By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor
Winning cures everything. Reputations included.
A little more than a year ago, many Eagles fans felt like they had been kicked in the nuts when their beloved NFL franchise signed the stigma-ridden quarterback fresh from the Federal pen.
Michael Vick was carrying enough baggage for an entire league, let alone one team or one person. Around the league, fans were singing “Who let the dogs out” from the stands whenever Vick graced them with his presence as a member of the Eagles.
Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is in line for a Pro Bowl appearance. Not bad for a guy who appeared slow and inept just a year ago as an Eagle.
Now? Now, he finds himself as the leading vote getter in the NFL Pro Bowl balloting. His 729,838 votes are ahead of Peyton Manning’s 691,146 and Tom Brady’s 623,074. The guy with no Super Bowl appearances leads guys with a combined four championship rings.
The fact that Vick is 6-2 as a starter (6-1 in games he started and finished) and leads the NFL’s seventh-ranked passing offense doesn’t hurt. Neither does his 105.7 passer rating, 7.5:1 TD-to-INT ration, 2,200 passing yards and 467 rushing yards and six rushing TDs. He;s also thrown for more than 300 yards in three of his last four games. The man is a Pro Bowler, no question.
The magical ride Vick has taken us on shows that winning can and does cure almost everything. While nobody will forget the evil he did, the fact is his performance on the field has helped reshape his image. It’s OK to vote and root for Vick the QB separate from Vick the person.
