Some took Michael Vick‘s statements to the media following Sunday’s loss as a concession speech.
“Obviously he’s thinking about making a change at the quarterback position,” said Vick of Andy Reid. ”If that’s the decision the coach wants to make, then I’ll support it.”
Mix those comments with a report that Reid is leaning towards starting Nick Foles in New Orleans, and you can gather that Vick has learned his fate and is resigned to take a seat on the bench. But that conclusion seems premature.
You can’t fake it in this town. Above all things, Philadelphians value the genuine. They’ll sniff out a fraud like a bloodhound.
You can’t fake it in this sport. Talent is just a sliver of what is necessary. The angry and determined and committed will snap the spine of those who lack resolve.
The Eagles are faking it. Not to a man, mind you. There are a good number of players in the locker room that throw everything they have into their profession. To suggest otherwise would be to misrepresent the situation. But collectively, they are missing the unshakable desperation that is present to avoid exactly what happened on Sunday against the Falcons.
“How we played, how the game ended, I didn’t see any pride,” said LeSean McCoy. “I didn’t see any heart.”
It’s difficult to imagine Todd Bowles’ debut as the Eagles’ new defensive coordinator going any worse.
Through three quarters, the Atlanta Falcons’ offense possessed the ball six times. And on all six occasions, they ended up with points – three touchdowns and three field goals.
“We ran the same things,” Bowles said, an answer that many players backed up. “The guys have to play… the coaches have to coach. We didn’t coach it good. We didn’t play it good, and they beat us. They deserve all the credit in the world.”
Again, no ringing endorsement for the $100 million quarterback. Reid said heading into the bye week that Michael Vick was his quarterback “as of today” and that he would be taking a hard look at all positions. Ultimately, he chose to ride with Vick against the Falcons. But that’s as far as the public commitment goes.
“Obviously he’s thinking about making a change at the quarterback position,” said Vick. “The thing I do know when I go watch the film and evaluate myself is that I’m giving us every opportunity to win. I’m trying my hardest. Some things don’t go right when I want them to; some things do. If that’s the decision the coach wants to make, then I’ll support it.”
Jeffrey Lurie put a number on it.
When asked before the season what he needed to see from Andy Reid this year, the Eagles’ owner used the words “substantial improvement.” He was asked to clarify. Would another 8-8 mark be good enough? Lurie said no.
And so that has been the number in the back of everyone’s head all season. With Sunday’s loss to the Falcons, the Eagles are now 3-4 with nine to play.
Here are my instant observations from Sunday afternoon’s Eagles-Falcons game.
The following Eagles are inactive for today’s 1 p.m. game against the Falcons: Trent Edwards, Damaris Johnson, Dion Lewis, Jamar Chaney, Danny Watkins, Nate Menkin and Vinny Curry.
A reader asked this week if today’s game against the Falcons is the biggest of both Michael Vick and Andy Reid’s careers.
To that, the answer is no.
Vick has played in an NFC championship game. And Reid has played in a Super Bowl. Those were career-defining games – much more so than a Week 8 regular-season matchup.
Having said that, there’s no doubt that today’s contest is huge for both guys.
Join Sheil and Tim for a live chat Sunday as the Eagles host the Falcons. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
Who’s picking the Eagles in Sunday’s matchup against the Falcons? Here’s the roundup.
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Sheil Kapadia has been writing about the Eagles since 2008. His previous Philly.com blog, Moving the Chains, was named one of the best in the state by the Associated Press. Sheil's main joys in life are family, football and finding good parking spots.
Tim McManus is a bulldog reporter with a nose for news and story angles that will get people talking. He'll talk about it himself on 97.5 The Fanatic, where he serves as a host and Eagles beat reporter. Tim, an award-winning journalist, will be with the team around the clock.
