Add the Philadelphia Eagles to list of teams with an "open quarterback competition." While it is assumed the starting position is Michael Vick's to lose, that might not be the case. While the quarterback is trying to act every bit the starter, head coach Chip Kelly downplays the idea that he will be under center Week One.
As of now, both Vick and backup Nick Foles have taken snaps with the first-team offense. A lot is being read into the snap counts received by each quarterback in an attempt to see who might start when the season begins, but Kelly is urging people not to read into that idea. The coach says Vick has not been getting all of the practice reps.
"I mean it could have been 48 to 52 percent, but we'll count them up. Again, it's May 13. We're just trying to get reps off and trying to get film and look at it. To your original question, 'What would I make of it?' It's May 13 and we've got a long ways to go before we ever set a depth chart or do anything like that," Kelly said.
The longer the quarterback competition in Philly continues and the longer Kelly remains coy on who is the starter, the more rumors will swirl that maybe Vick is not their go-to guy. The Eagles also brought in rookie Matt Barkley, who for all anyone knows, has just a good enough chance to start as Vick does.
"I would hope anybody that came into this place isn't sitting here and saying, 'I think I'm going to be a really good, solid backup," Kelly said.
As the plot thickens on the quarterback competition, so does the story surrounding an unofficial foot race between Vick and running back LaSean McCoy. Earlier in the month, McCoy challenged the quarterback to a good old fashioned race, believing he would smoke the "old man." However, Vick beat him, crediting his offseason workout program. Well, McCoy is calling foul play on the whole race.
McCoy said Vick jumped early in the race and he has video to prove it. Sore loser? Vick denies having an unfair advantage, claiming he won the race fairly. Looks like the quarterback competition is not the only drama surrounding the Eagles' offseason workouts.