• March 29, 2024

The Dogfighting Is In The Past, Michael Vick, It’s Time To Lead

MichaelVick9Like it or not Michael Vick is back for another year on the Eagles roster and I think he’s probably going to be the starting quarterback. With that in mind, I think it’s vital that Vick start leading this football team.

He has to stop trying to be everybody’s friend.  He must stop being the nicest guy in the locker room and be the leader.

There’s no question that Vick wanted to let everybody know that he was a nice guy, when he returned to the league after spending almost two years in the Federal penitentiary.  He came back humbled and appreciative of getting the opportunity to continue playing football.

His life was an apology.  All he did was a apologize.  The guy sincerely realized that what he had been doing was wrong.  Apology time is over.  No more apologies.

Vick shouldn’t be willing to talk about his past with anybody in the media anymore.  His crime and jail time are nothing put the past.  The only thing that matters now is how he plays football and leads this team.  He’s got to forgive himself for once and for all.  Then he must lift up his head and stop it with the nicest guy on the team stuff.

A good leader can’t be the nicest guy on the team because he’s got to be willing to hold people accountable, demand excellence from every member of the squad including himself, even if that means getting in the faces of his teammates and chewing them out.

Have you ever been in charge of a group of people?  Have you every been a captain of an NFL team?  I have.

If you’re the leader you can’t be everybody’s friend.  There has to be some separating space between the leader and everybody else.  Vick has to establish that space.

Last year, I thought he failed to lead.

Of course Vick needs to play better himself, but he also needs to be climbing all over teammates who don’t give the necessary effort in the classroom, in the weight room, on the practice field and in the game.  He made some statements after the season ended which he should have made during the season.  Be a leader.

He needs to have a burial ceremony for all the magazine and newspapers articles about the dogfighting and his time in jail.  He needs to bury all that stuff.  The quarterback mist realize that it’s all about football now.  The dogfighting is a thing of the past.

The people who care more about the dogfighting than anything else will always feel that way, but the majority of the fans only care about the way Michael Vick leads this football team.  He must bury the past.

GCOBB

Read Previous

Chip Kelly Shortened His Honeymoon By Hanging Onto Michael Vick

Read Next

Eagles Make Great Move By Hiring San Fran’s Tom Gamble

0 0 votes
Article Rating
52 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
andrew p
andrew p
February 13, 2013 11:19 am

I agree G, when someone takes that kind of responsibility he puts a bullseye on his back, which is a good thing! He has to make sure he’s the first one in and the last one out for him to tell that to others, he has to live in that film room to tell others they should. You see where I’m going with this? He’s gotta be the example in order to tell others what’s best for them and the team, I really hope he does step up, it would be a good thing.

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
February 13, 2013 11:46 am

I never had a problem with the dog fighting —
At least 40 times a year, I take a live small fish or clam and put it on a hook to catch a larger fish with that hook – all for fun in LBI
the dog is not different than the little fish I stick on a hook ( it’s a sport )
I hate dogs because they shed so I would never own one but I couldn’t care less what Vick did.

BirdoBeamen
BirdoBeamen
February 13, 2013 11:58 am

Absolutely G! Spot on!

Unfortunately, they will still hate him for what he did. But thats ok, because the best way to stick it to the “haters” is by being successful.

Mike Vick MUST succeed this year.

ChuckRob
ChuckRob
February 13, 2013 1:01 pm

G, man you are right on when it comes to the Dog Fighting being in the past. I also agree with you in how he needs to lead and not be everyone’s friend. Unfortunately you cannot lead and party with the people you lead, there has to be a separation. For that dog comment (es)… wow I have a Dog and HAD fish, they are not equal… that’s cold. This team definitely needs some hard core leaders.

