Forget about it. Dont worry about it. Do everything you can to just put it out of your mind. Thats the message Michael Vick has for DeSean Jackson.
He knows how frustrated Jackson is, how underpaid he is, how disappointed he is not to have a new contract with opening day now just a couple days away.
He also knows how dangerous it would be for Jackson to be consumed with it on game day.
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He knows from first-hand experience.
It was a preseason game against the Ravens at the Georgia Dome on Aug. 16, 2003, when Vickwho has since admitted he was playing disinterested in the gamebroke his right fibula while scrambling on a 3rd-and-6 deep in Falcons territory.
It may have only been a preseason game, but the injury cost Vick the first 11 regular-season games. By the time he came back, the Falcons were 2-9.
Its always a risk to play, whether you have a contract or not, Vick said. Any play can be your last. The thing Ive learned is that you have a higher tendency of getting hurt if you go out and play lackadaisical and play not to get hurt, and thats what happened to me in 2003. So the thing is go out and play and let things take care of yourself.
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And thats the message hes given to Jackson, who is scheduled to play the 2011 season under a base salary of 600,000the minimum due to fourth-year NFL players.
Jackson, twice a Pro Bowl receiver, already has 13 career touchdowns of 50 yards or more, third-most in NFL history by a player before his 25th birthday (behind Gale Sayers and Randy Moss).
Obviously, its going to be on your mind if theres something that you want, but me and DeSean talked, and he understands you can only control what you can control, and I think DeSean is going to go about it the right way and I think that will pay dividends down the road, Vick said after practice Friday.
The most important thing is to focus on football and things will take care of itself. Just be happy, be honored and privileged to be in the position youre in because everybody doesnt have this opportunity at the end of the day and not many people are blessed with the talent that he has and can do the things that he can do.
Its a tough situation to be in, but hes going to be OK and at some point things are going to happen for him.
Vick on Sunday will make his first opening-day start in five years, since his final season with the Falcons.
He said watching the Packers-Saints game Thursday night gave him a little extra motivation to start the season.
The Packers beat the Saints, with both Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers throwing for over 300 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Last nights game was probably one of the best games that Ive watched in a long time, Vick said. Aaron and Drew, theyre great, theyre the best, I admire those guys, and that game last night made me want to go out and play on Sunday.
It actually got me excited. It was a totally different feeling practicing today. My mind set is different, and Im just excited about the opportunity.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com