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Reeves: Time for Vick to get back on the field
By PAUL NEWBERRY, AP Sports Writer
October 30, 2003
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) -- Dan Reeves and Michael Vick might need to get a third opinion about Vick's ailing right leg.
Revealing a growing schism over the slow pace of Vick's recovery, the Atlanta Falcons' coach challenged his best player to return to the field -- before the season is a total loss.
``Mike needs to get back as soon as he possibly can,'' Reeves said Wednesday. ``He talks about how he shouldn't come back, but I think he realizes, too, that you've got a small window of opportunity, and he's not getting better sitting on the sidelines.''
Vick said he can't do the slumping Falcons (1-6) any good if he's not healthy. And he doesn't intend to return until he's fully recovered from a broken right leg.
``He's saying I need to get out there and practice, but I'm not going to jeopardize myself,'' Vick said. ``I can't do it. I'm not going to go out there and put my team in a worse situation. Believe me, I want to play.''
In the first firm timetable on his return, Vick said he's aiming to make his season debut Dec. 7 against Carolina -- much longer than the projected recovery period.
``I thought I would be back a little earlier,'' he conceded. ``But I don't have any control over the way my body feels.''
Reeves obviously feels different. The embattled coach gave a totally unsolicited assessment of Vick's recovery after being asked a general question about how the Falcons are holding up during a six-game losing streak.
The coach's message to Vick was clear: We need you.
A Pro Bowler in his first season as a starter, Vick broke his right fibula in an Aug. 16 exhibition game. At the time, doctors projected the recovery time at six to 10 weeks.
Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb returned from a similar injury in a day short of eight weeks -- coincidentally, in time to lead the Eagles to a playoff victory over Vick and the Falcons last January.
If Vick doesn't play until Dec. 7, his rehab will have lasted 16 weeks.
Second-stringer Doug Johnson started the first six games, but he was benched after throwing 10 interceptions. Third-stringer Kurt Kittner started the last game, a 45-17 loss to New Orleans, and will apparently start again Sunday against Philadelphia.
As for Vick, Reeves said, ``If he's going to be better, it's going to be getting in ballgames and not watching Kurt and Doug playing.''
Vick flatly rejected any suggestion he's delaying his comeback because the Falcons' season already appears hopeless. He said the team's record is irrelevant, but he's got to protect his future.
``The opponents don't care about you,'' Vick said. ``I have to care about me. This is my livelihood. I want to play for a long time.''
Safety Keion Carpenter stood by his teammate and close friend.
``He's one of the fiercest competitors I've ever met,'' Carpenter said. ``He's the leader of this team. He wants to be out there, but nature won't let him.''
Reeves originally was told Vick would be out for six to eight weeks. Just to be on the conservative side, he figured his quarterback could be out as long as 10 weeks.
Under that scenario, Vick would have been ready to go Sunday.
``He wants to get back out there as quick as he can,'' Reeves said. ``We're about 10 weeks into it, and hopefully he's close to being ready.''
Vick's prognosis was less optimistic. He began running in a straight line on Monday without much problem, but found the leg was still too painful to do any change of direction -- critical to the running ability that separates him from other QBs.
Vick hopes to be back at practice in two or three weeks. If that goes well, he'd like at least two weeks of workouts before playing in a game.
``I'm not just going to go out there and get things going,'' he said.
While expressing surprise at Reeves' comments, Vick said he doesn't expect the situation to cause a rift between player and coach. Then again, he suggested that his recovery has been prolonged because Reeves wants him at practice.
``I do a lot of standing on it in practice,'' Vick said. ``I think that's set me back, too.''
In the past two weeks, Vick has spoken with McNabb, who acknowledged he wasn't 100 percent when he returned for the playoffs last season. He advised Vick not to make the same mistake.
``I've always told him if you're not 100 percent, or close to 100 percent, don't get out there because obviously things can happen,'' McNabb said.
Vick knows the feeling. He tried to play with a severely sprained ankle during his sophomore year at Virginia Tech, but could barely run.
``If I go out and try to play at 80 percent, I'm not going to play like I want to play,'' Vick said. ``I know what that feeling is like. I don't want to feel it again.''
