NFL steered Vick to Eagles? (1 Viewer)

[GroveDiesel]

Who knows if he would have ended up what he is now in Philly if he went to one of the other teams, but as a Bills fan my only response to this story is: you Goodell.

http://t.co/2R3abIg

ETA: Honestly, if this story is true, Goodell should immediately be fired. One thing a Commish in any league can't do is play favorites. If he is steering particular players to certain teams, no matter the circumstance, then he's playing favorites and doesn't deserve his job. It calls into question as to what other ways he may be playing favorites throughout the league?

 

[Banger]

I think the NFL did the right thing. He needed to take a step back and play for a good coach as opposed to just jumping right into a more unstable organization where he would immediately be the starter. It also helped create one hell of a QB which I'm fairly certain wouldn't have happened elsewhere.

 

[Kree]

Better than sending him to a team that has a reputation to uphold.

But seriously, very very odd if true.

 

[Wildcat]

I think the NFL did the right thing. He needed to take a step back and play for a good coach as opposed to just jumping right into a more unstable organization where he would immediately be the starter. It also helped create one hell of a QB which I'm fairly certain wouldn't have happened elsewhere.

wat? "Stable" and "unstable" are all opinions. The NFL shoudlnt' be steering players to any particular franchises. If the commissioner is telling or even suggesting to players where they should go, it is a conflict of interest and totally corrupts the integrity of the league. Goodell should step down if this is true.

 

[pollardsvision]

Who knows if he would have ended up what he is now in Philly if he went to one of the other teams, but as a Bills fan my only response to this story is: you Goodell.http://t.co/2R3abIgETA: Honestly, if this story is true, Goodell should immediately be fired. One thing a Commish in any league can't do is play favorites. If he is steering particular players to certain teams, no matter the circumstance, then he's playing favorites and doesn't deserve his job. It calls into question as to what other ways he may be playing favorites throughout the league?

If true, I can see where it's unseemly and maybe wrong, but this was clearly an abnormal situation.This was the sort of situation where the best interests of the league might override a commissioner's need to be completely impartial. If the the Vick return ended badly, it would've been bad for the entire league.At the time, the public was very sensitive with everything regarding this situation. It would make sense that Goodell would try to help ensure that it went well. In some ways, the reputation of the entire league was on the line. They could've survived it backfiring, but it clearly would've been a problem. Also, I'd imagine Vick has spent more time with Goodell than any other player and most players probably don't spend time talking to Goodell as they are making a free-agent decision. So that relationship is not typical.I could see why a Buffalo or Cincy fan might be pissed and maybe they should be. A true fan of those franchises would probably not let themselves believe that their franchise isn't in the same league with Philly and sending Vick there would've been potential disaster.

 

[Shane Falco]

Who knows if he would have ended up what he is now in Philly if he went to one of the other teams, but as a Bills fan my only response to this story is: you Goodell.http://t.co/2R3abIgETA: Honestly, if this story is true, Goodell should immediately be fired. One thing a Commish in any league can't do is play favorites. If he is steering particular players to certain teams, no matter the circumstance, then he's playing favorites and doesn't deserve his job. It calls into question as to what other ways he may be playing favorites throughout the league?

If true, I can see where it's unseemly and maybe wrong, but this was clearly an abnormal situation.This was the sort of situation where the best interests of the league might override a commissioner's need to be completely impartial. If the the Vick return ended badly, it would've been bad for the entire league.At the time, the public was very sensitive with everything regarding this situation. It would make sense that Goodell would try to help ensure that it went well. In some ways, the reputation of the entire league was on the line. They could've survived it backfiring, but it clearly would've been a problem. Also, I'd imagine Vick has spent more time with Goodell than any other player and most players probably don't spend time talking to Goodell as they are making a free-agent decision. So that relationship is not typical.I could see why a Buffalo or Cincy fan might be pissed and maybe they should be. A true fan of those franchises would probably not let themselves believe that they're franchise isn't in the same league with Philly and sending Vick there would've been potential disaster.

It was more about making sure that his return wasn't a trainwreck and making the league look good.You could say Vick was a PR experiment for the NFL that worked well so far.As an Eagles fan, they should have let him rot in Cincy or Buffalo.

 

[Insein]

I don't think he was directly steered towards Philly. It was probably more like, "You should consider all your options and how it will repair your image before you make a decision." So while the league may have wanted Vick to go one place or another, they will never be able to prove that the league expressly placed Vick on a team.

Besides which, we haven't seen the article yet. All we've seen is that he didn't want to goto Philly because he'd be 3rd string. Honestly, who would want to come back as 3rd string if you could start somewhere. The line "they put me in the right situation" is very vague right now. I'll wait to see the whole story.

 

[Banger]

Who knows if he would have ended up what he is now in Philly if he went to one of the other teams, but as a Bills fan my only response to this story is: you Goodell.http://t.co/2R3abIgETA: Honestly, if this story is true, Goodell should immediately be fired. One thing a Commish in any league can't do is play favorites. If he is steering particular players to certain teams, no matter the circumstance, then he's playing favorites and doesn't deserve his job. It calls into question as to what other ways he may be playing favorites throughout the league?

