With his new contract in hand and his new coach implementing an offense he’s excited about, Eagles quarterback Michael Vick believes he’s going to have a big year in Philadelphia.
Vick said on Mike and Mike in the Morning that he expects “to be one of the elite quarterbacks in the league again” playing for Chip Kelly. And he referenced his final season with the Falcons, when he ran for an NFL quarterback record 1,039 yards, as something he believes he can match.
“In 2006 I ran for 1,000 yards -- and it wasn’t hard,” Vick said. “I feel like I still can do that.”
Although Vick and Kelly haven’t spent much time going over Xs and Os, Vick said he likes what he has heard from Kelly so far.
“I could tell that he was innovative, and that’s what it’s all about in this league,” Vick said. “You have to be able to change up from week to week and I think Chip will be able to do that. I think I can handle that.”
The Eagles would love for Vick to be the same kind of runner this year that he was in 2006, but one concern is that in 2006, he ran the ball 123 times and was sacked 45 times. It will be hard for him to stay healthy if he takes that many hits, but Vick says he’s not stressing about that.
“Once you start trying not to get hurt, that’s when you get hurt,” Vick said. “I think I have to go out, play lights-out football, and not worry about getting hurt.”
A 1,000-yard rushing season is a long shot, but a healthy Vick for 16 games in Chip Kelly’s offense would certainly be exciting.