← Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara
Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara
Michael Vick on The Coach Vick Experience, Mobile QBs, Lamar Jackson and His Greatest Runs
00:41:20
Loading summary
Transcript123 lines
- [00:00]
Michael Vick
I grew up idolizing Donna McNabb. Donovan was one of the players that I wanted to be like. He was part of the reason that I visited Syracuse. And when I seen his style of play, I'm like, man, this dude can really play.
- [00:27]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
We are back. Another episode of Throwbacks coming at you. Don't forget, follow us on all our socials at Throwback show on the YouTube. It's free. Go subscribe. Don't be afraid. It's just.
- [00:39]
Matt Leinart
Don't be afraid.
- [00:40]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Hit the button. Hit the button. You know what? For this episode, when you hit the subscribe button, hit it with your left hand. And here's why. Because today we know, we. We all know we have a great lefty quarterback on this show each and every week. Matty Ice, we have the Heisman right behind him to validate it. But today we have maybe the most electrifying dynamic and some might say, change the actual game of football, at least for his position. And it's another lefty quarterback, only one person I'm talking about Michael Vick joining us on throwback. I almost want to clap for what I just said right there.
- [01:21]
Matt Leinart
Michael, that was great. Dude, that was off the dome right there.
- [01:23]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Michael.
- [01:24]
Matt Leinart
Michael Vick. Michael Vick, he. He changed the way the position was played, I think, when he came in. Because if you look before him, right, you had some of the great. You had guys like Randall Cunningham, right, could run and throw, and he was 6 5. Steve Young was probably the OG but, you know, like back then, it just like you threw the ball more and it was just a different game. It was a different style. And I always go to kind of like Vince Young in college. Vince Young kind of changed the game. He was kind of like a Randall Cunningham s because he was so big. But when you watch Mike Vick play at Virginia Tech in college, you were like, he's a video. He's a human highlight film. Like we've never seen this before. And then he gets into the NFL, plays for Atlanta, obviously plays 13, 14 years. Whatever it was, he. He changed the way the game was played. And if you look at the way the NFL is played now, and you know, you had, you had, you know, you had your Tom Brady's and you had the era where you. Where you had a lot of quarterbacks who couldn't run and they won from the pocket. But the game now, all of these guys, you have to be able to move, but no one move like Michael Vick. The closest is Lamar Jackson now, right? Lamar Jackson is probably like Michael Vick reincarnated. But Michael Vick was special, man. He was, he was special to watch. I tell a story. My rookie year, 2006, we go to Atlanta and I'm backing up. This was actually, actually this was Kurt Warner's last game. He started. I took over for him the next week. So this was like game four or five. We're in Atlanta and, you know, I'm a, I'm a young pup. I'm like, all right, this is cool, whatever. I was like, man, Mike Vick's on the sideline. I remember watching him warm up, like from my warmups. And I'll tell you what, the prettiest ball you'd ever see in person. The, you know, the, the flick of the wrist. It was effortless. And he was one of the few guys that year and in my career where I got up off my sideline and I just watched him play. Brett Favre was the other one that year, and I started against Brett Favre and I was still watching him because it was, that was one of my favorite players growing up. But Michael Vick was that guy. He was must see tv. He was must see in person. He was a special, special talent, man. And on throwbacks, man, like, God, it's awesome, dude.
- [03:44]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Well, that's why he's a perfect throwback. Because you want to know how I know? I think it's perfect throwback synergy. When I'm texting some of like my old head friends who are my age, I'm like, yo, we got Mike Vic coming on the show. And the response is, oh, that's crazy. And then when I text like my 17 year old nephew, he even goes, oh, that's crazy. Like, a great throwback to me is someone that even the youngsters are, are acknowledging. It's so crazy because they only acknowledge Michael Jordan some of the time. Oh, LeBron. Like everyone know at every age, if you watch football and you're interested in the history, it's, it's Michael.
- [04:20]
Matt Leinart
There's a handful of guys in every sport and you'll know this, that you go on, you go on YouTube and you just can watch their highlight, their highlight tape. And they, and it just stands the test of time, right? Like Reggie Bush, College, all this, Reggie Bush's high school highlight tape. And even college is second. And you got, you got these basketball guys with their highlight tape is like, holy Michael Vick. That's why Michael vick, whether you're 16 or you're 40, you turn on that, even that college and you're like, oh, this is Mike Vick. Like Mike Vic changed the game, man. Like he's, he's one of one. He, he was like Michael Jordan esque in football at that position in that era, you know, and I got a chance to watch him front row and center and, and we're boys. Like he's, he's a great dude, super humble. Just man, he's, he's awesome, man.
