Quarterback Mike Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles have a new deal in place. Per multiple reports, the one-year contract has a maximum potential value of $10 million.
Of course, the initial reports regarding Vick’s last deal with the Eagles indicated it was a six-year, $100 million contract. And it wasn’t; the last year (at $20 million) was fictitious, aimed at pumping up the total number to nine figures.
It’s with that vivid memory that we’ll now regard the report that the new deal is “up to” $10 million. What’s the signing bonus? What’s the base salary? How much of the “up to” $10 million resides in easily achieved incentives, and how much of it requires, say, a Pro Bowl berth or even a Super Bowl?
Once the contract is signed and submitted to the NFL and the NFLPA, the truth will come up. By then, however, it will be hard to erase the perception that Vick will be getting $10 million from the Eagles in 2013.
Moreover, some suspect that Vick may not get anything from the Eagles. Howard Eskin, who patrols the sidelines for the team’s radio broadcasts, already has suggested that the deal makes Vick “[e]asier to trade.”
That would be a surprise, based on our understanding of how the Eagles were approaching the situation. The first step entailed new coach Chip Kelly deciding whether he wanted Vick. The second step consisted of finding a way to compensate Vick in a way that matched Kelly’s desire to have Vick around.
Unexpectedly, the two sides agreed to a reduced rate, even though Vick privately insisted during the 2012 season he wouldn’t take a penny less than $15.5 million to stay.
Vick also was interested in playing for Chip Kelly or Jon Gruden. With Kelly the new Eagles coach, Vick opted to take less, in the hopes of having yet another career rebirth.
The move also creates at least $5.5 million in additional cap space for the Eagles. Which will give the front office more ammunition to dream up a new Dream Team.