When Chip Kelly arrived in Philadelphia, he was asked about the quarterback position, and he responded by emphatically stating that his quarterback must be able to hold on to the ball, read a defense, and stay healthy.
And so several weeks later, the head coach announces that Michael Vick will return the Eagles in 2013, with a chance to win the starting job.
After stressing how important it is that the quarterback be a sound decision-maker, Kelly now turns around and gives yet another chance to a guy who has turned the football over 33 times in his last 23 games, a guy who has had well-documented problems dissecting opposing defenses, and a guy who can’t keep his name off of the injury report. Talk about a massive contradiction.
First of all, from an organizational standpoint the Eagles needed to move on from Michael Vick just as badly as they needed to move on from Andy Reid. Vick has been one faces of everything that’s been wrong about this organization, from his poor play on the field to his arrogance off of it.
Vick was the guy who ran around last offseason telling anyone that would listen that the 2012 season would be the beginning of a dynasty, and that a full offseason with the coaching staff would allow him to cut down on his mistakes. He has been the epitome of what this team has been as a whole; lots of hype before the season began, plenty of talk of greatness, and completely underwhelming and unacceptable results.
Vick is one of the major veterans on this roster that failed as a leader over the last couple of seasons, and allowed the club to develop the losing mentality that its currently stuck with. During the regular season, Vick decided to hold one team meeting when things were beginning to go sour, and when his teammates didn’t respond, he basically took on an apathetic attitude and decided not to try it again. His belief was that if his teammates wouldn’t follow him the first time, why would they follow him now?
With an attitude like that, he’s just as guilty as every other player who quit on the season last year. Making no further effort to rally your guys is just as bad as players like Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie giving completely disinterested efforts at the end of the year. And let’s not forget that he waited until the regular season was over before he began to publicly call out his teammates. At that point, I believe that Vick thought he had played his last down as an Eagle and was looking to air his frustrations with the organization that benched him for the second half of the season in favor of Nick Foles.
After two straight seasons of poor play, and with a new coaching staff coming aboard to wipe the slate clean, it was time to turn the page on the Michael Vick experience and the dynasty that never was. But instead, the Eagles appear to be ready to give number seven another go.
This move now dramatically alters how Chip Kelly’s first season with the Eagles should be looked upon. Originally, I don’t think anyone had any delusions that Kelly was going to walk right in during his first season and put the Eagles back in the playoffs. Everyone has been expecting for this season to be for Kelly what 1999 was for Andy Reid; a season in which the team would take their lumps and go through growing pains, but the groundwork would be made for success in the future. If Kelly struggled through a 6-10 season, it wouldn’t have been a big deal because everyone would have understood that this was to be a rebuilding year for the Eagles.
By recommitting to Vick, Kelly has now forfeited his right to have a pass for an underwhelming first season. If you bring back a 33-year old veteran with the profile of a Michael Vick, that to me is a win-now move. Kelly and the Eagles can no longer claim that this is a rebuilding year, because the message Kelly sends with this move is that he expects to plug Vick in right away and run his offense at an elite level. Vick is too old to be a project-type of guy that you can develop into something special two years from now. The 32-year old is type of quarterback you’d only have on your roster if you believe you can win now.
The problem with the idea that this team is built to win now is that this team is not in any way, shape, or form built to win now.
The Vick move also says to me that the this organization is still overrating their own talent, and believes that they’re much better than they really are. The front office must still believe that we’re in 2010, and that this is still the “Dream Team”. They keep on fooling themselves into believing that they’re just a couple of tweaks away from being a contender again. It’s as though the team completely forgot that the last two seasons ever happened; they continue to ignore the fact that this team needs to be torn down and rebuilt from the ground up.
Since the 2012 season ended, the Eagles have once again talked a good game about how exciting the next chapter of Eagles football is going to be. But with the way things are going, I think we’re looking at the next chapter in the Book of Insanity instead.
After the Andy Reid era came to a bitter close, this should have been an offseason in which the team tore itself apart and started an exciting rebuilding process to take the franchise in a new, positive direction. Right now, there’s nothing fresh or exciting about the direction the team is heading in.
