Michael Vick In Perspective

Watching the new and improved Michael Vick this year has put butterflies back into my stomach. Butterflies, that since the early to mid 2000's, had flown away. What Vick is doing on the field is, simply put, amazing. As Jaws put in on Monday Night Football, "Its like a man amongst boys." How about John Gruden's take: "Someone get me his autograph, this guy is on fire." The maturation into a complete quarterback, after 2 years away from the game, can be classified as an anomaly. Weather or not you like Michael Vick the person, there is no denying the incredible story unfolding on the gridiron, and for that, everyone can and should be wowed and amazed.

Think back for me to December 1st 2001, Vikings and Falcons. Vick was going bananas against the Vikings rush defense, gashing them for a NFL record setting, 173 yrds by a QB. The yardage was impressive in its own right, but anyone who remembers that game remembers the way in which he did it: making Viking defenders look absolutely stupid. Tell me you don't remember the clip of him running right by 5 Vikings, splitting two down the middle, and making them run into each other, in OT, for the game winning TD. That was Michael Vick, personified. Never before had the league seen such a force, and freak athlete at the QB position. Sure there was Steve Young, and the great Randall Cunningham, but neither one of those did it with as much ease, and elusiveness as #7. There the reputation was born: Michael Vick, the runner. Let him get outside the pocket, and you're toast. Vick made the pro-bowl as a rookie, and everyone who saw him play in 2001 knew the rest of the NFL would be on high alert, because the superstar from Virgina Tech had arrived.

Vick's 2003 season would be marred by a broken fibula in the pre-season against the Ravens, a game I watched personally. 2004 would see him make the pro-bowl once again. He had 902 rushing yards that season, good for 3rd all time. He also had 14 td's, but 12 interceptions, a completion % of 56.4 and a passer rating of 78.1. Up until this year, his best completion % was 56.4 in 2004, his highest passer rating was 81.6 in 02 (in 09 with the eagles he had a rating of 93.8, but with extremely limited action). His highest passing TD number was 20 in 06, and he threw 13 picks in 05 and 06. Get the point? His passing numbers were mediocre at best. He was doing damage with his legs. If you wanted to beat Michael Vick, make him into a passer, keep a linebacker or safety as a spy, and try and contain him as best you could. That was the reputation of Vick in the mid 2000's.

In 2005 Vick signed the richest contract in NFL history to date: 10 years $130 million, with $37 million in guarantees. He had endorsements from Nike, EA Sports, Coca Cola,Nerf, and Powerade, to name some of the big ones. He was on top of the football world, and still only 24 years of age. No one could see the the extreme downfall that was about to occur.

April 25th, 2007: Police raid Vick's property and find incriminating evidence of dog fighting.

June 7th, 2007: Federal Agents raid Vick's property.
July 17th, 2007: Vick and two co-defendants are indicted by a Federal Grand Jury.
December 10th 2007, Vick is sentenced to 23 months in Federal prison.
July 8th 2008- Vick files for bankruptcy protection.

October 10th-Vick ordered by an arbitrator to repay 19.97 million dollars back to the Falcons.

This time line can give you some perspective as to how quickly he fell from grace. How in an instant, everything was taken away from him. NFL poster boy going to prison, and subsequently going to be suspended for 2 years, everyone assumed his career was over.

July 28th, 2009- Vick conditionally re-instated by the NFL. The fact that he was reinstated by Commissioner Godell didn't really mean much. The interest from teams was minimal, no one wanted the baggage, and no one knew where he would be physically. 2 years away from the NFL, especially for a QB, is devastating, and near impossible to return from. Was he in shape? Could he handle the mental rigors of being an NFL QB? No one knew, and extremely limited interest came his way. However, much to everyone's surprise, on August 13th 2009, he signed a one year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles? The same Eagles who had a franchise QB entrenched in the starting lineup? The same Eagles who a few years earlier had drafted their QB of the future? Why on Earth would they take a chance on Vick? I suppose the mentor-ship of Tony Dungy played a part as did Andy Reid's personal life. Andy Reid was dealing with sons who were going to prison for drug charges, and I think that it had an affect on how he viewed Vick. He, more than anyone, knew first hand the importance of a second chance, and thus he took one on Vick. No one expected much out of him his 1st year, but everyone was eager to see where he stood physically and mentally.

