. He went from a superstar with the Atlanta Falcons to being broke and hated. He came back to the NFL after being released from prison, and worked his way up to being a strong candidate
for the league Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
However, his comeback story won’t be finished without the Lombardi Trophy.
"It was a great season, but the ultimate goal is winning the Super Bowl," Vick said. "It was a great season, but that's not enough."
Vick played in three Pro Bowls with the Falcons and also took them to the NFC championship game. However, it wasn’t until he joined the Eagles that he became complete as a player.
Vick learned from the Eagles’ coaching staff to stay patient in passing. He ran around too much when he should have waited in the pocket. Even though he still scrambles now, that is only when there is no chance to pass. However when he runs, watch out; he
makes big plays.
"Now I know how to play the game," he said. "I've been taught how to play the game, how to go through my progressions, how to be patient, how to stay balanced, how to stay down when I throw. Discipline. That's something I've been taught, it's something that
I'm going to continue to improve on and it can't be taken away from me. I'm only going to get better."
Now that the season is over, Vick is technically a free agent. If the NFL labour situation is resolved, then he will become one of the, if not the most wanted free agents in the NFL. However, it is not likely that the Eagles would give him up. Vick wants
to come back, and Reid wants both him and Kolb to stay.
The Eagles have an incredible line-up of young players that assist Vick in offence. The remarkable offensive line has scored 439 points this year; a franchise record. If the line becomes more stable, they will offer Vick more protection, which could make
him and the Eagles even more lethal.
"The sky's the limit, and I know that," Vick said. "I just know how hard I've got to work. I know what I can accomplish. I know things that I didn't do so well this year that I'm going to practice this entire off-season on. So, I'm very thankful for the
opportunity. I'm very thankful to be here."
Vick has done everything right since coming back to professional football. He has also handled his success much better than the time he was a hot-headed youngster in Atlanta. He takes criticism well and knows what is expected of him as the quarterback of
a Super Bowl quality team.
"That's the nature of the position," he said. "Everything's going to be thrown on your shoulders as a quarterback. I accept it, I respect it. That's a responsibility that you take on, when you get up under the center. Like I say, I'm built to play the position
and deal with everything that comes along with it, and I'll never shy away from it. I'll continue to do what I've done on the field; that's to always stay aggressive. And I'll always accept the task."
Although the season is over for the Eagles, Vick and four other players are getting ready to try and win the Pro Bowl for the NFC team. Jackson will be a reserve wide receiver, Jason Peters will be a starting defensive tackle, Asante Samuel will be a starting
defensive cornerback and David Akers will be the special teams’ place-kicker.
The Pro Bowl is scheduled to be held on 30 January at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.
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