Michael Vick’s Job to Lose with Philadelphia Eagles


Michael Vick

Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Although it’s only the preseason and it’s only the first game, Chip Kelly’s naming of Michael Vick as the starting quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles means everything. Kelly continues to say all the right things when it comes to his quarterback competition, including that Nick Foles will start game two, but in the end, its Vick’s job to lose.

Beginning tonight, in the Eagles first preseason game of 2013 against the New England Patriots, Vick will take his place behind center with everything to prove and the starting quarterback job to lose. Having the job to lose does mean one important thing, he has it. The skill set that Vick possesses, along with the routine production he has put forth during training camp, means that his performance during the actual preseason games has become that much more important. He will be under a microscope from the first snap until he is relieved by his competition, Foles.

It has been made clear that the two quarterbacks at the forefront of the Philadelphia quarterback competition will be given equal opportunity during this evening’s opener to run the first team. Each will take his turn during the first quarter to run the coveted Kelly spread offense. Or will it really be the Kelly offense?

Chances are that the Eagles will be making a decision at quarterback based on the candidates not making mistakes, as opposed to running the high-octane offense at its best. The better guess is that Kelly and the Eagles will not be showing their hand too early to the rest of the NFL during the preseason, and therefore, the quarterbacks will not actually be running the true offense which they would conduct come the regular season.

So, realistically, it would seem that the first choice has the job, unless he loses it.

Bob Francis is a Philadelphia Eagles contributor for www.RantSports.com.  Follow him on Twitter @rfrancisjr, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google



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