Should the Philadelphia Eagles pursue Michael Vick as their backup quarterback?

Even though the Eagles finished with ten wins in 2014, it appears as if the roster is going to undergo a lot of turnover this offseason. (And as you know, the Eagles are very familiar with turnovers!) There will likely be new faces at many positions next season, and the one position that is sure to come under the most scrutiny is quarterback.

I’m going to assume that Nick Foles returns as the starter next season. The Eagles almost certainly won’t be able to draft either Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston, and none of the other quarterbacks in the draft seem to be capable of being a starter next season. (Well, I suppose anyone could be a starter. Maybe I should have said none of them seem capable of being a quality starter.)

Looking at the list of players expected to hit free agency, there aren’t any definitive upgrades there either. I mean, take a look at this list! They actually have Mark Sanchez as the best available free agent quarterback!

It’s possible that some better options may potentially be available by trade. (Colin Kaepernick? Jay Cutler?) But you then start to wonder just why their teams are willing to part with them.

Nick Foles may be too fragile. Image Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Considering that he’s young, cheap, and has had success in the past, it becomes clear that Nick Foles is the best candidate to start at quarterback next season.

My biggest worry about Foles isn’t necessarily his uneven play last season. I’m more concerned that he’s been injured and forced to miss games in each of his three seasons. It’s possible that he’s either too fragile to last as a starter, or his immobility and tendency to hold the ball for too long are making him susceptible to injury.

If Foles can’t be counted on to last an entire season, it becomes extremely important that the Eagles have a good backup on hand.

I actually think Mark Sanchez was a good backup in 2014. Yes, he made some comically bad interceptions, and it became clear that his physical limitations held back the offense. But that’s fairly typical of a backup quarterback.

Any guy who’s going to be available and willing to take a backup role is going to have some negatives. If they didn’t, they’d already be starting somewhere. We may have memories of Jeff Garcia coming in and playing exceptionally well in 2006, but that was a very rare instance.

Sanchez seemed to have a good grasp of the Eagles offense, played pretty well for stretches, and helped the team win four games as a starter. Yes, the team would be in trouble if he again had to start for an extended stretch, but once again, you could say that for just about every backup in the league.

I would be in favor of bringing Sanchez back, but if either the Eagles or Sanchez decide to part ways this offseason, there is one player the Eagles should vigorously pursue to replace him: Michael Vick.

Obviously, it would be a controversial move to bring him back. Some fans rejoiced when he finally departed, happy to be free of all the dog-related baggage Vick carried with him. And others may remember how Vick-led teams always seemed to disappoint.

Would a Vick-Eagles reunion make sense for both sides? Image Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

But Vick wouldn’t be expected to be a franchise player this time around. He wouldn’t even be expected to be a starter. He’d be brought in strictly as a backup, and he seems to have all the qualities the team would want: He’s familiar with their offense, he’s well-liked in the locker room, and most importantly, if forced into action, he is still skilled enough to lead the team to victory.

Think about it: On most teams, when the starter gets hurt, it’s usually somewhat of a relief for the opponent. But would any defense really feel that relieved to see Vick enter a game?

Yes, his skills are diminished, but his arm still has plenty of life in it. He’s also still one of the fastest quarterbacks in the league, and a defense that game-planned for Nick Foles might not welcome the challenge of stopping Vick from escaping the pocket.

Would Vick be open to a return? That isn’t clear. Considering all that he went through in Philadelphia, he might figure he’s better off with a clean slate somewhere else.

Vick has also said he would still like a chance to start, but based on the limited attention he received last offseason – combined with his less-than-stellar play for the Jets (the obvious caveat being that the Jets seem to drag down everyone’s play), it seems doubtful he’ll get that opportunity. He might conclude that a backup spot behind a seemingly fragile quarterback might be his best chance at starting again.

For their part, the Eagles may not want to re-visit all the criticism they received when they signed him the first time. They also might not want to risk a quarterback controversy if Foles struggles. (Then again, if Foles struggles in 2015, the Eagles would likely part ways with him after the season anyway)

But if they want to have the best possible backup quarterback on hand in 2015, then they need to make a “football decision” and see to it that Vick is brought back to Philadelphia.