The Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, blowing a 10-point lead in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter to lose 26-23. It was the Eagles' third loss in four games, dropping them to 3-3 on the season. Contributing to the loss was the play of quarterback Michael Vick, who completed 28-of-46 pass attempts for 311 yards and two touchdowns, but was also intercepted twice, fumbled once and took two of his three sacks of the night on back-to-back plays in the Eagles' one and only possession of overtime.
Vick now has a passer rating of 77.7 on the season, he's accounted for 13 of the team's 17 turnovers — including five lost fumbles, which explains why he's been carrying a football around the team's facilities — and only three quarterbacks have taken as many sacks (17). Vick has been under constant pressure, but the turnovers and overall subpar performance this season leads to one to wonder how much longer Vick will be the Eagles' starting quarterback. Head coach Andy Reid has continually backed Vick, so even though the Eagles are entering the bye, a change right now appears unlikely. But a change of some kind could be coming.
As noted on Sunday morning by ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Eagles will have a brief window to break free from the Vick contract. Here's how:
Vick is currently scheduled to earn $15.5 million in base salary in 2012, the third year of a five-year, $80 million contract he signed on Aug. 30, 2011. (Vick's contract was reported as a "six-year deal", but the sixth and final year voids if Vick has 35 percent playing-time in any season. Vick played in 77.17 percent of the snaps last season.) Currently, $3 million of Vick's contract is guaranteed "for injury only". If Vick is on the Eagles' roster on the second day of the 2013 waiver period, which begins on the day after the Super Bowl, the $3 million that is currently guaranteed "for injury only" will become fully guaranteed.
Should the Eagles release Vick before that date, they'll save $15.5 million in cash and free up $12.7 million in salary cap space. 2012 third round pick Nick Foles is currently No. 2 on the depth chart and would presumably get the first crack at the starting job, though competition could be added in free agency or next year's draft.
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