Minutes after his first practice with the Steelers, quarterback Michael Vick was already looking forward to playing in his first preseason game with his new team.
Saturday afternoon in Buffalo wouldn't be rushing things in Vick's estimation.
"It's kinda soon but I'm picking up the offense," Vick said. "I got a grasp on a couple concepts. Who knows? I might get in there.
"I'm hoping I get a chance to go out there and play. That's what I would like to do. That's what I dreamed about when I was sitting at home on the couch a month ago watching preseason games. I just hoped and wished and prayed I'd get back out there.
"Whatever Coach (Mike Tomlin) decides. If he's comfortable with me getting back out there then yeah, I'm all for it. If not, then definitely next week."
Vick addressed a number of other subjects during his first scrum with media covering the team, including:
Playing behind Ben Roethlisberger: "He's a great player, a great study, a great competitor and very accurate throwing the football. It's just an honor to be able to sit back and watch a future Hall-of-Famer work every day. I can learn a lot from him. He leads by example.
"Every guy in this locker room respects him and that's the way it's supposed to be."
Resuming his career with the Steelers: "The franchise is a flagship organization, couldn't have landed in a better place. The organization is all about pleasing the fans. And the thing is in this locker room, what I've heard from everybody, there's only one goal and that's to get a ring.
"To walk in and see six Lombardi trophies in the front, it's motivating. I'm just glad to be a part of it. It's something I needed in my life. I feel like I'm in a great position and in a great place."
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Accepting a backup role:** "I played the role last year. I felt like last year really kind of put me in the mindset of getting ready to play a backup role. It's hard because I've been a starter for so long. Last year took a lot of adjusting and I admit I didn't do it as well as I wanted to.
"I think you have to accept it first and I've been able to do that, come to grips with it. I understand why I'm here, my role is clear and I can just focus on that."
His continued faith in his ability and his game: "You gotta watch me play. I think anybody can prosper in the right situations, with the right coaches and the right system and the right talent around you. You can take one of the best players and put him on the field and if he doesn't have a great supporting cast in the NFL he's not going to have a great season or he's not going to be the player that he can become. You have to have the right talent around you.
"I believe in my abilities. I'm thankful that at 35 I can still move and still throw the football the way I can and I'm still in my right mind to pay football and still have the competitive edge."
