According to NFL Network's Albert Breer, the Eagles have reached an agreement with quarterback Vince Young on a one year deal. Breer says that Young will come to Philadelphia to sign the deal later today when he officially clears waivers. Young will provide the Eagles with a veteran backup who has shown that he can step in and win games. Despite all the issues that seems to have followed Yong throughout his NFL career, he still has a career record of 30-18.
For Young, it's a chance at redemption with a team that's becoming a QB factory. In just the past few years, the Andy Reid/Marty Mornhinweg combo has developed Kevin Kolb and sold him on for a near kings ransom, they've resurrected the career of Michael Vick and turned him into a pro bowler and according to an earlier ESPN report, Young likely sees Philadelphia as a place that could potentially do the same for him.
One person who knows Young said he's equally intrigued with the idea of learning from Vick, Eagles coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who have done a first-rate job of training quarterbacks.
I've got some thoughts on Young and his career so far after the jump.
Young is a bit of enigma as he’s been dogged by questions about his attitude, work ethic and leadership ability his whole career. Despite that, he’s compiled a pretty impressive 30-18 record as a starter. Contrast that with Kevin Kolb, who has a 3-4 mark in the games he’s started and fetched a major ransom for the Eagles as well as new $63 million contract.
Take it a step further. Here is his 2010 stat line. 1,255 yards, 10 TDs, 3 INTs, 98.6 QB rating… and he was just cut for nothing. His career stats are a bit more telling. He’s completed less than 60% of his passes and he’s thrown as many INTs as TDs (42). He’s also had his share of injury issues. That said, he has rushed for almost 1,400 yards and TDs in his career as well.
But if the Eagles learned anything from the Michael Vick experiment, it’s that sometimes taking a flyer on a guy can pay off in a big way. Think of what signing Vick allowed them to do. It paved the way for them to trade both Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb for what ended up being Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, two second round picks and two fourth round picks(the team turned the 4th from the McNabb trade into an extra fourth). That trade produced at least two starters already with DRC and Nate Allen, with another certainly likely with next year’s second round pick. So with Vince Young, you at least get a guy who has shown he can win games in the NFL, but at best you could get another asset or potentially a replacement for Vick if something goes wrong.
And at this point, you have to trust the Andy Reid/Marty Mornhinweg combo to work with quarterbacks.