- [05:11]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Well, he also has, you know, part of the reason why he's coming on and I just started watching the catch up when he comes on. But he has a really cool. I don't even call it a reality show. To me these are like docu series about, you know, he's head coaching at Norfolk State right now and shows produced by like Michael Strahan and Deion Sanders. So like they clearly knew. And I think it's so interesting, Matt, because like I was thinking about this the other day. I'm going to talk to, I want to ask Vic about it. It's like if you look around at the college ranks and the NFL ranks, it's like there's so many good coaches. But how many good coaches are guys who are like great at their position? Obviously if you played in college, D1 or NFL, you were great. You're just, even if you weren't a great NFL player, like even to get to that level. But I'm saying at those levels to be great, you know, because I think I, I just, you don't really see it usually it's hard. A lot of guys have been lifers too. Coaching because it's. Yeah, I mean, kind of just pick that up.
- [06:06]
Matt Leinart
You look at the NFL, I mean like Jim Harbaugh, Jim harbor is a
- [06:10]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
really good at his position.
- [06:13]
Matt Leinart
Campbell obviously was like, like guys that played at a high level and then it transferred over. It's, it's really challenging. You've seen a lot of guys try it and it just doesn't work. So I, you know, give him credit. Going into, I believe his second year as a head coach, it's not easy, especially at a smaller school like that and again like nil recruiting, all of these things. Prime did it before he went to Colorado and then obviously he got that gig. So it'll be interesting to see what Mike can do the next couple years as a head coach. And you know, I know he's got advice from a lot of great players and you just, you just have one or two good years, man, and then you elevate yourself. So I give him a lot of credit for getting into the coaching and giving back, you know, giving back to a lot of young kids who, you know, like. Like what they're going through. So it's pretty awesome, man. And I'm excited to see him coach this fall.
- [07:00]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Now, before we get to Michael Vick, I have a few lefty things I want to throw at you. Okay. Number one, and you had mentioned this before. I don't know if you ever mentioned it on air. You've often been asked by people, like, is it weird for receivers catching a ball from. Everyone has the lefty. Like, it throws people off balance, even just watching. But at this level, right. Did you ever feel or have to make adjustments for a receiver or anything? Like, what goes into being a lefty quarterback? When we're going to talk about lefty quarterbacks in general, but there's just hardly any, especially when you get to see one in NFL. There's.
- [07:41]
Matt Leinart
It's so funny, man, because, like, I remember when I was playing and like, just get to the NFL in Arizona, right, and they had, you know, righties. And again, there's just. There's just few lefty quarterbacks that have ever played. It just doesn't. I know there's not very many. You know, there's like two or three at a time. All the time in the NFL. That's it. I just remember, oh, like, guys would be like, oh, yeah, that. Okay, that comes out a little different. That's because it's just coming from a different side, right? So it's just a little different visually. But I used to get always asked, like, do you think it's harder for a receiver to catch a lefty than a righty? I'm like, guys like these receivers are paid to catch the football. I don't care if I'm kicking it to them, right? They got to catch it. So I always thought that was interesting. But the biggest thing that people don't understand is, is when you have a lefty quarterback. A lot of these offensive coordinators are head coaches have to completely change the way they run their offense and the way they call plays, right? In today's world, you had two at Miami. You have Michael Penck at Atlanta. You know, Kellen Moore played for a long time. He's obviously a coach now. And I remember when I went to Houston and Gary Kubiak with. Was my head coach, and he, you know, he coached Elway. He was Elway's position go Kubiak been around a long time and. And he's like, man, he's like, I don't Know if he said I hadn't coached a lefty in a long time or I, or never. But I remember saying, man, you're going to make this tough on me. He had to start thinking and building an offense the other way. Bootlegs and other way just in case, in case I was going to play. And then I remember when shop went down and I started that year, I ended up starting one game because I got hurt. It was a whole like lefty thing. Lefty thing. How do I have to think like
- [09:20]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
a left handed, like driving on the wrong side of the road in London?
- [09:23]
Matt Leinart
Because obviously like me throwing to my left is. I used to love throwing to my right. But like rolling out to my left is a lot easier. Just like a righty rolling out to his right is a lot easier. But then also when you have a left handed franchise quarterback, it's not the left tackle anymore, it's the right. Right, because the left tackle is blocking your right handed blindside. So it is, it's, it's a little bit, I would say like a little bit of a mind, I think when you get a left handed quarterback because it is changing the way you see now we're professional athletes, we got to be able to throw it all ways, of course, but you do definitely think a little bit differently. And I'd be curious of Mike's thoughts on that too because, yeah, you know, like, God, he. I'm telling you, we were playing in an era where it was me, Mike, Vic, because we cross and like. And Mark Brunell. Mark Brunell was that kind of the
- [10:09]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
tail end, probably the tail end of
- [10:11]
Matt Leinart
his career when he was in Jacksonville. I think we, I think him and I crossed like years and that's really it, dude. I can't even think of anyone else that, that you know that made it and played for a long period of time. So shout out to the lefties, man. We're a little bit different, we're a little bit weird, but we're a small club and we stick together.
