newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick discussed the dog fighting scandal that landed him in prison for 19 months, and made him one of the most reviled athletes (and people) in America, in an interview for NFL Gameday Morning with his former head coach Jim Mora on Sunday.

Vick was a human highlight reel, with a powerful arm, blazing speed, and an uncanny ability to elude tacklers when he played for the Falcons. He's the only quarterback in NFL history to rush over 1,000 yards in a season, though he was injured a lot, and never lived up to the high expectations of football fans in Atlanta.

But when police raided a farm he owned in rural Virginia in 2007, they uncovered an interstate dogfighting operation called "Bad Newz Kennels." According to cbsnews.com, they removed 66 dogs, and exhumed the bodies of eight more. They also found dogfighting paraphernalia and a pit where fights were held. Vick admitted to lying to Mora, and saying he was going off to see family, when, in fact, he was dog fighting every week.

Sportsgrid.com reports that Vick has admitted he didn't try his hardest when he played in Atlanta (when Mora coached him), and instead relied on his raw athletic ability. Vick served his prison time, became conditionally reinstated into the NFL, and was acquired by the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Then after trading Donovan McNabb and naming Kevin Kolb the starting quarterback, and after paying Kolb $12 million in guarantees in May, and after Kolb played 15 non-concussed snaps, and after publicly saying Kolb was his starting quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid replaced him with Vick.

According to SI.com, Reid said he had a guy who was a superstar in this league, playing like a superstar again — maybe one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now. "He's making the kind of decisions out there where I know he's doing his homework and studying and learning this offense. He's playing great. Decisions like this are tough, but they're what I'm paid to do. I know it won't be popular.''

Fanhouse.com reports that Vick has been injured when he was sandwiched between former Falcons teammate DeAngelo Hall and Kareem Moore on a run that was called back by a penalty in the first quarter.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick does not have any broken ribs, but was diagnosed with a rib cartilage injury. Coach Andy Reid said the injury is "up high in the second and third ribs," connecting to the sternum.

"Better," Vick said when asked how he felt.

A lot better than he did when the dogfighting allegations first came out. Vick said, "I was scared. I knew my career was in jeopardy. I knew I had endorsements with Nike and I knew it was gonna be a big letdown. And, not knowing at the time that, you know, actually telling the truth may have been better than not being honest. And it backfired on me tremendously," Vick said.

Vick has had a long list of troubles in his past, but right now his future may be improving. CBS Sports anchor James Brown spoke to Vick back in 2009:

"Who do you blame for all of this?" Brown asked.

"I blame me," Vick replied.

Yesterday Reid told philly.com,"If Michael is as sore as he is today, then Kevin Kolb will take the snaps [Wednesday]."