Is he worth it? Michael Vick gets $100 million from Eagles
Michael Vick is now officially the face of the Philadelphia Eagles after signing a $100 million contract. Is he worth it? (Reuters/Tim Shaffer)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick was just given a six-year, $100 million dollar contract extension. Based on his career averages, according to CNBC’s Darren Rovell, he is set to make $956,755 per touchdown and $6,074 per yard (rushing or passing). These are obscene figures, but I can’t help but feel happy for Vick the player. He has regained his old form, and is the most electrifying and talented athlete in the NFL. Conjuring up the same feelings for Vick the person is far more difficult, however.
His involvement in a dog-fighting ring that resulted in an 18-month prison sentence was unforgivable. He may not have served the time he deserved. And he may not deserve all of the positive publicity his stunningly rapid redemption story has received. The reality is this: he killed dogs and now he is $100 million richer as the main star of the NFL’s most star-laden team. This ticks many people off, and they have reason to be mad. Others don’t condone what he did but believe in second chances. In their eyes, he has been to the depths of hell only to now rightfully stand atop the football world. It would be similarly easy to take this side, as well.
No matter who thinks what about Vick, there is no denying he fun to watch and is the Eagles present and future–the face of the franchise. And his head coach, Andy Reid, couldn’t be happier, as documented by the Philadelphia Inquirer:
“I’m very happy we were able to reach an agreement with Michael on this long-term contract. It’s a product of all the hard work Michael has done to better himself over the last couple of years, both on and off the field. I’m very proud that he has been able to achieve success again in this league, but he’ll be the first one to tell you that there is a lot of work yet to be done by him and this team as a whole. And there’s no doubt in my mind that he will continue on that path.”
Vick, who signed a two-year deal with Philadelphia in 2009, entered under a stormy cloud of controversy. He was a third-stringer, and would occasionally be used in the increasingly popular Wildcat formation. Then the Eagles traded their franchise-quarterback Donavan McNabb, and Vick, becoming the starter, responded with his best season statistically in 2010, winning the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award along the way. He was back and better than ever, but his getting caught committing a sickening crime wasn’t forgotten.
It won’t be, but that doesn’t take away from how good the athlete is, nor how celebrated he can be. In some respects, his turnaround is hard to fathom. He is an icon once more.
In November of 2010, while chronicling his superb performance against the Washington Redskins, I wrote about his revitalization:
“He is not a role model, but with every pass completed and every yard gained with his legs, I appreciated the talent, the dominance, the effortless ability to treat a defense as if they were wading through cement. He gained respect with an other-worldy performance, his latest of many during on this remarkable comeback trail–a revitalization that brings back memories of years past and makes this fan happy for what his future may bring.”
He isn’t worth the contract he received, which includes $40 million guaranteed. And given his mobility the chances of him eventually suffering an injury is high, making the deal even riskier. But the Eagles trust in him is uplifting, and it is great to see.
He made a huge mistake, and he has done so much in an effort to repair his image. He has given thousands of dollars to charities and has backed a bill that will penalize criminals who finance and bring children to dogfights and cockfights. He owes creditors millions and can now pay his debts. He can do more good, and there is no reason to believe he won’t.
I hope he stays healthy. I hope he plays up to his talent level and leads Philadelphia to a championship. He may not get the support he once had as Atlanta’s cornerstone, but he is must-see television, from lowly prison back to stardom.
I think it’s risky but it had to be done. He’s their guy and they gotta go with him. If anyone wasn’t worth what they got it’s Larry Fitzgerald. Imagine, a wide receiver getting $50 million in guaranteed money while one of the best QB’s in the game gets $40. Go figure.
Yeah, Fitzgerald’s deal was even more ridiculous. Wide-receivers produce far less than QBs. Vick may not be worth it, but you are right, he’s the face of that team and cornerstones have to be paid, even if that means overpaying. It will definitely be interesting to see how he plays with the pressure of living up to the deal.