- [10:29]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Here, here's the take. I don't think there's that many tough lefties. What I mean by that is you guys just go play baseball, bro. Don't get hit in the head and go get millions of dollars to throw five. I think most left.
- [10:41]
Matt Leinart
By the way we're gonna quote that there's not that many tough lefties.
- [10:45]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
What I mean by that is like, hey, do you want to go get hit in the head by a 315 pound NFL or do you want to go you know, potentially give up a gap double while being a lefty. By the way, the same if not more money and you play more that
- [11:00]
Matt Leinart
my path was pitching in the bigs until I tore my shoulder. I didn't want no part of playing football.
- [11:04]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
But there's a lot of tough left. I just think that you guys, you're throwing lefty. Everybody immediately is like, you should be a pitcher, you need to pitch.
- [11:10]
Matt Leinart
So no, you're right. You're absolutely right. Let's get into the top three lefty quarterbacks of all time.
- [11:18]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Yes. And I want to give you, this is tough.
- [11:20]
Matt Leinart
I want to give you my list. Now again, you're not picking from a massive pool, but you can go college, NFL, whatever you want. So I'll give you my top three. My, my third is Mike Vick and I'll explain why. Mike Vick, like I said, Mike Vick was must see tv. He was a human highlight film. He was a, he was a video game. I got a chance to see him up close and personal my rookie year and it was like, I don't say this lightly. He's like seeing like a Michael Jordan plays like he was one of one. You had to see him play in person. And I got to know him over the years. Great. Dude number two is probably going to shock people. But I'm going, Kenny the Snake Stabler.
- [11:58]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Yeah.
- [11:58]
Matt Leinart
And the reason why is because our equipment guys shout out to our equipment guys at usc. They nicknamed me the Snake and I had snake written on my cleats for every game because my guys have been around a long time. They're like, Matt, Matt, you remind me of Kenny the Stabler, man. Like whatever the leadership, the way you played. And I was a lefty. He played obviously for the Raiders in the 70s. Houston New Orleans, first left handed quarterback to be named MVP and win a Super Bowl. So shout out to the Snake. He's one of the greatest to ever do it. And then number one is Steve Young. And Steve Young was one of my childhood favorite players. It's weird because I grew. I love Montana, I loved, I love far. But Young was a lefty. So I was like, that's a, that's,
- [12:42]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
that's me, that's my guy.
- [12:44]
Matt Leinart
Literally probably the greatest left handed quarterback of all time. Obviously hall of Fame, tremendous career. So Steve Young, one stabler to Mike Vick, three. Those are my top three left hand corners quarterbacks of all time. Jerry.
- [12:57]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Yeah, no, I don't think you could, I don't think you could argue that that's Definitely the top three. I mean, you know me, I, I always find it hard to like Stabler. Of course you give that.
- [13:08]
Matt Leinart
And I never saw Stabler play, but because of my personal connection with guys,
- [13:13]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
I would, I would put Vic too. Just because selfishly, that's who I watched. And then I'm old enough to remember, you know, Mark Brunel going on like, talk about throwback. Like he led the Jags after not even being in existence that long to the championship game. So he lefties.
- [13:30]
Matt Leinart
Mark Brunell is your number one.
- [13:32]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
No, no, no, I'm saying he would be like my honorable mention. No, no, Steve Young. Steve Young is number one. I put Vic. I've swapped Vic and Stabler. But that's my thing. I need to have seen you. And I'm sure there's people older than me who are saying you didn't. You don't know about the snake. You're right, I don't. I mean, I've seen little bits and pieces, so. No, that's it. You weird lefties with your witchcraft. And some of you do this lefty and throw this righty and brush it. Like you guys are weird. But also, man, is it beautiful to watch a lefty throw a football, shoot a basketball, swing a golf club. It's all just looks better.
- [14:06]
Matt Leinart
So there's only three active left handed quarterbacks in the NFL right now.
- [14:12]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Tua. There's a backup somewhere.
- [14:16]
Matt Leinart
Who? Well, I just said the name earlier. He's a starter
- [14:24]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
right now. Not. That's not Tua.
- [14:27]
Matt Leinart
Well, Tua might not be starting no more. Yeah, this guy's a starter.
- [14:31]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Who am I forgetting about? Oh, Pennix.
- [14:34]
Matt Leinart
Pennix, Yep.
- [14:36]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
He might not be the starter either.
- [14:38]
Matt Leinart
He's got it better. He's got a shot.
- [14:39]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
There's another one. There's a third.
- [14:41]
Matt Leinart
Yeah, he. I mean, yeah, he started this. He started. He started some games this year.
- [14:46]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Oh, oh, Dylan, Gabriel. Dylan.
- [14:48]
Matt Leinart
Three guys, that's it.
- [14:50]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Not really lighting the world out of.