In fact, after watching this team hire a coach with questionable upside, a defensive coordinator with no upside, and bring back a quarterback that they should have moved on from, I don’t think there is any direction or true long-term vision within this franchise.
Only insanity.
Denny Basens is the editor of GCobb.com. Email him at dbasens@ycp.edu
Over the top and stupid article,geesh!! I guess theres no reason for me to come back to this website or follow the team.Its all over I’ll come back into 2 years when Kelly is gone.Thank goodness Nostradomus wrote this article and showed me the way! NOT! Change Gcobb.com to Negadelphia.com with the kind of crap youre writing!
Hmm, maybe you’d like to tell me why I should be optimistic about this team right now? I’d love to hear a good, convincing counter argument!
Your a Dope
That was directed at Phillylifefer033 who is obviously high.
Youre a moron how about that realstupideagle!!!
“By recommitting to Vick, Kelly has now forfeited his right to have a pass for an underwhelming first season. If you bring back a 33-year old veteran with the profile of a Michael Vick, that to me is a win-now move. Kelly and the Eagles can no longer claim that this is a rebuilding year, because the message Kelly sends with this move is that he expects to plug Vick in right away and run his offense at an elite level. Vick is too old to be a project-type of guy that you can develop into something special two years from now. The 32-year old is type of quarterback you’d only have on your roster if you believe you can win now.” That paragraph right there is so stupid;who the hell says he cant claim its a rebuilding year what are you the Eagle police!What you say is gospel?Thats youre opinion so its just a silly and annoying thing to have to read! They can claim whatever they want and theres nothing neither you or I can do about it.You write like youre a sports talk radio host;GET A GRIP DUDE!
“that’s your opinion so its just a silly and annoying thing to have to read”
Haha, I didn’t realize you were being forced to read it!
Still waiting on that counter argument…if you want me to get a grip…help me out with some enlightening thoughts of your own!
Tell me why you’re on board the Chip Ship, why Billy Davis is going to succeed in his third try as a defensive coordinator, and why Michael Vick should be back on Philadelphia?
Heres 1 reason;hes a new coach and not Andy Reid!! Hello that was what everyone wanted not people want to cry!This thing about the DC is hilarious,Jim Johnsons defenses sucked in Indy for 2 years and he got fired and was LB coach for a terrible Seahaws franchise but yet Reid hired him for DC.All this Billy Davis bitchin and moanin is all hype!
Would anyone had hired Rod Dowhower as OC?Check his resume!! 12 teams and a 9-23 coaching record!! 5-24 with Indy as a HC and 3 failed OC positions yet he did a good job in his time here;people swear they know,but no1 knows.
Here’s the difference between Dohower and Davis…they were hired by two completely different groups of people. When Dohower was hired, the Eagles had different people that looked for and evaluated differently than the people in the front office today…and the people in control of the team have made countless errors in judgement regarding coaches and players over the last four years, that’s why it just kills this organization’s credibility right now, and makes it hard to trust in anything that they do.
Ok Chip Kelly made the hire and he hasnt been with the organization so what youre saying doesnt make sense,but nice try!
I dont know if Billy Davis is going to succed or not but i know hes a qualified candidate from what Ive seen from other NFL coaching staffs! Im on board because I am an Eagles fan and Im going to support the new coach until he shows that he cant get it done.To nit pick everything he does to me its just over the top.
And what exactly have you seen from other coaching staffs that makes Davis qualified?
And it’s hardly nit picking when you’re questioning MAJOR decisions that the organization is making. I’d be nit picking if I decided to criticize Chip Kelly for his lame jokes at the press conference today.
And seriously, it’s great that you can still get on board with this team and what they’re doing. More power to you.
They are coaches all over the NFL the failed at other place and went on to do great things.This isnt the first time an organization has done that,like i said Jim johnson is a prime example.
Amen brother!
