Michael Vick ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at his pro day. That was 15 years ago. Now 36 and looking to play at least one more season, Vick not only thinks he can help an NFL team, he still maintains he’s one of the league’s fast quarterbacks.
According to the Charlotte Observer’s Jonathan Jones, Vick named Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick, Robert Griffin III and Cam Newton as current quarterbacks who could be in the top three, before a reporter interrupted with a question.
“Cam couldn’t beat you in the 40?” the reporter asked.
“No, Cam can’t beat me in the 40,” Vick said with a smile. “But his speed is decent. Decent speed. Good enough. Fast enough, I will say that.”
Newton, who came into the league in 2011, ran a 4.59 40 at his pro day.
If this sounds familiar, it should. Three years ago, Vick, then 32, proclaimed himself the NFL’s fastest quarterback, words he uttered after beating then-Eagles teammate LeSean McCoy in a footrace.
Speed aside, Vick concedes that Newton’s ability is undeniable.
“I like Cam’s style,” he said. “I think you’ll have more kids that will want to play with this kind of style. But everybody’s not going to be blessed to grow to 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds. And it’s all muscle. He’s special.”
Vick was in Charlotte this week to take part in the annual HoopTee Celebrity Golf Classic. The 2001 first-overall pick, who played in Pittsburgh last year, remains a free agent.
“I’m going to continue to stay optimistic about my 2016 season and try to enjoy it,” Vick conceded. “I wouldn’t say that I would go to any of the 32 teams. At this point in my career I would love to play for a contender. If anything, you’ve just got to be willing to make a contribution. In the NFL, that’s what it’s all about.”
If no one calls, Vick’s OK with that too.
“I’ve got my health, I’ve got my kids, I’ve got my family,” he told the DailyPress.com back in April. “The game has done so much for me in terms of relationships, opportunities to take care of myself and my family. I’m just thankful. I give all the credit to God.”
Worst case: Vick will always have that NBA career to fall back on.