- [14:53]
Matt Leinart
Yeah, I think every, every NFL team, 32, they have three max. You know, there's close to 100 quarterbacks in the league. Three are lefty.
- [15:03]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
I want to see Mike Vick in an rpo.
- [15:05]
Matt Leinart
I'm telling you, at any point in the NFL there's no more than three or four, maybe. Telling you it's wild.
- [15:10]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
I'm telling you that's because you guys are getting $180 million to go pitch once every four games.
- [15:17]
Matt Leinart
Sign me up.
- [15:18]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
All right, well, without further ado, let's get to Coach Vic. We'll call him Coach Vic today. Coach Vic. As many of you might know, we've added baby number three to the Ferrara household so that means long nights, busy days and it almost knocked me off my wellness goals after starting out so well this year. But that's where Kachava comes in and helps keep me on track with my routine. And of course it helps that Kachava supports all day energy with I need. I definitely need that with five key vitamins and minerals and with the new baby around, I love that it nourishes your immune system with vitamin C, zinc and probiotics. There are six new flavors to choose from. You got chocolate, vanilla, chai, matcha, coconut, acai, one of my favorites and strawberry. And there are so many recipes from the Kachava kitchen that help you add to your smoothie. Kachava provides clean nutrition to fuel you wherever your day takes you. No fillers, no nonsense. It's a whole body meal with plant based protein that actually tastes delicious. Try Kachava Risk Free with their Love it guarantee. Stick with your wellness goals. Go to kachava.com and use code throwbacks for 15% off. That's Kachava K A C H A V A.com code throwbacks
- [16:41]
Advertisement Voice
right now get up to 20% off select online storage solutions put heavy duty HDX totes to good use, protecting what's important to you. The solid impact resistant design prevents cracking and the clear base and sides make items easy to find even when the totes are stacked. Find select online shelving and tote storage up to 20% off at the Home Depot. To organize every room in your home from your garage to your attic, visit homedepot.com how doers get more done.
- [17:11]
Your little one grew three inches overnight. Adorable. Also expensive. Sell their pint sized pieces on Depop and list them in minutes with no selling fees because somewhere a dad refuses to pay full price for the clothes his kids will outgrow tomorrow and he's ready to buy your son's entire wardrobe right now. Consider your future growth bird budget secured. Start selling on Depop where taste recognizes taste. Payment processing fees and boosting fees still apply. See website for details.
- [17:42]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
All right guys, before we bring on the electric Michael Vick, quick technical note. We did have some difficulties recording this interview. We have a lot of it. Some of it goes in and out. Our amazing team has pieced it together as best as possible and we only had a limited amount of time with Coach Vick and we didn't want to waste any of it. So forgive us for some of the moments here, but it works out in the end. All right, joining me now, I mean, it's kind of cool to say Coach Vick, and I feel like you're starting to enjoy that because I watched every episode of the Coach Vick Experience. Thank you for coming on Throwbacks today. And I don't know, I gotta say, like, you look like you're having fun coaching, but also, obviously, it's a super stressful environment. What surprised you the most, the first season for you of coaching?
- [18:32]
Michael Vick
What surprised me the most? The process. Hey, look, anything you want to be successful in life, man, you got to learn it, you got to observe it, and then you got to, you know, find a way to conquer it. And so I feel like my first year was just kind of like me just floating and getting a feel for everything, how it all operates, how it works. And, you know, at some points I was still in awe about certain things that was happening, but still believing in my team and my players and my coaches. And yeah, man, we was coming really close to winning some games. But, you know, you gotta be pinpoint on everything if you want to win. And so the process of what it takes to be successful on and off the field was probably the biggest surprise. And you don't get that, you know, when you're doing football camps, you don't get that when you a player. But as a coach, there's a different side of it for sure.
- [19:28]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Well, you really felt it as a viewer that, you know, yes, you're trying to win games, but you're also trying to change a whole organization. You know, it wasn't just let's win some games. We want this to be a repeatable thing year in, year out and then ultimately get to the highest level. I felt that as a viewer. Did you have any reservations, though? I mean, I'm a big hard knocks guy, right? And I know some coaches, you know, you bring in cameras into the locker room. I'm sure that must have been different. You've been on camera for a very long time. But some, I call them kids, young men, some of the players. Was there any hesitation about the cameras of it all? It added a little dynamic for them.
- [20:05]
Michael Vick
Well, you know, the kids these days, they love the cameras.
- [20:08]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
That's true, that's true.
- [20:09]
Michael Vick
They always in their phones, they always shooting content. It's their world. And so I didn't do it for that. I did it because I wanted to document a winning season. And I really mean that. I thought it was going to be a winning Season, first year, just to see what it was like, more of a hard knock style type of situation, because I knew it was going to be tough and what we wanted to put him through. But a lot of storylines was being created within our team. A lot of amazing young men who are going off to do great things. And so we felt like we should highlight that as well. It didn't have to be all about football. It couldn't have been all about me, because that would have been super boring. And so it was just the whole process of everything and dealing with everybody and everyone involved that I think made it for good content. But you rarely noticed the cameras was
- [21:04]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
around and very true.
