The Morning After: We Were All Wrong

Well, it’s rare that an entire fan base can be almost unanimously wrong.

Last year when the Eagles signed Michael Vick, very few people thought it was a good idea.  There were several obvious reasons for that sentiment, not the least of which was that he hadn’t played football in a few years and wasn’t that good to start with. 

Something changed.

Granted it was only the Lions and Jaguars, but what else could you have asked Vick to do over these last two weeks?  He's been almost perfect.  He runs when he’s supposed to, passes when he’s supposed to, and has orchestrated two successful two minute drills in two games.  I don’t know if Donovan McNabb ever did that.  Still, a large number of fans want to see what he can do against a “good defense.”  That’s fair, but Vick has shown marked improvement in his ability to pick up the blitz.  There were several times yesterday where the pocket began to collapse and he just calmly shuffled his feet, got set, and completed a pass.  Good defense or not, pressure is pressure.  Whether it’s the Jaguars or the Jets, the same steps are required to avoid the blitz and keep the play alive.  Quite honestly, he's been the best quarterback we've seen in this town since the 2005 version of McNabb.

It’s prudent to remain realistic (they’re not winning the Super Bowl), but Vick is clearly a different player.  And here’s something that no one seems to be talking about: he’s 30, but had three years off.  Those legs, which are so valuable to him, might be a bit younger than the rest of him.

Whether you're buying into the hype or not,  it’s safe to say that we were all wrong.  The Vick signing, at least in the short-term, is working out pretty well.

Who had Vick-McNabb in the showdown of the year poll?  Rush Limbaugh is pumped!