Wait... what?

Wait… what?

Former Eagles consultant Andrew Brandt, who helped negotiate Vick’s original contract with the team, explains why, from day one, Vick was going to be the starter this year:

To secure Vick on the field, the Eagles did some cost-cutting to Vick’s compensation. Entering the third year of his bloated contract, he was set to make $15.5 million in 2013, $3.5 million of which was guaranteed—a guarantee that would be “offset” against money from a new team were Vick to be released. Despite the size of the number, there was no money due Vick until the season began.

Vick and the Eagles renegotiated to reduce Vick’s compensation from $15.5 million to $7 million, plus incentives, with half—$3.5 million—paid up front as a signing bonus. That structure, to me, insured that Vick would be the starting quarterback; the Eagles weren’t going to release a player who had just been paid $3.5 million. Owner Jeffrey Lurie may have substantial funds, but even he doesn’t give away $3.5 million that easily. And once the season started, it would have been very unlikely for Vick to be making $7 million as a backup to Foles, who is making $500,000.

Under the prior contract, the Eagles could have simply kept Vick through the offseason with no money down—salary cap room is not an issue—and then released him with an offset provision to cancel out any remaining obligation. Instead, they handed him $3.5 million as part of a new contract, tipping their hand on this year’s starting quarterback.

Just another reason why this whole quarterback controversy was a motivational ploy and media created story.

But I still had a chance… right?

No, Matt. You didn’t.