- [21:06]
Michael Vick
I mean, you know, whether it's a camera guy from the local news or it's a camera guy from espn, you won't even know. You just kind of go out there. But they love the exposure. It's good for them. And they get the, the, the national recognition too.
- [21:21]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Well, the other thing I loved about it too, like, so to me as a viewer, obviously there's a football story to it. It's a, it's an awesome career journey for you and for your players. But the thing that. I'll tell you, the thing that got me the most, Coach Vic, you know, the family element, you know, I just had my third son a few weeks ago, and seeing how you were with your son, being that there was some distance, I felt that because, you know, I'm an actor, I travel a lot. Like when I gotta look them in the face and be like, dad will be back. It just rips a piece of my heart out. And I felt that the most. I love that it's a family story too. For you.
- [21:54]
Michael Vick
Yeah. I thought that was kind of cool, man, for, you know, all the producers and everybody and my wife and everybody involved to say, look, you know, it's a. Another element to this, and that other element is family. And, you know, you're not going through this alone. You know, it's a lot of people that's being affected by what's going on and my absence at times and, and so that right there was. It was gut wrenching. It was tough to hear my son in his authentic ways tell me how he felt. And at the same time, I'm feeling that way and, and he was just confirming some things. And so it was emotional for me. But anything I love, whether it's football related or family related, you know, I don't hold back the emotions. And I think everybody sees that and it's because I want to Be great at everything. You can't. But like I say, it's a process. And you will get there one day and it's going to be really sweet when it. When it actually happens. And my son, one day he'll know why daddy sacrificed all the time and worked so hard to. To. To be where he's at now.
- [22:59]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
I was always curious about this. With a great player who then becomes a coach, which you don't see a whole lot. I mean, there's a lot of coaches who were great players. You obviously are, you know, the highest level of that to me. But for you, night before a game, coaching versus night before a game, playing, how different are those emotions? Or do they feel exactly the same to you?
- [23:20]
Michael Vick
I plan to feel so much different because as a quarterback, you know, the next day you're gonna get your head bashed in. Like, it's like, let me go ahead and get a good night's rest because I know that tomorrow is gonna be rough. It's gonna be everything that I wanted in life. But at the same time, I gotta survive 60 minutes.
- [23:38]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Well, I'm looking forward to next season, both for the football season and for the show. I'm now a fan of both. I wanna throw it back for a second. Cause that's what we do with this show. Thr. Because that's what I always wonder. Obviously, I've been a fan of yours your whole career.
- [23:51]
Michael Vick
Yeah.
- [23:52]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
So I find it really interesting. When was the first time when you were really young that you knew you were not just fast like you were. It was like, there's kids that are fast and then there's other. Other types. I even see when my kids playing sports, there's other kids who just move different. When did you first realize as a youngster, I'm not just fast?
- [24:13]
Michael Vick
Yeah. I think it was in high school. We was playing against a pretty good team. And, you know, my scrambling ability just kind of like continued to ascend as I got older as a quarterback and got more comfortable. And we was playing the team and I scrambled to my right and I just, like. I had the whole team, the whole defense in pursuit of me. And I just like, cut back all the way across the field against everybody. And it's like guys had angles on me and was just missing. And we. For years, me and my friends, we used to pop that VCR tape in and just count how many guys I may miss on one play and. And just laugh at it. And so right then and there, I knew I had another gear and didn't Think it would take off the way it did when I went to Virginia Tech in terms of just being able to be so coordinated and being able to execute as a quarterback on a continuous basis and put in a great body of work. Put up a great body of work, man, it meant a lot to me as far as the hard work that was put in.
- [25:12]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
I want to fast forward now a little bit because, you know, I'm a big sneaker head, and I think for me, the two best Nike commercials that were not intended to be Nike commercials. One was Tiger woods, right? When he hits that putt where it, like, hung on the lip of the cup. You saw the Nike sign on the ball, and it rolled in. And obviously, you in some Jordan 17s against the Vikings. Now, I'm sure you've been asked about this a million times, but the question I want to ask you is, once you made that decision to do that, which I thought was a brilliant move, when you're lacing those up in the locker room, what on earth are your teammates and coaches saying to you?
- [25:51]
Michael Vick
When you lacing them up, man, you just lacing them up for fashion, really. You're not lacing them up for any advantage, any boost. Like, it's really a situation where I'm trying to look good. I got the J's on. They look fly. We on turf, and this is just a part of my uniform for the day. But you never know when you gonna make history. And I made history in them, man. And so I think that prompt a lot of other things that ended up happening, you know, with me having my own signature shoe at Nike and really being the face of Nike Football. I thought that was really cool. So, yeah, man, it was more so just about a fashion statement than. More than anything.
