GAMES-Reid Fumbles Vick Message Not Decision

The timing of the entire “Michael Vick is the starting quarterback” announcement was nothing less than amazing. Like many fans, I was doing the 9 to 5 commute thing when the stunning information hit my car radio speakers eight days ago. It was more distracting than the cheerleader calendar.
What was not shocking or surprising was the reaction to the move. The NFL is a billion dollar business and there’s no room for sentiment or the fable known as fairness. It’s all about winning and nothing else. Selling seats and shirts is about winning.
Stop in at Citizen Bank Park if you need evidence of what winning creates.
Fans, young and old, pack the facility to enjoy the atmosphere the goes along with following a champion. The food and frivolity are almost as important as the action on the field to many of the often-youthful visitors. They open their wallets and slide their credit cards for food and paraphernalia because it’s the thing to do at the place to be.
Andy Reid is not new to this region’s fan base. His habits and alleged shortcomings are familiar to followers. Why would anyone be shocked by the confusion and doubt in Big Red’s explanation for the quarterback change? Why would anyone be upset about Reid not revealing his thoughts in front of microphones and bright lights?
The Eagles’ coach is nothing if not consistent. Some would argue that the Vick signing was the only out-of-character act Reid has engaged in over 11 plus seasons.
The Terrell Owens risk, which eventually exploded in Reid’s face, was nothing compared to Vick’s autograph on an Eagles’ contract. So it stands to reason that any further activity involving Vick, good or not-so-good, is going to generate discussion.
Should Reid have apologized for being smug with the media after the Green Bay game when he made a crack about speaking in poor English after repeated questions about the identity of the starting quarterback for the Detroit game? Yes, of course.
Reid is his own worst enemy when he continually mishandles public appearances. These snippets of quotes are the only information the fans have with which to judge the man. (Not counting wins and losses, naturally) We’re not in the locker room or among his closest friends or family so we don’t really know what makes the man tick.
The coach should have opened his Vick announcement with a sincere apology to the media, the fans and Kevin Kolb for speaking prematurely about the following weeks’ starting signal caller. Reid could have easily reduced the clamor if he laid out a heart-felt explanation about his number one job (that would be to win) as coach and general manager.
No one would fault him for benching Kolb if he simply admitted to making a mistake in his attitude and not the usual “I need to put players in better positions” line. He should have dialed up something about having reviewed the tape of Vick and having re-evaluated the overall situation (i.e. offensive line struggles).
Reid is correct to make the change if he indeed saw what many others witnessed. Vick is a seasoned pro with a much deeper appreciation for the game. He’s seen the dark side and now understands how fortunate he is to have natural physical abilities that most of the planet’s inhabitants do not necessarily possess.
Kolb is a stationary, pocket passer who may well be swallowed up by blitzing defenses. It’s no secret that the team’s offensive line is porous. Kolb’s career won’t benefit from bench time, but it also won’t be accelerated by surgeries.
Vick gives the team the best chance to win under current circumstances. He scares defenses with his re-discovered speed and agility. He can take a hit, which is something no one knows about Kolb, yet. Reid and his coaches are widely thought of as excellent teachers so Vick may have finally found the consistent quarterback instruction that stellar athletes such as Randall Cunningham never enjoyed.
The problem remains Reid’s refusal to deal effectively with the media. He has reasons for his pass-happy approach but you’ll never hear him explain. We don’t even need specifics, just some morsels of information about the statistics or strategies, which support his approach to offensive game planning.
I do find it ironic that Reid has expertly trained his players to say all of the right things when microphones are shoved into their faces. This is no small feat in the era of the modern professional athlete, a spoiled lot who answer to no one. Even number one victim Kolb remains remarkably mature and gracious in his commentary.
The season has a long way to go and Kolb could certainly end up with significant playing time. Vick’s ascension appears to be an attempt to win a so-so division and try to finally bring home a Super Bowl title. It may be a long shot, but Vick, for all of his past failings, gives the Birds their best shot to earn the elusive ring. At least for now.
Reach Rossi at joerossi61@comcast.net