If true, I can see where it's unseemly and maybe wrong, but this was clearly an abnormal situation.This was the sort of situation where the best interests of the league might override a commissioner's need to be completely impartial. If the the Vick return ended badly, it would've been bad for the entire league.At the time, the public was very sensitive with everything regarding this situation. It would make sense that Goodell would try to help ensure that it went well. In some ways, the reputation of the entire league was on the line. They could've survived it backfiring, but it clearly would've been a problem. Also, I'd imagine Vick has spent more time with Goodell than any other player and most players probably don't spend time talking to Goodell as they are making a free-agent decision. So that relationship is not typical.I could see why a Buffalo or Cincy fan might be pissed and maybe they should be. A true fan of those franchises would probably not let themselves believe that they're franchise isn't in the same league with Philly and sending Vick there would've been potential disaster.

 

[pollardsvision]

I think the NFL did the right thing. He needed to take a step back and play for a good coach as opposed to just jumping right into a more unstable organization where he would immediately be the starter. It also helped create one hell of a QB which I'm fairly certain wouldn't have happened elsewhere.

wat? "Stable" and "unstable" are all opinions. The NFL shoudlnt' be steering players to any particular franchises. If the commissioner is telling or even suggesting to players where they should go, it is a conflict of interest and totally corrupts the integrity of the league. Goodell should step down if this is true.

Technically, I guess, it is an opinion, but is there a person on the face of the earth that holds the opinion that Buffalo or Cincy is a more stable franchise than Philly?

 

[GroveDiesel]

Yeah, or Vick could have gone to Buffalo, blown up in Chan Gailey's offense, turned around a struggling storied franchise, and saved football in one of the league's smallest markets.

The bottom line is that the commish has NO BUSINESS telling players where they should go. It's not his decision on that type of stuff as to what's "best" for the league.

 

[GroveDiesel]

I think the NFL did the right thing. He needed to take a step back and play for a good coach as opposed to just jumping right into a more unstable organization where he would immediately be the starter. It also helped create one hell of a QB which I'm fairly certain wouldn't have happened elsewhere.

wat? "Stable" and "unstable" are all opinions. The NFL shoudlnt' be steering players to any particular franchises. If the commissioner is telling or even suggesting to players where they should go, it is a conflict of interest and totally corrupts the integrity of the league. Goodell should step down if this is true.

Technically, I guess, it is an opinion, but is there a person on the face of the earth that holds the opinion that Buffalo or Cincy is a more stable franchise than Philly?

Philly? You mean the organization with the head coach whose two sons are both drug addicts/dealers? Where the fans can turn on you in a second and destroy any player? Where the current starting QB that was similar to Vick had a terrible relationship with his coach and fans? There are plenty of reasons why Philly wasn't "stable."

 

[Banger]

Yeah, or Vick could have gone to Buffalo, blown up in Chan Gailey's offense, turned around a struggling storied franchise, and saved football in one of the league's smallest markets. The bottom line is that the commish has NO BUSINESS telling players where they should go. It's not his decision on that type of stuff as to what's "best" for the league.

of course it is...that is his job. PR is his job, the marketing and success of the league is his job...that's what he's paid to do. Vick was the highest profile PR issue that he's had to deal with in his tenure and he needed to make sure he got it right. This wasn't just a FA and he was trying to steer him in the right direction...he was in jail and trying to turn his life around.I can understand being miffed as a Bill/Bengal fan but I think the humbling was a necessary part of his turnaround.

 

[baconisgood]

It's not his decision on that type of stuff as to what's "best" for the league.

that is exactly what the commish's job is. They change rules every year, give the worst teams the best draft spots and debate franchise numbers and locations all in the interests of what is best for the league.

Yeah, or Vick could have gone to Buffalo, blown up in Chan Gailey's offense, turned around a struggling storied franchise, and saved football in one of the league's smallest markets.

Or, the year before Gailey became HC, he could have been shoved into the starting QB situation and utterly imploding while turning off some of the few fans they have left. I live right by Philly (not an Eagles fan) and they took a crap load of heat from their fans for signing Vick. Had he been forced to start and sucked it would have been much worse- and there was a good chance he would have sucked that first year back.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

The word "steered" is pretty open ended. He could have very likely did what Insein mentioned above....I'd have to hear more about this before I tossed in my opinion.

 

[RUSF18]

Yeah, or Vick could have gone to Buffalo, blown up in Chan Gailey's offense, turned around a struggling storied franchise, and saved football in one of the league's smallest markets. The bottom line is that the commish has NO BUSINESS telling players where they should go. It's not his decision on that type of stuff as to what's "best" for the league.

If it wasn't the commish doing the "steering", how would you feel?

 

[cheese]

Horrible conflict of interest there. The guy who decides if you're suspended or if you can play wants you to be playing in a bigger market. Sign here.

 

[Bamac]

Yeah, or Vick could have gone to Buffalo, blown up in Chan Gailey's offense, turned around a struggling storied franchise, and saved football in one of the league's smallest markets. The bottom line is that the commish has NO BUSINESS telling players where they should go. It's not his decision on that type of stuff as to what's "best" for the league.

If it wasn't the commish doing the "steering", how would you feel?

