Maybe Michael Vick should consider trying to wear that red jersey during games.
For the second straight preseason games, the Eagles QB lasted all of six plays. Last night against the Patriots he took a wicked shot to the ribs. He got up, then went back down to a knee, and the hopes of the Eagles season went with him.
X-Rays last night indicated no ribs were broken; more tests will be done today.
Proving the Eagles’ season has not been fractured will be a bit more difficult.
Vick has played in two preseason games, and lasted all of two series in both of them. That’s a total of 12 plays. Don’t look for him again until opening day - and that is if everything goes OK with that CT scan on his ribs that will be done today.
One of the biggest questions about this offseason has been Vick’s ability to stay on the field. His style of play makes him susceptible to injury. He has bristled in the past when that has been brought up. He was not bristling last night as he held his ribs as he walked gingerly to the locker room.
Vick can’t wear the red shirt in games that he dons in practice , thus making him off limits for hits. His one attempt at scrambling last night - and what appeared to be an effort to avoid a hit - produced an awkward head-first slide. By the way, Michael, the rules say you can still be hit when you do that. You only get a pass when you slide feet first.
It’s pretty apparent Vick is going to struggle with changing his game. The play he got hit on last night was once again Vick - to his credit - trying to make something out of nothing. For his effort he took a nasty helmet in his ribs.
Make no mistake, despite another decent showing last night from rookie Nick Foles in relief, this team will go exactly as far as Vick carries them.
Forget everything else. Forget another questionable effort from Juan Castillo’s still struggling defense. Forget a most uncharacteristic blowup on the sidelines by head coach Andy Reid with defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins.
Right now the only thing that matters is Michael Vick, and whether he can stay on the field. He’s 0-for-2 in the preseason. Anyone think that is going to change?
CLICK HERE to read Bob Grotz's full coverage of last night's game.
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