Michael Vick was not an effective quarterback in 2014. In 10 games (three starts) Vick completed just 52 percent of his passes for three touchdowns and two interceptions. He didn’t show much of his vaunted rushing ability either, picking up only 153 yards on the ground.
Still, the 35-year-old southpaw quarterback believes there’s gas left in his tank and he tried to prove that on Twitter.
Stay fresh stay focused stay #READY... #v7 https://t.co/GVlPcrRYRB
— Mike Vick (@MikeVick) July 23, 2015
It has been a while since Vick was a quality starting option, but that doesn’t mean he can’t help a team in 2015. Here are three teams that might want to consider at least extending an invitation to training camp to Vick, a four-time Pro Bowler.
Buffalo Bills
New Bills coach Rex Ryan may not want to hear this, but he’s in another situation featuring a top-notch defense and an offense with some talent, but without a quarterback. Right now the competition to start looks like it’s between 2013 first-round pick EJ Manuel, who has not impressed the organization since they took him 16th overall, and 2011 sixth-rounder Tyrod Taylor, who has thrown all of 35 NFL passes.
They signed veteran Matt Cassel as well, but it has been widely reported that Cassel is on the roster bubble and that the Bills’ coaching staff are partial to Taylor’s running ability. The fact of the matter is that Taylor has almost no experience as a starter though, and Buffalo’s loaded defense, plus the additions of LeSean McCoy and Charles Clay, have Bills fans thinking postseason.
Vick has proven rushing ability, has been to the playoffs, and is actually the most accurate passer of the three options in all likelihood.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have Carson Palmer entrenched as the starter, but when he went down last season one of the NFL’s best defenses was squandered down the stretch by comically inept QB play. Drew Stanton was sufficient as a backup and the real trouble started once he went down, but Vick is an upgrade over Stanton.
He may not fit the Cards’ offense, and he may not be the type of quarterback they want, but it cannot hurt to give Vick a try. He is a veteran, he will be cheap, and the odds are he will be superior to Stanton. At the bare minimum he’d be the best pure playmaker at the position that Arizona has.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs drafted troubled QB Jameis Winston No. 1 overall, and despite heaps of talent, there are concerns around the league about his ability to control himself off the field. Vick is in a unique position to come into Bucs camp and mentor Winston.
When Vick burst onto the scene he was a sensation, and many hailed him as the man to revolutionize the quarterback position. Winston isn’t viewed in that light, but he is expected to be a transformational player. With that comes a lot of pressure, attention, and scrutiny. Nobody will relate to these pitfalls like Vick, and so it makes a ton of sense to bring him in for that purpose alone.
Vick should be able to push Mike Glennon as a backup as well, and he provides more similarity to Winston than Glennon does should Winston get hurt during the year.
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