On Friday, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Eagles are standing behind embattled quarterback Mike Vick.
Here’s the rest of the story, reportedly. Vick’s toes rest on the very edge of a cliff, and the Eagles have a finger ready to push against his back.
The Associated Press reports that the Eagles are “strongly considering” the possibility of cutting Vick in the wake of the Birthday Party at the O.K. Corral.
Per the report, the move may happen even if Vick ultimately is cleared in the shooting of Vick’s former partner in the Bad Newz Kennel dogfighting operation, Quanis Phillips.
The separate problem for Vick arises from the question of whether he violated his probation by associating with Phillips or any other convicted felons. Earlier this week, Marcus Vick confirmed that Phillips gained admission to the birthday party that was open to the public.
“I did see Phillips come through the door, but he didn’t really catch my attention,” Vick said. “I don’t know where he went once he got into the club. So I don’t really have any comments on that.”
Marcus potentially had already commented enough. If the feds conclude that Phillips’ presence at Vick’s birthday party -- along with any interactions captured by the 16 surveillance cameras at the club where the party was held -- constitute “associating” between the two men, both are in violation of the terms of their probation.
From the Eagles’ perspective, owner Jeffrey Lurie made clear last August that Vick has “no room for error.” Obviously, Vick has erred.
From the Eagles’ perspective, the question is whether they’re willing to keep him and look foolish for not enforcing Lurie’s admonition, or whether they’re willing to cut him and look foolish for signing him in the first place.
From a business standpoint, cutting him would avoid $3.75 million in base salary -- but it would allow him to walk away with a $1.5 million roster bonus he earned in March. From a football standpoint, the Eagles need to have a plan for backing up new starter Kevin Kolb.
Then again, Vick really isn’t the best guy to back up Kolb, anyway. Especially since Vick surely thinks he should be at the top of the depth chart now that Donovan McNabb is in D.C.
But, hey, if Vick stays maybe he can win the team’s Ed Block Courage Award for a second straight year.