NFL teams have had 90 roster spots for months. And not a single team has given one of them to quarterback Mike Vick.
With camps opening, Vick continues to push for a preseason job. He recently said he wants to play for a contender. Appearing on Monday’s edition of The Dan Patrick Show, Vick seemed to be far less choosy.
“We had a couple phone calls,” Vick said. “I won’t say as many phone calls as I’d like. I understand the dynamics. I’m 36 years old. The thing is I still have a lot in the tank. I go work out, still go throw, still feel good. And the thing is with me, I just don’t like the way the season ended last year. I ended the year inactive and that’s not me. I’m truly better than that. And I believe in that.”
One of the reasons team shy away from Vick is that he never has fully embraced the role of a backup, with his high level of confidence causing him, even now, to not rule out the possibility of becoming a starter.
“I know I can still win football games,” Vick said. “Not saying that I can go out and be a 16-week starter, who knows? But you’ve got to get that opportunity. I still feel like I can produce.”
Dan suggested a way to prove it: Have a Pro Day workout.
“If I had a Pro Day, I would light it up,” Vick said. “I mean, I go work out and I look good in my training, and everybody tells me that. So that gives me the confidence that, you know, I do still have it. And the reason why I can think forward and think positive about where I’m at in my career, and how I can finish, and it’s all about finishing strong. So Pro Day, it’ll be exceptional for me and everyone watching. But do I want to run the 40 again? No.”
Vick believes he’d still do well in the 40 (even if he doesn’t want to run it), but playing quarterback entails much more than whatever straight line speed he still has. The fact that he still believes he can play at a high level, coupled with the reality that so many current players grew up idolizing him, limits his universe of teams to those with firmly established starters who would never be the subject of a potential locker-room mutiny fueled by starstruck youngsters who love the idea of playing with Mike Vick.
Vick found that spot in Pittsburgh in 2015, but when he got a chance to play, it didn’t work out very well. With Ben Roethlisberger injured, Vick eventually yielded to Landry Jones.
Part of the problem was that Vick didn’t know the offense because he arrived late. This year, he’d be joining the team without the benefit of participating in an offseason program.
Last year, it took an injury to Bruce Gradkowski to get Vick a chance. This year, it may take another injury. Even then, chances are Vick’s name is farther down the list than it was a year ago.