Michael Vick on Returning to Philadelphia on Thursday Night

Aug 22, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback

(1) on the sideline against the New York Giants during the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Giants defeated the Jets 35-24. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

The announcement that we all knew already came after the game against the Giants. Geno Smith is starting at quarterback week one, making Michael Vick the backup. To his credit, Michael Vick has been the ultimate mentor, lending his experience to Geno and taking great joy in his success, as well as in the success of the other quarterbacks as well.

Vick’s attitude has been commendable, considering we don’t have to rewind too far to him being a starting quarterback for the Eagles. He ended up losing his job to Nick Foles, now here he is. Vick returns with the Jets to start against the Eagles on Thursday night, and he talked about the fact that he is OK with what happened there:

Absolutely. I think what happened can happen to anybody. I never want to play second fiddle to anybody, but I just felt like that team was in such a groove that I didn’t want to try to become a distraction even though I could have fought for my position and fought for the job. But I just felt like that team was just in a good place and didn’t want to interrupt that. I had a great run there with a lot of great memories and accomplished some things that can never be taken away from me. I’m ecstatic about that, thankful and very grateful.

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Vick also thinks that his experience last year helped him with this mentor role:

Yeah, I think it helped me for this situation that I’m in now and what’s taking place here in this point in my life. You always envision yourself being a starter. You always want to be the guy behind the center, but times change and things change and we change as individuals, our feelings and emotions. I think I’ve changed over the years and I still have the same attitude, winning attitude, but now I kind of see things from a different perspective. It’s very humbling to be in the position that I’m in now because I get to see things from a different angle. That’s just as important as being a starter, if you ask me.

When you are wrong in life, you must admit it, and I was dead wrong about Michael Vick, at least so far. Vick clearly is comfortable in the role he has, and is doing all he can to be an asset to the Jets. That is all we can ask of Michael Vick.