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Why No NFL Team Will (Or Should) Pick Up Vick
Published: June 18, 2009
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About a month ago, minor-league football team the Albany Firebirds, issued a press release offering a job to Michael Vick for the league standard of $200/week, plus a $50 bonus for each win, with Vick promising $100,000 to a local shelter.
It was mostly a publicity stunt put out by a struggling Arena Football 2 team. The significance of the story is that the public backlash against this was so swift the team’s owner was forced to come out the next day and deny any knowledge or approval of the deal.
So basically a stunt by a tiny and completely insignificant sports team in a fairly small town prompted a very significant outcry. What does this mean then for any NFL team looking to give Vick a shot? It’s not worth it.
If we thought the circus that surrounded Favre at the Jets’ camp last year or Terrell Owens at Buffalo’s OTAs were bad, imagine Vick arriving for your NFL team’s practices. He’s the ultimate distraction.
He isn’t the team destroyer that Owens is or even the repeat offender like Pacman. His crime didn’t hurt any person, nor did it occur in a crowded club or casino. No shots were fired and there wasn’t even a criminal trial.
But what Vick did hurts his image worse than any other crime committed by any other NFL player, current of former. Well except for maybe O.J., but that’s a different story.
Some of Vick’s image problem is the sadistic torture, some is the organized crime. These create an image more devastating than any individual act of thuggery, despite the fact the other NFL players show more distinct patterns of criminal activity.
Honestly I think Pacman and his posse are more of a threat to humanity than Vick.
Vick’s fame is one main reason he will never be an NFL player again. His case was so drawn out and so devastating that no franchise can withstand his past. Give the Feds credit though. They wanted to take a big public bite out of a crime that plagues the rural south while bringing it to the public’s attention and they did a very good job.
Maybe if Vick was a lesser-known player, maybe if his crime seemed more common and less sadistic, and maybe if the public weren’t so desensitized to human vs. human violence, maybe then Vick would have a chance. Maybe if Vick was at the top of his game when he fell, or if his game seemed to be what NFL teams were looking for, then the risk would be worth taking.
One thing we can’t forget was his record of repeated lying to Falcons top brass, especially owner Arthur Blank. Blank not only opened his wallet with the largest contract in NFL history, he repeatedly defended Vick and would have taken a bullet for his franchise QB. Vick’s actions repeatedly spat in his face of the franchise.
First, Vick did so with his middle finger, then with his “water bottle” and “mysterious substance.” Then Blank gave him every chance to come clean with his dog-fighting activities, a move that well could have salvaged his image. NFL owners and execs belong to an exclusive club. They tend to stick it to those that screw them over.
Actually, the idea that Vick would go to a minor league football team, show that he still has it, do enough charity to show he has changed, and hope that the heat on him dies down enough that some GM gives him a shot somewhere on the field, doesn’t sound all that crazy.
But that road seems to be especially long and hard for someone like Vick, who’s intelligence is minimal and talent is fading.
I can’t quite say that I think Vick will never be given a chance, but the NFL isn’t the type of league you make many comebacks. If he were a baseball player he could go play in some independent league or in Japan. Maybe a basketball player he could go try Europe. Those are ways that disgraced professional players in other sports could stay sharp while the heat dies down. But football isn’t like that.
So that brings us back to the NFL right now. Will a NFL team take a chance on Vick this year? Will someone try to find a place for a once talented player who doesn’t really have a position? No. Can Vick find his way back to the gridiron one day? Yes, but he will have to find a way to flip his image 180 degrees while still staying athletically sharp in a way that fits an actual position in the NFL. I don’t think he’s smart enough to figure out a way to do that.
Atlanta Falcons’ Xs and Os: The Tony Gonzalez Effect and a Younger D
Published: June 3, 2009
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Offseason personnel changes will have some big effects on how the Falcon’s draw things up on offense and defense. Here are some things to look for from the playbook in 2009:
Offense
It can’t be overstated just how big an effect Tony Gonzalez can have on this Falcons offense. He looks to be the only major personnel change for Atlanta’s O but tight ends like Gonzalez, with the ability to catch and block, provide so much flexibility to a coordinator and they provide a big headache for opposing defenses in so many ways.
At the minimum, he provides a physically big target with soft hands for young QB Matt Ryan.
Watch for Falcons OC Mike Mularkey to keep Gonzalez planted firmly beside the Falcons O-Line and not in the slot. Harry Douglas provides enough of a threat from there. Gonzalez will make a huge difference in the red zone and on play action, so look for the Falcons to call more passes near the end-zone and on 3rd-and-short.
Atlanta’s dynamic running game lead by Micheal Turner will benefit as defenses won’t be able to use single coverage linebackers to cover Gonzalez in cover-two like they did with Jordan Peele. Teams will have to rely on smaller members of the secondary to cover the TE and Turner will have a field day running over them.
Also look for less sets featuring three wide receivers and virtually none with four wideouts, even in obvious passing downs.
Speedy ankle breaker Jerious Norwood is the perfect compliment to Turner and his ability to catch the ball out of the back field or in the slot will make him like another receiver. Gonzales will deliver some monster blocks against the nickle and dime defenses freeing up Norwood for monster gains on 3rd-and-long draw plays.
Finally, Roddy White and Micheal Jenkins proved themselves as threats at wide receiver last year but will see even more one-on-one chances thanks to Gonzo’s presence. Safeties were already creeping up to try to stop Turner and will be having to keep another eye on the tight end as well.
Defense
The Falcons spent their entire draft on defense. They needed to. That’s not because their defense was terrible, but it showed some age at times. They ranked 11th in points allowed per game but, 24th in yards allowed per game.
They ranked 21st against the pass and 25th against the run. Veteran DT Grady Jackson, MLB Keith Brooking, OLB Michael Boley, and CB Dominique Foxworth were all lost to free agency. That a lot of experience gone.
The injected youth all over the defense. With so many position battles going on its still hard to tell what the main effect will be on play calling for Falcons defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder. I expect the D to be deeper, faster, and more aggressive with more rotations to keep them fresh.
First-round pick DT Peria Jerry should be an upgrade over Grady Jackson. His size will make him an obvious force against the run but his athleticism can bring heat to QBs. This will hopefully give third-year DE Jamal Anderson a chance to shine.
The former first-round pick has been a bit of a disappointment, even with the hard-charging DE John Abraham often drawing two linesman.
Look for the Falcons to mix up pressure packages in the front seven. Abraham is getting older and is a injury concern. He will still be dominating at times but production will fall in 2009 and will leave the Falcons looking for other ways to get pressure on opposing QBs.
With the loss of Brooking it will be up to second-year MLB Curtis Lofton to step up and provide stability in the middle of the defense. He has great talent but is still developing instincts. If he can take charge reading the opposing scheme that will free up the outside linebackers to join in on the sack party.
The Falcons a depth of talent in the secondary. FS William Moore, a steal in the second-round of the draft, will be a ball hog as the Falcons will spend even more of their time in the Cover Two thanks to a strong D-line.
Corner Von Hutchens needs to stay healthily for the secondary to stay flexible with its safeties. Look for Brent Grimes and Owens, a nice one-on-one specialist, to do a good job while splitting time at the other CB spot.
The Falcons will have to make some tough decisions in their secondary but with upgrades on the D-line and youth at linebacker they well add flexibility and aggressiveness to the playbook and increase the chance of big plays and turnovers.
