Michael Vick: 'I revolutionized' the game

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Michael Vick: 'I revolutionized' game
By Rich Cimini | ESPN.com



FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Michael Vick respects the fast, young quarterbacks in today's NFL, but he considers them Michael Vick impersonators.

"I was the guy who started it all," the New York Jets quarterback told ESPN.com.

"I revolutionized the game. I changed the way it was played in the NFL."

Vick, who turns 34 on Thursday, believes he's a pioneer when it comes to mobile quarterbacks. He's the all-time leading rusher at the position, having produced 5,857 yards in his career.

Despite missing two full seasons in his prime while serving prison time for his involvement in a dogfighting ring, Vick said he has exceeded his personal goals.

"The things I've done, I've pretty much surpassed myself and expectations -- over 25,000 yards in total offense in the NFL, and I missed a lot of years and a lot of games," he said.

"That's more the reason I have to keep it going."

Vick said there's only one player in his 11-year career he felt was his athletic equal -- former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

"When I was on the field with Ray Lewis," he said, "I kind of felt like we matched up, tit for tat."

In a wide-ranging interview, Vick sounded resigned to serving as Geno Smith's backup for the Jets. He said Smith is capable of leading the Jets to a Super Bowl.

"I think it can happen this year," he said.

"I think Geno can take us to where we need to go. It'll seal my legacy -- for me, myself. For the public, I don't know."

Vick said he'd be happy to win a Super Bowl ring as a backup. He said a Super Bowl title is the only thing missing from his career.

"It burns a lot," he said of the void.

"It's something I've always shot for. When we went to the NFC Championship Game in 2004, I was almost certain I'd be involved in two or three more, at least. It goes to show how tough this league is. This is such a team game that, even in my prime, I couldn't do it all by myself."

Vick also addressed how he feels the New York fans will react to his dogfighting past.

Soon after signing a one-year contract in March, a group in Cortland, New York -- home of the Jets' training camp -- started an online petition to ban him from camp. It received more than 20,000 signatures.

Vick said he never gave it a thought.

"Why? Why would I? My life has nothing to do with their life and their beliefs," he said.

"I mean, what's done is done. Look at all the good. My message to them is, look at the good I've done, all the thousands of lives that I've saved, the people I've saved. That's most important. That's what the focus should be on, the lives that are being affected."

Vick operates a charitable foundation that helps at-risk youth.

Michael Vick on running quarterbacks: I started it all
Posted by Michael David Smith on June 20, 2014

vick1-e1403315464772.jpg
AP

Jets quarterback Michael Vick knows he’s far from the only running quarterback in the NFL these days, but he wants to be remembered as the one who started the trend toward quarterbacks who can beat defenses with their legs as well as their arms.

“I was the guy who started it all,” Vick told ESPN.com. “I revolutionized the game. I changed the way it was played in the NFL.”

It’s not quite correct to say that Vick started it all: Although Vick is the NFL’s all-time leader in rushing yards for a quarterback (5,857) and yards per carry (7.1), there were other good running quarterbacks before Vick came along, including Bobby Douglass, Randall Cunningham, Steve McNair and Donovan McNabb. But whether he was the one who started it all or not, Vick has a lot to be proud of.

“The things I’ve done, I’ve pretty much surpassed myself and expectations — over 25,000 yards in total offense in the NFL, and I missed a lot of years and a lot of games,” he said. “That’s more the reason I have to keep it going.”

How much longer can Vick keep it going? Vick will turn 34 next week and may not be quite the running threat he once was. But he’ll always be remembered as one of the greatest running quarterbacks ever to play the game.
 

Mister Sin

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There is a difference between a mobile QB like S.Young, and a guy like Vick. No one has ever been on his level, hell no one has been since. Kaeperdick may take off running like a deer, but Vick runs like a damn rabbit. I'll give him credit where it's due. I believe because of him, many talented talented players lost their chance to go pro because they wanted to he like Vick and be a QB instead of maybe a more natural position.
 

