At a time when ESPN has devoted an entire issue of its magazine to Eagles quarterback Mike Vick, the Eagles are preparing to devote a whole lot of money to him.
Howard Eskin of WIP and NBC 10 reports that talks between the team and Vick are moving forward.
Per Eskin, the Eagles made an offer last week. Vick has countered this week.
From Vick’s perspective, it would seem to make sense to get the deal done quickly, in the event that he’s unable to repeat in 2011 the performance that prompted the team to apply the franchise tag and the $16 million in guaranteed salary that goes along with it.
Last year, things came easily for Vick, who had no pressure and no expectations. This year, he’s the captain of the SS Dream Team. If three preseason interceptions are enough to get him to launch himself helmet first into Troy Polamalu’s crotch, what will happen if/when he throws three interceptions on Sunday, September 11 in St. Louis?
Sure, Vick has faced pressure before. But in Atlanta he was Michael Jordan without Scottie Pippen. In Philly, he’s Jordan with Pippen and Horace Grant and a whole host of other guys who, on paper, make the Eagles the team to beat.
Thus, if the Eagles fail to live up to the hype in part because Vick becomes an INT machine, the powers-that-be in Philly may be less willing to give as much paper to Vick later as they are right now.
