Eagles: Michael Vick signed to 2 year deal ($1.6 million for 2009)

[MoLewisrocks]

Michael Holley says that sources have the Patriots contacting Vick at the last minute, but that it was too late to make a deal.

The minute i heard that I figured - if it was even true - it was the Krafts extending some cover to their good pal Jeffrie Lurie, who looked today like a guy who got talked into doing something that really made him uncomfortable. Even though Jonathan reiterated again last evening on the pregame show that it was the perpetual lying to his owner and commissioner in the final analysis that kept them from even considering him a potential fit here.

Seems Dungy had his heart set on the Steelers... And the other active bidder was apparently the Bungles...

 

[Bella*chick]

It figures the media would come out with "sources" when Vick goes somewhere no one was really talking about. The guy slipped into Philly and not one of these geniuses had any damn clue about it. Maybe it's time to admit that they are actually awful at their jobs.

 

[Bartmac36]

Would it be inappropriate to call it the wild-dog offense?

 

[Kontradiction]

Would it be inappropriate to call it the wild-dog offense?

Not at all. I just hope that Vick doesn't dog it out there in his first practice.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

This is an excellent piece by our old friend Howard Bryant, of all people. I like that he addressed Lurie's obvious discomfort (turns out he said two years ago he would NEVER tolerate an animal abuser on his roster after letting two eagles go for just that). And that he noticed Mike's little Freudian slip, recalling he didn't really care about the dogs or realize the rest of us did until he was in prison...

Michael Vick has paid his legal debt to society, but he still has many payments to make on his social debt to the public and to Philadelphia Eagles fans. - ESPN

And an equally good piece by former DMN reporter Matt Mosley asking someone to explain to him what ever posessed the Eagles to perceive this as a good opportunity... He too is troubled by the personal underpinnings for Reid and the apparently altruistic goals of Lurie in this whole business. Not to mention the apparent pressure from the commissioners office to get someone to step up and rehab their cause celeb.

Vick needs the Eagles, but why do they need him? - NFC East - ESPN

 

[Tunescribe]

Re: Eagles: Michael Vick signed to 2 year deal (ESPN)

Ditto.

He did a 60 Minutes interview too. Apparently, he knows it's wrong now and said he should have taken the initiative to stop it but he didn't. Well, duh, it was HIS operation. That just rubs me the wrong way, like he was just along for the ride.

This was part of this guy's lifestyle for years and years. Do I believe he's sincerely remorseful or just remorseful because he has to be. The latter, without doubt.

It's the Eagles problem now.

Absolutely. And here's one question I have yet to see Vick address: Running a dogfighting operation is bad enough. But what motivated you to PERSONALLY drown, hang, body slam, and electrocute dogs to death with car jumper cables? THAT is what I want to hear Vick address. I just can't get past feeling there is something deeply twisted in that man's psyche, which no amount of Dungy's preaching can rectify. No more of this "he made a mistake" bullsh!t. There is no sense of true feeling when you look at his eyes or expression.

I heard an interview on WEEI this morning with a PETA spokesman, who said his organization spent time with Vick and came away unconvinced that he is sincere about anything aside from rehabilitating his image. In other words, they didn't believe he truly wanted to fight animal cruelty.

This whole matter of railroading him back into the league stinks. And that's what I think -- Vick was ushered back in. Why Goodell went this route is beyond me. Lurie seemed sincere but also appeared very reluctant; like Mo points out, he seemed like he was talked into something he really didn't want to do.

 

[Bella*chick]

Re: Eagles: Michael Vick signed to 2 year deal (ESPN)

Absolutely. And here's one question I have yet to see Vick address: Running a dogfighting operation is bad enough. But what motivated you to PERSONALLY drown, hang, body slam, and electrocute dogs to death with car jumper cables? THAT is what I want to hear Vick address. I just can't get past feeling there is something deeply twisted in that man's psyche, which no amount of Dungy's preaching can rectify. No more of this "he made a mistake" bullsh!t. There is no sense of true feeling when you look at his eyes or expression.

I heard an interview on WEEI this morning with a PETA spokesman, who said his organization spent time with Vick and came away unconvinced that he is sincere about anything aside from rehabilitating his image. In other words, they didn't believe he truly wanted to fight animal cruelty.

This whole matter of railroading him back into the league stinks. And that's what I think -- Vick was ushered back in. Why Goodell went this route is beyond me. Lurie seemed sincere but also appeared very reluctant; like Mo points out, he seemed like he was talked into something he really didn't want to do.