Fine. If it were, say, Tony Dungy, I would applaud him for steering Mike in the right direction. The only thing troubling about this is that it was the commish.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Yeah, or Vick could have gone to Buffalo, blown up in Chan Gailey's offense, turned around a struggling storied franchise, and saved football in one of the league's smallest markets. The bottom line is that the commish has NO BUSINESS telling players where they should go. It's not his decision on that type of stuff as to what's "best" for the league.

of course it is...that is his job. PR is his job, the marketing and success of the league is his job...that's what he's paid to do. Vick was the highest profile PR issue that he's had to deal with in his tenure and he needed to make sure he got it right. This wasn't just a FA and he was trying to steer him in the right direction...he was in jail and trying to turn his life around.I can understand being miffed as a Bill/Bengal fan but I think the humbling was a necessary part of his turnaround.

Seems to be that it is the exact opposite of what he's supposed to do. Here's a quote from a sports management professor in a NY Times article published during the Commissioner search:

“In the business community, you can scuttle something that isn’t making money for you,” Bowland said. “You can’t just go pull a C.E.O. out, pull a Jack Welch out, because I don’t know if it would work. You can’t close the Buffalo Bills. You can’t outsource.”

Moral of the story- you serve the league, not the teams. To exert influence in a personnel decision is really out of bounds of what the Commissioner should do. If you're a Bills or Bengals fan how do you NOT feel cheated? If not for the Commissioner meddling in a personnel decision you might have Michael Vick as your quarterback today.

 

[CentralPA]

I think the NFL did the right thing. He needed to take a step back and play for a good coach as opposed to just jumping right into a more unstable organization where he would immediately be the starter. It also helped create one hell of a QB which I'm fairly certain wouldn't have happened elsewhere.

wat? "Stable" and "unstable" are all opinions. The NFL shoudlnt' be steering players to any particular franchises. If the commissioner is telling or even suggesting to players where they should go, it is a conflict of interest and totally corrupts the integrity of the league. Goodell should step down if this is true.

Technically, I guess, it is an opinion, but is there a person on the face of the earth that holds the opinion that Buffalo or Cincy is a more stable franchise than Philly?

Philly? You mean the organization with the head coach whose two sons are both drug addicts/dealers? Where the fans can turn on you in a second and destroy any player? Where the current starting QB that was similar to Vick had a terrible relationship with his coach and fans? There are plenty of reasons why Philly wasn't "stable."

Oh yeah, you hit the bullseye on the Philly sports scene

 

[JetMaxx]

If you saw Vick in his first and even second preseason's, he likely would be out of the league if forced to start for a struggling franchise. The guy had tons of rust, out of shape, his fundamentals were even worse than when in ATL, and he had the whole dog fighting issue to live down. IMO at that point he was utterly incapable of leading a poor team, both onthe field and off. He went to the ideal situation. A veteran starting QB who he respected to sit behind, a backup QB in Kolb who befriended him and was willing to help him in any way possible(both in yrs 1 & 2), and a head coach in Reid who has built a reputation as one of, if not the best QB coaches in the game.

 

[Insein]

Yeah, or Vick could have gone to Buffalo, blown up in Chan Gailey's offense, turned around a struggling storied franchise, and saved football in one of the league's smallest markets.

The bottom line is that the commish has NO BUSINESS telling players where they should go. It's not his decision on that type of stuff as to what's "best" for the league.

of course it is...that is his job. PR is his job, the marketing and success of the league is his job...that's what he's paid to do. Vick was the highest profile PR issue that he's had to deal with in his tenure and he needed to make sure he got it right. This wasn't just a FA and he was trying to steer him in the right direction...he was in jail and trying to turn his life around.I can understand being miffed as a Bill/Bengal fan but I think the humbling was a necessary part of his turnaround.

Seems to be that it is the exact opposite of what he's supposed to do. Here's a quote from a sports management professor in a NY Times article published during the Commissioner search:

“In the business community, you can scuttle something that isn’t making money for you,” Bowland said. “You can’t just go pull a C.E.O. out, pull a Jack Welch out, because I don’t know if it would work. You can’t close the Buffalo Bills. You can’t outsource.”

Moral of the story- you serve the league, not the teams. To exert influence in a personnel decision is really out of bounds of what the Commissioner should do. If you're a Bills or Bengals fan how do you NOT feel cheated? If not for the Commissioner meddling in a personnel decision you might have Michael Vick as your quarterback today.

We can't be too hasty here. The article in the OP seems to be purposely inflammatory.

Leitch then points out that Vick met with Roger Goodell and the NFL and was steered towards Philly -- "I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation" -- which could seriously fire up those two fanbases, given that having Michael Vick on their respective rosters would certainly change things.

The author is wanting that to happen but the only direct quote given is "they put me in the right situation." Who is they? Is it the league and goodell or is it Tony dungy and his PR entourage? Need to have this clarified before the outrage.

 

[GroveDiesel]

It's not his decision on that type of stuff as to what's "best" for the league.

that is exactly what the commish's job is. They change rules every year, give the worst teams the best draft spots and debate franchise numbers and locations all in the interests of what is best for the league.

Yeah, or Vick could have gone to Buffalo, blown up in Chan Gailey's offense, turned around a struggling storied franchise, and saved football in one of the league's smallest markets.

Or, the year before Gailey became HC, he could have been shoved into the starting QB situation and utterly imploding while turning off some of the few fans they have left. I live right by Philly (not an Eagles fan) and they took a crap load of heat from their fans for signing Vick. Had he been forced to start and sucked it would have been much worse- and there was a good chance he would have sucked that first year back.

