Michael Vick is set to visit the New York Jets on Friday. For the Jets' sake, let's hope the former Pro Bowl quarterback leaves with a contract.
Vick, 33, only played in seven games for the Eagles last season, throwing for 1,215 yards and five touchdowns. He missed time early on due to injuries (what else is new) and played the second half of the season as Nick Foles' backup.
I am not usually a Michael Vick supporter. Actually, I'm quite the opposite. His dog fighting past was despicable at best and at the time, I felt he didn't deserve another chance in the NFL. My opinion has changed slightly over time. His actions in the past will never be forgotten. However he has redeemed himself in the eyes of the NFL and has become a respectable veteran. So in a sense, he has been forgiven by some. Vick is also considered a great mentor, something that Jets' quarterback Geno Smith needs.
Smith, who is entering his second season in the NFL, led the Jets to an 8-8 record in 2013. At times the young quarterback was amazing.
At other moments, he looked like what he was; a rookie adapting to the highest level of competition in the world.
He didn't have a real mentor last season. Mark Sanchez was out all season due to a shoulder injury and David Garrard was barely with the team. Vick provides Smith a mentor who can teach him how to succeed in the NFL, while giving him some legitimate competition.
If Vick signs with the Jets, there is no doubt he'd want to be the starting quarterback. Smith should be happy about that. The Jets made the mistake in the past of pampering quarterbacks and not providing them competition. Mark Brunell was brought in a few seasons ago as the backup to Sanchez. Brunell, a former three-time Pro Bowler with the Jaguars, was over 40 by the time the Jets signed him. He was no threat to Sanchez and thus Sanchez thought he could take it easy. One of the reasons Smith succeed last season is because he was always looking over his shoulder. There was no guarantee that he'd make his next start. Thus Smith always worked hard.
If the Jets brought in Vick, then Smith would be forced to work even harder. The Jets' front office should never be worried about “upsetting or discouraging” Smith. A quarterback that can't handle competition doesn't belong in the NFL. Either way, the Jets would have their answer at quarterback.
Even Jets' offensive line guru and locker room leader Willie Colon sees the benefit to signing Vick.
"Vick speaks for itself. His resume in itself is amazing," Colon said on a conference call after re-signing with the team. "He is an outstanding athlete and what he can bring to the table in coach Mornhinweg's offense (is impressive). Obviously, they have that rapport, they have that relationship that was established in Philadelphia. It's all arrows up when it comes to that situation. Competition helps everybody. Bottom line, anytime you have two guys competing for the same spot, all it does is heighten the team's effort. It will play out how it is going to play out."
Vick is a similar quarterback to Smith. Both have great arms and can run with the football. Mornhinweg wouldn't have to change the offensive structure depending the the quarterback. Each of them provides a similar skill set. The only difference is that Smith is younger and will have a longer career at this point than Vick. If the Jets are serious about winning and finding out whether Smith is the quarterback of the future, then they should sign Vick. He will answer both questions for the team this season.
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