Much has been said and written and contemplated (and ignored) about the ongoing development of quarterback Mike Vick. After a surprisingly strong performance in 2010, Vick regressed last season, with injuries and turnovers and bad decisions, at times.
Vick hears the criticism, and on Friday he responded to it.
He specifically seems to be perturbed by the notion that he gets injured by holding the ball for too long. "[A]t some point I probably feel like it’s personal shots being directed towards me for holding the ball too long and certain things when that’s not the case,” Vick said, via Steve Patton of the Reading Eagle.
Still, he’s content to shoulder the criticism.
“I accept the responsibility for everything,” Vick said. “I feel like my sole responsibility is this team. We’re going to go as I go. If I’m not on the field, then I’m not helping this team in any shape, form or fashion.
“The turnovers, that’s my responsibility. That’s my responsibility to orchestrate the offense and make sure the team is well put together and suited and ready to play on Sundays. I understand the responsibility and the role that comes along with being a quarterback, and I accept it. Sometimes I just don’t accept people saying things and really not knowing what they’re talking about.”
Regardless of the specific reasons, Vick slid from 8-3 in 2010 to 7-6 as a starter in 2011. His turnovers doubled, from nine to 18, and his passer rating plunged by more than 15 points.
He has millions of reasons to turn that around. The much-hyped $100 million contract Vick signed in 2011, apart from having a phony final year that pushes the package to nine figures, operates in reality as a two-year deal with a year-by-year team option for the rest.
Thus, Vick needs to do enough in 2012 to persuade the Eagles to opt to keep him around for 2013, when he’s due to earn a base salary of $15.5 million.