Few fans they have left? The Bills routinely have one of the highest attendance figures in the NFL. Bills fans were recently ranked the 4th on a list of die hard sports fans across all US teams. This ain't Philly we're talking about where the fans are fickle and just downright mean-spirited. And the contention of some that the Commish's job is to do what's best for the league just don't get it. Maybe what was best for the league was giving one of their smallest markets a chance to compete?

 

[DoubleG]

Horrible conflict of interest there. The guy who decides if you're suspended or if you can play wants you to be playing in a bigger market. Sign here.

+1

 

[comfortably numb]

Why is he even doing this kind of interview in the 1st place?

 

[TobiasFunke]

We can't be too hasty here. The article in the OP seems to be purposely inflammatory.

Leitch then points out that Vick met with Roger Goodell and the NFL and was steered towards Philly -- "I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation" -- which could seriously fire up those two fanbases, given that having Michael Vick on their respective rosters would certainly change things.

The author is wanting that to happen but the only direct quote given is "they put me in the right situation." Who is they? Is it the league and goodell or is it Tony dungy and his PR entourage? Need to have this clarified before the outrage.

Really? I was under the impression that when something is in quotes and then is followed by the words "Vick tells me," that's a direct quote from Vick.

From the article:

"I think I can say this now, because it's not going to hurt anybody's feelings, and it's the truth," Vick tells me a few weeks after the commencement ceremony. "I didn't want to come to Philadelphia. Being the third-team quarterback is nothing to smile about. Cincinnati and Buffalo were better options." Those two teams wanted him and would've allowed him to start, but after meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell and other reps from the NFL, Vick was convinced—and granted league approval—to sign with Philly. "And I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation."

 

[Wildcat]

We can't be too hasty here. The article in the OP seems to be purposely inflammatory.

Leitch then points out that Vick met with Roger Goodell and the NFL and was steered towards Philly -- "I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation" -- which could seriously fire up those two fanbases, given that having Michael Vick on their respective rosters would certainly change things.

The author is wanting that to happen but the only direct quote given is "they put me in the right situation." Who is they? Is it the league and goodell or is it Tony dungy and his PR entourage? Need to have this clarified before the outrage.

Really? I was under the impression that when something is in quotes and then is followed by the words "Vick tells me," that's a direct quote from Vick.

From the article:

"I think I can say this now, because it's not going to hurt anybody's feelings, and it's the truth," Vick tells me a few weeks after the commencement ceremony. "I didn't want to come to Philadelphia. Being the third-team quarterback is nothing to smile about. Cincinnati and Buffalo were better options." Those two teams wanted him and would've allowed him to start, but after meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell and other reps from the NFL, Vick was convincedand granted league approvalto sign with Philly. "And I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation."

In addition, this is on www.nfl.com:

Vick: Goodell convinced me to sign with Eagles

Michael Vick says Philly was his third choice of teams to sign with when he got out of prison. So where would he be now if NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell didn't recommend otherwise?

 

[baconisgood]

Few fans they have left? The Bills routinely have one of the highest attendance figures in the NFL. Bills fans were recently ranked the 4th on a list of die hard sports fans across all US teams.

TV audiences drive the NFL these days and generate much more revenue. Of course it wasn't me who used the term "struggling franchise" in regards to the Bills.

 

[De Novo]

If you saw Vick in his first and even second preseason's, he likely would be out of the league if forced to start for a struggling franchise. The guy had tons of rust, out of shape, his fundamentals were even worse than when in ATL, and he had the whole dog fighting issue to live down.

This is patently false. Do you really believe either in the 7 days between preseason and the regular season last year that (a) Andy Reid coached him up in only a way Andy Reid could or (b) that Michael finally got in shape in those 7 days?

 

[RUSF18]

We can't be too hasty here. The article in the OP seems to be purposely inflammatory.

Leitch then points out that Vick met with Roger Goodell and the NFL and was steered towards Philly -- "I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation" -- which could seriously fire up those two fanbases, given that having Michael Vick on their respective rosters would certainly change things.

The author is wanting that to happen but the only direct quote given is "they put me in the right situation." Who is they? Is it the league and goodell or is it Tony dungy and his PR entourage? Need to have this clarified before the outrage.

Really? I was under the impression that when something is in quotes and then is followed by the words "Vick tells me," that's a direct quote from Vick.

From the article:

"I think I can say this now, because it's not going to hurt anybody's feelings, and it's the truth," Vick tells me a few weeks after the commencement ceremony. "I didn't want to come to Philadelphia. Being the third-team quarterback is nothing to smile about. Cincinnati and Buffalo were better options." Those two teams wanted him and would've allowed him to start, but after meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell and other reps from the NFL, Vick was convinced—and granted league approval—to sign with Philly. "And I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation."

Did you see where the quotation marks stop and start again?

 

[Insein]

We can't be too hasty here. The article in the OP seems to be purposely inflammatory.

Leitch then points out that Vick met with Roger Goodell and the NFL and was steered towards Philly -- "I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation" -- which could seriously fire up those two fanbases, given that having Michael Vick on their respective rosters would certainly change things.