Vick showed up to camp out of shape, out of shape by Michael Vick standards. From training camp we saw he still had not lost any of his arm strength, but the question mark was in his legs. In the pre-season, he had some good plays, but not really anything spectacular. But what did we expect? The guy had just spent 2 years away from the game, away from training, and proper nutrition, of course he wasn't going to come in and dominate the way he used to, it was impossible, even for someone of the genetic make up of Michael Vick.He didn't have that get to the edge speed. The Eagles announced they would use him in the Wildcat, however this proved to be very ineffective, and yielded no results. This 1st year back was just to ease him back into it, get him accustomed to the NFL life once again. There were many questions for next year, mainly, would Vick still be on the team after the 1st year didn't go so well.

Enter the 2009 off season. Eagles had some major decisions to make. The eagles now had 3 QB's on their roster, and many thought Vick was the odd man out. Mcnabb was the starter, and Kolb the heir apparent, so believe me when I say, the football world was SHOCKED when Mcnabb was traded within the division to the Redskins. Kolb was promoted to the starting role, and Vick the backup. Questions surrounded Kolb, who was mostly unproven, who just signed a huge extension, and was automatically promoted to being the starter. In Kolbs two starts, he is the only QB to throw for 300+ in his 1st 2 starts, so we saw some flashes of what he can do. Vick's moment of "Im back" came in the pre-season against the Jaguars. From then one, we knew, he had his legs back. Things were different this year, he came to camp in pristine shape, and worked extremely hard. Fans started to murmur, crowds started to whisper. Had Michael Vick finally re-gained his form from old? Was this actually possible? Those questions would be answered in the opening game against the Packers.

Kolb goes down in the opener, and enter Michal Vick. He put on quite a performance, nearly leading an improbable Eagles comeback and proving to everyone, he had arrived...again. He finished 16 of 24, 175 yrds, 1 TD no INT's, and 11 carries for 103 yards. Trust me when I say this was just a small preview of things to come.

So far this season Vick has put up gaudy numbers. So far he is completing 62.7% of his passes, the best of his career, 11TD's, 0 INTS, 341 yrds rushing with 4 TD's. He also leads the NFL is passer rating at 115.1. Anyone who saw the MNF game this past week should still be in awe of what they saw. Michael Vick put on one of the best performances for a QB that I, as well as many others, including ESPN analysts have ever seen. 20 for 28 333 yrds 4 TD's O INTS, 80 yrds rushing, and 2 TD.s It left ms speechless. The ease at which he was dominating was equally as impressive. He effortlessly threw a 65 yrd bomb on the first play to Desean Jackson who took it 20+ yrds to the house. The first play of the 2nd half, another effortless 45+ yrd bomb to Maclin for the TD. It was simply put, a performance of lifetime, and catapulted him to the top of the MVP race, in my humble opinion. We can only wait to see what he does for an encore against the tough, sound defense of the New York football Giants.

Weather you like Vick as a person, or not, what he is doing this year has to grab your attention and put it into a choke-hold. He has evolved into a complete QB, an extremely efficient pocket passer, and is still freakishly amazing with his legs. At age 30, we are finally seeing the complete package, and all this after spending 2 years away from the game, in prison. It is a captivating tale, one that you do not wish to see end in any other way, except pure success. He is humbled, quiet, and playing the best football of his career. It is a feel good story of the highest degree. The superstar who fell so hard from grace is quickly making his ascension up the football ladder. On his way to the top he is continuing to leave both fans and players speechless, and doing it in dominating fashion. I am personally counting down the days till Sunday, till Michael Vick takes the field once again. Before you make and judgments on him, remember, what he did was wrong, but he has paid for it. Paid for it in the most extreme ways. He started back at the bottom of the food chain, and is now making his rise to the top. Please Michal Vick, continue to leave me shaking my head after every performance. Continue to wow everyone with your play. And maybe, just maybe, this story will have the ultimate happy ending, one where Michael is raising the Lombardi trophy for all the world to see, on the grandest of stages in Jerry World. I'm rooting for you Michael, and I hope every other football fan out there is doing the same.

Z$