The ultimate hometown discount…
Kudos to Michael Vick and his agent, who basically have agreed for Vick to play on a commission basis for the privilege of remaining a Philadelphia Eagles QB…and completely buying into Chip Kelly's revolutionary vision for the future of a new-style Philadelphia offense.
Perhaps more importantly, Vick's restructured contract combined with the release of Demetress Bell frees up almost $20 million in salary cap space for the Eagles. Win-Win….
This could actually work out nicely for 2013…
First and foremost was Vick's willingness to accept a huge pay cut and essentially no financial security beyond 2013. Vick had been due to make $16.5 million this year and no less than $12.5 million in each of the three seasons after that, although only $3 million was guaranteed.
Instead, he'll receive a maximum of $10 million this season based on performance intentives and nothing beyond, because the new three-year deal calls for the next two seasons to be voided on March 15 for reasons related to the complicated collective bargaining agreement and NFL salary cap.
The Eagles announced the contract restructuring Monday morning, and Vick issued a statement not long after.
"I am grateful and proud to be a Philadelphia Eagle," Vick said through his publicist. "My heart is in Philly and this community is important to me. I look forward to playing for Coach Kelly, Jeffrey Lurie and the entire Eagles organization, the city of Philadelphia and the fans."
"I am training hard this offseason and will be ready for Coach Kelly's team vision and leadership. Our goal is to win."
Then it was Kelly's turn, during a news conference originally called to answer questions about his thought process behind the construction of his staff. Kelly promised Vick nothing except a fair chance to win the job back from Nick Foles.
"There is an open competition," Kelly said. "Michael knows that, Nick knows that. Nick knew every step of the way what we were doing. I wanted to make sure Nick was included in the plans, and I think both of them have outstanding qualities in terms of being quarterbacks in this league. Both of them have started in this league."
"I also know in this league you better have two, so I'm excited about the two of them. They're both going to compete. And who the starting quarterback to start the season off is going to be won on the practice field."
Vick, who will turn 33 in June, has struggled with turnovers and injuries the last two seasons and the last quarter of 2010. After he was sidelined with a concussion last season, previous coach Andy Reid turned the job over to Foles for the rest of the season.
However, Vick returned to start the final game because Foles had to sit with a broken hand, and the players came through with their worst effort of the season in their most lopsided loss, 42-7. The next day, Vick was among those to question some his teammates' effort.
The new contract also makes it much easier for the Eagles to unload Vick, should they decide to trade him this year, so there's no real guarantee he'll even still be on the roster by opening day. But that too is a plus for the team—and for Vick.
Kelly wants to keep his options open, at least until he's able to observe the team in the pre-draft minicamp, which only new NFL coaches are allowed to run.
"I think in terms of Michael, we look at everything," Kelly said. "What I look at is skill set first and foremost, what he can do, how he can throw the football, how he can beat people with his feet. There are a lot of different factors he has. And you have to look at the landscape for other quarterbacks."
"I guess the best way I can put this is I agree there is a change of scenery going on here. For Michael Vick, there is a change of scenery, but not a change of address."
Kelly also reiterated how he believes he can tailor his offense to the less mobile Foles, if necessary, and wouldn't rule out any kind of a trade or acquisition, including former Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon. Dixon was a member of the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad last season.
"Anytime we can upgrade our roster, I'll do so," he said. "I haven't ruled anybody out of that either."
Vick completed 204 of 351 passes last season for 2,362 yards and 12 TDs. Those scores were offset by 10 interceptions and five lost fumbles.
Foles, who showed promise as someone who doesn't often get rattled by pressure, wasn't any better, however. He was 161-for-265 with 1,699 yards and six TDs against five interceptions and three lost fumbles.
Those underwhelming numbers are the main reason Kelly is not committing to anybody now.
"Nobody wants anything handed to you," Kelly theorized about today's NFL players. "That's one of the things that stuck out to me about Michael, was his competitive nature."
Competitive to a fault sometimes… Perhaps Vick's biggest weakness sometimes was his desire to make something out of nothing. But in Kelly's offensive system, a lot of that pressure on the QB to make big plays is removed by the sheer process of a one-read option.
Maybe Vick could thrive in that new atmosphere. Apparently Kelly believes he's worth a second look.
I can think of worse alternatives than having the veteran Vick finally realizing his limitations and conforming to Kelly's system of conservative opportunity. I'm dreaming of 7-minute times of possession and turnover-free marches to the opponent's goal line. I'm dreaming of a season free of rib fractures and concussions suffered by my QB#1.
I also do not rule out the concept of quarterback-by-committee. How cool would it be to have a viable Vick, an understudy like Dennis Dixon, and a steady relief pitcher like Nick Foles combining to pitch a shutout?
It's all suddenly possible that a so-called "rebuilding year" could turn into a "Why Not?" year—-at least from the offensive side of the ball.
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