Eagles put even bigger target on Michael Vick: Local fan’s take
Eagles put even bigger target on Michael Vick: Local fan’s take
The Philadelphia Eagles knew that they had to sign Michael Vick(notes) to a long term deal. However, few of us Eagles fans expected Vick to get $100 million, and $40 million guaranteed, as soon as Monday night. But now that he has the big deal he's wanted since he got out of prison, we have to keep our fingers crossed that it doesn't come back to haunt him or us.
Vick needed to play well enough to get one more large contract, and he has done that and more. But with this 6-year, $100 million deal, he now has a bigger bull's eye on his back than ever before. He is already a vulnerable target because of a weak offensive line— which makes it harder to justify this kind of move because few of us fans think he'll stay injury-free.
If Vick suffers a horrible injury- or when he does- then it will be harder for the Eagles to get their full money's worth. But the only way to really get this much money's worth is for Philadelphia to finally win a Super Bowl. 2011 is clearly a Super Bowl or bust season already, and now that Vick is the $100 million man, it puts just as much of an bulls-eye on the Eagles as the "Dream Team" labels.
By the time Vick's contract is up, he will be 37 years old- and it is hard to imagine him staying as explosive as he is all the way to 2016. If he still hasn't delivered a Super Bowl by then, fans will be as eager to see him go as they were to send Donovan McNabb(notes) out by the end. Yet with this contract, it would be harder to cast him aside early and try to start over.
We won't have those concerns if Vick actually stays healthy and lives up to this massive paycheck. He was certainly motivated to play hard enough to get it, and now he can settle all of his post-prison debts. But now that he is one of the richest men in football for the second time, will he still have the same kind of drive and motivation? He already forfeited a massive contract with the Atlanta Falcons, yet that was for his messes off the field- now Philadelphia hopes he won't waste this one with disappointing play on the field.
Since Vick hasn't actually won a Super Bowl yet, has a risky style of play and an even riskier offensive line protecting him, the Eagles are really taking a $100 million gamble. They've had no problem throwing money around this offseason- except for DeSean Jackson(notes)- but this is the biggest risk by far and not just because of the cash.
No one in Philadelphia doubts that Vick needed a new deal, or that he is the Eagles best shot to finally get over the hump. Yet with this kind of new contract, and with how he and his team are already massive targets in the NFL, it will make it all the more humiliating if this doesn't pay off.
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