Texans vs. Eagles

[King Taharqa]

So Skew how bout that Mike Vick? Dude is the best QB in the league in 2010. He gets your MVP vote right? I know how much you've been pulling for this guy and can relate to someone from his background, how inspired are you by all of this?

[SteveSmithOwns]

Shouldnt you be more concerned about your own kids? If you have them, you already sound like a negligent parent. Be sure to teach your kids that if they work as hard and study their butt off the way Vick has this season, they too can become success stories and touch people's lives the way he has. Tell them to be a more open minded and better person than their old man.

The reason he is touching people's lives as you say is because he was a convicted felon first. I would try to make sure kid's don't follow his example. As for Vick, I HATED the guy when he was with Atlanta, but now I seem to be rooting for him because he seemed like he has really turned it around.

You also defend Vick in Atlanta. I don't think even Vick will defend himself about his time in Atlanta. He has come out and said he was lazy preparing for opponents while down there. not something to be proud of.

As for Ochocinco being a bad guy as portrayed by the media, if you actually payed any attention he is one of the better guys in the NFL. Yeah, he likes the spotlight, but he hasn't done anything to sabotage his team, and is actually one of the more involved NFL players in the community

[King Taharqa]

I know how much our moderator Skew loves hearing how great and dominant young black men are at the QB position, so here's a nice article on his favorite QB, Michael Vick. Skew is more invested in Vick than any athlete in sport, so I thought this would be a nice treat for him. In this one Skew, they talk about Vick's intangible qualities and his leadership in the locker room. Enjoy.

PHILADELPHIA -- When Michael Vick raised his voice in the huddle and spoke up on the sideline, teammates responded.

Vick is not just playing like an MVP, he's become a leader for the Philadelphia Eagles. After they blew an 11-point lead and fell behind Houston on Thursday night, Vick sparked a 34-24 comeback win.

"On the sideline and in the huddle, he did a great job," coach Andy Reid said Friday. "It's a calmness and it's also a confidence that he brings. He's not afraid to challenge people and people aren't offended by him challenging them the way he presents it. There's a fine line there. He's done a good job with that."

The soft-spoken Vick gathered the troops after the Texans erased a 14-3 deficit and took a 24-20 lead late in the third quarter. Vick isn't usually the rah-rah type, but he knows when it's time to take charge.

"When you get down and you know you should be winning the game by more points than what you have, then instinctively you just step up as a leader," Vick said. "That's my job. My job is to rally, motivate, to push these guys as hard as I can just as much as I've pushed myself. So with that said, you just have to not put yourself in that position and not make this game harder than what this is."

Vick promptly led the Eagles to the go-ahead score right after Houston went ahead. His 33-yard completion to DeSean Jackson was one of the prettiest passes you'll ever see, and it set up his 2-yard scoring run that put Philadelphia up to stay.

The Eagles (8-4) moved a half-game up on the New York Giants in the NFC East, and now have a mini-bye before playing at Dallas on Dec. 12. Reid gave the players five days off, and they'll resume practice on Wednesday.

"I just wanted the guys to believe in themselves," Vick said. "I have all the belief in the world in those guys. I think the world of them and I'll go to battle with them any day. So, I try to encourage them and say whatever I can to keep them upbeat, keep them confident and keep them with their will to win."

The Eagles are one of the youngest teams in the NFL. The 30-year-old Vick is the oldest starter on offense, and only six other players are in their 30s. Since becoming the starter, Vick has taken a bigger leadership role every day.

"He was very vocal about everyone rallying and picking up their games, and he said that he was going to pick up his game," Reid said. "It was all positive. For someone that's normally quiet, when he speaks up like that, people listen. I thought he did a very nice job of bringing good energy."

Vick is surrounded by guys who grew up idolizing him and being him in video games. Running back LeSean McCoy and wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin were in high school when Vick was a superstar with the Atlanta Falcons.

"I joke with Mike all the time about in high school, my whole team had his cleats when he was playing in the NFL," McCoy said. "Now I'm in the same huddle with him, locker room with him, joking with him, texting him, calling him. I'm a fan of his. I just can't show him too much. But it's different. It's the same for me, for Maclin, for DeSean. Us young guys, to be playing with him, we're excited. We look up to him. I think it works out when you look up to your leader instead of just playing with your leader."

Vick has undergone a total transformation in Philadelphia after nearly ruining his career. He used to rely on raw skills to be a dynamic player who went to three Pro Bowls. Now, Vick is a complete quarterback.