Reeves: Time for Vick to get back on the field
By PAUL NEWBERRY, AP Sports Writer
October 30, 2003
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) -- Dan Reeves and Michael Vick might need to get a third opinion about Vick's ailing right leg.
Revealing a growing schism over the slow pace of Vick's recovery, the Atlanta Falcons' coach challenged his best player to return to the field -- before the season is a total loss.
``Mike needs to get back as soon as he possibly can,'' Reeves said Wednesday. ``He talks about how he shouldn't come back, but I think he realizes, too, that you've got a small window of opportunity, and he's not getting better sitting on the sidelines.''
Vick said he can't do the slumping Falcons (1-6) any good if he's not healthy. And he doesn't intend to return until he's fully recovered from a broken right leg.
``He's saying I need to get out there and practice, but I'm not going to jeopardize myself,'' Vick said. ``I can't do it. I'm not going to go out there and put my team in a worse situation. Believe me, I want to play.''
In the first firm timetable on his return, Vick said he's aiming to make his season debut Dec. 7 against Carolina -- much longer than the projected recovery period.
``I thought I would be back a little earlier,'' he conceded. ``But I don't have any control over the way my body feels.''
Reeves obviously feels different. The embattled coach gave a totally unsolicited assessment of Vick's recovery after being asked a general question about how the Falcons are holding up during a six-game losing streak.
The coach's message to Vick was clear: We need you.
A Pro Bowler in his first season as a starter, Vick broke his right fibula in an Aug. 16 exhibition game. At the time, doctors projected the recovery time at six to 10 weeks.
Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb returned from a similar injury in a day short of eight weeks -- coincidentally, in time to lead the Eagles to a playoff victory over Vick and the Falcons last January.
If Vick doesn't play until Dec. 7, his rehab will have lasted 16 weeks.
Second-stringer Doug Johnson started the first six games, but he was benched after throwing 10 interceptions. Third-stringer Kurt Kittner started the last game, a 45-17 loss to New Orleans, and will apparently start again Sunday against Philadelphia.
As for Vick, Reeves said, ``If he's going to be better, it's going to be getting in ballgames and not watching Kurt and Doug playing.''
Vick flatly rejected any suggestion he's delaying his comeback because the Falcons' season already appears hopeless. He said the team's record is irrelevant, but he's got to protect his future.
``The opponents don't care about you,'' Vick said. ``I have to care about me. This is my livelihood. I want to play for a long time.''
Safety Keion Carpenter stood by his teammate and close friend.
``He's one of the fiercest competitors I've ever met,'' Carpenter said. ``He's the leader of this team. He wants to be out there, but nature won't let him.''
Reeves originally was told Vick would be out for six to eight weeks. Just to be on the conservative side, he figured his quarterback could be out as long as 10 weeks.
Under that scenario, Vick would have been ready to go Sunday.
``He wants to get back out there as quick as he can,'' Reeves said. ``We're about 10 weeks into it, and hopefully he's close to being ready.''
Vick's prognosis was less optimistic. He began running in a straight line on Monday without much problem, but found the leg was still too painful to do any change of direction -- critical to the running ability that separates him from other QBs.
Vick hopes to be back at practice in two or three weeks. If that goes well, he'd like at least two weeks of workouts before playing in a game.
``I'm not just going to go out there and get things going,'' he said.
While expressing surprise at Reeves' comments, Vick said he doesn't expect the situation to cause a rift between player and coach. Then again, he suggested that his recovery has been prolonged because Reeves wants him at practice.
``I do a lot of standing on it in practice,'' Vick said. ``I think that's set me back, too.''
In the past two weeks, Vick has spoken with McNabb, who acknowledged he wasn't 100 percent when he returned for the playoffs last season. He advised Vick not to make the same mistake.
``I've always told him if you're not 100 percent, or close to 100 percent, don't get out there because obviously things can happen,'' McNabb said.
Vick knows the feeling. He tried to play with a severely sprained ankle during his sophomore year at Virginia Tech, but could barely run.
``If I go out and try to play at 80 percent, I'm not going to play like I want to play,'' Vick said. ``I know what that feeling is like. I don't want to feel it again.''
