Michael Vick Is Staying With The Eagles, Let's Get Excited

Word just came down that Michael Vick, who was previously pegged as a prime candidate to be released by the Philadelphia Eagles due to the $15 million left on his contract, will in fact be staying in Philly for at least one more season. Vick and the Eagles restructured his deal, and he now has a one-year, $10 million contract.

Reaction to Vick's re-upping with the Eagles has been understandably mixed. He's two years removed from his last truly productive season, he's 32 years old, and he's just as injury prone as he has ever been. Some even seem to think that Vick is nothing more than a place holder until new coach Chip Kelly can find himself a suitable quarterback.

But to write off Vick's potential to make a positive impact on this upcoming Eagles season is to forget what we know about Vick. He has always been at his best when bouncing back from adversity. Vick's career has been anything but smooth or predictable, but he's always shown a knack for resurrection. His winningest season in Atlanta followed an injury-shortened campaign in which he missed 11 games due to a broken leg. Four years and one prison sentence later, Vick transformed into the most dynamic quarterback in the league, starting the Eagles' last 11 games and setting career highs in completion percentage and TD passes.

And now, Vick finds himself once again out of favor, walking into a unknown situation. But Kelly's presence should make us hopeful for Vick's potential this season. It was hard to watch quarterbacks like Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, and Robert Griffin III flourish while running pistol and option systems and not wonder what Vick and the Eagles could do in a more creative offensive system. Vick can still run faster and throw farther than most quarterbacks in the league, and he's still surrounded by a dynamic set of skill players in LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin, and DeSean Jackson. If there's anyone who can squeeze out one more drop of magic from Michael Vick's fading career, it's Chip Kelly.

So take heart, Eagles fans. You may have to wait one more season for the Nick Foles era to begin, but it could be a memorable one.