paulman
paulman
February 13, 2013 1:23 pm

This is an article that’s about 2-3 years too late G-Man..
Vick should have overcome this by now, and now at the age of 33, in what his 5th Year now with the Eagles.. He doesn’t have to keep apologizing about his past, just play some smart football and protect the ball and his body..
It’s funny how every year, we say this is Vick’s year to step up and show his medal as a Team Leader, a Winner and then every season comes and goes and we say the same thing, he needs better pocket aware, don’t hold the ball so long, trust your receivers, protect the ball better, protect his body, play smart.. get out of bounds, live to make another play.. It’s too the point that its almost comical to regurgitate that same old issues with him..
I am as fatigued about Mike Vick as I was with Andy Reid..
Can’t the Franchise just Start Anew with a new Coach, New players and a new philosophy and attitude, instead, we get re-treads as OC/Dc and are keeping the same Core Veterans that has lead this Team to a 12-22 Record since the end of 2010, makes no sense to me other than Lurie/Roseman don’t have the Balls to lead.. Look at what the COlts did last off-season
or the TB Bucs weith a new HC or waht Pete Carrol did when landing in Seattle or harbaugh when taking the 49ers.. You knew right away who was in charge and who was wearing the big-boy pants and so far in the Kellly’s first month as Eagles HC , It appears very little has chang and this is very disappointing to this long-term Eagle Fan..

jakedog
jakedog
February 13, 2013 1:29 pm

exactlly paulman, consider who you are dealing with here, nerds, they couldn’t hire a dominant man like Bradley, Kelly is their perfect stooge, nothing has really changes, why are we stilll talking about vick, and dog fighting of all things, we as eagles fans should say enough of any talkabout Vick, every possible issues has been exhaustively debated, no one’s opinion will be changed,

how about some baseball articles G

Gotta Luv It
Gotta Luv It
February 13, 2013 2:03 pm
Reply to  jakedog

LMAO…one youtube video of him (Bradley) on the sidelines and he’s a dominant man

IrishEagle
IrishEagle
February 13, 2013 1:45 pm

Jeeezzz – that’s original GCobb! A new excuse for Vick…

Vick is in his 10th season – if he was capable of being a leader it wouldn’t take 10 years. Who is going to listen to Vick? The same guys that ignored him last year will do the same next year.

Vick needs to be led – to the door.

pheags88
pheags88
February 13, 2013 1:50 pm

I’m glad it wasn’t time to lead for the past 2 years. I guess it wasn’t important then. I’m with Paulman here, this is pointless. Every offseason it has been the same crap, same talk, same blabbering. And whats actually happened? And this goes for the entire team. Seriously, every year its all talk without backing it up with results.
And come on Gcobb, people don’t just turn into leaders at age 33. Its foolish thinking.

paulman
paulman
February 13, 2013 2:14 pm

*** Eagles hire Tom Gamble as Director of Player Personnel
Which is the best move this Franchise has made in over 2 Years

DCar
DCar
February 13, 2013 2:17 pm
Reply to  paulman

TOO LATE! BEAT YOU! NAH! NAH! LMFBO! Yep best hire, in over a decade!

Pipolo87
Pipolo87
February 13, 2013 2:19 pm
Reply to  paulman

I Agree ( High Pitch Voice) He can help us he helped the 49ers and it goes to show howie will admit he needs help in viewing scouts talents plus the fact that half the staff has come from college we have a better overall view on college players and who fits best. It has helped Caroll and it has helped Harbaugh.

DCar
DCar
February 13, 2013 2:22 pm
Reply to  Pipolo87

BINGO! Now we can hope to rebuild the Birds into a roster like SF! COOOOL BEANS!

Biglion821
Biglion821
February 13, 2013 2:21 pm

LOL I guess Chip and Howie see things differently like I continue to say. If Vick is dumb broken down turnover prone character lacking poor excuse of a QB, then Nick Foles should have no problems winning the job if he can’t then he should never play another down in the NFL.

