Michael Vick is arguably one of the most well-known figures in sports. Unfortunately for him, this is largely because of his off-field struggles. After signing a record-breaking $130 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons in 2004, the quarterback was found at the center of controversy after holding dogfights on his properties. This led to Vick being sent to prison for almost two years, a major blemish on the reputation of the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons.
It wasn’t the first time Vick had been in trouble, either. Let’s not forget the marijuana found in a “hidden compartment” of his water bottle at Miami International Airport prior to the dog fighting scandal. My point is, Michael Vick is not unfamiliar with scandals. So, is it the right move for the Philadelphia Eagles to sign a 31-year-old quarterback with a history of off-the-field problems to a six-year, $100 million contract? Or has Michael Vick truly turned over a new leaf?
Vick has, without a doubt, had a huge impact on the NFL. For all of the problems in his private life, he’s still a good quarterback. He helped set a trend for teams searching for quarterbacks that had good speed to get them out of the pocket and make plays on the run. Some might feel Vick went too far with this, thinking he was just a really fast quarterback who threw the football less often than when he took off on his feet. But, nevertheless, it was exciting to watch.
Since then, many have recognized the improvement Vick has made to his game. After the Eagles gave Vick a second chance when he was reinstated into the NFL, he was made backup for Donavan McNabb. While crazed Eagles fans were burning and tearing up season tickets in protest of the acquisition of Vick, he continued to grow and play better. Soon McNabb decided it was time for him to leave the organization, leaving Vick as the best option for the starting position.
In his first season in a starter’s role, Vick played very well. He showed a better passing game, particularly his accuracy, while still being able to run around the field and juke defenders. He led the Eagles to the playoffs, where they were bounced in the first round. But after a series of bold off-season moves, they hope to be back in the playoffs as a serious championship contender.
Michael Vick has had a long and arduous journey throughout his career. Receiving this kind of contract is a lot of pressure on him. Not only will he have to live up to playing at the Pro Bowl type of level expected of him, but he’ll also have to make sure he doesn’t slip up at all in his personal life along the way. If the past couple of years are any indication, he should be fine as he plays out the rest of his career. The Eagles have faith in him to deliver on game days while maintaining professionalism off the field. After seeing Michael Vick the past couple of years, I have faith he can do those things, too.