The author is wanting that to happen but the only direct quote given is "they put me in the right situation." Who is they? Is it the league and goodell or is it Tony dungy and his PR entourage? Need to have this clarified before the outrage.

Really? I was under the impression that when something is in quotes and then is followed by the words "Vick tells me," that's a direct quote from Vick. From the article:

"I think I can say this now, because it's not going to hurt anybody's feelings, and it's the truth," Vick tells me a few weeks after the commencement ceremony. "I didn't want to come to Philadelphia. Being the third-team quarterback is nothing to smile about. Cincinnati and Buffalo were better options." Those two teams wanted him and would've allowed him to start, but after meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell and other reps from the NFL, Vick was convincedand granted league approvalto sign with Philly. "And I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation."

I'm just saying. I could be wrong but I'm waiting for the whole interview.

 

[pollardsvision]

Horrible conflict of interest there. The guy who decides if you're suspended or if you can play wants you to be playing in a bigger market. Sign here.

+1

Except, he "steered" him to a place where he'd be playing the least. If totally it's about marketing Vick as a star, it wouldn't make much sense to want him as a 3rd string QB. Most here, at the time, thought Vick would be a complete non-factor in Philly. Vick being a successful star in a major market didn't seem like the largest issue at the time. Seemed very unlikely.

I assume keeping from Vick going to a bad situation and trying to do too much too soon, leading to a PR disaster was the goal of any steering that may have happened. This was really a move to keep Vick off the field for a year or more.

Besides, this isn't the NBA. The NFL absolutely does not need stars in big cities. They just need to avoid huge PR disasters.

 

[TobiasFunke]

We can't be too hasty here. The article in the OP seems to be purposely inflammatory.

Leitch then points out that Vick met with Roger Goodell and the NFL and was steered towards Philly -- "I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation" -- which could seriously fire up those two fanbases, given that having Michael Vick on their respective rosters would certainly change things.

The author is wanting that to happen but the only direct quote given is "they put me in the right situation." Who is they? Is it the league and goodell or is it Tony dungy and his PR entourage? Need to have this clarified before the outrage.

Really? I was under the impression that when something is in quotes and then is followed by the words "Vick tells me," that's a direct quote from Vick. From the article:

"I think I can say this now, because it's not going to hurt anybody's feelings, and it's the truth," Vick tells me a few weeks after the commencement ceremony. "I didn't want to come to Philadelphia. Being the third-team quarterback is nothing to smile about. Cincinnati and Buffalo were better options." Those two teams wanted him and would've allowed him to start, but after meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell and other reps from the NFL, Vick was convinced—and granted league approval—to sign with Philly. "And I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation."

I'm just saying. I could be wrong but I'm waiting for the whole interview.

You're just saying what?

The whole article is available. What exactly are you waiting for?

Seems to me that it's pretty clear that: Vick would be in Buffalo or Cincinnati today were it not for the intervention of the Commissioner's office. That's flat out wrong. I don't see the other side of the argument. Every argument made here defending the action is based on the premise that Buffalo and Cincinnati are less desirable destinations. Even if that's true, it's not for the Commissioner to evaluate and act upon. Treating the entire league evenhandedly is pretty much the most important duty he has.

ETA: Also, the author seems to be doing exactly the opposite of what you say. If anything he makes less of a deal of this than he should, concluding that the Commissioner and other NFL reps did in fact put him in the right situation.

 

[pollardsvision]

The whole article is still pretty vague.

We may never know how the exact conversation(s) went and who was involved.

I'm fine with it as long as it was a "don't write off a team because you'd be the 3rd string QB" sort of thing and not a "bash Buff/Cincy sort of thing". That's how I assume it went down, but I really have no idea.

Encouraging Vick to explore all of his options is a bit different than discouraging a player to go a certain franchise.

Alot depends on the conversation, but I could understand how to some, it's just a conversation that a commissioner and a player shouldn't be having. (Though this is a rare circumstance and the teams all seemed to be very clear on the fact that Vick and Goodell were having private conversations).

 

[CentralPA]

It's not his decision on that type of stuff as to what's "best" for the league.

that is exactly what the commish's job is. They change rules every year, give the worst teams the best draft spots and debate franchise numbers and locations all in the interests of what is best for the league.

Yeah, or Vick could have gone to Buffalo, blown up in Chan Gailey's offense, turned around a struggling storied franchise, and saved football in one of the league's smallest markets.

Or, the year before Gailey became HC, he could have been shoved into the starting QB situation and utterly imploding while turning off some of the few fans they have left. I live right by Philly (not an Eagles fan) and they took a crap load of heat from their fans for signing Vick. Had he been forced to start and sucked it would have been much worse- and there was a good chance he would have sucked that first year back.

Few fans they have left? The Bills routinely have one of the highest attendance figures in the NFL. Bills fans were recently ranked the 4th on a list of die hard sports fans across all US teams. This ain't Philly we're talking about where the fans are fickle and just downright mean-spirited. And the contention of some that the Commish's job is to do what's best for the league just don't get it. Maybe what was best for the league was giving one of their smallest markets a chance to compete?

2010 attendance rankings (per ESPN):1)dallas

.

.

12) philly

.

.

.

.

22) Buffalo

 

[Bigboy10182000]

So Godell forced Vick to sign with the Eagles? Is that whats being implied here??