DCar
DCar
February 13, 2013 2:24 pm
Reply to  Biglion821

Big, honestly, I want neither, but what other choice do we have now!

paulman
paulman
February 13, 2013 2:26 pm

Tom Gamble hires GMCliff. DCar and Paulman as advanced Scouts and will be going out to Indy for the Combines for our input, help in interviews and overall assessment of the upcoming Draft…

DCar
DCar
February 13, 2013 2:35 pm
Reply to  paulman

He won’t last 2 years, if he does that Paul! HaHa!

paulman
paulman
February 13, 2013 2:55 pm
Reply to  DCar

GMCliff can pick-up the Tab at “St Elmo’s Steakhouse” which is across the
Indy Stadium.. I lived in Indianapolis for 6-7 Years (87-93) and it’s a great Town .. Then I’ll tak you guys to a cool little bar called the “Slippery Noodle” for some Great Jazz/Blues Music and Drinks ..

DCar
DCar
February 13, 2013 3:04 pm
Reply to  paulman

Sounds like road trip time!

haveacigar
haveacigar
February 13, 2013 3:09 pm
Reply to  paulman

Please send back shrimp cocktail from st. Elmo’s. Send them packed in dry ice… Delicious

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
February 13, 2013 2:32 pm

is Gamble hire a one year deal like the Savage hire or part time gig like Donahue hire?
what’s his title, contract length?

Pipolo87
Pipolo87
February 13, 2013 2:37 pm

Assistant GM his boss is Howie Roseman will assess all personnel and help with the decisions in regards to scouting and picking the BPA in the Draft and via trades and FA. A shared brain basically i like the hires the eagles are doing they obviously want to win and do it from the get in year one.
Contract length probably for 2 years like San Frans and probably north of 1 Mil a year

DCar
DCar
February 13, 2013 2:38 pm

e0, no details yet. But he’s a permanent hire. Donahue is only a Senior advisor , & like you said Savage was a 1 time gig!

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
February 13, 2013 2:34 pm

what does a man who had ” by far the best talent evaluations in the building” need a Gamble for ?

DCar
DCar
February 13, 2013 2:41 pm

Told you guys on here that Lurie was a lying sack of $#!T! All he spews is verbal diarrhea! Nothing he says can be taken seriously, & he has ZERO CREDIBILITY, in my book!

jakedog
jakedog
February 13, 2013 2:34 pm

Agreed Big, if it truly is an open competition at qb why get all upset about anything, unless it isn’t, which I do not think it is, hence our disdain for Kelly

eagles0superbowls
eagles0superbowls
February 13, 2013 2:46 pm

Gamble
well there is the 3-4 personal man
I called GMCliff stupid because of his 3-4 D HC wish list because I just didn’t see this type of experience or commitment from the Eagles for that type of D
GM = that’s as contrite as I get

DCar
DCar
February 13, 2013 2:50 pm

LAME apology e0!!!! LMMFBO!!!!

lewdoggie20
lewdoggie20
February 13, 2013 3:08 pm

This would be in the past if media would let it go.

godgotvick
godgotvick
February 13, 2013 3:12 pm

Gcobb why do you keep hating on Vick? God dont make mistakes. I agree with what you said in this but not the article before that.

DCar
DCar
February 13, 2013 3:27 pm
Reply to  godgotvick

???????????? O.o

daggolden
daggolden
February 13, 2013 3:48 pm

Any thoughts on Tom Gamble hire?per Eagles 24/7

The team announced Wednesday that have hired Tom Gamble to become the team’s Vice President of Player Personnel.

Gamble spent eight seasons with the 49ers, including the previous two campaigns as Director of Player Personnel. The 49ers reached the NFC Championship game and the Super Bowl in those two seasons.

“Since Ryan Grigson left to become the General Manager of the Colts, we’ve been looking for the right person to fill his spot and we are excited about what Tom can bring to the team,” said Howie Roseman. “He’s not only a talented evaluator, but also a good man and the type of person you want as a part of your team. Tom and I have had a great relationship over the years and I know he’s excited to come home. He had a great run in San Francisco and they have been very successful over the last few years. He will jump right in with our group and get working on free agency and the draft.”

