Michael Vick is the starting quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles.
I am not surprised.
The same cannot be said for the timing of yesterday's announcement from new Birds' boss Chip Kelly.
After insisting since he arrived in Philly that jobs would be decided on the practice field as well as in exhibition games, Kelly apparently has seen enough. Yesterday he anointed Vick as his starter. Bob Grotz has all the details as well as some video reaction.
What's interesting to me is that a lot of people believe that Kelly was actually getting the best out of Vick by doing the exact opposite - not declaring a starter and making Vick feel like he was playing for his job.
It seemed to be working. Vick has clearly been engaged and excelling in Kelly's new lightning-fast offense that requires the QB to make very quick reads and get rid of the ball, something Vick has not been known for in the past.
Both Vick and Foles have been camp standouts, but the edge clearly goes to Vick. Still, how big a part of that was Vick playing like his career was on the line, and will that desire ebb now that Vick is the man again. Yesterday the QB was vowing that won't be the case, that he's been rejevenated by Kelly.
Vick has to do two things to stand out in this offense. Avoid the turnovers that have plagued him the past two years, and stay on the field. The former may be easier than the latter. Vick has been dogged by injuries that have caused him to miss time. His style of play has left him susceptible to hits, and he hasn't helped himself by failing to master the 'slide' to avoid contact with defenders.
Kelly made it clear this was not exactly a demotion for Foles. That part is true. Foles should not get too comfortable with that clipboard on the sideline. If there is one thing that you could count on the past few years, it's that Vick will get hurt and miss games. I'm not entirely convinced that's not going to happen again this year. I set the over/under on games played by Vick at 10, and I'd be tempted to take the under.
For right now, Vick is the man. The offense seems to fit his game. He has a vast array of weapons, including maybe the league's premier back in LeSean McCoy, and Desean Jackson at wideout.
This offense has the chance to be something special. In the process, they could put up some staggering numbers.
But only if Vick can stay on the field. Right now, that just might be the biggest "if" in Chip Kelly's first year in Philly.
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