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| Don't call the Eagles a Dream Team. Just a dynasty. |
Today I was shocked to hear that, a year after being plagued by Vince Young's misguided "Dream Team" boasts, Eagles quarterback Michael Vick declared in an interview that he thought the Eagles could be a dynasty. Here are his words:
“When I look at our football team and what we have on paper, I think about when I was growing up and the great San Francisco 49er teams, the great Green Bay Packer teams, and the great Dallas Cowboy teams, how they just positioned themselves to compete and be one of the best teams out there. I think we have a chance to be that. I think we have a chance to develop a dynasty.”
Now you could say that Vick was just showing
confidence in himself and his teammates. Why, isn't that what Eli Manning did when he declared
himself an elite quarterback last summer?
Yes, but Manning didn't spend the prior year griping about high expectations and unwanted pressure. Even before last season started, Vick said that he was sick of the Dream Team label, and that "we have enough pressure. We do not need to add any more." A month later, after an awful 1-3 start, he declared that "the Dream Team thing is over."
Contrast Vick's provocative response to this recent interview from another player whose team was haunted by unrealistic expectations last season. On NBC Sports Talk, host Eric Kuselias tries to lure Jets Pro Bowl guard Brandon Moore into making an inflammatory prediction, but Moore tactfully sidesteps any controversy.
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There's a fine line between showing confidence and welcoming unwanted pressure. After his words last season, Michael Vick should know the difference.
I'll post about two articles a week until training camps kick off. In the meantime, follow my daily NFL-related musings at @BostonGiant.
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Dear god - where to begin? I would encourage you to watch the dream team comments side by side to what Vick said. There's no comparison.
ReplyDeleteIf you listen to the rest of Vick's statement it is clearly a challenge to his organization and team to take advantage of an opportunity:
"I think it's just a mind-set for my organization on down to the players. We know we can do it. We know what we have, that's the great thing about it. We know what we have as a team, as an organization and what better position to be in than to know that you have an opportunity?"
The Eagles just resigned nearly all of their young talent to long term deals. Consequently they are the team with the 5 most amount of cap space. That is a nice position to be in looking forward. (http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/eagles-talk/How-will-Eagles-use-16-million-in-cap-ro?blockID=742329&feedID=704)
Now, with regard to releasing an autobiography detailing dog fighting exploits...
Thanks for reading, Mike. I agree that Vick's statements don't compare to Young's, but his tone is irrelevant here. And unfortunately for him, the difference between confidence and arrogance is often dictated by the audience's reaction to it.
ReplyDeleteAnd in this case, the reaction is what matters to him. He said as much last year, when he complained about the pressure brought on by the Dream Team comments. If he hadn't done that, I'd dismiss this as a non-story. But he was badgered by unrealistic expectations and did not respond well. It baffles me that he'd put himself in that situation again.