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
Joe Tess Fish House
October 25th, 2012
12:27 pm
No way is Vick a caoch killa. Reaves and Mora kilt them slefs. Both had boaring offence which cost them 2 loose 2 many games. Aslo Reaves was over the hill.
K Conway
October 25th, 2012
12:43 pm
OK to be a coach killer but leave the dogs alone!
ParanoidAndroid
October 25th, 2012
12:45 pm
I didnt state just one quality that he lacks. I stated several deficiencies that he has shown over the course of his ENTIRE NFL career (not 1 bad game). It’s the combination of all his flaws that make him bad.
Ok. i am done arguing with someone who brings Manning and Marino into a Vlck conversation…. smdh
Nick Foles
October 25th, 2012
12:46 pm
I sure would like to get some snaps on Sunday.
Jason in Gainesville
October 25th, 2012
12:50 pm
I dont know about being a coach killer, but he was one heck of a dog killer. Jerk.
kd
October 25th, 2012
12:55 pm
why all the cheap shots? come on who hasnt watched a falcon game, and on one or two plays when matty runs out of the pocket and falls, or takes a sack when all he had to do is step up into the pocket and run doesnt say,”man if we had vick” or commentators say, “not mike vick but he gets the first” cannot deny that mans talent
kd
October 25th, 2012
1:05 pm
cannot deny vicks talent, why dont we judge Pat Kerney as much as we do Vick??? Anybody remember what happened with him?? Seems just as bad to me
kd
October 25th, 2012
1:06 pm
cannot deny his talent
kd
October 25th, 2012
1:07 pm
why isnt Kerney ever talked about?
kd
October 25th, 2012
1:09 pm
and yea he was wrong, but he did his time guys its not much more he can do about the past. Another thing is that Reid’s head is out of the game. I feel like regardless of how well vick played Reids had a foot out the door
kd
October 25th, 2012
1:10 pm
DAMM D LED! anything that makes sense gets blocked on here, all we can do IS talk smack!
Jay Dubu
October 25th, 2012
1:10 pm
Are you serious?
- Reid has one of the best running backs in the league, and refuses to run the ball like he should.
- Reid put the OL coach in charge of the defense.
-Reid’s undoing was caused by Reid, and not those that work under his supervision.
The other coaches that you named, Mora, Reeves, Petrino…what are they doing this season?
-Was the Falcons their first and only coaching job?
-Who killed them at their other coaching stops, from which they were forcible removed?
- Mora Jr. may be still coaching (in college, after Seattle kicked him out), but he can’t keep his foot out of his mouth @ UCLA.
Is this lazy journalism, or pressure to get a story up quickly? Very few reporters work to get an original story now. Everyone is looking @ twitter, and other social media to get a quick hit story, and stir up the masses.
kd
October 25th, 2012
1:13 pm
If the falcons drop the ball and let the She-gles get a strong win, that may be all it takes to them building a big winning streak
R Check
October 25th, 2012
1:14 pm
Hey Seen, how’s that view of the Falcon’s tail lights !!! haha ! 2 wins !! WOW
Michael M .
October 25th, 2012
1:59 pm
NFC SOUTH STANDINGS…………………..this time next week
Falcons 7 – 0
Caints 2 – 5
Mucs 2 – 5
Pansies 1 – 6
I said ths was going to be a fun Season………………hehehehe
Mike Franklin
October 25th, 2012
2:12 pm
Vick has never been consistent. When he’s playing well, he plays real well. But when he’s playing badly, he plays pretty darned bad. There’s never any warning to know when a bad game is at hand or, contrarily, when he’s about to light the sky up with fireworks.
That is indeed deadly for coaches because they love the fireworks show and want to have it… the problem is that it just doesn’t come around every Sunday. You never know what to expect.
