Michael Vick Was “Perilously Close” To Being Benched

Andy Reid has since refuted the report that he considered benching Michael Vick earlier in the week, per Jeff McLane.

This is interesting because Vick, himself, was the first person to tell reports that Reid was thinking about making a change at quarterback. I’m not sure if anyone believes Reid at this point, but it will ultimately come down to the team’s performance this weekend. Another loss, could bring about even more changes.

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Jeff McClane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that a source informed him that Michael Vick was “perilously close” to losing the starting quarterback job earlier in the week.

A quarterback change is really Andy Reid‘s final card to play. If Vick comes out and struggles against a terrible Saints defense, Reid may be forced to make the change to Nick Foles during the game.

Barring a huge turnaround from Vick, he figures to be released following the season, given the large base salaries that he would have coming his way in the future.

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Eagles head coach Andy Reid released a statement saying that Michael Vick will remain the team’s starting quarterback, via PhiladelphiaEagles.com.

This is obviously a huge test for Vick seeing as he’s up against an under-matched defense. Should he struggle this weekend, there’s no doubt that the Eagles will have to strongly consider moving forward with rookie Nick Foles.

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Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Eagles’ depth chart that was released to reporters today has Michael Vick listed as their starting quarterback.

This news coincides with reports from last night. Vick will most likely get another week to prove that he gives them the best shot at winning games, and the fact that he’ll be up against the worst defense in NFL history through 8 weeks can’t hurt.

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Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that a “source with knowledge of the dynamics in Philly” has informed him that the Eagles have been considering the idea of benching Michael Vick since halfway through the 2011 season.

In fact, Florio’s source adds that they were actually hoping that Vince Young would have played well enough during the three-game stretch that Vick was out that they could have forced Vick to the bench.

Florio adds that it’s “becoming a foregone conclusion that Vick won’t be back in 2013.”

We’ve previously mentioned that the Eagles are not likely to keep Vick due to his $15.5 million salary next season. It’s high unlikely that Philadelphia would be able to trade Vick at this point, considering how bad he has been and the fact that we’re already in the middle of the season, so it would be nearly impossible for him to step in and produce in a new offensive system.

“If they don’t cut him during the season, they’ll surely cut him right after the Super Bowl,” writes Florio.

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Reuben Frank updates the Eagles quarterback situation by mentioning that a person with knowledge of the situation has informed him that the team has not made the decision to bench Michael Vick in favor of rookie Nick Foles “as of now,” despite the previous reports that have suggested as much.

This is obviously a fluid situation, so we’ll have more updates as the news becomes available.

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Howard Eskin of 94 WIP reports that the Eagles will “likely” move forward with rookie Nick Foles as their starting quarterback. Eskin adds that head coach Andy Reid met with his coaching staff following the game to discuss the situation.

Vick reportedly made two audible mistakes on Sunday, which is something that he’s struggled with in recent weeks.

Following the game, Vick seemed to suggest that a quarterback change was a strong possibility. Philadelphia will be up against the worst defense in league history through the first seven games of the season.

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Michael Vick told reporters that head coach Andy Reid is considering a possible quarterback change following another disappointing loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

“It’s tough when you know everything is up in the balance, but that’s the decision that coach is thinking about making, and I’m going to fight until he says, ‘Come on out,’ and he takes me out of the game,” said Vick following his press conference, per Reuben Frank. “Despite everything that’s been said the last couple weeks, I still continue to put in the hard work and the effort and try to do everything I can to prepare and win football games, man. I can’t do it by myself. I would love to stay in there and finish what I started. It would mean the world to me. But, hey, that’s not my decision right now.”

Vick finished Sunday’s game with 177 yards passing and a touchdown, to go along with zero turnovers, which is really the most notable aspect of his performance. Still, he’s nowhere close to being the impact player that he once was. It seems safe to suggest that Vick will be released following the season, given that his remaining base salaries are over $12.5 million per year.

Rookie QB Nick Foles figures to be the next man up if a change is made. Reid’s decision to fire Juan Castillo didn’t translate as well as he was hoping that it would, as the team gave up 30 points this afternoon. There’s no question that Reid is feeling the heat, and a quarterback change could be his last option.