Michael Vick Wants to Be Starting Something

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The news yesterday that really got me shaking my head was the comment Michael Vick made in an interview that will air on Sunday on CBS.

“This is not the exact scenario I thought would play out,” Vick told CBS. “I thought I’d be playing with a team and actually starting.”

He’s allowed to play this weekend and he’ll get snaps according to the Eagles but he’s not going to start, which I believe comes as no surprise to anyone in the league or following football, except Michael Vick.

Let’s review. He was in prison for 20 months. I don’t think there was a prison football league going on. He didn’t have a full training camp. He comes to a team that has given a chance just to even play football and get back to a normal life and make a lot of money.

So why does he seem so surprised? I’m not a GM or NFL head coach but I would think being away from the game for 2 years and expecting to start at the toughest position in football right away is just too soon. He’s got to get the shackles off his legs before he can start running again.

He did say the right things this week leading up to the game:

“It’s very exciting to have the opportunity to go out there and just play football,” Vick said. “Regardless of my role, regardless of what I’m going to be doing this week, just to suit up and be able to go out and play in a game when it counts. If I just had to suit up and go out and help out (Kevin) Kolb with the looks, that’s fine by me.

“I’ve been watching football from afar the last two years. and this is a dream-come-true season to me. In my eyes, I’ve already won a Super Bowl. … The way I feel, I’m just ecstatic.”

So you’ve got honest Mike in the first statement and thankful Mike in the latter statement. Which one seems right?

If Vick has truly learned anything, it’s that the league goes on without him or anyone else in the NFL. New players come in and replace you when you leave. He’s been gone for a long time but expected to pick up where things left off? Maybe the Eagles could start him on special teams, then he could say he started.

Instead he should appreciate the second chance, watch, get back into NFL shape, and then maybe get his chance to start with the Eagles or some other team in the future.

Or he might just be a gimmick in the Eagles offense.