Vick said the fear of getting injured weighed heavily into his decision. He cited the problems of former UVa safety Anthony Poindexter, who saw his stock drop after injuring his knee his senior season. That injury cost Poindexter, now with the Baltimore Ravens, millions of dollars.
"I had to look at it from a lot of different aspects. Maybe I would have had an injury that was career-ending," Vick said. "Maybe I would have had an injury that would have hampered me for two or three games and caused my stock to drop.
"A lot of things came into play. I had to think deeply about it. The opportunity presented itself and I have to take advantage of it."
The San Diego Chargers hold the first pick in April's NFL Draft and most NFL people think Vick will be the first player taken. As a result, Vick likely will command a $50 million contract with a $11-to-$15 million in up-front bonuses. Noted agent Leigh Steinberg reportedly told Vick he could get the Hokies' quarterback a $20 million signing bonus. Contrary to reports, Vick hasn't signed with an agent, ending speculation that he had signed with Steinberg.
The Chargers, though, need to decide what to do with current quarterback Ryan Leaf. If the Chargers cut Leaf or trade him, they will still be accountable for nearly $4 million against the salary cap.
But both Bill Polian, the GM of the Indianapolis Colts, and Charley Casserly, the GM of the expansion Houston Texans, told Vick during a teleconference last week that there was a good possibility that the Chargers would trade the pick, leaving Vick in a tenuous state. If Vick is not picked first, then he would not be picked probably until fifth by Atlanta because the three teams in that stretch do not need a quarterback.