Like I had posted in a earlier article, I wanted the team to go with N Foles and ride em out. If he was garbage, then we just draft another QB in next years draft. The signing of Michael is not all bad though.. Idc what anyone tries to post or say the fact if the matter is it was not all of Vicks fault last season. Terrible in playcalling, game management, injuries, no defense, etc etc. Mike Vick is not a 35 – 40 pass qb a game. He needs a well balanced approach like I’m sure Chip will do unless he really is that dumb and wants to go back to the same formula Reid had. I’m sure our D will get better, since it cannot get anymore worse, and the play calling and management of the game will be a lot better.
This Navy Seal trainer thing is intriguing.. First coach to ever do this.. This man is going to have our team in better shape than the 49ers…(I didn’t say as good, or trying to compare them to San Fran in anyway)
I see MV throwing the ball 18-25 times a game, with Lesean and Bryce, and Dion splitting carries. I also hope Chris Polk gets his chance.
AND if he gets hurt, or starts to stink it up….You best believe NF9 will be ready.
I got off the Vick bandwagon a while ago because I of his play.But I also realize from what Chip said that he doesnt like the FA market or draft for Qbs and he thinks Vick is the best available to run his offense.When you look at it objectively its true.
I agree CT,I love the navy seal hire.Dont worry the thing I love about Chip is hes a run first coach.He runs more than he passes which is what i love as a fan.
Theres an Oregon Ducks website that shows Chip Kellys main plays in his offense its awesome and I think if the Eagles get the right personnel it will translate in the NFL! Like any offense it all starts with the oline upfront.
I hope I’m wrong but I agree completely with this article. It’s time to blow this team up!
You know whats funny about the Davis hire, many people on here were hating the move because the guy has a history of horrible record/stats/failures but yet some of those same people are all for the Vick being on the roster this year…Thats as hypocritical as you can be.
Yup
Theyre in the process of blowing it up.Thats whats happening this offseason.
I don’t know how you can say they’re blowing it up when they just decided to retain the face of that team that needed to be blown up.
Ok theyre retaining him for one year!! WHOPTEE DAMN DOO!! Good if we suck well get a top pick again and we will have our pick of top QBS in next years draft.Whats the big deal.
Im not for Vick being on the roster,but I understand why he will be.Unless Dixon comes on the team and unseats Vick hes gonna be the starter.
I can understand being dissapointed in bringing Mike Vick back, but if you really understand football you know it doesn’t matter if it’s Vick or Doug Peterson if you are rebuilding you are rebuilding. Bring vick back only means they are saying they are superbowl ready if you are a idiot and don’t know the game. it only means out of all the options right now before the draft they want to keep what they have rather than let him walk. nothing more nothing less. the word assumption has “ass” in it for a reason and this article is full of “ass”umptions. lol if Vick plays well fine if he stinks you could see Foles some more fine, who knows there may be a rookie understudy on the roster, but all this doom and gloom because Vick restructured his deal to stay and town and the Eagles jumped on it to keep some vetern insurance is short sighted nonsense.
I see what you did there…”ass”umptions.
Oh man…that’s some clever stuff right there. Consider me impressed haha
It completely matters. Doug peterson was a smart guy who knew Reid’s offense and could teach the rest of the team.
Mike vick is a guy who has never seen a Chip Kelly playbook. He’ll be learning the O himself.
Love the article Denny.
Thank you!
The only short sided nonsense is bringing Vick back.
There is no long term benefit for bringing Vick back. The only think it does is keep our only young QB from developing. It guarantees a new qb at the 2014 draft. ANd it guarantees the birds will not be competitive untill 2015.
Would they have been competitive in 2013 with Foles? Highly unlikely. But they might have been ready for 2014.
The move to Vick now (and if he plays a season) guarantees it’ll be 2015 before we see a competitive Eagles team.
The idea that he is a “stop gap” is stupid.
Lets review
Start Vick:
Will Eagles win SB with Vick? No. Waste 2013.
Will Eagles make playoffs with Vick? No. Waste 2013
Will 34 yr old Vick be QB in 2014? No. Waste 2013
One Outcome: Draft QB in 2014. Competitive in 2015 (earliest)
Start Foles. He will either suck, or he will be good. We do not know.