I recall former Falcon Jeff George’s attempt to rein in his erratic performances by way of emotional counseling sessions and meditation. Maybe Vick needs to spend an off-season in Kathmandu…
Mike Franklin
October 25th, 2012
2:13 pm
2nd post attempt – apologies for any repeats -
Vick has never been consistent. When he’s playing well, he plays real well. But when he’s playing badly, he plays pretty darned bad. There’s never any warning to know when a bad game is at hand or, contrarily, when he’s about to light the sky up with fireworks.
That is indeed deadly for coaches because they love the fireworks show and want to have it… the problem is that it just doesn’t come around every Sunday. You never know what to expect.
I recall former Falcon Jeff George’s attempt to rein in his erratic performances by way of emotional counseling sessions and meditation. Maybe Vick needs to spend an off-season in Katmandu..
billy bob
October 25th, 2012
2:14 pm
Saints aren’t quite where they belong. the only thing keeping you guys out of the NFC South cellar is your standing on top of the woeful Carolina Panthers. Your defense couldn’t stop a rock from rolling uphill. Too bad you cheatin’ b tards got found out or you could be “winning” the division again. Even cheating you guys couldn’t win in the playoffs last year.
Mike Franklin
October 25th, 2012
2:14 pm
Good lord, 3rd attempt to post – more apologies for repeat postings *sigh*
Vick has never been consistent. When he’s playing well, he plays real well. But when he’s playing badly, he plays pretty darned bad. There’s never any warning to know when a bad game is at hand or, contrarily, when he’s about to light the sky up with fireworks.
That is indeed deadly for coaches because they love the fireworks show and want to have it… the problem is that it just doesn’t come around every Sunday. You never know what to expect.
I recall former Falcon Jeff George’s attempt to rein in his erratic performances by way of emotional counseling sessions and meditation. Maybe Vick needs to spend an off-season in Katmandu..
Mike Franklin
October 25th, 2012
2:16 pm
4th attempt
Vick has never been consistent. When he’s playing well, he plays real well. But when he’s playing badly, he plays pretty doggone bad. There’s never any warning to know when a bad game is at hand or, contrarily, when he’s about to light the sky up with fireworks.
That is indeed deadly for coaches because they love the fireworks show and want to have it… the problem is that it just doesn’t come around every Sunday. You never know what to expect.
I recall former Falcon Jeff George’s attempt to rein in his erratic performances by way of emotional counseling sessions and meditation. Maybe Vick needs to spend an off-season in Nepal?
Mudwump
October 25th, 2012
2:18 pm
DOL – Why are my comments under my real name not showing?
-Mike Franklin
Redcoat
October 25th, 2012
2:30 pm
Seen…..ever apologized for your al qaeda remark?…..
Boot
October 25th, 2012
2:33 pm
kciVVick (just playing with the filter now)
Mike Franklin
October 25th, 2012
2:33 pm
test
Mike Franklin
October 25th, 2012
2:33 pm
Vick has never been consistent. When he’s playing well, he plays real well. But when he’s playing badly, he plays pretty doggone bad. There’s never any warning to know when a bad game is at hand or, contrarily, when he’s about to light the sky up with fireworks. That is indeed dedly for coaches because they love the fireworks show and want to have it… the problem is that it just doesn’t come around every Sunday. You never know what to expect.
(I recall former Falcon Jeff George’s attempt to rein in his erratic performances by way of emotional counseling sessions and meditation. Maybe Vick needs to spend an off-season in Nepal…)
Boot
October 25th, 2012
2:33 pm
kciWick (just playing with the filter now)
Boot
October 25th, 2012
2:34 pm
If you don’t use the capital W for the mirrored V’s it catches it.
Mike Franklin
October 25th, 2012
2:35 pm
Vick has never been consistent. When he’s playing well, he plays real well. But when he’s playing badly, he plays pretty doggone bad. There’s never any warning to know when a bad game is at hand or, contrarily, when he’s about to light the sky up with fireworks. That is indeed a mortal danger for coaches because they love the fireworks show and want to have it… the problem is that it just doesn’t come around every Sunday. You never know what to expect.
