Thursday, March 3, 2011
Posted: 4:39 p.m.
By Reuben Frank
CSNPhilly.com
While the rest of the football world focuses on the NFLs labor issues, Michael Vick is focusing on the 2011 football season.
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Whenever that will be.
Vick spoke Thursday for the first time since signing his one-year tender with the Eagles, a contract that is expected to guarantee him somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 million once the NFL and NFLPA agree on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
In an interview with the Eagles official web site, Vick said he plans on being a better quarterback in 2011 than he was in 2010, when he started the Pro Bowl for the NFC, and said hes committed to taking the Eagles to the Super Bowl.
It was great to be able to get the franchise tag, guarantees one more year, a year I plan on making one of the best years of my life, Vick said. Whatever it takes to put everything in motion to try to make that Super Bowl run, thats what Im going to do. As well as bring the other guys along and pull them there with me.
Vick, in his first year as a starter since 2006, went 8-3 when he played the entire game, with 21 touchdowns and six interceptions, plus nine rushing TDs.
But late in the season, he struggled dealing with blitzes and became turnover prone. After committing three turnovers in his first nine games, he committed seven in his last four, including three in the crushing loss to the Vikings and another in the playoff loss to the Packers.
Vick said that even if there is a lockout and hes unable to train at the NovaCare Complex, hes prepared to spend the offseason improving on his own.
Ive got a lot of (video) cuts from last season, Im going to watch a lot of film, study my game plans from last year, because I kept everything, just try to put it all together, look at all the things I didnt do as well, and things I can improve on, and just try to understand the concept of getting better, he said. I think I know what to do. I think I know what it takes. Just go out there and do everything right.
Its been less than two years since Vick was released from incarceration following his conviction on federal dogfighting charges. During that span, hes gone from prison to out of work to a backup to a starter to a Pro Bowl pick.
You always think about where youve been as to how far youve come, and its been a great run, he said. Ive had a lot of people who were very influential in helping make it happen, and I thank them for that. The thing I want to do is continue to provide that confidence and trust and continue to do all the things that got me to this point.
On Friday, Vick will be honored by the Maxwell Football Club at its annual banquet at Harrahs in Atlantic City. Vick was selected as the 52nd recipient of the Bert Bell Award that goes annually to the clubs NFL Player of the Year. Vick has already received several Comeback Player of the Year awards.
All the accomplishments I was able to maintain over the last year are great and hold a special place in my heart, Vick said. These are things I didnt think would happen over the past 12 months, but God blessed me and gave me an opportunity and Im very thankful. To be honored again is huge for me.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com
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