In an interview with Philadelphia Eagles reporters following Flight Night, quarterback Michael Vick declared that he doesn’t think he’s injury prone.
Yes, he unfortunately actually said that. I think he believes it too.
I wouldn’t call his comment as bad as his dynasty comment. But it wasn’t a smart thing to say.
First, Vick addressed the fact that he only played in 12 plays throughout the preseason, the result of injuries knocking him out of both games he played in.
“I’m not really concerned,” he said. “I felt like I had a great training camp. I felt like I was into a rhythm. I felt like I would have played a lot of the preseason if I had been out there. I could’ve been productive.
“At the same time, I had the rib. You’ve got to be able to go out there when you’re needed and be at your best. I think I’ll be ready Sept. 9.”
In the first preseason game, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Vick suffered a thumb contusion when his hand collided with the helmet of center Jason Kelce after throwing a pass.
In the second preseason game, against the New England Patriots, Vick suffered a rib contusion when he took a shot from defensive end/linebacker Jermaine Cunningham. He still isn’t 100 percent from the injury but believes that he will be ready to play in the season opener, which is in 14 days, against the Cleveland Browns.
“You know, even though I’ve had these injuries, and they’ve been minor, I’ll still go out and play the game and play it effectively without worrying about getting hit,” he said. “Obviously, sometimes in the preseason you can tend to worry about that and your mind will get off that direction of trying to protect yourself. At the end of the day you’ve got to forget about it, go out there and play football, and that’s the only way you play and not get hurt.”
Vick later added, “I don’t think I’m injury prone at all. It’s not something I’m going to worry about. I’m going out and play.
This comes from the quarterback who was injured four times last season.
He was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons when his head slammed into the back of right tackle Todd Herremans. He returned to play the following week against the New York Giants, but was knocked out in the fourth quarter when his non-throwing hand collided with the helmet of defensive end Chris Canty after throwing a pass. He returned to play the following week against the San Francisco 49ers but was knocked out for a play when defensive end Justin Smith dislocated one of Vick’s fingers. He returned to play the following week, and made it a full month before breaking a pair of ribs in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He missed three games while his ribs healed.
The previous season, he suffered torn rib cartilage and missed three games when he was hit against the Washington Redskins. He also suffered a thigh injury in the season’s second-to-last game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Yet he doesn’t think he’s injury prone.
Whatever you say, Michael Vick.
One thing is for sure. If Vick has another injury-plagued season (how would he describe 2010 and 2011?), or does not play well in 2012, he may not be around in 2013.
This article was written by Bryn Swartz, the top writer for the Philadelphia Eagles and a featured NFL columnist on Rant Sports. Bryn has written more than 1000 articles in less than two years as a member of Rant Sports. His blog, Eagles Central, was named the 2010 Ballhyped Sports Blog of the Year. To read a portfolio of Bryn’s best work, click here.
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