(I recall former Falcon Jeff George’s attempt to get ahold of his erratic performances by way of counseling sessions and meditation. Maybe Vick needs to spend an off-season in Nepal…)
Mike Franklin
October 25th, 2012
2:36 pm
Let’s try this… breaking it down into paragraphs…
1. Vick has never been consistent. When he’s playing well, he plays real well. But when he’s playing badly, he plays pretty doggone bad. There’s never any warning to know when a bad game is at hand or, contrarily, when he’s about to light the sky up with fireworks.
Mike Franklin
October 25th, 2012
2:38 pm
(Former falcon QB’s name) has never been consistent. When he’s playing well, he plays real well. But when he’s playing badly, he plays pretty doggone bad. There’s never any warning to know when a bad game is at hand or, contrarily, when he’s about to light the sky up. That is indeed (word meaning ‘mortal’) for coaches because they love the (what you see on the 4th of July) show and want to have it… the problem is that it just doesn’t come around every Sunday. You never know what to expect.
I recall former Falcon Jeff George’s attempt to rein in his erratic performances by way of emotional counseling sessions and meditation. Maybe (former falcon QB’s name) needs to spend an off-season in Nepal…
Mike Franklin
October 25th, 2012
2:39 pm
Hot damn… it came through!
SeenThis B4
October 25th, 2012
2:41 pm
@Redcoat: Why don’t you post my al qaeda remark and I’ll see if I need to apologize for it.
Esquire
October 25th, 2012
2:44 pm
Mike Franklin
October 25th, 2012
2:38 pm
****************************************
Damn near worth waiting for……………………
Mike Franklin
October 25th, 2012
2:45 pm
Dang… did the AJC just sign up for TSA comment screenings?
Esquire
October 25th, 2012
2:48 pm
ckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckckckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickckVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVickVick
Lol, sorry DLed………………..roflmao…..
Mike Franklin
October 25th, 2012
2:48 pm
Esquire – Six posting attempts and a dozen rewrites… I feel like I should be on payroll somewhere.
vic k
October 25th, 2012
2:52 pm
V i c k
vic k
October 25th, 2012
2:53 pm
vic k
DC Dirty Bird
October 25th, 2012
3:02 pm
Reid has been on the hot seat since 2009. You can’t be a coach killer when the fans have been calling for the coach to be fired for years.
drew
October 25th, 2012
3:34 pm
“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.”
What I have a hard time understanding is WHY Vick has been allowed to run around with the ball in his HAND, so that anyone can easily knock it right out. Dan Reeves, Jim Mora, Andy Reid….seems to me that one of these coaches should have sat him down and said, “If you are not going to secure the ball, you’re going to play.” Had someone done this years ago, it probably wouldn’t still be a problem today. Is Vick uncoachable, and just too stupid to do it? Or are his coaches to spineless to demand it? I guess good fundamental football is too much to ask of “elite” players.
SirReal
October 25th, 2012
3:35 pm
Vick wasnt a “coach killer”
1) Dan Reeves- probably the best coach Vick had honestly. Vick’s broken leg and Reeves ancient play-calling did him in. (I still have flashes of Woody Danzler taking direct snaps and all 11 men on the other side of the ball knowing what was coming.lol) They actually worked well together.
2) Jimmy Boy Mora- Such a mixed bag with this character. His mouth killed him more than anything. Not to mention being a little too partial to your players…also the second half season collapses we came to know. Lastly, any coach who let’s Greg Knapp run their offense won’t be a head coach for long. He’s working wonders in OAK right now.lol)
3) Puke-trino- This guy was a butt itch from the very beginning. He gave us nothing. He was a selfish coward who’s karma came back around on him last year. We can only wonder what he’d have done eith Vick…but when your coaching staff is yelling at grown men like they’re still in college….I dont think morale would be that great. He was a team killer.
