Three years ago, who could ever imagine the day where Michael Vick, then implicated in an illegal interstate dog fighting ring, would outplay fellow quarterback Peyton Manning. As crazy as that sounds that’s exactly what happened Sunday afternoon. Vick has turned his life around and his career is coming full circle. Once a much hyped athlete nabbed by Virginia Tech, a hybrid quarterback-halfback many thought would revolutionize the game, turned convicted felon and one of the most hated people in America.
While never a particularly great passer (75.6 passer rating through six years in Atlanta) he flummoxed defenses with his running ability. As fast and quick as the swiftest runningbacks in the league he was able to nimbly avoid pressure and jet down the field for huge gains when he didn’t see anything from his receivers (and too often even when he did). In fact he has an incredible 7.2 yard rushing average for his career and has galloped for gains of 32 yards or greater in each of his pro seasons. Vick’s career year came in 2006 when he threw for 2,500 yards (75.7 passer rating) and ran for over 1,000 yards along with two rushing TD’s. How incredible is throwing for 2000 yards and rushing for 1000 in a single season?...so incredible that Michael Vick is the only athlete to accomplish that feat in the history of the NFL.
But after that career year was when Vick’s life spiraled out of control. The details are needless…everyone knows how Vick was implicated in dog fighting charges, spent 21 months in prison, and became the most hated athlete in America until Tiger Woods came along. But I’m not here to harp on Vick’s shortcomings…rather his incredible turnaround from NFL zero to NFL hero.
Even before Michael Vick’s indictment he was known as somewhat of a “bad-boy” in the National Football league. Remember when he flipped off 50,000 Saints fans in the Superdome, or when a couple of his buddies were arrested for marijuana possession while driving a vehicle registered in Vick’s name? Or how about when a friend in Vick’s entourage was caught stealing a watch at Hartsfield International airport? It was readily apparent that Vick wasn’t keeping the right company.
But after his prison sentence something clicked in Vick’s head…I don’t know if it was his bankruptcy, his venomous reception from the public, or something else but he started to make all the right moves after he was released from his 21 month stay in the clink. Perhaps the biggest reason for his remarkable turnaround was the mentoring he received from former head coach Tony Dungy…widely considered one of the greatest teachers and mentors in the NFL. With help from Dungy and Quarterback Donovan McNabb Vick was given an opportunity with the Philadelphia Eagles as the back-up QB.
Even getting another chance in the NFL was implausible enough for Vick, as everyone put his career to bed after his conviction. Never mind how difficult it would be to convince a team to take a chance on a thirty year old felon who has a bad history of misbehavior…think of the physical barriers.
Vick doesn’t play like most other quarterbacks in the game. Think guys like Tom Brady, Phillip Rivers, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning…prototypical pocket passers that rely on football IQ, accuracy, and technique to have success. Vick is unlike any other quarterback the game has ever seen…he relies not on passing accuracy (which is spotty at best), nor any other “normal” QB trait that many consider critical for an NFL passer to succeed. Rather, Vick depends on his improbable athleticism and rocket arm to lead teams to victory. Quarterbacks are famous for being able to play well into their thirties (and 40’s in several cases) purely because the demands of their position don’t rely on athletic skills…the only thing that really needs to hold up is arm strength which sticks with passers for a long time.
Also not to be taken lightly was the physical punishment Vick absorbed during his career because of his playing style. Other quarterbacks stick to the pocket and are only hit a couple times a game. Not Vick…it was almost maddening at times how instead of running out of bounds Mike would tuck the ball and continue down field just to get a few extra yards. The same type of things that made him incredibly unique also induced extreme wear and tear on his body…probably why he only played one season of sixteen games.
Fast forward to 2009, Vick’s first season back in the NFL. It was fairly non-descript (86 passing yards, one TD, 95 rushing yards, two TD’s), and it was evident that while his athleticism remained largely intact (to the surprise of many) he was extremely rusty as a passer (to the surprise of no one). He seemed destined to warm the bench for McNabb while occasionally getting the chance to QB some wildcat packages. The story took another twist when Donovan was traded to division rival Washington over the summer only to have the Eagles put all their faith in young quarterback Kevin Kolb; this seemed a pretty natural move as Kolb played well in two games he started in 2009 and was very young…full of promise.
Now jump to 2010 with Kolb ready to start for the Eagles…only to suffer a concussion in week one. Vick was thrust into the starting role and had a fantastic game in a close loss to Green Bay (101.9 QB rating, 103 yards on the ground) ultimately winning him the starting job. Vick has continued playing at a high level throughout the season despite a bump in the road (cracked ribs that caused him to miss two weeks). Check out his stats: 1017 passing yards, seven touchdowns, 60.8% completions for a 105.3 rating, 261 rushing yards for a 7.3 average and 2 touchdowns.
Vick has never had a season quite like this one. He’s never had a quarterback rating in the 80’s, never mind one in the 100’s…nor has he ever gone such a long span without an interception. He’s pulling a Brett Favre on us (without the phone pictures of his dong) putting up his best statistical season at the most improbable time.
As I was watching the Birds go toe to toe with the Colt’s on Sunday it occurred to me that there couldn’t be a better fit for Vick than the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s a perfect marriage…Vick is surrounded by speed and playmaking ability; something he was never privy to in his six years with Atlanta. DeSean Jackson is the ideal wideout for Vick…an exceptional deep threat with blazing speed who is also great on the end around and in the screen game…a born playmaker. Vick’s also got Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant, and LeSean McCoy…three more guys who are a threat to score every time they touch the ball. With all these weapons to throw to is it any wonder Vick is having a career year? He’s never had a legit deep threat…something that a guy with that kind of arm needs. With Vick under center the Eagles have the most explosive offense in the game.
Michael Vick did something reprehensible, that’s no question, but that phase of his life is behind him. Vick has done everything correctly since that incident; he’s surrounded himself with the right people, worked himself into football shape, and became an advocate for animal rights. He even sounds more articulate in interviews. He seems to care more about his public image, and finally understands what it means to be in the spotlight. Vick is back to being one of the most exiting athletes in the world…just the way it should be. With the merging of one of the most exciting players in football history with the most explosive offense in the NFL today, we’re in for a fun ride.
Welcome back Michael Vick…I missed you.
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