Michael Vick’s road to redemption is complete after the controversial quarterback, who was jailed for almost two years on dogfighting charges, reached a six-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, making him one of the NFL’s highest-paid players.
It was reported the $100million (Dh367m) deal includes about $40million (Dh146.8m) in guaranteed money to Vick, who led the Eagles to the NFC East title last year and was also the starting quarterback in the National Football League’s Pro Bowl all-star game.
“I’m very happy we were able to reach an agreement with Michael on this long-term contract,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said. “It’s a product of all the hard work Michael has done to better himself over the last couple of years, both on and off the field.
“I’m very proud that he has been able to achieve success again in this league, but he’ll be the first one to tell you that there is a lot of work yet to be done by him and this team as a whole. And there’s no doubt in my mind that he will continue on that path.”
Vick will reportedly earn about $16million (Dh58.72m) a season during the first three years of the contract, making him one of the highest-paid players in the league. The team placed a franchise tag on Vick earlier this year.
Vick, 31, passed for 3,018 yards and 21 touchdowns with six interceptions last season – his first as an NFL starting quarterback since 2006.
In 2007, he pleaded guilty to federal charges for his involvement in a brutal dogfighting ring. Once he got out of prison, Vick joined the Eagles in 2009 as a third string quarterback but soon worked his way into the No.1 role.
He started the 2010 campaign as the backup to Kevin Kolb but took over the starting job after the first game of the season with Kolb eventually being traded.
Vick was once a superstar with the Atlanta Falcons who drafted him first overall in 2001. He signed a $130million (Dh477m) deal two years before his conviction that made him the top-paid player in the league at the time.
He was reviled by animal rights groups when he returned to the NFL, but American gridiron fans have for the most part given him a warm welcome for what he can do on the football field.
Quite what they make of his new mult-million dollar deal however, remains to be seen.