Two Outcomes: Draft QB in 2014. Team competitive in 2015
Foles is good in 2013. Team competitive in 2014.
Probability theory states Foles (or another drafted QB) must be the QB this season to evaluate and move forward.
The outcomes with Vick are only bad.
There are 2 outcomes with Foles…one good and one bad.
There is absolutely no logical reason for having MV7 as the starting QB next year.
That’s not hate. That’s logic. Something some of you Ron Mexico poster boys will never grasp.
Wisdom.
Good stuff, Vinnie.
Good logic Vinnie, except the possibility that Kelly’s offense fits Vick and becomes what Kelly is looking for and then team wins. He isn’t here to please fans and writers who wouldn’t know the first thing about what he expects from Mike Vick. Short sighted is bitching and moaning like the world is ending when the only thing that happened was the HC is having an open competition to see who his starting Qb for 2013. Harbaugh did the same thing in SF let Alex Smith play and win until he got his guy in there. I don’t think anybody out there is calling him short sighted. If Kelly starts Vick and the Eagles win football games then everyone should be happy but we all know people find a reason to bitch anyway.
It still doesnt matter,hes not guarenteed the starting job.He has to earn it and Nick Foles has a chance to outplay him.
@Vinnie so who in the NFL knows Chip Kelly’s offense? what qb knows his offense for next year? Does kelly even know?lol the point is it does not matter because Kelly is just keeping him as insurance and its too early to say what the plans are for next year totaly. if it was Foles starting it would be the same difference because he hasn’t seen the playbook either. so you rather have dennis Dixon over Foles? This is nothing more than the team keeping a vetrn qb that is capable of running a certain style of play the coach likes. If he is the starter or a keeper is still up in the air.
how does anybody know they won’t draft a QB this year lol
people say its a waisted year like the qb is the only player capable of gaining valuable experience and taking it into the next year. So i guess no other positions on the feild develope like the o-line new coordinator ect. new D personel. just the qb
Vick will destroy O-Line progress with improvised BS that makes them look stupid and out of position. With a healthy O-Line with a new coach that wants to see consistency a predictable pocket passer is always better!
There is one move left that can make the vick signing worth it.
Cutting his ass after embarrassing him in front of the rest of the team.
This must be done to show that if even the Mighty 7 can be squashed maybe my little punk ass that wears 10 (or pick another softy) better show up every practice/meeting/game or I get chopped next.
Great Article. I would have cut vick and others at first opportunity. Now the cancer has time to spread.
@Denny not here to impress but to enlighten wish someone can answer some of my questions like who knows Kelly’s offense since that is the only accptable vetern starter. or how you fools automatically know kelly won’t draft a QB in the draft.
Drafting a QB is fine. But then that rookie should start. It benefits nothing to have 7 here. NOTHING. He is more a boogeyman story about what to whatch out for than a mentor and since no one knows what the Offense is yet there is no one qualified to teach it other than Chip atr this point.
Trade him, Cut him, lose him on a plane like luggage but Please for the love of all that is Football stop with the Micheal Vick Crap in Philly.
Typical talk show idiot fan Regal!!
I just have this one question..what in the hell do the Eagles see in Vick? I mean do they really think he’s gonna all of the sudden get better because of Kelly’s style of offense? get real. welcome to the dumb and dumber show folks!
If he doesnt improve I dont think theyre giving him the job thats why they gave him that restructured contract.
I wasn’t even going to read this article considering the writer once called Evan Mathis an o-line liability, even though he was rated as the best guard in the NFL by profootballfocus. But alas I must bite..
I for one was keen to see the Eagles move on from Vick and start fresh, but there is nothing wrong with this move too. Remember when the 49ers were coached by Singletary and QB Alex Smith was considered awful and the candlestick faithful were calling for David Carr on a MNF game one day? Well look how much Alex Smith flourished with a new coaching system that better suited his style. Perhaps the same can be done with Vick?
Vicks restructure allows us to basically bench and cut him at any time without the harsh cap hit his old contract had. Whats the worst that could happen?
-He performs poorly in training camp and Foles wins the job anyway..