Ultimately it's the PLAYER that signs the deal. So what if he was given advice and steered to one place or the other. People will look for anything to bash Godell over. He "steered" a guy into a damn 3rd string role that turned out great for the player and the league. If anything he deserves a pat on the back for a job well done. I'm sure Vick feels the same way too.

 

[CentralPA]

So Godell forced Vick to sign with the Eagles? Is that whats being implied here??Ultimately it's the PLAYER that signs the deal. So what if he was given advice and steered to one place or the other. People will look for anything to bash Godell over. He "steered" a guy into a damn 3rd string role that turned out great for the player and the league. If anything he deserves a pat on the back for a job well done. I'm sure Vick feels the same way too.

It is but for Goodell to even recommend is probably wrong but I do agree Vick could've still gone to Buffalo or anywhere else, it was his decision. I don't see the big deal, but I am also an Eagles fan and we lucked out signing him. Very glad it hapopened though.

 

[DoubleG]

Horrible conflict of interest there. The guy who decides if you're suspended or if you can play wants you to be playing in a bigger market. Sign here.

+1

Except, he "steered" him to a place where he'd be playing the least. If totally it's about marketing Vick as a star, it wouldn't make much sense to want him as a 3rd string QB. Most here, at the time, thought Vick would be a complete non-factor in Philly. Vick being a successful star in a major market didn't seem like the largest issue at the time. Seemed very unlikely.

I assume keeping from Vick going to a bad situation and trying to do too much too soon, leading to a PR disaster was the goal of any steering that may have happened. This was really a move to keep Vick off the field for a year or more.

Besides, this isn't the NBA. The NFL absolutely does not need stars in big cities. They just need to avoid huge PR disasters.

The commish shouldn't be "steering" anywhere. Period. If he felt Vick playing too soon was a PR disaster than don't lift the suspension. But to lift the suspension "conditionally" (which hasn't been stated, but possibly implied) is a conflict of interest - or simply patently unfair.Incidentally, "keeping Vick from a bad situation" is entirely subjective - and bad for whom? "Steering" Vick to Philly over some of the other destinations certainly didn't help Kevin Kolb in Philly - and I'm sure TO and Ocho wouldn't have minded Vick on their team.

I've got no horse in this race - but Goodel shouldn't either. Whatever his thought process was in "steering" Vick, it is extremely questionable ethically speaking.

ETA: Shockingly, the Eagles fans weighing in don't have a problem with it. lol

 

[Banger]

Yeah, or Vick could have gone to Buffalo, blown up in Chan Gailey's offense, turned around a struggling storied franchise, and saved football in one of the league's smallest markets. The bottom line is that the commish has NO BUSINESS telling players where they should go. It's not his decision on that type of stuff as to what's "best" for the league.

of course it is...that is his job. PR is his job, the marketing and success of the league is his job...that's what he's paid to do. Vick was the highest profile PR issue that he's had to deal with in his tenure and he needed to make sure he got it right. This wasn't just a FA and he was trying to steer him in the right direction...he was in jail and trying to turn his life around.I can understand being miffed as a Bill/Bengal fan but I think the humbling was a necessary part of his turnaround.

Seems to be that it is the exact opposite of what he's supposed to do. Here's a quote from a sports management professor in a NY Times article published during the Commissioner search:

“In the business community, you can scuttle something that isn’t making money for you,” Bowland said. “You can’t just go pull a C.E.O. out, pull a Jack Welch out, because I don’t know if it would work. You can’t close the Buffalo Bills. You can’t outsource.”

Moral of the story- you serve the league, not the teams. To exert influence in a personnel decision is really out of bounds of what the Commissioner should do. If you're a Bills or Bengals fan how do you NOT feel cheated? If not for the Commissioner meddling in a personnel decision you might have Michael Vick as your quarterback today.

and he did serve the league in that he handled a powder keg of a PR problem and got the absolute best possible result. I certainly didn't think we'd be seeing the Vick that we have today and I think it's due in large part to the situation he was put in. You may not agree with it but the results speak for themselves. We don't know all the details of what really happened but it's not as if Goddell told Philly "here's your new starting QB". I believe he had a 1 year deal and he was the 3rd string QB...did anyone on the planet forsee the turnaround in Vick? I sure didn't. A lot of people now have rose colored glasses with respect to Vick but I suspect at the time if he were to go to Cincy or Buff a lot of people wouldn't have been happy whatsoever.

 

[TobiasFunke]

The whole article is still pretty vague.We may never know how the exact conversation(s) went and who was involved.I'm fine with it as long as it was a "don't write off a team because you'd be the 3rd string QB" sort of thing and not a "bash Buff/Cincy sort of thing". That's how I assume it went down, but I really have no idea. Encouraging Vick to explore all of his options is a bit different than discouraging a player to go a certain franchise.Alot depends on the conversation, but I could understand how to some, it's just a conversation that a commissioner and a player shouldn't be having. (Though this is a rare circumstance and the teams all seemed to be very clear on the fact that Vick and Goodell were having private conversations).