Gamble will report directly to Roseman and work in both the college and pro personnel departments.

The 49-year-old, now with 25 years of pro experience, entered the NFL as an assistant in the Eagles personnel department in 1988. He remained in Philadelphia through 1994, serving as a college scouting administrator, area scout, contract negotiator, and later as the director of pro scouting. He went on to work for the Jets, Ravens and Colts (where he served under Bill Polian) before landing in San Francisco.

Gamblie is a Haddonfield, NJ native. His father, Harry, was Eagles President from 1986-95.

Pipolo87
Pipolo87
February 13, 2013 4:16 pm

Maybe this is a hire to set Howie in his place basically do it right if not Gamble will be the New GM of the Eagles. So win win for the Organization and the Fans not so much for howie.

paulman
paulman
February 13, 2013 4:51 pm

Love it Dag,
Best news for this Eagle Fan in about 10 Years.. and I’m Serious.. Players may come and go, having Football smarts in the Front Office is not easy to come by as we have all learned.. The Eagles Front Office has been without a FOotball Mind in the Front Office since Tom Modrak.. Coach AR is obviously a Football Mind but being a HC is a full-time duty.. You have to have a Qualified Football Person to evaluate the Talent,the Roster, the Scouting and Drafting and overall Roster Management of a Team and Gamble is now that Man that many of us have been screaming to have for years…

RegalEagle
RegalEagle
February 13, 2013 6:40 pm

Vick is a CAUTIONARY TALE not A LEADER. A leader must be above reproach in all manner of his behavior and life. He must inspire greatness in others not ask them to look at how great he is. A leader is followed by men who would die for him.

I don’t believe that many guys on this team would piss on vick if he was on fire let alone bleed for him!

frankdialogue
February 14, 2013 3:12 am

I don’t like the Vick signing; to me, it’s going backward.

On dog fighting: Dog fighting is practiced as a sport worldwide: In Russia, Asia, South America, Mexico, Europe, all over…In Japan, it is a sanctioned sport, featuring a special breed of dog, fights take place in a special ring, and trophies are awarded by a governing body.

Problem is, in the USA, many homies kill the dogs when they can’t or won’t fight any more…When they can’t make money…Sort of like we treat many of our poor elderly people.

Only in the USA, where we will go into a foreign country, destroy their society, and slaughter hundreds of thousands of their civilians, women & children, will you witness the hand wringing of ‘animal rights activists’ who will weep and gnash their teeth over a dog, but keep their mouths shut about the slaughter of innocent humans.

DCar
DCar
February 14, 2013 4:56 am
Reply to  frankdialogue

Wrong site BRUH! Take your political agendas elsewhere. Just because they’re dogs, don’t mean they should be treated inhumanely! They are living creatures too!

Butch007
Butch007
February 14, 2013 3:09 pm

I wouldn’t assume VIck is going to get the starting job and even if he does I wouldn’t assume he’s going to be able to keep it. The Eagles just signed Dennis Dixon 6 minutes ago, they’re going to try to draft EJ Manuel late in the draft and they will dangle Nick Foles in front of KC, but if they aren’t able to draft a QB Kelly is comfortable with that has deep accuracy I don’t see Foles getting moved.

coldbrewski
coldbrewski
February 14, 2013 3:32 pm

@big
“LOL I guess Chip and Howie see things differently like I continue to say. If Vick is dumb broken down turnover prone character lacking poor excuse of a QB, then Nick Foles should have no problems winning the job if he can’t then he should never play another down in the NFL”

No truer words spoken big. But be careful. See if you keep it up you’ll be labled a “Vic apologist”. But somehow constantly pounding a keyboard with hate fueled hard-on for him is somehow being a rational real fan.

haveacigar
haveacigar
February 14, 2013 3:36 pm
Reply to  coldbrewski

Dimwit flacco, Big Ben, both mannings, breeze and Brady couldn’t beat out Vick in a RO offense… So incorrect. Truer words were just spoken! That’s rational and knowledgeable!

