Robert Griffin III

Mike Vick says he can still beat Cam Newton in a 40-yard dash

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:31 p.m. ET

Pete Blackburn

Michael Vick may no longer be the dominant dual-threat quarterback that he was when he broke into the NFL, but it doesn't seem like he has lost much confidence.

The 36-year-old Vick, who is currently a free agent, made a career out of torching defenders on the ground and through the air, sometimes so badly that he even felt sorry for them. And the veteran quarterback, who some think may be the fastest QB to ever play the game, thinks he's still got plenty left in the tank.

When asked how he would stack up in 40-yard dash competition against today's quarterbacks, Vick says he's confident that he would still finish in the top three. Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick, and Robert Griffin III were the first three guys that Vick named as potential challengers, but when he was asked about Cam Newton, his response may have raised some eyebrows.

“No, Cam can’t beat me in the 40,” Vick said with a smile, according to Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer. “But his speed is decent. Decent speed. Good enough. Fast enough, I will say that.”

Unfortunately, we may never know if Vick actually could still best the 27-year-old Newton. He's confident in his legs -- he believes he could run a 4.5 -- but Vick said earlier this week that he would prefer not to run any more 40-yard dashes because he doesn't want to risk injury, especially when it comes to his hamstrings.

It seems a bit of a tease for Vick to say he can still outrun one of the most versatile quarterbacks in the league, but then not be willing to provide us all with that entertainment. Luckily for him, there's no risk of injury when it comes to running his mouth.