Atlanta Falcons: Is Michael Vick the ‘Coach Killer’?
FLOWERY BRANCH — Maybe the elder Jim Mora had it correct in 2006 when he concurred with the basic concept that then-Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was a “coach killer.”
Falcons coaches Dan Reeves and Jim Mora were fired while Vick was the quarterback.
Bobby Petrino signed on to coach Vick. But when Vick was suspended and eventually went to prison on federal dogfighting charges, Petrino grew tired of Joey Harrington and Byron Leftwich and went back to the college game.
Now, Andy Reid, the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL with the same team, is doing the rope-a-dope to retain his job.
With Vick manufacturing turnovers at an alarming rate, both men are in danger of losing their jobs as they prepare to face the Falcons at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said Reid’s status will become clear at the end of the season. Reid said he is not ready to walk away from the job he’s held since Jan. 11, 1999.
“I haven’t gotten to that moment,” Reid said when asked if he was ready for his tenure in Philadelphia to end. “I can tell you no. I haven’t felt that way. We love the city of Philadelphia as a family. I’m very fortunate to be doing what I’m doing. I can’t tell you that I’ve haven’t come to that point.”
Reid has battled through the death of his son, Garrett, from a drug overdose Aug. 5, and the Eagles have a 3-3 record. But they have lost three of their past four games.
Vick, as he did sometimes during his tenure in Atlanta, is treating the football like it’s a hand grenade. He’s had five fumbles and eight interceptions to grease the Eagles’ slide.
Reid sent a message to Vick and the rest of his teammates by firing defensive coordinator Juan Castillo on Oct. 16.
“It sends a message to everybody,” Vick said. “Coach made it clear that if he felt like you weren’t performing up to your potential or his standards, then you are just going to be sitting beside him.”
Vick is backed by rookie Nick Foles and veteran Trent Edwards. Vick knows that if he doesn’t eliminate the turnovers, that he’s likely next before Reid’s firing squad.
“I just have to stay focused on going out there and when I’m out there, getting the job done,” Vick said. “I can’t play looking over my shoulder. I can’t play worrying about getting taken out if things do not go right. If that’s what happens, then I’ll just stand tall and keep pushing until the next (time).”
Vick knows he has to eliminate the turnovers.
“I’m trying to make all of the corrections that I can before Sunday,” Vick said. “The most important thing is that I have to protect the football. If we do that, we give ourselves a chance to win the game.”
Reid said the coaches can help Vick.
“Coach is trying to insinuate that they can maybe help us out with the play-calling, but still, at the end of the day, the ball is in my hands,” Vick said. “Just like last week against Detroit, I can’t throw the ball up in the air and pray for a guy to make a play. I’ve got to be accurate. … It’s not the coach’s responsibility. It’s my job to correct it.”
One way the Eagles could help Vick is to rely more on running back LeSean McCoy, who appears to be under-utilized. The Falcons are giving up 143.8 yards rushing per game and rank 28th of 32 teams against the run.
“Yeah, I think we’re going to have to run the football and be able to create different looks from the defense,” Vick said. “That’s going to be important. We have to make sure that we get him going. He’s a big part of our offense.”
Reid has posted a 139-93-1 record and is 13-0 after his team’s bye week. He knows a lot is on the line for himself and his quarterback.
“If you ask any player or coach in this league, they are going to tell you that’s all part of this game,” Reid said. “You always have that there, so what you do is, as opposed to focusing in on what you can’t control, you focus in on what you can control and that’s getting yourself better. … That’s the approach that Mike takes and I take [and] our players take and coaches take.”
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166 comments Add your comment
Esquire
October 25th, 2012
9:45 am
Just Sayin…..
October 25th, 2012
8:34 am
0-3 in the playoffs is a coach killer on winning organizations.
************************************
Winning organizations? You are talking about the Falcons or
you talking about this 0-3 in the playoffs?:
January 3, 1988
Minnesota Vikings 44, New Orleans Saints 10
January 6, 1991
Chicago Bears 16, New Orleans Saints 6
December 28, 1991
Atlanta Falcons 27, New Orleans Saints 20
at Louisiana Superdome
January 3, 1993
Philadelphia Eagles 36, New Orleans Saints 20
Oh whoops, that’s 0-4 in the playoffs. Sorry about that…!!