He's one of the most exciting players in the league whether he stays in the pocket and fires a laser-like throw or takes off on one of his daring runs. In the locker room, Vick leads by example. He shows up early for film study and stays late to work out and make sure his body can endure the pounding he takes on a weekly basis.

"He's worked so hard," Reid said. "He goes out there and stays after practice. He did that last year when he was trying to get himself back into shape, and then this offseason he spent so much time getting himself right. That's where this helps Michael, especially with the way he plays the game. He plays a physical type of game at quarterback, and you have to be in good shape to do that."

Vick's numbers are incredible, especially considering he entered the season as a backup and missed three games with a rib injury. He's thrown for 2,243 yards, 15 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He has a 63.8 completion percentage and his passer rating of 105.7 trails only Tom Brady (105.8). Vick also has run for 467 yards and six scores.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/03/AR2010120304081.html

[SteveSmithOwns]

King, I don't really see where you are trying to go with this. I don't think anybody here is saying, yeah, Vick sucks. He is playing tremendously. Should he be MVP? He should atleast be considered. Do I wish the Panthers had signed him? yeah i do as he would help our team alot. I think everybody here is feeling the same, except for those who still don't like what he did.

Who are you trying to convince that he is good though?

[King Taharqa]

King, I don't really see where you are trying to go with this. I don't think anybody here is saying, yeah, Vick sucks. He is playing tremendously. Should he be MVP? He should atleast be considered. Do I wish the Panthers had signed him? yeah i do as he would help our team alot. I think everybody here is feeling the same, except for those who still don't like what he did.

Who are you trying to convince that he is good though?

Why are you in this thread? You arent about serious discussion on this matter. Go make another white RB thread, you'd do more good there. If me giving props to black QBs will inspire you to shine some light on the year Gerhart or Hillis is having, then Im happy for that. Thats just more positivity spread. Thats what black QBs bring, positive energy. Sig check.

[SteveSmithOwns]

Why are you in this thread? You arent about serious discussion on this matter. Go make another white RB thread, you'd do more good there. If me giving props to black QBs will inspire you to shine some light on the year Gerhart or Hillis is having, then Im happy for that. Thats just more positivity spread. Thats what black QBs bring, positive energy. Sig check.

Oh, i am extremely serious. You know the reason I made the Peyton Hillis thread? not because I actually believe he is the best HB in the NFL, that's ludicrous. I did that to show YOU what you look like to everybody. I have no problem giving props to black QB's that deserve it. Michael Vick is having a great year. Garrard is having a decent year, and even Vince Young was doing pretty good before he got benched. I would much rather have all of these guys than our current QB because then we would be winning more games. What I don't understand is why you are so adamant about us having a black QB. I don't give two poos what color our QB is as long as he is the BEST OPTION. If that is Cam Newton, awesome. If that is Andrew Luck, awesome also. You keep on plugging black QB's and black QB's only. It seems like you would rather have a bad black QB than a good white one. Maybe you need to consider if you are bringing anything to discussion besides your obvious agenda.

[SteveSmithOwns]

Why are you in this thread? You arent about serious discussion on this matter. Go make another white RB thread, you'd do more good there. If me giving props to black QBs will inspire you to shine some light on the year Gerhart or Hillis is having, then Im happy for that. Thats just more positivity spread. Thats what black QBs bring, positive energy. Sig check.

I also love how you say "That's what black QBs bring, positive energy." Are you serious? Some black QB's, yeah, they do bring positive energy. But you cannot make a comment like that and expect people to take you seriously. JaMarcus Russel did not bring positive energy to the Raiders. In fact he probably set them back 5 years. The same is true for white QB's. Ryan Leaf also set his franchise back. You are making an assumption about an entire group when they AREN'T THE SAME. if we are actually going to have an intelligent conversation, please don't bring up these obviously moronic statements

[Skew]

So Skew how bout that Mike Vick? Dude is the best QB in the league in 2010. He gets your MVP vote right? I know how much you've been pulling for this guy and can relate to someone from his background, how inspired are you by all of this?

Second post in the game thread and you are playing the race card.

I really thought you could make it a little farther in this thread. My expectations are set to high for you. I need to lower them more.

You're a sad little racist, KT.

By the way, Vick does deserve the NFL MVP so far, but I'm sure you'll ignore that part of the post since, you know, your little racist theories and all.

...

[Skew]

*crickets*

[Dpantherman]

cricket come out at night