Like so many football junkies, Andy Reid was a huge Michael Vick fan before he ever heard about Bad Newz Kennels. The thought of coaching Vick reportedly had Reid “salivating” once Vick got out of prison.
That’s why Reid pushed the Eagles to sign Vick last offseason. (Seriously, go back and read this great Philadelphia Inquirer piece on it.)
After watching the Michael Vick Experience 2.0 up close the last two weeks, Reid couldn’t bear to put his new toy back on the shelf.
“Michael Vick is playing out of his mind right now, and that’s a beautiful thing,” Reid said Tuesday during his press conference to announce Vick would be the Eagles starting quarterback indefinitely.
Reid stressed this wasn’t a decision about Kevin Kolb’s poor first half against the Packers in the season opener. (Reid also noted Kolb is fully recovered from his concussion now.) It was about Vick’s surprising progress the last two weeks, which had Reid drooling.
Reid called Vick “one of the best quarterbacks right now in the National Football League.” Reid said Vick was “brilliant” and that he’s playing at one of the higher levels Reid has seen.
To Reid, this is plain for anyone to see.
“The team saw the great play of Michael Vick -- like you saw and I saw,” Reid said.
Reid is right. Vick has played exceptional football the last two weeks. He’s made difficult throws into tight windows. He seems to have matured as a decision maker and passer. The legs are back. The biggest worry: Vick has always been a streaky quarterback and he’s played only six quarters, with four against the Lions.
This wasn’t the plan, of course. If it was, the team wouldn’t have handed Kolb a hefty contract extension this offseason. Reid says the team can still win a Super Bowl with Kolb, and vainly tried to make the case this will help Kolb’s maturation. Reid spoke with Kolb twice over the last two days and a trade is not a consideration.
"[Kevin] wants to be the starting quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles,” Reid said. “But he’s also a team player. He accepted it but I’m not gonna tell you he doesn’t want to be the starting quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles.”
Reid kept stressing what a great situation it was to have two quality quarterbacks. But it’s clear that Vick is the one that makes Reid giddy.
“Very few quarterbacks can go out and play the way [Vick] played the last few weeks,” Reid said. (Like, say, Kevin Kolb?)
The Eagles coach ended the press conference by saying that Vick was “back, and maybe even a little bit better” than before.
Spoken like a true fan.