Michael Vick and Vince Young both like to use their legs at the quarterback position. Aside from that, you would have trouble finding many similarities between the two. Young has never done anything at the NFL level. He’s also never been to prison. That is why we find it a little confusing that on a list of 25 observations from Eagles training camp on Tuesday, CSNPhilly.com included Young’s shadowing of Vick on and off the field at No. 5.
On the field, we have all seen what Vick can do. Before he went to prison, Michael was one of the most — if not the most — explosive players in the NFL. He was somehow able to maintain that burst through two years out of football and earned the comeback player of the year award for his performance last season. From a football standpoint, it makes perfect sense for Young to look to Vick as a mentor.
As for off the field, these are two completely different people. Vick has to spend his time repairing his image and taking steps to help put an end to dog fighting. Young is supposedly trying to “soak up every bit of information on and off the field,” but his character problems could not be more different from Vick’s. Vick made a mistake that got him in trouble with the law. Young wanted out of a playoff game because he’s a quitter.
If Young follows Vick around off the field he’ll learn about how a player lives life after spending actual time in prison. Unless he plans on going to the Big House in the future, I don’t see how that can help him as a football player. If it works, more power to him. Just don’t hold your breath.
