The Philadelphia Eagles' signing of embattled quarterback Michael Vick is going to raise certain questions. Can the Eagles weather the PR storm that will come from signing Vick? Does this mean that teams are valuing talent over character? What role is Vick even going to play on a team with Donovan McNabb already at QB?
If Philadelphia wants this move to work, then they'll need to spend the rest of this season, and maybe longer, answering those questions and more.
Because at first glance, this move doesn't make a whole lot of sense to people outside of the Eagles' organization. The Eagles were one of many NFL teams who initially said they had no interest in signing Michael Vick, due to him being, you know, a pretty horrible human being. They already have McNabb at QB, and he led them to the NFC title game yet again while putting up a career-high in passing yards. And the Eagle were already set talent-wise and in popularity; they weren't in need of an infusion of attention and ticket sales like a lousy team wouldn't had by signing Vick.
So far, it doesn't make sense. So Philadelphia, please explain.
Explain to McNabb how the situation is going to work. McNabb has always been the starter for the Eagles, and due to his performance this past season he will be again. But Michael Vick is a star. Even despite his transgressions, there are fans out there that still love him, and people will expect him to play. You don't pay Vick millions of dollars to hold a clipboard all season. Suddenly, McNabb is feeling the pressure, because with even the slightest mistake, fans and media will be screaming to put in Vick, if only to justify the signing. Now, Vick, McNabb, Andy Reid and the Eagles' front office are thrust into a position where none of them want to slip up the slightest bit, but none of them want the others to succeed.
Explain to fans how this move makes the team better. Vick is a talented quarterback, there's no doubt about that, but he hasn't played since 2006. And even then, he had a mid-70s passer rating while questioned arose about his effectiveness in certain systems. Vick's strengths have always come from his mobility - if defenses are worried about his receivers, he'll run it, if the defense is concerned with him running, Vick will pass. But unless Jeremy Maclin turns out to be a fantastic receiver, the Eagles don't have talented enough receivers to draw the attention away from Vick. By single-covering Hank Baskett and Kevin Curtis, the defense can focus solely on Vick, taking away the one thing that made him effective. This current Eagles team is not built to Vick's strengths.
Explain to your city, the fans, and the rest of the NFL the reasoning behind the signing of a player that has been viewed as a villain for the past 2+ years. Don't get me wrong, Vick served his time for the crimes he committed, and he has the right to seek employment. But the things he did were heinous, and now the Eagles must address those facts in explaining their decision to sign him. How do you justify it, without resorting to a sleazy, talent-over-character explanation. How do you market him? "Ladies and gentlemen, a man who went to prison for killing multiple dogs ... Michael Vick!"
Is everything water under the bridge because you need a backup QB? Or will you speak opening and candidly about the things Michael Vick did and why you think he deserved a second chance. If you gloss over it or ignore the elephant in the room, you fail. If you say it's strictly a talent decision, then the fans are cheated. There aren't a whole lot of options. All you can do is address the past and pray to God that it's enough. The entire Eagles organization's credibility rides on what you say to announce the signing.
And explain whether this is merely a sideshow act. Whichever team signed Vick was sure to become a media circus, and would have a large microscope on them all season. With Donovan McNabb taking the snaps, Vick seems at the moment to be a gimmick to sell tickets and get media attention. Of course, Vick probably knew that before he signed the contract, and is probably more concerned with getting a paycheck instead of whether or not he plays.
As things stand right now, all we have are questions that need answers. The original ESPN breaking story went from a once-sentence proclamation that Vick had signed, to a host of rumors about the situation. But all of that doesn't matter. What does, is what the Eagles have to say about the Vick signing.
No one knows right now what this signing means, or what it will bring. It's up to the Eagles to explain to us what they were thinking and what they hope to accomplish.
Ever since Vick was reinstated, there have been a host of "what if's" about his future. Soon, the Eagles may give us some answers. But knowing the Michael Vick situation, we may only be left with further questions.
