Here are excerpts of Eagles starting quarterback Michael Vick's conference call with the Atlanta media on Wednesday. The former Falcon returns to the Georgia Dome on Sunday to face his old team.
Q. What are your feelings about coming back to Atlanta, this time as the opposing starting quarterback?
A. I'm excited to come back to Atlanta. I'm looking forward to going out and playing a competitive game and try to come out with a win. It's going to be tough playing on the road against a football team that plays well at home so we have to make sure we are focused.
Q. Any extra incentive?
A. I don't think so. A win, that's all.
Q. When you look up in the stands and see all those fans with your old Falcons jersey on what do you think?
A. I'm just thankful for all the fans I have all around the world. I'm bless that I could have an impact on their lives in some kind of way. I appreciate the support and it's gratifying.
Q. Can you appreciate the position that Matt Ryan is in having to follow you in Atlanta and still looking up in the stands and seeing your jersey?
A. I think it's a plus for me and it's motivation for Ryan to play better, to be the best that he can be. Make sure that he captures those fans as well. I think he's done a great job of doing that. Fans are allowed to like as many people as the want, as many quarterbacks as they want. I think it's a good thing for both of us.
Q. What do you think of Matt Ryan's style of play?
A. I think he's a great quarterback. He's one of the young stars in this league and he'll be one of the great ones. He just has to keep working and as he develops he'll continue to get better and better. I'm excited for him.
Q. You've had great success in Philadelphia under coach [Andy] Reid. Do you ever think back to 2007 and think what might have been if you and coach [Bobby] Petrino could have spent a year together?
A. Yeah, I think about it from time to time. If it was meant to be, I think it would have happened. I was very comfortable in the system and I picked it up. I just decided to turn the corner a tad bit too late. Who knows what would have happened and how everything would have turned out.
Q. What is it like for you personally knowing that the city of Philadelphia has embraced you much the way Atlanta did?
A. It's great. It goes to show that I'm doing something right. I just have to continue to do be the best I can be on and off the field and keep working hard.
Q. I read something that said [offensive line coach [Howard] Mudd wanted you to take responsibility for line calls and that you got a chance to do that before the lockout was in place. How different is that where you are actually a leader in offensive meetings and you get a chance to do the things you are doing game in and game out?
A. It's fun piecing together the puzzle of picking up blitzes. It's something of a responsibility that I never thought I would have. It's great to be in that position. It helps you learn more about the game. I'm just thankful we have coach Mudd and Andy and Marty [Mornhinweg] have given me the opportunity to do that.
Q. How much more are you equipped to handle that responsibility, both on and off the field with everything that has happened? Is that also part of the process that taking on that responsibility has become really important to you?
A. Absolutely. I'm trying to slow the game down as much as I can, as much as my body will allow me to. It's just another responsibility and something else to work on. It will definitely help not only myself but my team in the long run.
Q. Why is that something that you never expected to have that kind of responsibility?
A. If you have coaches that never ask you to do that then maybe it's something that they don't want you to do, don't think you need to do or don't think it's important in the offense. Or you allow other guys on the front line to make those calls. I think coach Mudd just thought it was important that the quarterback does it and I think Andy and Marty thinks it's important as well.
Q. I know you have moved forward and done some good things with your life since the troubles here, but is there a part of you that still has regrets, particularly a time like this when you are coming back to Atlanta, to say I wish things would have turned out differently there or I wish I was still playing there or would the franchise be in the same position if I was the quarterback?
A. To be honest, I haven't really thought about that in a while. It might cross my mind every now and then but I'm just so thankful to be here in Philly right now. I know things happen for a reason and maybe it was meant for me to be here. I couldn't have landed in a better city and a better place right now. This is my home and this is where I want to be. I'm just thankful for that.
Q. This has to be an advantage that it's not going to be a completely hostile environment?
A. You never know.
Q. Do you understand people that feel, because of everything you've gone through, you are giving Philadelphia everything that you possibly can give but you didn't necessarily give Atlanta everything you could possibly give?
A. People have to understand I was young when I was in Atlanta. The structure is just a little different. I think I've matured a lot. It's just a different situation. I could go into detail about it but I won't. I'm older now and I've been through a lot. I always work hard and dedicate myself, just as I did in Atlanta. I made progress and I had some good years there but the situation is different now and there is no need to talk about the past. I just have to move forward.
Q. Do you appreciate now more than ever how difficult the quarterback job is?
A. I appreciate playing the position. I appreciate everything that comes along with it. You learn a lot about yourself playing the quarterback position week in and week out. It's definitely a position that, I think, is the most unique out of every sport. It requires a lot of hard work and patience.
Q. What do you remember most about the 2009 game here?
A. I just remember being in the Dome and the crowd chanting my name, which is special. And all my teammates that thought it was the greatest thing in the world. Everybody on our sideline came to me and said they were excited that they could be a part of that situation and being there to witness it because they had never seen it before. I will always remember that day, not for the plays I made on the field because that was a fraction of the joy that I felt that day. The appreciation from the Atlanta fans that I had even though I was in a different uniform.
Q. A former Falcon once returned to the Dome as an opposing player and called it my house. Are you ready to do that?
A. No, that's not my house. That's Matt Ryan's house. I'm just a visitor.
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