Michael Vick surprised even himself by defeating LeSean McCoyin a 40-yard foot race earlier this month. Though McCoy jokingly derides Vick as an "old man," the 32-year-old Philadelphia Eagles quarterback might be faster this year than last, thanks to the training regimen implemented by new coach Chip Kelly.
"I didn't know I could still run that way," Vick told Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole. "I give a lot of credit to our strength and conditioning program, the things Chip has implemented into our training. He's got me doing things and seeing muscles that I hadn't seen in my body for a long time. It's a good time. I'm excited about that."
Top 100 Players of 2013
Make sure you vote for the Top 100 players of 2013. Voting ends May 31. Get your vote in. More ...
Kelly has introduced new fitness and health practices, including heart monitors, customized sleep tests and personalized smoothies specifically catered to each player's diet and workout regimens. It's all designed to help his players sustain peak performance in an up-tempo attack.
"I've never engaged in this type of nutrition and conditioning and weightlifting," Vick said. "It has been great because it's different than what I've done in the past. ... At the end, you look in the mirror and you're like, damn."
Vick took the opening snaps in Monday's practice, the first session open to the media this offseason. Reporters described Kelly's offense as "shock and awe" with a "frenetic" pace. If the "old man" is going to hold off Nick Foles and Matt Barkley for the starting job, he must regain the step he appeared to have lost last season. He's off to a promising start under Kelly.
Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.