4) Andy Reid- Come on guys. He’s be on and off the hot seat for years. I think his time may finally be up and it so happens that Vick is his QB. His stubborn affection for the pass while he has a pro bowl RB is the stuff of legend, and lets not forget promoting his OFFENSIVE LINE coach to run the ENTIRE DEFENSE. If anything, these factors alone are building his demise as head coach of the Eagles.
My humble opinions. What else say you Birdland?
SirReal
October 25th, 2012
3:36 pm
Vick wasnt a “coach killer”
1) Dan Reeves- probably the best coach Vick had honestly. Vick’s broken leg and Reeves ancient play-calling did him in. (I still have flashes of Woody Danzler taking direct snaps and all 11 men on the other side of the ball knowing what was coming.lol) They actually worked well together.
2) Jimmy Boy Mora- Such a mixed bag with this character. His mouth killed him more than anything. Not to mention being a little too partial to your players…also the second half season collapses we came to know. Lastly, any coach who let’s Greg Knapp run their offense won’t be a head coach for long. He’s working wonders in OAK right now.lol)
3) Puke-trino- This guy was a butt itch from the very beginning. He gave us nothing. He was a selfish coward who’s karma came back around on him last year. We can only wonder what he’d have done eith Vick…but when your coaching staff is yelling at grown men like they’re still in college….I dont think morale would be that great. He was a team killer.
4) Andy Reid- Come on guys. He’s be on and off the hot seat for years. I think his time may finally be up and it so happens that Vick is his QB. His stubborn affection for the pass while he has a pro bowl RB is the stuff of legend, and lets not forget promoting his OFFENSIVE LINE coach to run the ENTIRE DEFENSE. If anything, these factors alone are building his demise as head coach of the Eagles.
Just my humble opinions. Well said DC Drty Bird! What else say you Birdland?
Al Bruce
October 25th, 2012
3:45 pm
Vick is not a coach killer. Dan Reeves’s time was long gone, Mora’s teams collapsed in the second half of the season two years in a row when coaching really counts in the NFL (not to mention his comment about being willing to leave for another job in the middle of the playoff hunt in 2006), and do I really need to say anything about Petrino? If Andy Reid gets fired at the end of this year, it won’t be because of Michael Vick. It will be because he is out of time and excuses. @AlBruce7
Falcon James
October 25th, 2012
3:50 pm
It amazing that STDB4 was nowhere to be found for 5 week. Let the Saint win 2 game and you can’t shut him up.
Al Bruce
October 25th, 2012
3:52 pm
Michael Vick is not a coach killer. Dan Reeves’s time in the NFL had passed, Jim Mora Jr.’s teams collapsed in the second of the season twice, not to mention his comments about being willing to leave the Falcons for another job in the middle of the playoff hunt in 2006, and do I really need to say anything about Petrino? If Andy Reid gets fired it will be because he is out of time (13 seasons) and excuses, not because of Michael Vick.
NoShamSam
October 25th, 2012
3:59 pm
Falcons 6-0
Philly 3-3
Philly favored by 2.5
All right, where are you Rodney Dangerfield? I know you are hiding around here somewhere!!!
Michael M .
October 25th, 2012
4:32 pm
If I was STB4 this would be the last place I would show up after the humiliating way the Caints have played this year………………….it just goes to show you what an complete idiot moron bafoon STB4 is and the Caints imploded from within……………….hehehehe and I am out …………………………..
keith B.
October 25th, 2012
5:33 pm
I hope that they do not stand pat at RB and make another free agent move/trade.
CGD..
October 25th, 2012
6:49 pm
This blog by D-LED is lame, just like his Fal-cons..
They have beaten 6 straight opponents with a combined record of 47-65. Yawn……
If Ryan goes 0-4, watch his deer in headlight coach get his walking papers
NFC Championship win or bust..Bar set lower. No shot at a SB.. This QB= Tony Romo -1..
CGD..
October 25th, 2012
6:53 pm
BTW Genius: MORA JR killed his own career….Duh…