Reid: Vick needs to stay healthy, limit turnovers

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Michael Vick is probably never going to slide. This past season, he said he was going to, but once game action started, he was back to his same old ways.

But that doesn't mean he can't stay healthy.

Perhaps it was lost in the 48-minute Andy Reid press conference on Tuesday, but Big Red did address the health and style of his quarterback.

"I think Michael would tell you this: You look at the last four teams playing in the playoffs here and all four quarterbacks didnt miss a start and hes aware of that," Reid said.

Tom Brady, Joe Flacco, Eli Manning and Alex Smith each started all 16 regular season games and their team's playoff games.

"And he understands how important he is to this football team, that hes healthy. And that means as healthy as you can be playing the sport. You limit some of the contact points you have. And I think that you can see that this year. Now, does that mean hes never going to run the ball again? Im sure hes going to run the ball. But is there time to get out of bounds, time to get down? Absolutely, so you can live to see the next play."

Vick has started all 16 games just once in his careerway back in 2006 with the Falcons. He missed three games with injury in 2011.

Reid also touched on another topic involving his starting quarterback on Tuesday. After having a 100.2 QB rating in 2010, Vick came back to Earth with a 84.9 in 2011. His biggest problem in 2011 was turnovers. Vick threw 18 touchdown passes but also had 14 interceptions to go along with two lost fumbles.

"I think he understands, not that every one of them were Michael Vicks, but I think he would tell you the same thing," Reid said. "I think this off-season will give him a great opportunity to go back and study those things. And see what you can do and what you cant do. How to move subtly in the pocket and the ball might not be tipped."

E-mail Dave Zangaro at dzangaro@comcastsportsnet.com

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