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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
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.
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
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.