- [26:34]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
All right, so obviously, you know, I do this show with Matt Leinert every week. He had to hop a flight, which he was extremely bummed about, because I know the two of you have a great connection and are friends from over the years, but he.
- [26:46]
Matt Leinart
He.
- [26:47]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
He was so mad he couldn't be here. He pre recorded two questions for you. We're gonna run it right now, and then we'll come right back to this. But let's run Maddie Ice's the real Maddie Ice's first question.
- [26:59]
Matt Leinart
All right, Mike, I remember my rookie year when we played you guys in Atlanta. There were only a couple guys that really, like, made me get off the sideline, and I got to watch this guy play. You were one of them. I got a chance to watch you front and Center. And it was awesome because you're a one of one player. I'm curious for you, who was that player for you early in your career that you just had to get up off the bench and watch from the sideline?
- [27:23]
Michael Vick
Wow, that's a great question, Matt. Man, a player that I had to get up and watch. I mean, I would have to say Donovan McNabb, because I grew up idolizing Donovan McNabb. Donovan was one of the players that I wanted to be like. He was part of the reason that I visited Syracuse and was thinking about going to Syracuse. And when I seen his style of play, which was similar to the likes of Tommy Frazier, Charlie Ward, Steve McNair, I'm like, man, this dude is actually better than them and can really play. And so, you know, I just wanted to be like Donovan. When I started. When I, you know, played against him in the pros, he was the guy I had to stand up and watch for sure.
- [28:14]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
So I'm a giants fan. Donovan McNabb terrorized me for years, and then I had. Then you had to come and. And make me feel. I mean. Yeah, you know, I think I saw. I think you might have said on Mellow's podcast. I think when you, like, would watch film. I think when you In Falcons, though, when you would see, like, Andy Reid and stuff, he was calling, you were like, oh, man, that's. Is there a team you look at now? Because, like, obviously, I. I put you on, like, the Steph Curry level. Like, Steph Curry changed the way basketball was played and even, like, how young kids are practicing and skill sets. And you, to me, changed the way football was played at the quarterback position. So. And obviously, if you played today, they'd be designing offenses around you. But if you look around at the current NFL, is it. What team or system do you look after? You're like, oh, that would be fun if I, you know, throw it back maybe 15 years. Put the pads on.
- [29:06]
Michael Vick
Yeah. Yeah, man, it's some really good teams out there doing some good stuff. You know, obviously, I feel like Andy has enhanced his game plans.
- [29:16]
Matt Leinart
Yeah.
- [29:17]
Michael Vick
Since. Since I departed from him and, you know, three Super Bowls later, it definitely makes sense what he was trying to accomplish. Man, there's just so many good offenses. I love what the Ravens was doing with Lamar and Todd Monkin. Like, that was beautiful to watch. Really sweet situation. Yeah. And ultimately, I think Lamont won an MVP with Todd Monkin, so they was doing some great things. And, you know, I could just stop right there, man, because, you know, watching him was like watching me.
- [29:49]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Yeah. All right, let's get to Matt, Matt's last question and then we'll let you go, Coach Vic.
- [29:53]
Matt Leinart
All right, Mike, every week we do our throwbacks three and in honor of you being on the show, I want to hear your top three runs from your career. High school, college or NFL. Your top three runs.
- [30:07]
Michael Vick
Let's, let's start with college. My sophomore year, Racer sophomore year, I think I had like a 62 yard run against Boston College. It was amazing. Wasn't having the best day passing, but in terms of rushing, I rushed for 262 yards that day, close to 303 touchdowns. Moving forward to the NFL, Green Bay. I had to run against Green Bay in the playoffs, the 2002 playoffs. And I had a guy who had me on the sideline, did the rights, shook him off, actually threw him off and you know, came back, cut back through the middle of the field, almost had a touchdown, had made one guy, had to make one guy miss. He hit me on the leg and got away. That was a really dynamic run to me. And then obviously the run against Minnesota when you know, you know, the two guys ran into each other, you know, that was just epic, man. So that's my top three and I ended with the last one against Minnesota. Cause it was by far the best.
- [31:13]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
It was something I don't think anyone's seen before. Like you never really saw a walk off rushing touchdown from a QB at that point. So. Yeah, and John, it was cool. I think John Madden was on the call or.
- [31:25]
Michael Vick
Yeah, man, was on the call. Yeah, man,
- [31:29]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
it was perfect. It was perfect. Well, I can't thank you enough for being here. I really am looking forward to the Coach vic Experience Season 2 and more importantly, what you're going to do with the team. Season two. I'm excited to watch what you're building there.
- [31:42]
Michael Vick
Let's go, let's go.
- [31:42]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
I appreciate it.