-He plays awful during the year, Foles comes in for week 10-17 and we finally see what hes made of moving forward.
-He plays brilliantly (like a rejuvenated Alex Smith in a Harbaugh scheme) and we make it to NFC title game too?
And Danny:
“a guy who has had well-documented problems dissecting opposing defenses”
Do you realise, Vick had a higher QB rating than Peyton Manning one year, when opposing defenses sent 5 or more blitzers? Try putting some responsibility on the o-line. Or cut some slack given the fact 5 starters were injured last year.
——-
“Vick was the guy who ran around last offseason telling anyone that would listen that the 2012 season would be the beginning of a dynasty”
Would you prefer the team QB to be telling everyone we are targeting the #1 pick?
———
“Vick decided to hold one team meeting when things were beginning to go sour, and when his teammates didn’t respond, he basically took on an apathetic attitude and decided not to try it again.”
How many times have you spoken to Vick, or been in the Eagles locker room to be able to come to that opinion?
——–
“In fact, after watching this team hire a coach with questionable upside, a defensive coordinator with no upside, and bring back a quarterback that they should have moved on from, I don’t think there is any direction or true long-term vision within this franchise.”
This team has tried signing all the big name FA coaches and players in the past (April, Washburn, Mudd, Asomugha, Babin, Samuel). It never worked. Why not hire some coaches with a point to prove, and keep your team strong by re-signing veterans.
And let me get this straight…
1-People think Foles should be starting over Vick…
2-Those same people post hate at the lost 2013 Eagles season with Vick at the helm…
3-Therefore they have already conceded Vick is the best QB on the roster and will win the start job at TC?
Interesting…
Haha alright you’re seem like you’re a little too far gone, but let throw you a lifeline and try to bring you back into reality.
First of all, why don’t we start by getting some facts straight. Here’s exactly what I said about Evan Mathis.
http://18.208.40.39/2013/01/02/evaluating-the-eagles-who-should-stay-or-go/
“That includes right guard Evan Mathis, who some believe played at a Pro Bowl level this year. To me, Mathis is nothing more than a serviceable starter. On his best days, he isn’t a dominating guard that can generate a push on opposing defensive tackles. If a player can’t be dominate, the team needs to look into upgrading him. I want dominating starters across the board on the offensive line, to accept anything less is to accept mediocrity. Realistically, Mathis will be back, but I’d love for the team to find a way to get an upgrade over him.”
I never called him a liability. I just think the Eagles can do better. When I think of an elite guard, I think of a guy like Shawn Andrews, who when he was on the field was nothing short of dominating. Mathis is a nice player, and holds his own out there, but he’s not great. And if he’s not truly great, why wouldn’t you want an upgrade?
Now to answer some of your questions…
1. Ok so Vick had a higher rating than Manning one year in a somewhat obscure category. So what? Obviously it was an anomaly. What year was that, the year Manning didn’t play? ha
Responsibility on the offensive line? I won’t tell you the Eagles offensive has been great over the last couple years, but Vick creates a lot of issues for himself by holding on to the ball too long.
2. I would prefer a quarterback who didn’t tell anyone anything at all (especially just one year after the nonsense we went through with Vince Young), and let his play do the talking on the field.
3. Actually I’m down at the Novacare Complex regularly with Garry, for your information. So I’ve seen plenty actually, thank you very much.
4. Keep your team strong be re-signing veterans? The same veterans that have failed and let the franchise down the last two years? What sense does that make? And you wouldnt consider Chip Kelly a big name coach? By your own logic, why would any of the things that they’re trying to do now work out differently than what they’ve already done the last two years?
Mathis was the number 1 rated guard by profootball focus so to say hes serviceable is inaccurate in my opinion.
You can follow what a website says, or you can use your eyes and determine for yourself just how effective a player is.
Ok so you have the best eyes then,good for you.
Let me see hmmm….profootball focus and what I saw oorrr Denny Basens negative writer for gcobb.com?Oh ok ill go with profootball focus
You cant even give Vick credit for being better against the blitz!Listen i wanted Vick benched during the Cleveland game;I had enough then but I understand why Chip is doing it.
