Bizarre. It's the first word that comes to mind about the news that broke a little more than three hours ago -- Michael Vick is a Philadelphia Eagle.
I was sitting in a bar having some food after my Thursday night golf league near Albany N.Y. when the scroll came across the TV reporting that my beloved Philadelphia Eagles had signed one of the most talented and maligned quaterbacks to ever play pro football. My fellow hackers, the large majority of which are NY Giant fans, were relatively quiet as I unfurled a string of words that would make George Carlin blush.
My initial reaction was one of shock -- theirs, one of relief. The pariah of the NFL was now a member of the division rival. As football fans they were happy Vick won't be creating a distraction for their team. As men, it's another piece of ammo you can use too tweak your friends who are fans of a heated rival. If you enjoy busting balls, even a little, having your enemy sign a guy who drown and electrocuted dogs and brought the term "rape stand" into the national lexicon is a gift from God. And we haven't even touched on the weed, herpes allegations and one of the greatest aliases of all-time - Ron Mexico.
Since the news broke Twitter has exploded and every news organization and sports blog will have content and opinion on the signing. I'll save you the links and give you my initial gut reaction, fueled by more than one Coors Light and over 30 years of being a die hard Eagles fan.
While Vick is a unique talent, the signing doesn't make sense. If you add up the positives and subtract the negatives in my opinion you end up with a number that's less than zero. Vick joins a team that already had a solid quarterback situation. McNabb is a 10 year starter who has been injury free for the last 2 years. He's backed up by Kevin Kolb, a quarterback the Eagles drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft. The third stringer is AJ Feeley, a guy who has started more games than most third team QBs in the league.
While Kolb is out for a few days with an MCL strain, he's expected to be ready to go within the next week. On a team beset by preseason injuries to offensive linemen, tight ends and linebackers, quarterback was the last place they needed to make a move. Yet they signed Vick.
The question is why? This move doesn't address the need to add a tight end with Cornelius Ingram's season ending knee injury, it merely forces them to either cut Feeley or tell everyone that Kolb's knee injury is worse than reported. It doesn't address the fact that Shawn Andrews isn't ready, Todd Herremans is out for at least the preseason and Stacy Andrews is adjusting to a new position. It doesn't address the Eagles' positions of weakness, it potentially reinforces something that was already strong.
Reports on twitter are that Andy Reid spoke openly in a press conference tonight about the acquisition. For those that follow the Eagles, that in itself is remarkable. Reid even talked about the difficult circumstances his sons have went through in discussing the signing. But the Eagles don't make business decisions based on humanity and second chances. They are one of the most ruthless, cut throat organizations in the league when dealing with personnel. They couldn't find the money to keep a spirited leader and the emotional back bone of the defense Brian Dawkins on the team, yet they find the cash to sign Vick.
This means one thing, he's in Philly for a reason. I'm sure they have a plan for him and I'm pretty sure that the plan isn't to replace McNabb - for this year at least. Vick is a unique talent - a guy that two years ago could make people miss in the open field and is electrifying with the ball in his hands. But you know what - the Eagles are now loaded with guys that can do that. DeSean Jackson, Brian Westbrook, Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy all can make people miss and make things happen in space. The last time I checked, they only play the game with one football. Trying to find a half dozen to a dozen plays a game to let Vick touch the ball only takes away touches from other playmakers. And don't forget, he's been eating prison food and doing God knows what for the last 2 years. No one knows what he's got left or how he'll adjust.
And McNabb, even with a 3 game slump, threw for almost 4,000 yards last season. How many plays a game do you want to take the ball out of his hands? For Eagle fans that answer varies, but what does not vary is the fact that now, for the first time in years they don't lack for playmakers.
Yet they add another. Even if Vick doesn't get the ball, for this year at least, it probably won't matter. Broke and presumably humbled, I'm guessing Vick is OK with sitting on the bench or playing a couple plays a game. Like many unemployed Americans he knows he just needs to get working again and establish himself in the work force. However, even if he's not on the field his more presence will still be a distraction.
In a city that's never truly warmed up to McNabb, Vick's signing at some point almost guarantees a new controversy is waiting to appear at some point during the season. While McNabb is reportedly happy with the signing since he's known Vick for so long, having hosted his his visit to SU 12 years ago, I wonder how happy he'll be if he goes through another slump and the fans start clamoring for the back up?
I wonder what kind of weapon he'll represent for Andy Reid if he makes a couple of spectacular plays in a wild cat formation right after McNabb bounces a couple in the dirt? I wonder what will happen if McNabb hits another rough patch and Big Red has to decide whether to replace number 5? I wonder how many times Reid will have to answer questions from the media regarding who his starting quarterback will be? All of these things take a toll.
That doesn't even get into the possibility of what happens if something goes wrong? What happens when a blog posts a video of Vick coming out of a strip club? What happens if he gets caught smoking weed or even tripping over a neighbors dog?
Vick solves a problem the Eagles didn't have and I can't help but wonder if he'll create more problems than he can solve. The first answers will come tomorrow when he gets announced at a press conference at 11 am. The Eagles should sell tickets because it marks the official opening of the circus - what kind of show it turns out to be remains to be seen, but I'm skeptical.
I was sitting in a bar having some food after my Thursday night golf league near Albany N.Y. when the scroll came across the TV reporting that my beloved Philadelphia Eagles had signed one of the most talented and maligned quaterbacks to ever play pro football. My fellow hackers, the large majority of which are NY Giant fans, were relatively quiet as I unfurled a string of words that would make George Carlin blush.