- [31:43]
Michael Vick
I'm excited. All right. Thank you man. Appreciate y'.
- [31:45]
Sports Analyst/Commentator
All.
- [31:46]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Thank you.
- [31:51]
Advertisement Voice
Blizzard Entertainment presents Midnight. The newest expansion for World of Warcraft. Midnight calls every hero home to Azeroth. All paths lead to this moment. Xal' Atath rises, the void follows and the sunwell stands in. Palace Raiders Explorers, storytellers, newcomers and legends alike. This is your world, your story, your moment. Because Azeroth is home. And home is always worth fighting for.
- [32:17]
Available now@worldofwarcraft.com 30 years ago, blinds.com broke the mold and made custom window treatments easy for everyone. Over 25 million windows later, we're Celebrating by giving our customers up to 50% off site wide during our anniversary sale. Whether you DIY it or want a pro to handle everything from measure to install, blinds.com has you covered. Shop online, access real design professionals and get free samples. Thank you for 30amazing years. Shop the anniversary sale now through March 11th and get up to 50% off site wide@blinds.com.
- [32:51]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
all right, coming off Michael Vick. I really do want to play some Madden 2004 right now just to get with those vibes were like because there really is no quarterback like that even in today's Madden. Like Lamar's there but you couldn't really do contain like you can now. Back in Madden 04 it was a free for all for our guy Michael Vick. Eddie Gonzalez, our amazing producer. We last chatted with Shams on here you jumped on and Shams was at it again because he announced as this show is airing right now that Jason Tatum has been medically cleared and expectations are he will make his debut Friday night. Who knows what actually happens versus Dallas. So did you have an idea? Did you think that was coming? I, I thought he was gonna play again. I, I didn't know when, but I was pretty set on like how good the Celtics have been and everything you've been hearing like, oh, he's, he's playing. Like unless there's a medical thing that the 200 doctors say that are probably looking at his Achilles, he's playing.
- [33:54]
Sports Analyst/Commentator
Yeah, I, I mean I might have heard around the way and you know, some people, yeah, had some expectations but I know when, when he started doing scrimmages, we were talking and it was like, it really felt good.
- [34:07]
Michael Vick
It really felt good.
- [34:07]
Sports Analyst/Commentator
And then the rumors from the other side were like, yeah, he looked like J.T. out there. Like we didn't notice much different. So yeah, I'm excited to see him back out there. Guessing he's on a menace restriction. But all from everything I've heard, he looks good, he feels good, he's felt healthy for a long time now. And you know, it's kind of funny, you throw him out there, that's the two seed already now it's like, man, what can they do now? Like, can they win a title now? Can they get to the finals? It went from this happy go lucky. Like can't believe they're a two seed to, you know, they might have to win the ring now. Like he's back.
- [34:43]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
So I'm at war with several people on Twitter, some of which have like ESPN radio shows about, you know, Knicks aren't in this team's class. And all these dumb things, I think the NBA right now, as the Pacers prove to us are all about ceilings and floors, right? Like, how high is your ceiling when you are clicking and functioning and healthy versus how low does your floor go, right? Like Knicks as an example last year, I felt like they were high floor, like they never really get blown out, but also like, not that their ceiling was low, but they were just going to be in grind out heavyweight slug fest fights, right? Now you look at this Celtics team like before Tatum, I feel like we know what their ceiling is. It's pretty much the way they've been playing. We've seen Jalen Brown have an all time great season for him, but now that ceiling is way higher. That floor is way higher. And I'll tell you this, as a Knicks fan, well, first I want to throw it back because we're throwbacks, right? We always talk about was it better then versus better now. Here's what's better now. Achilles rehabilitation. That's a winner because Dominique Wilkins tours Achilles and the human highlight reel was gone for the most part. He still made it back, but not the same. Dan Marino, Torres, Achilles devastation. So when we talk about throwback, was it better than better now? Achilles surgery, doctors, way better now. Thank you for that. And my point is, a Knicks fan, I really don't like it when fans, I'm not even saying root for injuries, but deep down they're like, oh, this is going to be easy. Tatum's not like, I want to beat the team at full strength. I want to lose to the team at full strength. I've never met Tatum. I've interacted with on social. It seems like he's a dynamite guy. So as a human story, you got to be happy. He seems like he loves basketball, you know, after his kid and like after that basketball. So I'm just happy for the guy. I'm happy for the Celtics fans. And I would love nothing more if it's Nick Celtics in the playoffs at some point. I would much rather that than no Tatum. And I think there's a lot of fans deep down that would rather not see Tatum. And I get it, maybe it's an easier road. But I'm happy he's back and I, I would rather face him as a rival because I just think it's, you know, I want to see the best basketball.
- [37:11]
Sports Analyst/Commentator
I think it's just a great story too to have this, you know, this, this a guy in his prime. He just turned 28 a few days ago.
- [37:17]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Yeah.