Do you want to tell me when he got better against the blitz? It certainly wasn’t last year. And it wasn’t 2011 either. I guess it’s gonna happen this year right?
This post is awesome!
philly033, I’m going to send you some pom-poms! Why so angry towards Denny’s article? It was completely honest, accurate & right on the $$$$! Hey, we are all fans, & want a SB, but you’re going a little overboard, with the “Siss boom baa!”
Other than you stating Denny was over the top stupid, & nitpicking, where was he incorrect, other than you saying so?
If you read my posts theres a bunch of reasons why I said it.Chip Kelly has been here barely a month and theres been nothing but negativity!I Just like you guys wanted be negative about the Eagles im negative about the writer.I dont need pom poms we all wanted Andy gone but now we want to complain.Free agency hasnt even started yet!
It’s not negative, if it’s the truth! It’s the truth! I know it’s early, but that doesn’t change the facts, that Vick SHOULD NOT, still be here, & the staff is full of failures, losers, & fall back options. If the truth hurts, you need thicker skin.
thats your opinion,not the truth.
Not opinion, it’s fact! You’re delusional, irrational & don’t live in reality, if you think otherwise! I don’t know what to tell you.
Per Booben Frank & WIP- Combined record, of our phenomenal 21 man coaching staff- 280-423-1. That’s a winning % of 39.8%. ENOUGH SAID!
the Eagles are so transparent
they are copy cats
Vick’s contract is essentially the Alex Smith/ Matt Flynn contract of last year
Not an original thought in Jeff’s and Howie’s Head
Needless to say,I am underwhelmed by the Eagles moves so far.I trust Kelley to run the offense and we needed to do better with the DC job even if we had to overpay Lovie Smith …I have felt like I have wasted my time and money the past 2 seasons and not impressed at all with the way things are starting this season
Lmao the bears owe him 5 million dollars!! Lets pay him more than Chip Kelly to be our DC!! WOW
Denny I understand this article, I have some serious reservations about the front office and Chip Kelly but I’ve been telling people be careful what you wish for when everyone was singing Chip’s praises. His bread and butter is the read option I don’t care what NE incorporated into their offense it wasn’t his. This guy all the sudden didn’t become dumb he obviously has a plan in place for Vick and to think he doesn’t is very short sighted. In the landscape of the NFL this by no means sets them back. Now if Billy Davis doesn’t improve the defense then all this nonsense about the QB is a moot point.
mike vick 2013 = top 5 pick in next years draft. so it’s not all bad.
future is so bright I gotta wear shades !!!! haaa
what a nightmare vick is our guy again next year. Vick is soooo unwatchable and god awful. I now have to purchase direct tv and pay 2 cable bills next football season (Comcast & direct tv) so I can buy the nfl package so I don’t have to watch this bottom 5 qb (Vick) play this year.
nfl needs to sell the package with all cable providers not just direct tv
See thats a good way to look at it mhenski.thats what i said at worse we will have another top pick with a strong qb class coming next year
I know on the surface of things, a lot of people hate the Vick deal. But Kelly may be smarter than we think right now. Let’s look at the situation. Aside from Nick Foles, who are going to be the other QBs on the roster because you do need three. Is Trent Edwards supposed to be the back up. He does not fit what Kelly does at all. And although I believe he is a savvy decent guy, I also believe he kind of sucks. So there would need to be two other QBs here beside Foles. Dixon is not an NFL QB and Kelly knows that Dixon is nothing more than a third stringer. So who is the back up to Foles or the starter. Look around. There is no one out there. Alex Smith is not FREE! He is going to cost you like a 2nd round pick. Kelly is smart not to spend the 35th pick in the draft on Alex Smith. He is not making that much that SF has to dump him and they happen to need a back up too. This is a SB contender!! What if Kaepernick gets hurt. They are not dumping their insurance policy for a 4th round draft pick! So why give up the 35th pick for a guy Kelly can see is not a championship QB.??