His eyes are dead and cold. He just looks evil to me now, I don't care what platitudes he spouts. Yeah, he suddenly sees the error of his ways, funny how getting caught and losing his fortune will do that to a guy.

A mistake. Uh-huh. He's been doing this for years and years, as far back as his college days and probably before. That's one helluva mistake.

I sat in the emergency room with my poor, limping dog dog tonight (she's fine) thinking about Vick's realization that people actually care about their pets. Just what the hell kind of person is this guy anyway? He scares the **** out of me.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Eagles: Michael Vick signed to 2 year deal (ESPN)

His eyes are dead and cold. He just looks evil to me now, I don't care what platitudes he spouts. Yeah, he suddenly sees the error of his ways, funny how getting caught and losing his fortune will do that to a guy.

A mistake. Uh-huh. He's been doing this for years and years, as far back as his college days and probably before. That's one helluva mistake.

I sat in the emergency room with my poor, limping dog dog tonight (she's fine) thinking about Vick's realization that people actually care about their pets. Just what the hell kind of person is this guy anyway? He scares the **** out of me.

Even Lurie admitted at the end of his talks with Vick he still can't be sure. He was looking for a palpable level of self hatred... Unfortunately, pathological liars can look you in the eyes, although being as inarticulate as Vick presents another whole set of problems... Oddly while he struggled a bit today you can tell he's been thoroughly prepped and coached.

I found it odd again that while Reid keeps babbling about all the homework they did, it didn't include working him out and it didn't include talking to the HSUS...or any of the local animal welfare organizations that Lurie says he needs to see Vick actively involved with on a continuing basis. So far he's done two carefully staged appearances for the Humane Society, one of which was impromptu and lightly attended and another in Chicago the other night. He's not exactly hitting the ground running and his message rings fairly hollow (I made a mistake and allowed someone to take everything away from me...).


But then I've never bought the Reid hype. Hell, today he referred to Vick as (at least two two years ago) one of the top QB's in the league...

 

[Tunescribe]

I'm beginning to question what bothers me more: Vick's atrocities, or the sad, mindless charade surrounding his reinstatement and signing. Goodell, Dungy, Reid and Lurie all seem to have some major screws loose.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

There is obviously some kind of serious quid pro quo going on. I imagine what it entails will become apparent at the next owners meetings or when the new CBA is hammered out...

Vick failed his plea bargain lie detector test with the Feds when it came time to cooperate on names of associates and leads to other dog fighters. That was primarily why the judge upped his sentence by several months. Maybe there were names on that list Goodell doesn't want to have to deal with publicly...

 

[Tunescribe]

Maybe there were names on that list Goodell doesn't want to have to deal with publicly...

Was there any indication that Vick eventually cooperated with such information? I'm now wondering if Goodell promised "something" to Lurie ...

 

[thechris]

Don't get why the Eagles signed this guy. Two years away from football is a LONG time. Not even sure if he can still play.

I am pretty sure that deep down Vick still doesn't understand why what he was doing was wrong. I'm sure that he understands that he pissed off a lot of people and millions hate him, but not the real reason why. This guy does not care about dogs, period. A major league d-bag with a ten cent brain.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Was there any indication that Vick eventually cooperated with such information? I'm now wondering if Goodell promised "something" to Lurie ...

None I've ever seen. He didn't even "reach out" to the HSUS or Dungy until his sentence was almost completed and his team was scripting his well orchastrated return to the league...

Lurie will get some level of consideration for allowing himself to get talked into this. I think what the league genuinely feared was Vick going to an unstable place and screwing up his second chance. The Eagles are being tapped as his halfway house. Because with the CBA negotiations looming the personal conduct policy is grating on the NFLPA.

Only problem is there is no guarantee even if he doesn't screw up he won't end up inadvertently tearing this particular franchise apart. Talk is cheap, McNabb and Reid lobbied for TO too...and neither could handle him after a short while and both have shown themselves to be rather thin skinned for all their bravado and bluster. They've lost some veteran leadership on the in the locker room and on the sidelines heading into this season, and recently opted not to extend McNabb's deal past 2010. Their fan base has always been passionate and reactive, especially where the QB is concerned.