- [37:18]
Sports Analyst/Commentator
And to, like you mentioned, we're able to have this type of recovery now. You kind of a little more hopeful after an Achilles, obviously, what KD has done, but there's some other guys who have come back from that and, and, and been just as good and been strong players because like you said growing up, you saw your Achilles and that was done. Yeah, we lost Isaiah Thomas forever after that.
- [37:38]
Michael Vick
Like, you know, like.
- [37:39]
Sports Analyst/Commentator
And so now it's like, yo, you can come back the same season, huh?
- [37:43]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Yeah, but to me, that was always the injury when you saw like your favorite player, then five years later in a different uniform, oh, Patrick Ewing's on the, on the Sonics, you know, that was the Achilles injury. Made you see your favorite player in a uniform you'd never thought he would be in because it was, it was almost over.
- [38:00]
Sports Analyst/Commentator
So I think the thing for JT is also like, coming back this fast, but coming back exactly where they're at. You know, in his prime, in the expectation levels, you're going to be Jason Tatum. You're going to be, you know, MVP type level player on a contender that we want to see win a championship now. And so we've never seen that. We're going to see it now for the first time. But knowing him and knowing how focused he's been on this, expecting him to look like him.
- [38:27]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
So here's why I'm smiling. I'm just thinking about all the media I, I could already see. First take, should Jason Tatum defer to Jalen Brown when he gets back as he slowly. They're gonna turn this into a JB versus jt, of course, garbage. It's like, I mean, I'm here for it because I do at least make it a little hard on them. You know, I don't want the guy to walk back in the 30 a game. But, you know, they're somehow gonna turn this all into, you know, oh, JB versus JT. Oh, JB's not getting the same touches. It's like, I can't. It's such a dumb conversation. But I'll look forward to it.
- [39:06]
Sports Analyst/Commentator
I see it now. First bad game. Oh, did he come back too soon? Should he have just.
- [39:12]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
He interrupted the team?
- [39:13]
Sports Analyst/Commentator
Yeah, he messed up the momentum. Like, it, like, I could see it now, but you know what they don't do on the other side of that first big game, they're not going to be like, good thing he came back,
- [39:23]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
because now where would they be without him? Yeah.
- [39:26]
Sports Analyst/Commentator
Yeah. So you know how that goes. But I'm excited that we are now in a sports world where Achilles, acl. Some guys are coming back from acl. Six, seven months.
- [39:36]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Yeah.
- [39:37]
Sports Analyst/Commentator
Doesn't ruin your career. Used to be, same thing with ACL. You tore your ACL in the 80s. That was it, buddy. You're done. You're. You're booby miles. It's over.
- [39:45]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Yeah.
- [39:45]
Sports Analyst/Commentator
Now it's like, yo, some of these dudes are coming back in season and just, like, picking right up where they left off.
- [39:50]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
I think that's our first undeniable. Better than or better now, not even an argument, but we have some future arguments for that discussion. All right, well, thank you, Eddie and I. Look, I'll be watching. Jt. Something I wanted to say on the way out the door. I don't know if you guys saw the jersey in the back of my shot over here, but I'll pull it up right here. And for those of you know, we talk a lot about movies and pop culture on this show. And this is Johnny Moxon from Varsity Blues. I ordered this three, three months ago. James Vanderbeek was, you know, releasing some autographed ones and, and raising some funds and stuff like that. And also I was a fan of the movie. I had to have it. But I. I've met James a handful of times, and I just want to send a deep, you know, deep, heartfelt prayer out to his family. He's got, you know, six children and really has put a lot of things about life in perspective for me. You know, we're kind of close in age and, you know, I have three kids now. And he really did. Again, I did not know him well. Kevin Conley knew him pretty well. I think they actually like their first movies together, something like that. But I did reach out to him because our wives are friends. And I did reach out to him probably about five years ago. I was going through something really, really tough, personal, but career wise. Right. And he had a unique skill set where I thought his opinion would kind of help. And again, I didn't know him well, and I got his number and he's like, yeah, sure, call me whatever you need. And he spent, like two hours on the phone with me, again, not knowing me all that well, and really gave me some wise advice and talked me out of a situation that I didn't really didn't know what to do. And I've always respected him from there. So it's pretty heartbreaking. But I guess as we wind down today, just, you know, hug your loved ones. And I don't know, throw on Varsity Blues and get yourself a Johnny Mox in Jersey, because guy had a great body work, but from all accounts, really seemed to find something as he was battling this, you know, terrible, terrible illness. So we love you, James Vanderbeek. And that's the show today. And interesting ones, so to speak, with guys on planes, we had tech out. But you know what? We had throwbacks. We still keep going, Eddie. We still keep going.
- [42:11]
Sports Analyst/Commentator
Made it work, man.
- [42:12]
Host (possibly Eddie Gonzalez)
Made it work. All right, we'll see you next week.