D man
October 25th, 2012
9:50 am
Yes, he makes too many dumb mistakes as a QB.
Same ish different day
October 25th, 2012
9:53 am
Wow. I didn’t realize the filter would be so strong. I’m no Falcons fan though I think Matt Ryan is a good guy. But the bottom line is Ryan has brought as many Super Bowls to Atlanta as Mike Vick. And by the way Vick was 2-2 in playoff appearances with Atlanta. Hardly coach killing numbers. What’s Ryan’s playoff record?
let it get away
October 25th, 2012
9:56 am
Vick’s a coach killer. When Vick’s contract is up for renewal, he’s a great player. When the contract is renewed, Vick is out with a hang nail every other week, leaving the coach holding the bag.
ASHCAN!!!!!
October 25th, 2012
9:56 am
Dled what’s your point????? (Vick) the falcons are 5-0 and you wan’t to start a race war. Oh i get it, uncle tom.
let it get away
October 25th, 2012
9:58 am
Clowns. What has Matt Ryan done?
Matt Ryan has led the team to a 6-0 start, best in the league and best in Falcon’s history.
Same ish different day
October 25th, 2012
9:58 am
Wow! It seems you can post about Mike Vick’s ridiculous conviction but nothing that blows the ridiculousness of this whole article out of the water.
Forrest Grump
October 25th, 2012
10:00 am
Let it get away,
And your point is?
ASHCAN!!!!!
October 25th, 2012
10:03 am
Since my comments wasn’t posted how i really felt, i’ll just say stupid dumb retarded topic.
ParanoidAndroid
October 25th, 2012
10:05 am
Yes… he is a coach killer. A player with talent that GMs and owners give a lot of money to but can’t learn to play QB. The coach doesn’t stand a chance in that scenario. Doesn’t matter how good your RB is… if the franchise is invested in a QB that doesn’t know the fundamentals of the position, the coach is the first person to blame.
Let’s do all future coaches (and canines) a favor and put an end to Vicks career once and for all this Sunday.
ParanoidAndroid
October 25th, 2012
10:07 am
blah…
Yes… he is a coach killer. A player with talent that GMs and owners give a lot of money to but can’t learn to play QB. The coach doesn’t stand a chance in that scenario. Doesn’t matter how good your RB is… if the franchise is invested in a QB that doesn’t know the fundamentals of the position, the coach is the first person to blame.
Let’s do all future coaches (and canines) a favor and put an end to Vicks career once and for all this Sunday.
ASHCAN!!!!!
October 25th, 2012
10:09 am
Dled (AJC) get uncle tom of the year award.
ASHCAN!!!!!
October 25th, 2012
10:12 am
Guess AJC is the king of starting race wars. You know by now all you have to do is just mention vick and kill and the clan will eat that up.
Esquire
October 25th, 2012
10:13 am
Cleaveland Sux
October 25th, 2012
9:17 am
“Ron Mexico” is a diseased dog-killer. Let maiming justice fall upon him!
************************************
Look, I too am appalled at how someone can torture helpless animals without blinking an eye but the bottom line is he paid his debt to society based on the guidelines of our judicial and legal system.
The only one left to judge is a higher authority than us or the courts.
Deuteronomy 32:35
DR. FALCON
October 25th, 2012
10:13 am
MICHAEL VICK, IS A TURNOVER MACHIN! HE’S BEEN IN THE LEAGUE 11 YEARS, AND STILL MAKES THE SAME MISTAKES HE DID WITH ATLANTA, DURING HIS 2ND YR! FOR YOU VICK LOVERS STILL IN ATLANTA, SUPPORT MATT RYAN! DAMN!
1998 Was Our Year
October 25th, 2012
10:14 am
ASHCAN!!!!! You are an idiot, and DLED is da Man and the voice of the Atlanta Falcons.
Mikey
October 25th, 2012
10:19 am
I’m a loyal Falcons fan but if Michael Vick holds on to the ball, he can still be a game changer. He has gotten more accurate and more consistent than he was in Atlanta. He still holds the ball loose and out of control when he scrambles though, just like a grade schooler… never could figure out why he can’t learn that fundamental skill. He does have other compensating skills however. I’m glad we have the QB we do though. The Eagles problems go deeper than the QB… if the whole team plays up to their potential, they will win. If the Falcons have been learning and growing during the bye week, they will win. I actually think that rain will benefit the Eagles. LeShawn McCoy is a premier running back and they can block for him. I really hope to see the Falcons’ O-Line breaking out this week though and if that happens, the game belongs to the Falcons. GO FALCONS! YOU ARE RISING UP!
