Michael Vick was banged around again this week as the Philadelphia Eagles took on the New York Giants, suffering a broken right hand as a result of the hits he took throughout the game. Just like last week, Vick was hit early and often, sometimes after the ball was released. And after the game, Vick blasted the officials, saying they have to do their job and protect him.
Here are the key quotes from Vick following the Eagles loss to the Giants.
"I was trying to protect myself," Vick said in his postgame news conference. "Still didn't get a flag and that's pretty much been the story for the last three weeks. I mean, obviously at some point something catastrophic is going to happen and I broke my hand."
"Looking at the replays, I'm on the ground every time, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't frustrated," Vick said in his postgame news conference. "The refs have got to do their jobs. And I mentioned it to the refs in training camp when I talked to them. I'm on the ground constantly, all the time. Every time I throw the ball, I'm on the ground. And I don't know why I don't get the 15-yard flags like everybody else does."
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In a way, he's right. Many of the hits Vick took this week and last were borderline, though it's unclear whether they were worthy of a flag. Still, he's taken a beating in the pocket this season, suffering a concussion in Week 2 and the broken hand in Week 3. If this keeps up, it's tough to see him surviving the season without suffering an even more serious injury.
More from Week 3:
• Kenny Britt May Have Torn ACL/MCL, Reportedly Needs Season-Ending Surgery
• Lions Vs. Vikings: Detroit Stuns Minnesota In OT; Watch Calvin Johnson's Grab
• Video: Kevin Walters Catches 20-Yard TD Off Defender's Leg
• Patriots Vs. Bills: Tom Brady Throws Four INTs
Here's the rest of the Week 3 NFL Schedule. For more on the Giants head over to Big Blue View. For more on the Eagles, check out Bleeding Green Nation. Follow the rest of this week's NFL action in the Week 3 NFL StoryStream and at SB Nation NFL.
3 comments
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Sep 26
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Sep 26
Michael Vick Suffers Broken Hand, Complains About Officiating
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Sep 25
Comments
It's the problem of being a scrambling type quarterback
Refs are going to let plays go on longer because there is some expectation of him getting out of a tackle. Of course some of the shots probably deserve a penalty but I think most of the time he takes a hard hit, it’s because the refs hold on to their whistles longer than they would for other QBs. For Vick, there are more occasions in which he’ll able to escape than there would be for Tom Brady, for example.
That being said, Vick and the Eagles would likely complain if refs blew the whistle too early because he was “in the grasp” of a defender. If he wants to be treated like a pocket passer he should scramble less…
by Alex Bourque on Sep 25, 2011 8:57 PM EDT reply actions
What??
Refs ran over & helped you up after every play you got knocked down on!
*** San Antonio needs a NFL team! ***
by SanAntonioGiant on Sep 25, 2011 9:14 PM EDT reply actions
Hate to disagree....
Yes, we all know Vick to be a tremendous athlete. However, I think the NFL refs have been taught not to blow the whistle for “In the grasp” a long time ago. It’s not just Mike that doesn’t get called down for being in the clutches of a defender before the refs blow a play dead. That being said….I DO see what he’s a little miffed at though. A couple weeks ago, a d-lineman was engaged with a protector. In trying to bat at the ball, he came down and slightly brushed his fingers against the qb’s helmet. Result? 15 yd penalty and the continuation of a crummy drive. Contrast to Micheal’s injury yesterdauy, the defender wasn’t engaged, he wasn’t trying to stop his momentum getting to Vick, he knew full well the ball was gone and he smacked Mike full on, LEADING with his helmet no less! This happens quite often, and Vick gets no calls. It seems as if when it comes to the “Golden Boys” of the NFL (Brady, Manning) that if a defender gets close enough to smell thier aftershave, the refs get their whistles into position to call a foul.
Case in point, Carson Palmer’s entire season was derailed as a defender on the ground rolled into his knee and wrecked it. Yes a foul was called, but, that was it. No inquiry, no task force set up. Palmer just had to suck it up and the Bengals decline began. A few years later, Ben Rothlesburger goes down to the same tackle. No issues. Brady on the other hand has the same situation happen to him. Same injury, the following year, the NFL comes out with the “no tackle below the knees on the ground” rule. Coincidence….hmmmmmm…..Some may think that to be true, as hindsight is 20/20. However, the perceptiopn remains, 2 seperate big name qb’s have an injury, nothing comes of it. Brady gets injured, a full blown investigation is launched, and a new rule instituted the next season.
Back to Vick, I have watched the games he has played, and I agree with him. When he is on the field, it seems as if defenders are given carte blanche to hit him anyway they see fit to bring him down (including the play last week where he wsa spun around by a tackler and run into his own man to get his concussion, after the ball was thrown).
No, I don’t agree that quarterbacks should have ‘lil frilly dresses put on them. But, If you have a rule, and it’s not enforced for all players regardless of athletic ability, then it’s not a rule at all.
K.C.Edwards -AKA- "THE" DarkkStarr
by DarkkStarr1 on Sep 26, 2011 7:58 AM EDT reply actions
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