In a lot of ways, and for a lot of good reasons, Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick is riding high. He's merely two years removed from being in prison for dog fighting charges. He went from being the free agent that everyone was afraid to take a risk on, to third string QB, to starter and comeback player of the year. There were people that, when Vick was sentenced to prison, thought that he very well may play in the NFL again, but never as a QB (myself among them). He's exceeded every expectation. The Eagles won the NFC East with Vick at the helm in 2010, after filling in and making himself the starter ahead of young QB Kevin Kolb. He was a Pro Bowler that threw for over 3000 yards last season, ran for 600 more, had 30 total TDs and a QB rating of 100.2. Furthermore, Vick has been nothing but a model citizen off the field since paying his debt to society. There have been no more issues, no more run-ins, and he's even admitted to having matured, to wanting to be a better football player and studying harder for his craft.
With all that said, the Eagles' decision to re-up Vick's contract, and give him a 6 year deal that totals $100 million ($40 million guaranteed) is premature. Yes, Vick has done everything stated above, he was indeed an MVP candidate last season. All of his accolades and feats though, have merely occurred in that one singular season. Vick was 30 last year, probably in his prime with fresh legs from not having a full season of NFL impacts for over 3 years. He also was frequently injured and in and out of games. This very well could have been his career year. He is now 31 and not getting any younger. Also, with no film of his revamped style in the Philadelphia system, it was more than likely harder for teams to peg Vick last season. Those advantagess won't last for much longer. I fear too much that last season was the perfect storm for Michael Vick, and although he may still be a quality player in the NFL, he will never repeat the season that he had, and is certainly not worthy of the sizable contract that he just received.
Age is the biggest issue in all of this. Vick will be 36 in the final season of his contract and one of his biggest assets as a player is his incomparable speed at the QB position. Do you really believe he will still move with the same fleet-footedness at the age of 36 that he did at the age of 30 on fresh legs? I don't. Yes his passing has improved, but I do not see him replicating a season of just 6 interceptions, particularly as the aforementioned game film on him continues to grow. Along with Vick's durability issues and the fact he will take a lot of hits due to his scrambling style really one is left with question marks on whether or not such a long term deal was such a good idea. The one silent issue in all of this though is still a very significant one. This contract is the culmination of a PR move and the stunt that everyone that follows the NFL wants to see. That is, Michael Vick's fall and rise back to the top, manufactured for the American public. People will get on this new contract as a great day and a great story for the NFL, and it can be. Its what everyone wants to see, Michael Vick has redeemed himself as a player and a person. That doesn't make the decision to give the contract a good one though, in fact, it could set him up for failure.
Rather, I think another season was a requirement for such a contract. Another season for the Eagles to watch and make sure that Vick could stay healthy, and at least come close to replicating what he did in 2010. If he did, then a big money contract is much more plausible, and a long term one is even more in the cards if there's is a noticeable transition of Vick to being more and more of a pocket passer that can sustain himself at 35 and beyond. In the meantime, a smaller, shorter (although multiyear) deal would have been in the cards for 2011, and then if Vick were to perform at a high level again, the deal could either be extended or restructured.
Putting the pressure of such a contract on him now is irresponsible. For one, as I have stated the Eagles don't know that its truly going to work out, and secondly with the pressure of the NFL fanbase upon him and of all the money Vick is now earning, it could really undermine him, make him press, and cause his future performance to be that much worse. By creating his peak moment, the Eagles may be setting up Vick with all this pressure, to fall right back down again. That is my biggest fear for this deal, and it could be a very real one.
What's the baseline?
By reaching his highest prominence, is Michael Vick being set up for disappointment in his own mind and in the minds of NFL fans everywhere? I fear that very well may be the case, and at the same time, I hope I am wrong.
(photo courtesy of technorati.com)
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