It was a no good, bad, very terrible day for Mike Vick. Until it wasn’t.
Then it became memorable.
How different the narrative could have been. If the Steelers don’t march down the field and win the game on their final drive, we’re sitting here debating if Landry Jones should be the starter or if the government has a functional “donate your MCL” program to Ben Roethlisberger.
Thankfully, we’re not. And it’s a credit to Vick’s mental toughness. The guts. The short-term memory. The man who had the uh, hypocycloids, to keep fighting after the roughest three quarters you’ll see a quarterback endure.
No one said being Roethlisberger’s understudy would be easy.
It is that experience that has shaped Vick’s mental toughness, not to mention his off the field problems that has forced him to face bigger demons than any pass rush, and proved why every team needs a veteran backup. As bad as he was, he’s been in the league for too long to let it rattle him. Mike Tomlin spoke to his level-headedness in today’s press conference.
“He appeared to be confident and relaxed throughout the game. The results weren’t always what we were looking for, but his communication was clean. He had a calm and sure demeanor throughout. And that’s one of the things that made him an attractive option for us when we acquired him.”
And that’s the difference between what he and Jones brings to the table. It isn’t necessarily Jones’ fault. Vick’s 13 years in the league creates intangibles Jones, a player who has never thrown a meaningful pass, could never have. It isn’t a cure-all, but it’s enough separation to understand and trust in the need and value of an experienced signal caller.
Vick proved that last night.