Forrest Grump
October 25th, 2012
10:19 am
Bobby Cox smacked his wife around and got less grief. Get your priorities straight people.
ParanoidAndroid
October 25th, 2012
10:20 am
Whats up with these postings?!
Yes… he is a coach killer. A player with talent that GMs and owners give a lot of money to but can’t learn to play QB. The coach doesn’t stand a chance in that scenario. Doesn’t matter how good your RB is… if the franchise is invested in a QB that doesn’t know the fundamentals of the position, the coach is the first person to blame.
Let’s do all future coaches (and canines) a favor and put an end to Vlcks career once and for all this Sunday.
ArkT
October 25th, 2012
10:32 am
Atlanta should think about trading for Tebow, he’d come at pretty much no cost and could exclusively work as a TE under the direction of one of the NFL’s all great TEs in Gonzalez.
Forrest Grump
October 25th, 2012
10:36 am
ParanoidAndroid
October 25th, 2012
10:20 am
Did Jim Kelly get Marv Levy fired? How many Super Bowls did Dan Marino win? How many playoff games has Matt Ryan won. Fundamentals? 4x Pro Bowler at the position. Fundamentals, you’re killing me.
Forrest Grump
October 25th, 2012
10:37 am
Did Jim Kelly get Marv Levy fired? How many Super Bowls did Dan Marino win? How many playoff games has Matt Ryan won. Fundamentals? 4x Pro Bowler at the position. Fundamentals, you’re killing me.
Pissed off Bird
October 25th, 2012
10:46 am
DOL you dn’t know what you’re talking about Mike Vick carried the Falcons father with less to work with in the history of the franchise.Outside of Chris chandler and when we went to the Superbowl Dan Reeves choaked who hands off and screen toss to your back all season and wait until you get to the show to pick it 7 yards deep to J. Anderson.Who gets to the show and doesn’t use anything you did to get there Dan did that n not just in that Superbowl but everyone he’s been in trying to out think the other team he stoped us before they did.And Jim Morra and his dad suck at coaching if that’s what they call it his idea of ajusting are game after half time was to keep the same plays just put Vick in the shotgun.A lot of people can knock Vick but he has done something no other player on an Atlant Falcon’s roster has ever done say what you want he put this team on the radar.
Chris Chandler took us to the Superbowl even that year we had blackouts Mike Vick took us deeper into the play off with less he had to under sized receivers in there mid 30’s and still what Matt couldn’t do with 2 pro bowl caliber receivers and a slot man that any other team would love to have yep Vick had Crump but Matt has the al powerful A. Gonzalez and for the record he couldn’t hit water if he fell off a boat. Mike Vick a Coach Killer tell Andy to ring him out of the pocket if his line can’t block and he was also under the gun when McNabb was there….
ParanoidAndroid
October 25th, 2012
10:47 am
@Forrest Grump
I have no idea what your argument is.
Matt Ryan wasnt even in the conversation. The article is about Vlck being a coach killer. Are you comparing Vlck to Jim Kelly and Dan Marino??? I didn’t say lack of Superbowl wins gets a coach fired. Its the lack of knowing how to play QB.
Really?
October 25th, 2012
10:48 am
Forrest,
Matt Ryan and what he has done for the Falcons shouldn’t even be questioned. Vick ranks low on the Falcon QB all time list under Bartkowski, Chandler, Ryan, Hebert and even Chris Miller. No comparison, Vick was a fly by night in Atlanta.
Really?
October 25th, 2012
10:50 am
Vick vs Ryan? Give me a break. Ryan has done more than Vick ever could. Vick ranks LOW on all time Falcon QB’s behind Ryan, Bartkowski, Chandler, Chris Miller, and for that matter even George and Hebert!
Matt "CHOKE" Vick
October 25th, 2012
10:51 am
Vick = Total waste of money.
Capt. Kangaroo
October 25th, 2012
11:01 am
I would have to say the difference between Jim Kelly-Dan Marino, and Micheal V. is, that Kelly & Marino were players that took their jobs seriously(from the beginning of their careers), and knew how to play their positions.
