News from Philly: Vick named starting pitcher … er, QB
Arthur Blank and Michael Vick before the Eagles beat the Falcons last year. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Philadelphia — Talk about timing. I was planning to stop by the Eagles’ practice facility tomorrow en route to the final game of the Braves-Phillies series. My intention was to speak to Michael Vick about how graciously he has accepted his role as the Eagles’ No. 2 quarterback behind Kevin Kolb. And then …
Ten minutes ago the press box at Citizens Bank Park, which is just across the street from the Eagles’ stadium and down the road from the training complex, went nuts, and it had nothing to do with the Phillies or the Braves. The Eagles just sent out a blast e-mail announcing that coach Andy Reid has named Vick the starting quarterback. (This represents a major reversal on Reid’s part: Even after Vick had led Philly to victory Sunday over Detroit, the coach maintained that Kolb, who missed the game with a concussion, would remain No. 1.)
And I’m thinking: Good for Michael Vick.
Because I’ve never been able to dislike him as a person. Because I’ve always considered him capable of being a first-rate NFL quarterback. And because tomorrow just got a bit more interesting for yours truly.
Oh, and you’ll never guess which team visits Lincoln Financial Field — that’s the stadium across the street — on Oct. 17. Yep. The Atlanta Falcons. Them again.
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219 comments Add your comment
Once "Recent" Reader
September 22nd, 2010
10:05 am
As a Patriots fan first for all my life being from Mass, and a Falcons fan since the days of Bartowksi, Andrews, Cain, Francis, and Gritz Blitz . .. ..I now have to officiallly say that the AJC Vick debate has overtaken the Pats Tape-Gate debate for longevity. Never thought that would happen as that Tape-Gate controversy was a very National thing where the Pats fans stood alone against pretty much every other team’s fans. Not that folks don’t type in things like Bellicheat on Pats posts . … . .but I just don’t see the same steam in the arguments. This Vick debate probably will rage on for quite a while. Of course since many see Ryan as the “annointed successor of Vick” . . I think if he does not perform exceptionally well . . ..and Vick does just plain well . . . .this will debate will continue to be fed.
vafalconfan
September 22nd, 2010
10:30 am
Too bad we can’t take all of the vick huggers to philly and leave them there. They deserve each other!
gdg73
September 22nd, 2010
10:39 am
I told ya’ll this man would be back, better than ever. He is hungry, has been humbled, is looking to prove the haters wrong. Some in the national media cannot stand it, lol!!! I’m glad he landed in Philly with a real football organization with real coaches.
GregKennesaw
September 22nd, 2010
10:58 am
Now that Vick has landed a starting position, can you Vick supporters stop blaming Blank,TD, Smith, and Ryan for Vick’s self-imposed problems? None of them forced him to commit felonies, and once arrested, convicted and sent to prison, they did what they had to do.
Elvisinthehouse
September 22nd, 2010
11:03 am
The AJC continue to write about vick the same person you slammed and said would play in the cfl.Whats wrong? the falcons don’t have a player worthy to talk about? Last i checked vick plays for philly not atlanta but for some reason you continue to make him(mv7)the headlines.I get it,you want the vick bashers to come out.Well guess what? AJC and all the vick haters were WRONG and are still trying to condenm the man from his past.Let it go its done and over with from yesteryears.Now we will see who will win or go to the superbowl first,vick or ryan.All i gotta say is mr blank,you shouldn’t have been decieved from the talk and gossip of all the vick bashers.I hope he makes you regret your dumb choice to let him go.I hate the punk falcons and hope they never win….
GregKennesaw
September 22nd, 2010
11:05 am
I think one of the core issues is that once Vick and Petrino left the falcons, and Blank was forced to replace a GM, Coach, and QB that he did not hire at least one black guy and certain fans felt like he “owed” them. I think Blank was under the gun and hired the best available guys he could find. Keep in mind several GM’s and Coaches turned him down, the team was a mess, but fortunately he was able to find a GM, Coach, and QB that did a surprising job, only for some, they are the wrong color.
GregKennesaw
September 22nd, 2010
11:07 am
Elvisin the house, Blank didn’t “let him go”, he went to prison, what was Blank suppose to do for two freakin years?
Elvisinthehouse
September 22nd, 2010
11:34 am
@Gregkennesaw,i understand your point your right.Thanks for bringing a little light to my eyes.Two years is too long to wait and he did what he had to do.But dang! wish we would have picked flacco instead.
Elvisinthehouse
September 22nd, 2010
11:41 am
And also Gregkennasaw,its not a black and white thang because the statement “they are the wrong color” is just how both colors look at it.(it goes both ways).
A+A
September 22nd, 2010
12:24 pm
I’m not a fan of shooting dogs or even the way dogs are put down at many shelters. But what they do is light years away from electrocuting and hanging dogs, for what seems to have been the fun of it. You are making excuses for a monster because he can run fast with a little brown ball. Yes, Vick’s done his time and I suppose he will make a lot more money playing. But long after his career is over he will be remembered as a man who tortured animals. This, not his running stats or his throws or his brilliance on the field. He’ll just be that football player who murdered dogs. A fine addition to the history of football.
John
September 22nd, 2010
12:26 pm
@ rekingball …. Get a life you jerk!
vickfan7
September 22nd, 2010
12:38 pm
remember when they use to sick dogs on black folk, I got no love for dogs
Rick
September 22nd, 2010
12:59 pm
Who?
NOLA
September 22nd, 2010
1:35 pm
GregKennesaw
September 22nd, 2010
11:07 am
Elvisin the house, Blank didn’t “let him go”, he went to prison, what was Blank suppose to do for two freakin years?
Link Report this comment
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No they never let him go until he was released from prison. matter of fact the ‘cons attempted to trade him and eventually released him.
Kane337
September 22nd, 2010
3:09 pm
LOL. I hope you Philly fans are enjoying this. Welcome to the most polarizing sports figure you will ever see. Enjoy all the Vick apologists and haters that will follow his every move. I’m glad he is yours now. As a Falcons fan I’m glad we no longer have to deal with it…except when we play against him in a few weeks.
Raider
September 22nd, 2010
4:42 pm
marsha s. bennett is FINE.
thegoat
September 22nd, 2010
5:10 pm
I wonder if in Philadelphia they are having blogs about their former Quarterback or if they are writing about the currents quarterback on their roster.
Tweets that mention Live from Philly: Michael Vick named starting pitcher ... er, QB | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
September 23rd, 2010
3:27 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley and ajc sports editor, Angie. Angie said: YES! RT @MarkBradleyAJC: Live from Philly: #Vick named starting pitcher … er, QB. #Eagles http://bit.ly/aGV4vw [...]
LuckyStrike
September 24th, 2010
1:32 am
Good for Vick!!!! I think that Andy Reid is a liar and the Vick promotion to starter is something that Reid was inevitably planning to do ever since the Eagles acquired Vick, even while Donovan McNabb was the starter. I believe Reid got rid of McNabb because he wanted Vick at the helm from the very beginning. Reid was simply waiting and hoping for Vick to regain his form he had in Atlanta, and now Michael has surpassed that form. Two weeks ago when I blogged that Vick was the fifth best qb in the league, this was before Vick had his two spectacular games. As of right now, Vick was regained his spot as the fifth best qb in the league behind Brees, Brady, Peyton and Farve. Vick is right there and will continue to improve until he becomes the best quarterback in the league. DO NOT BE SURPRISED AT ALL IF MICK VICK WINS THIS YEARS LEAGUE MVP HONORS. Michael great to see you back as top dog and sheriff of the league once again.