What is your other option? Well you have about six or seven holes to fill on defense and the O line needs help. Are you going to waste the fourth pick in the draft on Geno Smith? Are you going to blow the 35th pick on EJ Manuel who will be a 55% completion QB at the NFL level?? That would be dumb when you could get a solid RCB in Xavier Rhoades there instead of another QB you are never winning a championship with. And, oh by the way, Manuel can’t read defense either. And I firmly believe that if you can’t read defenses by the time you are 21 years old, you ain’t gonna learn it. It is an innate skill. You can see or you can’t. And it really is like speed. It can’t be coached up. You aren’t going to teach Vick and you are not going to teach Vince Young and you’re not going to teach EJ Manuel. His ceiling is just limited.
So why waste high draft picks for other guys that can’t win a championship when you have a skilled veteran QB that can be the first or second string with Foles and some clipboard holder/developmental prospect (that you take in the 6th or 7th round). That makes sense. Giving draft picks away does not make sense.
Let the evaluation of the 2014 QB class begin!! Good times all around.
I was at least hoping to watch the first 6 games under Foles….at least start the season on an interesting note…….just to see if there is hope. See if he’s got what it takes, before turning my attention to the 2014 class.
But looks like we get to start that evaluation early….looking to the 2014 draft before 2 months before the 2013 draft.
Thanks Kelly. Appreciate it.
And I know Vick turns the ball over. The most annoying thing there is the way he carries the football and he has not changed the bad habit. It is fumbles not picks that are the problem with Vick. The fumbles are his fault, but the picks do not occur in a vacuum. The O line and receivers having balls bounce off their hands contribute to that. I have seen a lot of ricochet picks here the last few years. And I have seen some dumb throws too. But aside from that horrible display of rust against Clev, how may times has the guy thrown pick after pick?
Vick has definitely not been blame free for losing. However, I firmly believe that the biggest reason this team has lost is because the Defense sucks for four years now. I mean thirty TD passes allowed year after year? Mediocre run defense. Poor tackling. Its a train wreck! And second, the coaches were flat out terrible in their play calling. They wanted to do what they wanted to do if your f-ing Gm was the Qb they were going to throw the ball forty times a game. They did not care about personnel. They did not care about the state of the O line. They did not care about the defense. They were going to throw the GD football no matter what. JV line, 50 mph wind, it did not matter. The third factor was that the O line was not very good. Not just last year. The line was not good at the start of 2011 when we were 1-4. They took time to gel. They were not good at the end of 2010 when they had McGlynn, MJG and a banged up Justice playing on one leg. And when the line was good in 2011, Vick was 6-2 behind that line. Thats a fact. He was 8-1 in 2010 before the line got banged up. So he has performed behind a decent O line. He actually ranks only fourth among the reasons the Eagles have lost games the last three seasons behind defense, coaching and O line.
saw the title of this article and new who the author was right away…
JBird, I know how you personally feel about Vick…I commend you for being able to see things from another perspective, a perspective where the accountability falls upon all, not just one individual in the ultimate team sport of football….Great posts!
Thanks Real. Just trying to keep things in perspective.
I dont know who it worse on here? Jon Hart, Denny or Peace112
Bridgewater or Boyd 2014.. another name to keep an eye on is David Fales from San Jose St.
Now let’s stop talking about Vick and the coaching staff and discuss what the team needs to do to improve on March 12th with some of that 25-30 Million $$$$ in cap space. We need a good FA or two. Yes, you build through the draft, but you do accent with smart FA signings. This is a necessary part of the game whether you are a contender or not. You have to plug a hole or three with sensible FAs that fit your system and locker room. You don’t sign super stars. You sign solid vets that are good/servicable starters.
Vick getting his salary slashed in Half is hardly a vote of confidence but the direct opposite
Paul Kruger, Richard Seymour and Henry Melton… 0 chance we do get Melton just wishful thinking.
Looks like a good draft for safety, so I’d stick with Nate Allen and pair him up with Elam, Crypien or the kid from South Carolina.