coldbrewski
coldbrewski
February 14, 2013 3:36 pm

LMAO!!!
I just love how now the NEW head coach has it in for Foles with the suggestion that he won’t get a real chance to win the job. Talk about ready made excuses.

haveacigar
haveacigar
February 14, 2013 3:53 pm
Reply to  coldbrewski

When they interviewed Kelly and he was the hot guy the asked Foles if he can run RO he simply stated NO… Foles is not part of the equation anymore… It’s not a competition Foles has to go. Kelly wants someone that can threaten the corner with at least a little speed. He is going full bore RO. It’s not an excuse, if John fox said we are going RO manning would go, Alex smith has to go from SF… It’s nothing against Foles…no excuse. Doesn’t fit

RegalEagle
RegalEagle
February 14, 2013 7:55 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

Absolutely True Cigar and unfortunate that Philly Finally gets a guy that could (and that’s only a could) develop into a true NFL QB Ala Manning, Brady, Flaco and we are ready to run him out of town.

I just wish Chip had been here with Randall. No QB in this town could have made Chip look better than 12 in his prime.

That being said I wish we were gonna see an offense with Foles for a a few years. Big Tall ability to think the game. Damn such a waste to go for the fad.

daggolden
daggolden
February 14, 2013 8:34 pm
Reply to  RegalEagle

Ability to think the game? He was 1-5 with 6 tds and 5ints and 5 fumbles. lmao. Yeah he was a thinker alright .How shall we manage without all that talent. Big non-athletic turnover machinewith a pop gun arm who got hurt after 6 games. How shall we manage.

haveacigar
haveacigar
February 14, 2013 9:43 pm
Reply to  daggolden

Wow it’s true you really are stupid

haveacigar
haveacigar
February 14, 2013 9:50 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

1-5 as a rookie 3rd rounder on a team of quitters at the end of the season when they had their bags packed… Your boy 11 year vet, all pro, ( in the Wc offense btw) was leading a DYNASTY (his word, not mine) with fucking B aspirations! You have to be an idiot to even make that argument

SONGSRME2
SONGSRME2
February 14, 2013 10:15 pm

haveacigar?

Those same quitters you’re talking about in defense of Foles quit before he was QB…don’t you think?

Do you remember why Castillo was fired?

Again, you can not use excuses for Foles yet blame Vick who loss and was injured under the same circumstances.

haveacigar
haveacigar
February 14, 2013 10:20 pm

I know throughout Vicks prestigious career his consistent failure to get it done was other peoples fault! He was the leader! He was a franchise qb who proclaimed them a dynasty… He wasn’t a boy leading a bunch of men… HE WAS THE MAN!!!!! Foles is a puppy dog… A boy

haveacigar
haveacigar
February 14, 2013 10:23 pm

Great qb’s don’t allow a team to quit. 5 didn’t, Brady, manning etc… Their TEAMS don’t quit… Vicks teams… Hmmm

Biglion821
Biglion821
February 14, 2013 10:37 pm
Reply to  haveacigar

You really believe that cigar? So when those guys lose its because they were beat and never because guys quit on them. You know what these dudes are adults if the money they make isn’t enough to motivate them and winning doesn’t motivate them then no QB or coach will either. That great leader amongst teammates is the most overrated nonsense in sports. I played NCAA D1 football trust me that follow me threw a brick wall crap is good sound bytes but not reality.

haveacigar
haveacigar
February 14, 2013 10:47 pm
Reply to  Biglion821

I just think for some reason.. Quality people get people to follow them… I don’t put it all on his feet… But he is the leader, he and AR… That is the nfl.. QB and coach and the hi quality dudes may have down years… But this clown Vick…has had A LOT of down years

haveacigar
haveacigar
February 14, 2013 10:49 pm
Reply to  Biglion821

I will say this.. Flacco and ben are going to be in some reshaping years… Cap space cuts etc… They won’t let their teams b
Blow…. Our guy thrives on mediocrity!