We don't know what was said, but we know that he wanted to go to Buffalo and Cincinnati, then he met with the Commish and NFL people, and then afterwards he didn't. And that he attributes that change to what was said by the Commish and NFL people. I don't care what exactly was said, it MUST have been something that didn't treat the teams evenhandedly. That conclusion is impossible to escape.Vick and the Commissioners' office will sweep this under the rug with denials, and they are in the fortunate position that they are the only parties who knew what happened. But I can't even imagine how pissed I'd be if I were a Bills or Bengals fan right now.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Cinci and Buffalo have no one to blame but themselves. Actually...I understand why Bills fans might be upset but since their SB run in he early 90s that team has sunk further and further. Their owner is known as a tightwad at this point and I don't think there is a team in the NFL that would hire their present GM.

Don't downplay the role Tony Dungy might have had as well. He was mentoring Vick, which so far seems to have taken well. I'm sure Dungy told him it would be ideal f he eased himself back into the league slowly. Michael Vick is a great story of realization of his mistakes, and then making better decisions moving forward. He paid his debt, he humbled himself by getting water for McNabb over a season, backing up Kolb initially and then finally seizing the job and showing us things we have never seen before.

 

[Banger]

We can't be too hasty here. The article in the OP seems to be purposely inflammatory.

Leitch then points out that Vick met with Roger Goodell and the NFL and was steered towards Philly -- "I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation" -- which could seriously fire up those two fanbases, given that having Michael Vick on their respective rosters would certainly change things.

The author is wanting that to happen but the only direct quote given is "they put me in the right situation." Who is they? Is it the league and goodell or is it Tony dungy and his PR entourage? Need to have this clarified before the outrage.

Really? I was under the impression that when something is in quotes and then is followed by the words "Vick tells me," that's a direct quote from Vick. From the article:

"I think I can say this now, because it's not going to hurt anybody's feelings, and it's the truth," Vick tells me a few weeks after the commencement ceremony. "I didn't want to come to Philadelphia. Being the third-team quarterback is nothing to smile about. Cincinnati and Buffalo were better options." Those two teams wanted him and would've allowed him to start, but after meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell and other reps from the NFL, Vick was convinced—and granted league approval—to sign with Philly. "And I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation."

I'm just saying. I could be wrong but I'm waiting for the whole interview.

You're just saying what?

The whole article is available. What exactly are you waiting for?

Seems to me that it's pretty clear that: Vick would be in Buffalo or Cincinnati today were it not for the intervention of the Commissioner's office. That's flat out wrong. I don't see the other side of the argument. Every argument made here defending the action is based on the premise that Buffalo and Cincinnati are less desirable destinations. Even if that's true, it's not for the Commissioner to evaluate and act upon. Treating the entire league evenhandedly is pretty much the most important duty he has.

ETA: Also, the author seems to be doing exactly the opposite of what you say. If anything he makes less of a deal of this than he should, concluding that the Commissioner and other NFL reps did in fact put him in the right situation.

It's not necessarily that they are less desirable locations but I think he was looking for a rehabilitation that he likely wouldn't have gotten in those other locations. He likely would have been the starting QB immediately and been in the weekly limelight immediately as opposed to carry a clipboard for a year.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

So Godell forced Vick to sign with the Eagles? Is that whats being implied here??Ultimately it's the PLAYER that signs the deal. So what if he was given advice and steered to one place or the other. People will look for anything to bash Godell over. He "steered" a guy into a damn 3rd string role that turned out great for the player and the league. If anything he deserves a pat on the back for a job well done. I'm sure Vick feels the same way too.

It is but for Goodell to even recommend is probably wrong but I do agree Vick could've still gone to Buffalo or anywhere else, it was his decision. I don't see the big deal, but I am also an Eagles fan and we lucked out signing him. Very glad it hapopened though.

My point is (and I'm an Eagles fan) is that steered/ recommended does NOT equal forced. I'm sure there were a lot of people there that recommended different things and the decision was ultimately made by him and his camp. The talk here is just crazy. You would think Godell staged it all...the McNabb trade, Kolb's cocussion and Vick's rise back to stardom. Jesus Christ, the guy was given advice from probably hundreds of people and wasn't forced to do a thing.

 

[renesauz]

Don't see the outrage. While the commissioner shouldn't generally be steering players towards specific teams, a little extra guidance with an ex-con makes more than a little sense. This looks bad in hindsight, but truthfully...would ANYONE have blinked an eye had this story come out before Vick played a down of football? When he was still the 3rd string rehab project?

I have no problem with the commisioner being personally involved in the careers of unusual football players. It is, and should be, part of his job. UNless an ultimatum was given (which I highly doubt) to play for Philly, there's nothing to see here.

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

I think the NFL did the right thing. He needed to take a step back and play for a good coach as opposed to just jumping right into a more unstable organization where he would immediately be the starter. It also helped create one hell of a QB which I'm fairly certain wouldn't have happened elsewhere.

wat? "Stable" and "unstable" are all opinions. The NFL shoudlnt' be steering players to any particular franchises. If the commissioner is telling or even suggesting to players where they should go, it is a conflict of interest and totally corrupts the integrity of the league. Goodell should step down if this is true.

Technically, I guess, it is an opinion, but is there a person on the face of the earth that holds the opinion that Buffalo or Cincy is a more stable franchise than Philly?

Philly? You mean the organization with the head coach whose two sons are both drug addicts/dealers? Where the fans can turn on you in a second and destroy any player? Where the current starting QB that was similar to Vick had a terrible relationship with his coach and fans? There are plenty of reasons why Philly wasn't "stable."