Top 3 choices in the first round are as follows: Joeckel, Star, Fisher
Seymour is too old and we are not going that way with FAs. We want guys that are going to be part of the four year plan. We also need someone that covers better than Kruger. We have the rush LBs. We need the SAM LB. I agree on your draft picks. Star and Joekel are the best value picks for us. I get very nervous when I think of them being off the board. I hate Jarvis Jones and Milliner is a reach at four. I would agree with you to take Fisher at four if Joekel and Star are gone. Ironically we will be waiting to see what Andy does. Familiar huh?
I know what you mean about Kruger.. I think SAM is something that gets adressed in the draft. Seymour is 33 but i’d think hes got some juice in the tank. Great guy to have around Fletcher Cox, very fimilar with the 3-4 and wont break the bank for 2 seasons. As much and he is similar to Cullen Jenkins, I feel he will provide an instant upgrade to the D. 2 yrs 10 million I would think gets it done.
way too fimiliar….
the Eagles are not drafting in the top 5 again — they had devastating injuries on the OL — and Howie pulled the plug on a lot of starters at the end of the year to get some film on the youth in real game situations —— you can add at least 2 wins just for that
I’m coming around on this after looking at the contract. What a ridiculously great deal for the Birds.
The contract…not what Vick fans think it is….this is a “easy jettison at any time contract.
Will the Eagles actually pay Vick anyting?
Contract: $3.5 million bonus (which kicked in Fed 6 anyway and would have already been paid regardless). If he signs/traded with another team they will assume it anyway. So nothing.
$3.5 non guaranteed roster bonus if on team week 1. So when he gets cuts/traded…they’ll owe none of this. $0
$500 K bonus for starting 50% of snaps. So reallly $0 because that isn’t happening
$1 million bonus for 90% of snaps…..LOLOLOLOL
$1 million bonus for SB win….do we even have to go here??
This wasn’t a contract extension…this was a contract abortion.
Actually a pretty good move for the Eagles now that I look at it. Get to keep Vick around through passing camps where Kelly will actually see for himself how bad he is, then trade him for a conditional pick and pay him $0. New team gets him for a pretty reasonable $7 million max (for whoever is so stupid)
Eaqgles look to be on the hook for $3.5 mill if they just cut him….but I bet there’s the same provision in there stating that would be voided if he’s picked up by another team.
Wow. Wonder how the agent could have recommended this disaster of a contract (for Vick) unless he knows that what is available out there is even worse…
Eagles play the AFC West (Chiefs,Raiders,Chargers & Broncos)
and the NFC North (Packers,Vikings,Bears & Lions) and then play Basement Teams Arizona & TB Bucs as well as their 6 NFC Divisional Games
On the Surface, this is probably the easiest Schedule the Eagles have had in years.. Chiefs,Chargers,Cardinals Bears all have new Coaching Staffs as well . The Lions have self imploded after getting big heads after the 2011 Season and need to regroup, the Raiders are still rebuilding and the TB Bucs should be a better Team in HC Schiano’s 2nd Season as HC
Eagles could win 7-8 and posibly 9 Games next Season based on their Soft Schedule, but still be a ways off from being a legitimate Playoff Contendor Team but progress is progress, so rebuild this Roster with young, hungry players trying to make a name for themselves and rid of this older,underperforming and overpaid Veterans who had their Chances under Coach AR and blew it .. Remember how many players publicly states their repstect adn eargerness to perform well for Coach Andy Reids sake… Well how does this turn out… half these players don’t give a hoot, they got their $$$ already..
additionally Andy Reid’s offense became very predictable
that stupid shuffle pass in the red zone
every 1st down incompletion was followed by a running play
and GB knew Andy Reid was going to call that play action roll out DJax post on the first play of their last playoff game and blitzed Vick to his roll out area for a 17 yard sack
The Eagles need a fresh start. It’s not about blame. Having Vick as the face of the organization prevents that from happening. It’s really that simple and that’s why I’m against the move. I hope I’m wrong but this isn’t the direction I was hoping Kelly would take.
It’s not going down the wrong path Vick was the only QB who could run his full offense and it’s only for 1 season when Harbough took over San Fran he changed very little the he got those guys to play at a very high level so if Chip can get these guys to play a high level this team will be find we here in Philly are so use to being negative it’s like a disease.