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There is a difference between a mobile QB like S.Young, and a guy like Vick. No one has ever been on his level, hell no one has been since. Kaeperdick may take off running like a deer, but Vick runs like a damn rabbit. I'll give him credit where it's due. I believe because of him, many talented talented players lost their chance to go pro because they wanted to he like Vick and be a QB instead of maybe a more natural position.
That might be,but their coaches ultimately made the decision
 

Elmgrovegnome

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Okay. I don't see where he 'changed the way the game is played'. I don't see anyone like him. He was a running back playing QB. He never was a good passer. Kaepernick and Wilson can at least throw the ball with accuracy and one of them can actually read the defense and use the entire field. I see these guys compared more to Tarkenton than I do Vick. Randall Cunningham was a much better Vick than Vick was and Randall was on the scene first. I would bet that anyone who wanted Vick was hoping he could be more like Randall.

Sure Vick was unique but he wasn't good enough to change the way things were done. If so, LeSean McCoy would be the norm for a QB. No, if anything the NFL leans more heavily on the passer than ever before, and none of them are like Vick. Some can run but all can throw and throwing first is their charge.

I agree with Thordaddy. Vick is a legend in his own mind. When he is gone he will be nearly forgotten, because he never lived up to the hype.
 

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When the world thinks you're great, they tell you

Memphis with the win. Cunningham by far revolutionized the position
 

Mojo Ram

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Maybe Vick doesn't realize that there was football before he came into the league. Cunningham was the "pioneer" of mobile QB's who could also make the throws.
Steve Young was also a guy who, if he wanted to, could have probably rushed his way into the record books IMO. He finished with over 4,000 yards rushing and a 96.8 QB rating during his career.
 

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He was good, not great, except in his own mind. I always considered him a great RB that could throw the ball.
Now guys like Cunningham that could throw the the ball and run.
 

HE WITH HORNS

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Vick was the fastest running back to play QB, I'll give him that, but his passing wasn't that great. And he certainly wasn't the first.
 

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I, I, I, I, I, and I.

Lots of tooting his own horn.

That's what I heard too.

Yes, Vick was a dangerous runner. But he wasn't ever a very good passer.

Sorry, Mike. The only game you might have revolutionized is dog fighting.
 

Mojo Ram

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Vick
80.9 QB rate
7.1 yds/rush
45.8 yds/gm
5,857 yards
36 TD's

R.Cunningham
81.5 QB rate
6.4 yds/rush
30.6 yds/gm
4,928 yards
35 TD's



S.Young
96.8 QB rate
5.9 yds/rush
25.1 yds/gm
4,239 yards
43 TD's <----
icon_eek.gif
 

NJRamsFan

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Vick definitely goes down as the single greatest player in madden history. I remember sprinting 50 yards in the opposite direction just to make it a challenge and still scoring
 

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Maybe Vick doesn't realize that there was football before he came into the league. Cunningham was the "pioneer" of mobile QB's who could also make the throws.
Steve Young was also a guy who, if he wanted to, could have probably rushed his way into the record books IMO. He finished with over 4,000 yards rushing and a 96.8 QB rating during his career.
And Fran Tarkenton well before that...
 

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When I first read the title I was:wtf:


Vick should just :stop: spreading :liar:
 

moklerman

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And Fran Tarkenton well before that...
I wouldn't say Tarkenton was quite the same. Was much more of a scrambler than a runner. The two guys that preceded Vick(and Cunningham) that I think did what they were doing are:
21634.jpg

and who could forget:
kordell-stewart-pitts.jpg


Both of those guys did what Vick was doing. Rushing for yardage and throwing poorly. Hell, Vick had to actually focus on and target Douglass' rushing record to break it. In 14 games, Douglass rushed for 968 yards and a 6.9 average. That's a 6'4", 225 pound guy too.