:unhinged:

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Don't see the outrage. While the commissioner shouldn't generally be steering players towards specific teams, a little extra guidance with an ex-con makes more than a little sense. This looks bad in hindsight, but truthfully...would ANYONE have blinked an eye had this story come out before Vick played a down of football? When he was still the 3rd string rehab project?

I have no problem with the commisioner being personally involved in the careers of unusual football players. It is, and should be, part of his job. UNless an ultimatum was given (which I highly doubt) to play for Philly, there's nothing to see here.

NO ONE would have blinked an eye...they would have bashed Goodell for sending him to a team to be a 3rd stringer and laughed at him for it and again slammed his decision making. NOTHING Goodell does is right at any time, ever.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Cinci and Buffalo have no one to blame but themselves. Actually...I understand why Bills fans might be upset but since their SB run in he early 90s that team has sunk further and further. Their owner is known as a tightwad at this point and I don't think there is a team in the NFL that would hire their present GM. Don't downplay the role Tony Dungy might have had as well. He was mentoring Vick, which so far seems to have taken well. I'm sure Dungy told him it would be ideal f he eased himself back into the league slowly. Michael Vick is a great story of realization of his mistakes, and then making better decisions moving forward. He paid his debt, he humbled himself by getting water for McNabb over a season, backing up Kolb initially and then finally seizing the job and showing us things we have never seen before.

Does Dungy work for the NFL front office? If not, what you've said here is completely irrelevant. This is what the article says:1. Vick wanted to go to Cincy or Buffalo.2. He met with Goodell and other league officials.3. After that meeting he decided to go to Philadelphia.4. Vick credits Goodell and other league officials with his change of heart.If you don't see the problem with that, I don't know what to tell you, other than to guess that you're probably an Eagles fan.

 

[Dexter Manley]

I would like to say I was shocked after reading this, but I'm not the least bit surprised. Goodell already has a long track record of interfering with individual team's personnel decisions. This just further cements Goodell as being the worst commish of my lifetime.

Bengals and Bills fans have every right to be infuriated.

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

Cinci and Buffalo have no one to blame but themselves. Actually...I understand why Bills fans might be upset but since their SB run in he early 90s that team has sunk further and further. Their owner is known as a tightwad at this point and I don't think there is a team in the NFL that would hire their present GM. Don't downplay the role Tony Dungy might have had as well. He was mentoring Vick, which so far seems to have taken well. I'm sure Dungy told him it would be ideal f he eased himself back into the league slowly. Michael Vick is a great story of realization of his mistakes, and then making better decisions moving forward. He paid his debt, he humbled himself by getting water for McNabb over a season, backing up Kolb initially and then finally seizing the job and showing us things we have never seen before.

He is a hero in my book

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

This just further cements Goodell as being the worst commish of my lifetime. Bengals and Bills fans have every right to be infuriated.

No one is even in the discussion.

 

[Insein]

We can't be too hasty here. The article in the OP seems to be purposely inflammatory.

Leitch then points out that Vick met with Roger Goodell and the NFL and was steered towards Philly -- "I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation" -- which could seriously fire up those two fanbases, given that having Michael Vick on their respective rosters would certainly change things.

The author is wanting that to happen but the only direct quote given is "they put me in the right situation." Who is they? Is it the league and goodell or is it Tony dungy and his PR entourage? Need to have this clarified before the outrage.

Really? I was under the impression that when something is in quotes and then is followed by the words "Vick tells me," that's a direct quote from Vick. From the article:

"I think I can say this now, because it's not going to hurt anybody's feelings, and it's the truth," Vick tells me a few weeks after the commencement ceremony. "I didn't want to come to Philadelphia. Being the third-team quarterback is nothing to smile about. Cincinnati and Buffalo were better options." Those two teams wanted him and would've allowed him to start, but after meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell and other reps from the NFL, Vick was convinced—and granted league approval—to sign with Philly. "And I commend and thank them, because they put me in the right situation."

I'm just saying. I could be wrong but I'm waiting for the whole interview.

You're just saying what?

The whole article is available. What exactly are you waiting for?

Seems to me that it's pretty clear that: Vick would be in Buffalo or Cincinnati today were it not for the intervention of the Commissioner's office. That's flat out wrong. I don't see the other side of the argument. Every argument made here defending the action is based on the premise that Buffalo and Cincinnati are less desirable destinations. Even if that's true, it's not for the Commissioner to evaluate and act upon. Treating the entire league evenhandedly is pretty much the most important duty he has.

ETA: Also, the author seems to be doing exactly the opposite of what you say. If anything he makes less of a deal of this than he should, concluding that the Commissioner and other NFL reps did in fact put him in the right situation.

That was it? Man that still doesn't clear anything up for me. The direct quote implies that Vick is thanking Goodell for not letting him goto Buffalo or cincy but he doesn't directly say that. I guess we can take the author's word for it but it seems very vague to say Vick wanted to go there but not have a direct quote from Vick stating that the league did place him in Philly. Just the thanking quote. As for the author, he was certainly trying to rouse some ire from the fans of Cincy and Buffalo. Its a GQ article so it wasn't his primary reason but the lines about fans should be outraged seem to be a bit too much of his opinion thrown into the interview.