“Do you, Andy, take, Mike, to be your lawful quarterback, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until we win a Lombardi Trophy?”
“I, Mike, take you, Andy, to be my coach. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.”
Yes, that’s a fictional exchange between Andy Reid and Mike Vick.
But, in essence, that is what transpired last week when the Eagles handed Vick a $100 million contract. The resurrected quarterback is the face of Reid’s franchise until the two decide the marriage isn’t working (see: Donovan McNabb). Or maybe they live happily ever after by leading a Super Bowl parade.
That’s the goal. That’s the fairy-tale ending everyone is so hyped up about.
“Like I said, that one common goal is to win the Super Bowl, and that’s why we play,” Vick said. “It would mean more to me than anything in this world to be able to reward this organization with that, or Andy [Reid] with that after all of the hard work and blood, sweat, and tears that he put into this sport.”
Reid, who rarely wears his emotion on his plus-sized windbreaker, was giddy while reintroducing Vick. The coach smiled and laughed out loud more than a few times.
“This is really what America is all about,” Reid said. “Second chance, you know, and Mike took full advantage of that.”
Of course, they say that 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. If Vick skips one practice or attends one wrong birthday party or shows any sign of his former self, the Eagles coach will quickly look to annul. Remember, he’s working for the NFL’s “gold standard” and trying to break a 50-year championship drought.
One goal for No. 7
Michael Vick likes to keep it loose — in the huddle, in the locker room, wherever.
Several Eagles commented on how confident he was during last year’s
dramatic, improbable, come-from-behind win against the Giants. Last
week, Vick said that he didn’t think an NFL defense could stop him.
So, it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear No. 7 say he feels no pressure.
“It’s football, so how much pressure could there be?,” Vick said.
As far as goals, Vick has only one.
“Our expectations … mine is to win a championship and I’d be lying
if I told you anything else,” Vick said. “Other than that, I have no
more personal goals.”
