Commissioner Roger Goodell acted in a timely fashion, as predicted, allowing Michael Vick back in the NFL a week after his house arrest ended – with some conditions. I felt his ruling Monday was perfectly crafted, perfectly thought out and clearly placed the burden on Vick. From my perspective, Vick got the best ruling he could have hoped for. He’s back in the league he loves, in control of his own destiny, and now all his words about being a changed man will have to manifest into action.
A direct path back to the NFL was never going to be in the cards for Vick, but clearly the commissioner did not want to punish him any further than the sentence he has already served. All he is asking from Vick is to show him that he can avoid conflict, avoid trouble, is remorseful for his actions and can get his life back in order. Added to the ruling, the commissioner also threw Vick a life raft in the person of former Colts head coach Tony Dungy. There could be no better mentor for Vick than Dungy, who left coaching for a career helping others. He values his life as significant, not successful. He wants to serve others, he wants to be help to people who want and need help. Vick finally has a male figure in his life who can give him sound advice and, most importantly, whom he will listen to. Many have tried to give Vick advice in the past, but he would listen and not hear, or he would hear and not listen. Now the new Michael Vick is willing to listen as well as hear.
The next question in the Vick saga is, where will he play? What team will take a chance on Vick being a changed man? First, let’s clear up the misconception that Vick is a character problem. He committed a horrendous crime; he made a serious mistake in judgment. As Alge Crumpler said on NFL Network, Vick did a monster deed, but he is not a monster as a person. When a team signs Vick, there will be an onslaught of distractions outside the football building, but his behavior inside at work will never come into question. Now consider if a team were to sign Adam “Pacman” Jones. There might not be a distraction outside the building, but internally, everyone would wonder when he might make a mistake off the field again. Defining character in this instance is not as easy as black or white. Vick brings some public relations issues, but he wants to play football -- and in the locker room he has always been a good teammate.
So if a team chooses not to sign Vick because of the P.R. onslaught, that’s its right -- the owner’s right. But it will be because of his past behavior, not his potential for trouble with the football staff.
OK, enough about the politics of Michael Vick. Let’s break down the football element of his return.
FAR AWAY AND LONG AGO...
Vick last played in an NFL game in December 2006, against the Philadelphia Eagles. That season, he gained more than 1,000 yards rushing, second on the team, and the Falcons averaged over 5.5 yards per carry. At one point, the Falcons were 7-6 and in the playoff hunt, but they lost their last three games to end up 7-9, costing Jim Mora his job. But when Vick was operating at his best, he was able to make one or two plays a game that helped his team win. His overall record as a starter in the NFL is 38-28-1 (I think that’s an important stat, like pitchers in baseball). He has been to three Pro Bowls as a quarterback. Is he a west coast quarterback? No, but he’s the kind of quarterback who drives defensive coordinators nuts, creating speed problems all over the field. You keep asking yourself: Are we fast enough to handle him?
When you played the Falcons, you had to have the Vick plan, which was keep him in the pocket, make him throw from the pocket and not let him beat you with his legs. Teams had to rush him a certain way, making sure that the line kept disciplined rush lanes, and there was a spy to help when he got out of the pocket. The spy concept always was interesting to me because the guy spying on Vick had to be able to catch him, which often was not the case. It looked good on the grease board, but not always on the field.
So being away from the game for two years will create some problems for Vick to get his body into game condition. He will be able to run as fast as ever, he will be able to throw the ball as far as ever -- those talents are God-given. But it will take time to learn the playbook, learn the system, learn about his new teammates and learn to be a football player again.
THEY MAKE TOO MUCH SENSE
Jacksonville -- I know I sound like a broken record with this team, but it makes too much sense. A team without a backup, unless you consider 35-year-old Todd Bouman and his six starts a viable option. Head coach Jack Del Rio is at a crossroads. He must show improvement with his team this year, and I know they want to get rid of all the so-called “character problems” of the past, as new personnel man Gene Smith wants to bring in solid people. David Garrard is the starter, but are the Jags going to get the ‘07 Garrard or the ‘08 Garrard? And why can’t they bring in the competition. Let’s say you sign Vick and Garrard is the ‘08 Garrard. Now you might have an option for the 2010 season. If Garrard is the ‘07 player, then you’re protected with a viable option as a backup. It makes too much sense football-wise, and unless owner Wayne Weaver vetoes the idea, why not take a chance?
San Francisco -- The mandate from the head coach is to run the ball, as he only wants the ball in the air no more than 24 times a game (can you imagine what Bill Walsh would think if he had heard that comment from a member of the 49ers?). There is no clear solution at quarterback as yet; Alex Smith and Shaun Hill will battle for the job. Why not sign a player who enhances the run game? Why not give your team a possible solution if neither Smith nor Hill is the next Joe Montana? If Dungy calls Mike Singletary and tells him Vick is good to go, how can you ignore that advice?
St. Louis – I’ve mentioned the Rams before because GM Billy Devaney and Vick go back to their Atlanta days. With all due respect to Marc Bulger, the Rams are not exactly set at quarterback. Bulger has been injury-prone and has not been able to perform at a high level, throwing only 22 touchdown passes the last two years. The Rams need hope (I used to love it when Art Modell, the owner of the Browns, would tell me, “Kid, all we do in the sports business is sell hope,” and he was right). They need someone who can give them a solution, either short- or long-term, at the quarterback spot. New head coach, new era in St. Louis. They need a new answer at quarterback.
DIFFICULT, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE…
Buffalo -- When they signed Terrell Owens, I was surprised, but clearly they are going all in to make the playoffs. With Ryan Fitzpatrick as your backup and starter Trent Edwards being prone to injury since he’s been in the pros (and in college), Vick might be a viable option for the short and long term. If this move appeals to owner Ralph Wilson, he’ll make the move. By bringing in Owens, the Bills have created hope (there’s that word again) and excitement.
Washington – The Redskins have players on the team who know Vick from their days in Atlanta. Washington might have three quarterbacks on their roster, but do they have one who can lead them to the playoffs? Might make some sense for the ‘Skins to consider.
Miami – The Dolphins brought the wildcat back to the NFL. Who better to run that offense than Vick? If you drafted Pat White in the second round, clearly placing a huge value on someone to run the wildcat, then Vick is a possibility.
Oakland -- With JaMarcus Russell struggling, Vick might be best reunited with Tom Cable, who was the line coach in Atlanta when Vick rushed for over 1,000 yards. Cable knows the value Vick brings to the run game, but can he sell him as a passer?
Cincinnati -- Mike Brown loves to give second chances, and he loves value. Vick would be a great value and clearly in need of a second chance. Carson Palmer is the starter, but injuries make you wonder.
That’s eight teams right now -- not counting the team that gets a quarterback injured and will have to make a move. The Vick watch is on….
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Likewise.
He played in '06.
that article is a joke and so is Jesse Jackson. these people dont live in the real world.
in the NYTimes article above, you have a liberal journalist comparing a dog fighting ring to legal hunting. throw in Jesse Jackson, who is, imo, an idiot. and now it's a big conspiracy to keep poor Mike Vick, out of the NFL. he compares Vick trying to get back into the NFL to Jackie Robinson getting into MLB! what a joke! is Al Sharpton involved yet?
