Jets quarterback Michael Vick knows he’s far from the only running quarterback in the NFL these days, but he wants to be remembered as the one who started the trend toward quarterbacks who can beat defenses with their legs as well as their arms.
“I was the guy who started it all,” Vick told ESPN.com. “I revolutionized the game. I changed the way it was played in the NFL.”
It’s not quite correct to say that Vick started it all: Although Vick is the NFL’s all-time leader in rushing yards for a quarterback (5,857) and yards per carry (7.1), there were other good running quarterbacks before Vick came along, including Bobby Douglass, Randall Cunningham, Steve McNair and Donovan McNabb. But whether he was the one who started it all or not, Vick has a lot to be proud of.
“The things I’ve done, I’ve pretty much surpassed myself and expectations — over 25,000 yards in total offense in the NFL, and I missed a lot of years and a lot of games,” he said. “That’s more the reason I have to keep it going.”
How much longer can Vick keep it going? Vick will turn 34 next week and may not be quite the running threat he once was. But he’ll always be remembered as one of the greatest running quarterbacks ever to play the game.