As the Eagles try to close the deal with Oregon coach Chip Kelly, they reportedly are selling potential coach Chip Kelly on the presence of quarterbacks Nick Foles and Mike Vick on the roster.
That’s fine, but Vick has no intention or desire to reduce the $15.5 million salary he is due to earn in 2013.
It’s due to be the third year of Vick’s six-year, $100 million deal, which actually was a five-year, $80 million deal. And we’ve consistently heard that, if the Eagles want to keep Vick, they’ll have to honor the terms of the contract. (Others have reported the same thing.)
There’s a chance it’s bluster, especially if the reduced rate the Eagles will pay Vick is more than he can get on the open market. While it’s technically tampering for other teams to tell the agent of a player who is under contract with a team what the player would be paid if he were free to be signed elsewhere, it happens routinely.
Also, Kelly is one of the coaches believed to most intrigue Vick. So if Kelly lands in Philly and if no other team will pay Vick more than the Eagles will offer on a reduced deal, Vick’s best move could be to accept less money and stay put.