They have a week 4 bye which should be just about the time Vick gets fully reinstated. Mid October their schedule hits it's roughest stretch. opcorn: time.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I strongly agree with those who argue that this is a big gamble for the Eagles, and that it's a gamble with long odds of being successful. Here's my two cents:

1) I think that Vick will be on his best behavior this season and next. "Best behavior" means no problems with the law, no posse, no public night life, no wayward comments to the media, no instigating friction in the club house and a decent amount of community oriented good-deed-doing. Why do I think this? I have no idea whether he feels any real remorse or has any sense of obligation to Dungy or Reid or Laurie, but he does have an enormous financial incentive to behave; he wants the Eagles to pick up his $5.2 mil option next year and he wants to be able to hit the Free Agent Market at the age of 31 in two seasons.

2) I think the problem is going to come from the ever ornery and fickle Philly fan base. Sure, now they're squawking and complaining and putting X's over the Eagles logo and whatever, but these fans are desperate for a winner. Just wait until Donovan stinks it up for a couple of games in November and the Eagles are fighting for their playoff lives in arguably the toughest Division in the NFL. When the fans start chanting "We want Vick," that's when the problems will start. McNabb is a lot of great things, including a Warrior on the field, but thick-skinned off-the-field he ain't. That will be when Vick will pull the team apart. Donovan's support in the Eagles Locker Room is like his support among the fanbase: broad but shallow. The team will divide, the media will divide, the fans will divide. Big problems.

 

[Bella*chick]

I strongly agree with those who argue that this is a big gamble for the Eagles, and that it's a gamble with long odds of being successful. Here's my two cents:

1) I think that Vick will be on his best behavior this season and next. "Best behavior" means no problems with the law, no posse, no public night life, no wayward comments to the media, no instigating friction in the club house and a decent amount of community oriented good-deed-doing. Why do I think this? I have no idea whether he feels any real remorse or has any sense of obligation to Dungy or Reid or Laurie, but he does have an enormous financial incentive to behave; he wants the Eagles to pick up his $5.2 mil option next year and he wants to be able to hit the Free Agent Market at the age of 31 in two seasons.

2) I think the problem is going to come from the ever ornery and fickle Philly fan base. Sure, now they're squawking and complaining and putting X's over the Eagles logo and whatever, but these fans are desperate for a winner. Just wait until Donovan stinks it up for a couple of games in November and the Eagles are fighting for their playoff lives in arguably the toughest Division in the NFL. When the fans start chanting "We want Vick," that's when the problems will start. McNabb is a lot of great things, including a Warrior on the field, but thick-skinned off-the-field he ain't. That will be when Vick will pull the team apart. Donovan's support in the Eagles Locker Room is like his support among the fanbase: broad but shallow. The team will divide, the media will divide, the fans will divide. Big problems.

Yes, especially what you said in point 2. I find it really baffling how bringing on perhaps the biggest distraction in the NFL isn't going to mess up a team's chemistry and focus. Especially if McNabb starts to stink it up. Things will really get interesting then.

 

[Tunescribe]

I heard on the radio that Vick took snaps AT QUARTERBACK with the Beagles scout team today in practice. I'm just wondering, what happens with Feely and Kolb? Will the Beagles carry four quarterbacks? Feely might be odd-man out in this scenario, in which case I'd like to see him in a Patriots uniform minus Walter.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

I bet Feely would fetch a decent price on a the trade block. If Vick looks strong at QB quickly, I wouldn't be suprised to see that happen.... Coupling your backup QB with a player tailor made for the wildcat sub-package, in one player, is a good use of cap space.

 

[vyrago]

Re: Eagles: Michael Vick signed to 2 year deal (ESPN)

THANK GOD some other team took on this loser. Now the stupid stories about us can STOP.

I have been waiting for this day. It's a good day.

Agreed. I have yet to hear Vick say anything that tells me he gets it as to why people hate him and what he did.

I wonder if he has seen the Dog Town that features his former fighters. I wonder if he cares. I wonder I'm too naive post in this thread ;-(

 

[Bella*chick]

I heard on the radio that Vick took snaps AT QUARTERBACK with the Beagles scout team today in practice. I'm just wondering, what happens with Feely and Kolb? Will the Beagles carry four quarterbacks? Feely might be odd-man out in this scenario, in which case I'd like to see him in a Patriots uniform minus Walter.

I'd love to see Feely in a Pats uniform too!

 

[Snake Eyes]

Feely might be odd-man out in this scenario, in which case I'd like to see him in a Patriots uniform minus Walter.

Agreed 100%. Ever since he gave us hell in 07 I wanted him here, he seems content to be a career backup and he has shown flashes of brilliance, I hope Vick and Kolb push him out.