FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Now that he has the NFL's richest contract, Michael Vick wants to prove he's worth every penny.
"The only thing that matters is winning football games," Vick said Thursday. "It's not about being the highest-paid guy in the NFL because that doesn't mean anything if you don't win football games."
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback signed a 10-year, $130 million contract extension Thursday that guarantees him an NFL-record $37 million in bonuses.
"It's no longer a distraction," Vick said. "We got the deal out of the way and we were able to move forward, so I'm very excited about that."
Vick's deal surpasses the $98 million contract Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning signed in March. Manning, who signed for seven years, is guaranteed $34.5 million in bonuses.
Falcons general manager Rich McKay and Vick's agent, Joel Segal, began negotiations more than two months ago. They reached an agreement in principle Monday afternoon.
|
|
| Michael Vick breaks the bank with his new contract. (AP) |
"It's a big day for me, it's a big day for my family and like I said before, it still hasn't dawned on me yet," Vick said. "But I guess come tonight or tomorrow, I'll realize that I am the highest-paid player in the NFL and I have to continue to do what I've been doing and that's play good football."
The No. 1 overall draft pick in 2001, Vick has a 24-12-1 career record. He is 14-4 since returning from a broken ankle last year, and has led the Falcons to just the third division title in franchise history.
Atlanta earned a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs following last week's overtime victory against Carolina, and Green Bay's loss to Jacksonville. The Falcons (11-3) visit New Orleans on Sunday, but Vick missed his second straight practice Thursday after injuring his left (throwing) shoulder against the Panthers.
Rookie Matt Schaub hasn't been told he will start against the Saints, but the third-round pick from Virginia is prepared to do so. If he does play, Schaub won't try to play like Vick, who leads the NFL with 7.6 yards per carry.
Schaub, like many of his teammates, considers Vick a freak of nature.
"Yeah, pretty much," Schaub said. "I always thought he was, watching him on TV, but seeing it up close every day is something else."
jahcool 