Capt. Kangaroo
October 25th, 2012
11:01 am
vick
Capt. Kangaroo
October 25th, 2012
11:05 am
Why does this man Ledbetter, write a blog about a person, but has a filter on his name, in the comments section?
Esquire
October 25th, 2012
11:05 am
Forrest Grump
October 25th, 2012
10:19 am
Bobby Cox smacked his wife around and got less grief. Get your priorities straight people.
*************************************
once incident because he spilled some red wine on his wife’s brand new white carpet………..you don’t know of which you write
Paddy O
October 25th, 2012
11:05 am
Vick intentionally or not, due to his chronic ability to fail to live up to potential, sets up his coach for failure. Vick is a cancer. He is just pocketing the Eagles’ cash – he has just learned how to smooze with the press better and “say the right things’.
Paddy O
October 25th, 2012
11:07 am
some fine apologists posting here. Vick is a loser. A convicted felon. He has cursed the entire city of Philadelphia with his evil. The won’t win a think anywhere while he is employed by the Eagles.
Forrest Grump
October 25th, 2012
11:09 am
How can a 4x Pro Bowler be in lack of knowing how to play the position? Are the talent evaluators not capable of proper assessment.
This article isn’t mentioning Mike Vick’s lack of knowing how to play at the position, it’s talking about turnovers which every QB commits. You seem like many others to want to place a lack of mental capacity for fumbles and interceptions. My point is if that’s the case we can make the same argument against many quarterbacks without their “lack of knowing how…” ever coming into the conversation.
If he didn’t have the capacity he wouldn’t have made 4 Pro Bowls as an NFL QB and this argument could be supported by the list of guy’s whom I would assume, you would say don’t suffer from your perceived “lack” but have never made a Pro Bowl or have any post season victories under their belts
ParanoidAndroid
October 25th, 2012
11:11 am
Exactly!! Dled, you’re killing me here with the MV7 filter.
Anyways, when your QB does not know how to read defenses, learn progressions, learn from mistakes, hold a football when running, slide, or know when to throw the ball away… you have problems.
Forrest Grump
October 25th, 2012
11:11 am
How can a 4x Pro Bowler be in lack of knowing how to play the position? Are the talent evaluators not capable of proper assessment.
This article isn’t mentioning Vick’s lack of knowing how to play at the position, it’s talking about turnovers which every QB commits. You seem like many others to want to place a lack of mental capacity for fumbles and interceptions. My point is if that’s the case we can make the same argument against many quarterbacks without their “lack of knowing how…” ever coming into the conversation.
If he didn’t have the capacity he wouldn’t have made 4 Pro Bowls as an NFL QB and this argument could be supported by the list of guy’s whom I would assume, you would say don’t suffer from your perceived “lack” but have never made a Pro Bowl or have any post season victories under their belts
ParanoidAndroid
October 25th, 2012
11:13 am
Exactly!! DLed, u are killing me here with the RnMexico filter.
Anwyays, when your QB does not know how to read defenses, go through route progressions, hold the football, slide, know when to throw the ball away… you have problems.
Forrest Grump
October 25th, 2012
11:13 am
How can a 4x Pro Bowler be in lack of knowing how to play the position? Are the talent evaluators not capable of proper assessment.
This article isn’t mentioning Mike Vick’s lack of knowing how to play at the position, it’s talking about turnovers which every QB commits. You seem like many others to want to place a lack of mental capacity for fumbles and interceptions. My point is if that’s the case we can make the same argument against many quarterbacks without their “lack of knowing how…” ever coming into the conversation.
Forrest Grump
October 25th, 2012
11:19 am
Paranoid Android,
Where do you coach? The article I’ve read is talking about turnovers. You seem to have some insight into the minds of QB evaluators. I think 4 Pro Bowl selections and a 2-2 playoff record kind of blows your perceived “lack of” argument out of the water.
will50
October 25th, 2012
11:21 am
“GT71
October 25th, 2012 7:14 am
No, he’s a dog killer. Oh, he’ll end a coach’s career perhaps, but kill him? No.
But he is a social miscreant and not worth the protoplasm, but at least he hasn’t (yet) ‘killed’ a coach.At least he’s got that going for him.
(2nd try at posting this – first time seemed to ‘disappear’ in the ether….hnmmm.”
