| Vick isn't worried about Manning -- or any other QB who may join the Eagles. (AP/Getty Images) |
Last Friday, the Eagles responded to a report that they were in the chase for Peyton Manning before he decided to sign with the Broncos. The takeaway, courtesy of head coach And Reid: "We look into everything, as all teams do."
Reid continued: "And I have the highest regard for Peyton Manning. But as I said publicly last month, that wasn't the direction we were heading in. Michael [Vick] is our guy."
This Friday, Vick, speaking to high school students, was asked about the report and he seemed unfazed by it.
"I don't know how true it is and I really don't care," he said via the team's website. "I feel no threat within my position. They can bring in the best quarterback around and I'm going to play my best. I'm one of the best. I've got to be honest, I'm one of the best."
That's the exact right response. There's nothing to be gained from complaining. Besides Vick's onto something: he may not be one of the league's best quarterbacks, but there's no doubt he's "one of the best" in the Eagles' offense. The issues along the o-line last season -- coupled with Vick's aggressive style -- led to him taking a beating, a situation not well suited to Manning's game.
If the Eagles had landed Manning, it would've meant revamping the offense, and that includes the offensive line. (News that Jason Peters has been lost for the 2012 season doesn't help.) Instead, as CBSSports.com's Clark Judge wrote Thursday, Philly already has plenty to concern itself with.
"If the Eagles can reduce the hits on Vick or find some way to better protect him, they reduce his chances for injury. And if they reduce his chances for injury they reduce his chances for mistakes. It sounds easy, I know, but it's not. Vick is one of the game's most electrifying playmakers, especially outside the pocket, and asking him to start thinking about protecting himself is like asking Mariano Rivera to find another pitch."
Reid admitted recently that for an offense to be successful the quarterback has to avoid injuries. "Listen, you've got to stay healthy," Reid said. "That has to be of primary concern. Now, how do you go about doing that? Well, go back and look at the tape and evaluate that. That tells you, and look at the times you're taking the shots. Is there something you can do better?"
The Eagles locked up wide receiver DeSean Jackson to a long-term deal and running back LeSean McCoy could be next. Next to Vick, Jackson and McCoy are the offense's most important players. The former struggled for most of 2011 but the latter played at an MVP level. And despite the Eagles' glacial start, they reeled off four in a row to end the year at 8-8. Vick hopes that momentum carries over to 2012.
"The way we finished the season is the way we need to start the season," he said. "The same mindset. The same sense of confidence. The same type of bravado we played the last four games with," Vick said. "I'm just very excited about where we are. Everybody's been working hard in the weight room, watching film and I'm just trying to perfect my game. I've got to make the most of the opportunities that I've got now."
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