By Andy Nesbitt FOXSports.com
Michael Vick continues to take big steps in becoming the leader of the Philadelphia Eagles, so his remarks after breaking up a fight during Thursday’s practice came as a bit of a surprise.
“I try to be the peacemaker, but these young dudes don’t respect me,” said Vick, according to Philly.com.
Vick was one of a number of players that jumped in to break up a skirmish between wide receiver Riley Cooper and cornerback Cary Williams.
Cooper was excused from the team for three days during training camp after he was seen on video making a racial slur at a Kenny Chesney concert. While Cooper apologized to the team shortly after that incident, Williams told the media at the time that he was hurt by the slur and it would take a while for him to accept Cooper’s apology.
Williams didn’t speak to the media after Thursday’s scuffle, but Cooper did, saying “It was nothing.”
Vick spoke more with the media after practice, saying he wasn’t happy with the team.
“Our maturity level has to be on a whole different plane,” Vick said. “Regardless of who the catalyst was for the whole fight, that doesn’t matter. We have to be men. We’re not guys who are out on the street, fighting one another. We’re teammates. It’s game week. We don’t have time for that. I don’t.
“It’s a distraction.”
A distraction isn’t a good thing for a football team as it prepares for Week 1 of what could be a long season for the Eagles. Vick saying the young guys don’t respect him is an even bigger issue.
It should be interesting to see how things play out this year in Philly.
Michael Vick continues to take big steps in becoming the leader of the Philadelphia Eagles, so his remarks after breaking up a fight during Thursday’s practice came as a bit of a surprise.
“I try to be the peacemaker, but these young dudes don’t respect me,” said Vick, according to Philly.com.
Vick was one of a number of players that jumped in to break up a skirmish between wide receiver Riley Cooper and cornerback Cary Williams.
Cooper was excused from the team for three days during training camp after he was seen on video making a racial slur at a Kenny Chesney concert. While Cooper apologized to the team shortly after that incident, Williams told the media at the time that he was hurt by the slur and it would take a while for him to accept Cooper’s apology.
Williams didn’t speak to the media after Thursday’s scuffle, but Cooper did, saying “It was nothing.”
Vick spoke more with the media after practice, saying he wasn’t happy with the team.
“Our maturity level has to be on a whole different plane,” Vick said. “Regardless of who the catalyst was for the whole fight, that doesn’t matter. We have to be men. We’re not guys who are out on the street, fighting one another. We’re teammates. It’s game week. We don’t have time for that. I don’t.
“It’s a distraction.”
A distraction isn’t a good thing for a football team as it prepares for Week 1 of what could be a long season for the Eagles. Vick saying the young guys don’t respect him is an even bigger issue.
It should be interesting to see how things play out this year in Philly.