_______________________
and what are you, a bird, bug, ant or Cat killer? you see, we can all attach label to our names, it’s just that Vick’s dogs were bigger and people adore them more while they are being licked and kissed about the face by them. You sir, can ridicule Vick for his dog ring fighting past, but in reality you are no better than him even though you think you are because you haven’t been caught killing dogs, but perhaps you have, on they sly, ran over a few, like most of us. Accidentally of course, but still, you killed the dog! so you too, are a dog killer!
SeenThisBFalcon
October 25th, 2012
11:22 am
ITS OBVIOUS THE SAINTS SEASON IS OVER…SO HATE ALL YOU WANT SEENTHISB4….LOL
musicrockinrobin
October 25th, 2012
11:23 am
I’ll take Matt Ryan over Vick any day of the week, based on any criteria you care to use.
Mr. Panic Button
October 25th, 2012
11:35 am
Mike Vick is what he is…a backyard, playground player. He actually did the Falcons a favor getting in trouble–because Lord knows we would have never won a championship with him.
ParanoidAndroid
October 25th, 2012
11:51 am
LOL. That doesn’t blow anything out of the water. Please try harder.
Ok. So you are saying turnovers are the topic? Turnovers caused by lack of knowing how to play QB. Not knowing how to read defenses CAUSES TURNOVERS, not protecting the ball causes turnovers, trying to force the ball causes turnovers!! Pro bowl is popularity contest, it does not prove his value as a QB.
GregKennesaw
October 25th, 2012
11:56 am
LYING TO THE COMMISH IS COACH KILLER!
GregKennesaw
October 25th, 2012
11:57 am
JUST ASK SEAN
Michael M .
October 25th, 2012
12:02 pm
Falcons coaches Dan Reeves and Jim Mora were fired while Vick was the quarterback…………………………………………you could put the shoe on the other side of he tracks with Bountygate and the Caints………………..no Coach over there either, at least the one they need most……………………………………………hehehehe
Michael M .
October 25th, 2012
12:05 pm
You can add Bountygate to the Coach Killer status as well………………………………….hehehehehe
Forrest Grump
October 25th, 2012
12:15 pm
So Payton Manning’s 3 picks against the Falcons are from “lack of”? Phillip Rivers throwing 4 against Denver is from “lack of”? You’re telling me they don’t know what they’re doing?
Your position holds no water since the metrics for making your determination can be used to put 2/3 of the QB’s in the league in the “having lack” category. If he couldn’t play the position he wouldn’t be there.
Barry
October 25th, 2012
12:24 pm
Hey Y’all:
“IT’S TIME TO KILL A COACH ON SUNDAY!!! Do you think our Falcons are feeling sorry for Vick and the Eagles. HELL NO!! We got our own battles to contend with, and that is to win the SUPER BOWL. And they are in the way!! We will be playing AGRESSIVE, SLICK, AND NASTY against these Eagles. WE WILL TAKE NO PRISONERS!!! WE ARE HUNGRY!!! Our offense will run NASTY, BLOCK NASTY, AND PASS AND CATCH ARTISTICALLY. IT WILL BE A THING OF BEAUTY. OUR DEFENSE WILL BE POPPING, TACKLING, SACKING, INTERCECEPTING, AND TAKING FUMBLES IN A NASTY DISRESPECTFUL WAY AGAINST THESES EAGLES. THUMP!!! We owe all the team in the NFL a butt kicking. Sunday, IT’s THE EAGLES. “IT’S TIME TO KILL A COACH ON SUNDAY!!”. It’s time to kill him in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!!”. We will make the funeral arrangements after the game in Philly. And we will send flowers while we are on the plane back to Atlanta with a win. WE WILL GIVE NO EULOGY. It’s on to the next game. WE TAKE THEM “ONE AT A TIME” playing with “ONE HEARTBEAT!!!”. This “ONE” is the Eagles. THUMP!!
Can you hear it? “THUMP!!!”. IT’S GETTING LOUDER!!!! THUMP!! THUMP!!! THUMP!!….etc. LET’s DO THIS IN “ONE HEARTBEAT!!!”.
NOW ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!!!??? I DAMN SURE AM!!!!!!
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!
THE “PROCESS’ CONTINUES TO THE SUPER BOWL.
“FALCONS, RISE UP!!” WE “RISE UP!!” in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!!.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!
……………….”ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!!”……..