My initial reaction was one of shock -- theirs, one of relief. The pariah of the NFL was now a member of the division rival. As football fans they were happy Vick won't be creating a distraction for their team. As men, it's another piece of ammo you can use too tweak your friends who are fans of a heated rival. If you enjoy busting balls, even a little, having your enemy sign a guy who drown and electrocuted dogs and brought the term "rape stand" into the national lexicon is a gift from God. And we haven't even touched on the weed, herpes allegations and one of the greatest aliases of all-time - Ron Mexico.
Since the news broke Twitter has exploded and every news organization and sports blog will have content and opinion on the signing. I'll save you the links and give you my initial gut reaction, fueled by more than one Coors Light and over 30 years of being a die hard Eagles fan.
While Vick is a unique talent, the signing doesn't make sense. If you add up the positives and subtract the negatives in my opinion you end up with a number that's less than zero. Vick joins a team that already had a solid quarterback situation. McNabb is a 10 year starter who has been injury free for the last 2 years. He's backed up by Kevin Kolb, a quarterback the Eagles drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft. The third stringer is AJ Feeley, a guy who has started more games than most third team QBs in the league.
While Kolb is out for a few days with an MCL strain, he's expected to be ready to go within the next week. On a team beset by preseason injuries to offensive linemen, tight ends and linebackers, quarterback was the last place they needed to make a move. Yet they signed Vick.
The question is why? This move doesn't address the need to add a tight end with Cornelius Ingram's season ending knee injury, it merely forces them to either cut Feeley or tell everyone that Kolb's knee injury is worse than reported. It doesn't address the fact that Shawn Andrews isn't ready, Todd Herremans is out for at least the preseason and Stacy Andrews is adjusting to a new position. It doesn't address the Eagles' positions of weakness, it potentially reinforces something that was already strong.
Reports on twitter are that Andy Reid spoke openly in a press conference tonight about the acquisition. For those that follow the Eagles, that in itself is remarkable. Reid even talked about the difficult circumstances his sons have went through in discussing the signing. But the Eagles don't make business decisions based on humanity and second chances. They are one of the most ruthless, cut throat organizations in the league when dealing with personnel. They couldn't find the money to keep a spirited leader and the emotional back bone of the defense Brian Dawkins on the team, yet they find the cash to sign Vick.
This means one thing, he's in Philly for a reason. I'm sure they have a plan for him and I'm pretty sure that the plan isn't to replace McNabb - for this year at least. Vick is a unique talent - a guy that two years ago could make people miss in the open field and is electrifying with the ball in his hands. But you know what - the Eagles are now loaded with guys that can do that. DeSean Jackson, Brian Westbrook, Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy all can make people miss and make things happen in space. The last time I checked, they only play the game with one football. Trying to find a half dozen to a dozen plays a game to let Vick touch the ball only takes away touches from other playmakers. And don't forget, he's been eating prison food and doing God knows what for the last 2 years. No one knows what he's got left or how he'll adjust.
And McNabb, even with a 3 game slump, threw for almost 4,000 yards last season. How many plays a game do you want to take the ball out of his hands? For Eagle fans that answer varies, but what does not vary is the fact that now, for the first time in years they don't lack for playmakers.
Yet they add another. Even if Vick doesn't get the ball, for this year at least, it probably won't matter. Broke and presumably humbled, I'm guessing Vick is OK with sitting on the bench or playing a couple plays a game. Like many unemployed Americans he knows he just needs to get working again and establish himself in the work force. However, even if he's not on the field his more presence will still be a distraction.
In a city that's never truly warmed up to McNabb, Vick's signing at some point almost guarantees a new controversy is waiting to appear at some point during the season. While McNabb is reportedly happy with the signing since he's known Vick for so long, having hosted his his visit to SU 12 years ago, I wonder how happy he'll be if he goes through another slump and the fans start clamoring for the back up?
I wonder what kind of weapon he'll represent for Andy Reid if he makes a couple of spectacular plays in a wild cat formation right after McNabb bounces a couple in the dirt? I wonder what will happen if McNabb hits another rough patch and Big Red has to decide whether to replace number 5? I wonder how many times Reid will have to answer questions from the media regarding who his starting quarterback will be? All of these things take a toll.
That doesn't even get into the possibility of what happens if something goes wrong? What happens when a blog posts a video of Vick coming out of a strip club? What happens if he gets caught smoking weed or even tripping over a neighbors dog?
Vick solves a problem the Eagles didn't have and I can't help but wonder if he'll create more problems than he can solve. The first answers will come tomorrow when he gets announced at a press conference at 11 am. The Eagles should sell tickets because it marks the official opening of the circus - what kind of show it turns out to be remains to be seen, but I'm skeptical.
4 comments:
Im surprised he got more than the minimum. But i think the eagles are going to be able to some interesting things on the field with both mcnabb and vick out there. Kolb is terrible, and I think Vick will see some PT. Good to see mcnabb is on board.
I think this is a good thing for them, personally im a steelers fan and thinks maybe this can bring them fire and hopefully make it somewhere. mcnabb is garbage and old need some new and im prove like big ben.
chi Pink dazzle flat iron
Well written Sir. A Circus de soleil indeed. That only means more pre-game hard liquor my friend. A fellow Eagles fan here!
Hey Neph: I feel your pain. I heard this news last night while listening to a rare Reds win on the Internet. As a Giant fan I don't mind it but it seems like a strange move by the Eagles. As your Uncle I am was truly relieved to see that you are still alive. I thought I could hear your head exploding even in Syracuse! Oh well take care and hide the puppies! Uncle Dave
Post a Comment