Philadelphia Eagles Sign Michael Vick
Vick Has Been Given A Second Chance In The NFL
Michael Vick has signed a two-year deal with the Eagles. The first year is worth $1.6 million and the Eagles have an option for the second year at $5 million. The signing has certainly raised some eyebrows around the Football world. The Eagles already had a Super Bowl caliber team, so why would they take a chance on a guy who hasn't played in two years? The signing also puts Head Coach Andy Reid, quarterback Donovon McNabb, and the fanbase in a tough spot.
Head Coach Andy Reid Must Integrate Vick Into Eagles Offense
When ESPN's Chris Mortensen interviewed Andy Reid a few days ago, he stated that he was happy with the quarterback position on his team and implied they had no interest in Vick. Reid either was out of the loop, or he wasn't being completely truthful. If the former is true that is a bad sign for the Eagles as it appears Vick may have been forced on Reid by those above him. Now he has to find a way to incorporate a player he may not have wanted into the offense in a short period of time. Vick can only play the last two pre-seaon games and then will be out apparently until at least weak six, unless the suspension is diminished. That means he must change the offense nearly half-way through the season to accommodate Vick. That is an awfully big risk to take, especially if the offense is playing well. Reid must find a way to put a guy who may not be in Football shape in a position to contribute. He also must feel compelled to give Vick plenty of opportunities to contribute, in order to justify the signing. And if it doesn't work out, Reid will take the blame.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb Will Feel Pressure
McNabb has been much maligned by a rabid fanbase and a tough media in Philadelphia despite having a mostly successful career. Now, every time he has a bad game, there will be cries for the team to put Vick in at quarterback. If VIck plays the Wildcat, which is expected to be his primary role, and is successful at it, that means McNabb, Philadelphia's best player, will have the ball in his hands less. McNabb will go from a guy who had the ball on every play to a guy who sits out plays or is used as a decoy. So, even though McNabb said all the right things and even claimed to lobby for VIck, one would have to believe that deep down he was not happy about the move. And he knows that if things don't work out, along with Andy Reid, he will take the blame.
The Philadelphia Eagles' Fanbase
The Vick signing is sure to be a distraction when it comes to the fanbase. Even in the tough Philadelphia Eagles fanbase, there is sure to be many animal lovers. Now they are put in the tough position of whether they should root for a guy who committed despicable actions toward animals. Many fans are surely to protest the move and vow to boycott the team. Many animal rights groups in the area are sure to hold protests and demonstrations. In a big city like Philadelphia, the demonstrations are likely to be larger and more vociferous. The organization must have known this coming in and are willing to deal with it.
The Eagles' 2009 Outlook
As for the team on the field, after a fairly easy schedule early in the season, it picks up in Week 7 when Vick is expected to come back. He will apparently be thrown right into the fire as they have three straight division games at that point. They follow that with four out of five on the road, so they must find a way to incorporate VIck in the offense quickly and efficiently. This is a high risk/high reward move. If it works well, the Eagles can be a Super Bowl contender. If not, it could derail a once promising season.
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