Vintage Vick showing leaves QB controversy in Philadelphia
Any football fan would have to admit that it was fun to watch the old Michael Vick on Sunday. Not the old Michael Vick off the field of course, but the electrifying, dynamic star we all remember. On Kevin Kolb’s big opening day as the man in Philadelphia, Kolb struggled with a pedestrian offence before suffering a concussion on a crushing hit by Packers’ linebacker Clay Matthews. Kolb left the game looking dazed and the crowd in Philadelphia remembered that it’s not so easy replacing Donovan McNabb.
Kolb can’t be blamed for how bad the Eagles were in the early stages of the game as he was constantly pressured. On top of the beating he took from Green Bay’s defence he got the kind of support any struggling player can expect in Philadelphia. If McNabb couldn’t win the city of Brotherly Love over, then it may be a difficult process for Kolb.
It wasn’t all negative in Week One as the overlooked Vick got the opportunity he’s been waiting for. He got a chance to prove he can be a starting quarterback in this league at 30 years old and missing two seasons while serving his prison sentence. Vick hasn’t started since December 31st, 2006 when he was an Atlanta Falcon.
After Kolb left the game with a concussion, Vick brought the Eagles’ offence to life. Down 20-3, Vick flashed his old moves, scrambling for big yardage and looking sharp as a passer. Vick was 16-of-24 with 175 yards and a touchdown. He was also the game’s leading rusher with 103 yards on 11 carries. Vick brought the Eagles to within a touchdown of tying the game down 27-20, but was stopped on a designed run on fourth- and-one in the dying seconds of the game. Vick’s performance still opened a lot of eyes as he proved many things to himself and fans.
"I felt like I battled, I fought, I had that instinct and desire to win," Vick said. "I had that old feel."
Eagles’ coach Andy Reid praised Vick for his play in the game and bringing the Eagles back, but maintained that Kolb will still be the starter when he’s healthy. Perhaps the Eagles have no choice but to stick with Kolb as he was supposed to be the one who would surpass McNabb. Eagles’ fans chased McNabb out of town and Eagles’ management oddly shipped McNabb to a division rival the Washington Redskins. If they were to go to Vick this early, the move obviously would look foolish.
If the Eagles don’t intend to make Vick the starter after what he showed, then perhaps Vick deserves a chance somewhere else. Although he was humble in his thoughts, Vick wants to be a starter and he cashed in on his opportunity. While he couldn’t bring his team all the way back, he made a strong case for himself not just for the Eagles, but around the league.
"I still feel like I can play at a high level," Vick said. "I feel like if I had been out there for four quarters, maybe we would have had a chance to win the game. But it's all hindsight now. I feel like I'm 25 or 26 again, even though that's not the case."
Vick is in the final year of his contract with the Eagles and the trade deadline is five weeks away. The Eagles could trade Vick if he gets fed up of his backup role and if Kolb gets healthy. If Kolb is out longer, than the Eagles may want to keep Vick to do the job until Kolb is back. If Vick isn’t good enough to be a starter in Philly though, there are teams out there who could use a quarterback.
Some may not want Vick to succeed at this point but the fact is that Vick has been bettering himself since his downfall. He has been a better teammate, a better person and has remained humble. He has also been patient in waiting to be a starter in this league again. He’s shown what he’s still capable of doing so to the entire NFL, take notice and help Vick complete his path of redemption.
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