By Breanna Jacobs
Michael Vick has, once again, proved that prison was a small bump on his road to success. Well, maybe it was more than a small bump, but ever since Andy Reid gave Vick a chance to quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, he has been flying high. Vick won the starting job over Kevin Kolb last year, he led the Eagles to the play-offs, and, this week, Vick, who is in his third year with the Eagles, signed a six-year contract extension worth $100 million.
Vick is no novice when it comes to upholding the expectations behind a contract this large; in 2004, he signed a 10-year, $130 million deal with his former team, the Atlanta Falcons. The first time around, however, Vick was not able to live up to the pressure. Shortly after he signed the contract, he found himself in prison for his infamous dogfighting scandal.
This time around, Vick said in a press conference earlier today, he is going to handle it the right way.
“”I’ve learned … don’t take anything for granted. I did that at one point when I had the big contract in Atlanta, and I think that will definitely help me now in understanding what’s most important and how to move forward in my life,” Vick said.
With this new contract, Vick becomes the third highest paid player in the National Football League, behind only Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
“It’s a lot of money, however you look at it. Obviously, it’s going to create a lot of demands,” Vick said.
Vick is ready to continue not only his personal success, but his team’s success, this season.
“Nothing’s going to come easy in life, and I’ve learned a lot of lessons, some the hard way,” Vick said. “I think just the things that I’ve been through have helped mold me into the person I am and what (is in) my future and that’s continuing to do things the right way.”
Vick is 31 years old … could this be like the Alex Rodriguez contract? One that keeps the star in one place, but is paying him elite money far past his elite days? ARod is still a very good 3B, but he isn’t exactly aging gracefully: increasing injuries and decreased statistical production. With Vick’s reckless style, are the Eagles not set up for a similar fate? I get wanting to keep their man, and the city of brotherly love is a tough one to please, but they overpaid on this one
I don’t know if I agree with that.
I think that, yes, they are trying to keep Vick an Eagle, but I think it’s for good reason.
He played extremely well last season and showed that he’s a hard worker that is invested in his team’s achievement.
Why wouldn’t you invest in a guy like that? I know I would.
Who out there thinks Vick will lead the Eagles to that ever elusive Super Bowl title? I don’t. Now he’s got tons of pressure on him to deliver … and he’ll fall short. Starting to feel like the Miami Heat to me. We’ll see.
I would invest in Vick, just not 100 mil for six years.
As it turns out, the deal will likely end up being 5 years for 80 mil (it drops down to that if Vick takes at least 35% of the snaps in any of the next 5 years). still an expensive 31 year old QB, but i like this more than the original