Vick latest Ex-Falcon to make life miserable for franchise
LAST ONE AT THE DOME – Haven’t checked all of the remaining rosters, but I think the Falcons are done with the
Former Falcons QB Michael Vick talks with Falcons owner Arthur Blank prior to the Falcons playing the Philadelphia Eagles at the Georgia Dome Sunday, December 6th, 2009. It was Vick's first time back at the Georgia Dome since his conviction on dogfighting charges. Kent D. Johnson, kdjohnson@ajc.com
2009 Reunion/Alumni Tour.
They were 3-1 in games against former Falcons this season and none of them turned out well.
It all started with the Dallas game. The Falcons lost and Keith Brooking celebrated like he’d won the lottery.
Then there was the Washington Redskins game. The Falcons won that one, but former cornerback DeAngelo Hall got into a scuffle on the Falcons’ sidelines. Coach Mike Smith and Director of Athletic Performance Jeff Fish ended up getting fined by the league. Hall was not fined.
On to the New York Gaints and Michael Boley. He’s a real quiet guy, but even he spoke up during the week leading up to the game. He didn’t like the way the coaching staff handled his
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) is stopped by Atlanta Falcons' Kroy Biermann, and Jamaal Anderson after rushing for a short gain in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009 in Atlanta. The game was Vick's first in Atlanta since serving a prison sentence for dogfighting. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
demotion late last season and seemed to be miffed that the Falcons didn’t want to re-sign him.
Michael Vick’s return will be remembered for the chants of “We Want Vick, We Want Vick” in the fourth quarter.
“It felt great to hear the crowds reaction in the fourth quarter,” Vick said. “It was 50-50 reaction in the beginning of the game. It was awesome to have chance to go out and make some plays today.”
At least Vick didn’t do a Jeff George victory lap or proclaim “This is my House” like Deion Sanders did on their Reunion games with the Falcons.
“We were beat on all levels and it is an embarrassment to the organization and our team,” defensive end Jamaal Anderson said. “We never imagined that this would happen. With Michael (Vick) coming back, they came into this game with a lot of emotion, and we weren’t ready for what they brought to the field. We have to move forward because we have another big game next week.”
On to the Saints and that vaunted offense.
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327 comments Add your comment
T-Wade
December 7th, 2009
9:46 am
Don’t hate fans cheering Vick, when it’s the Falcons defense responsibility to prevent such events.
Pamela McGregor
December 7th, 2009
9:47 am
So the Steelers lost to Oakland and the Patriots lost to the Dolphins and that makes them pathetic. Philly is not in our division and Mike Smith rested his injured players. Vick is a huge diversion. No standards, I suppose Tiger needs to be back on the field ASAP to save the game of Golf.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
December 7th, 2009
9:48 am
The MR poster,i bet you would’nt say that in olivia’s face? You sound like a insecure punk who hide behind a key board and post hatred.Your choice of words sounds very punkish.
PMC
December 7th, 2009
9:50 am
JSS> Nice read.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
December 7th, 2009
9:50 am
The MR poster,your new log in name on this blog should be changed to tweety sweety.You got sugar in your tank dude.
Enz
December 7th, 2009
9:52 am
I thought it was great how they showed a sign that said “Atlanta Love Vick.” I am guessing most of these people didn’t graduate middle school. Then, what was even funnier was that Vick tried to throw a ball into the stands with a net literally six inches in front of him.
GO Falcons.
Get The Puck Out
December 7th, 2009
9:54 am
I am ashamed at the way the fans rallied around the opposing team. Yes you were rallying for the OPPOSING team. Vick DOES NOT PLAY for the Falcons, he plays for the Eagles. If you want to support Michael Vick do it before or after the game. But while the game is being played you SUPPORT your HOME team. What a bunch of losers.
J-Bro
December 7th, 2009
9:54 am
I’ve been a season ticket holder since 1991. I attended every single game Mike Vick played as a Falcon – all the highs and all the lows. Mike was great for this football team – nobody can deny that.
However, the simple fact is that Mike can never be an Atlanta Falcon ever again. This man stole from each and every one of us who are fans and who gave our FINANCIAL support to the Falcons. He signed (at the time) the largest contract ever for a football play while knowingly engaging in ILLEGAL activity. He also cost each of his teammates potential lost $$$ by his selfish behavior.
So, become Eagles fans (but be prepared to switch allegiences next season) and root for your boy if you must. True Falcon fans did not wear their Falcons’ Vick jerseys yesterday…
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
December 7th, 2009
9:56 am
Enz poster,plain ol hateraid.So whats your point? dughhhhhhhh!!!!
Gamer
December 7th, 2009
9:59 am
With a full week to prepare, I expected more from Redman and the wide receivers.. Poor play calling didn’t help.
Eagles victory punctuated the Falcons season being OVER AND DONE WITH!!!!
No HEART-BEAT SHOWN WITH THIS TEAM!!!
IF I OWNED A NFL TEAM, VICK COULD DEFINITELY PLAY STARTING QUARTERBACK!!!!
Under McNabb tutelage, Vick can only get better!!
The Falcons are too banged up and are too poorly prepared by coaches to keep up with quality teams..
It is time to start thinking about major off-season changes at corner backs, defensive line, running backs and wide receivers. AND MAYBE A NEW DEFENSIVE AND OFFENSIVE CO-ORDINATOR!!
The line-backers have been the bright spot all season long..
Without Ryan and Turner, this team is lost offensively.
How did Shockley lose out to Redman?. Shockley has a better arm but obviously not as astute.
Falcons start cleaning your lockers and see whose head will roll off Falcons’ roster!!
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
December 7th, 2009
10:02 am
J-bro poster,people can cheer for who the blank they want to once they pay there money.Your statement sounds stupid,”stole from us”.stole from us? are you kidding me.Hatred posts anything.
Jack G.
December 7th, 2009
10:04 am
GM, Coach, QB all one season wonders. Owner—still trying to hog the spotlight. Result, another season down the drain.
Bullish-on-the-Falcons
December 7th, 2009
10:07 am
Bird Watcher, I’m a true fan. I saw the TD with 0:00 left on the clock, better than over 75% of the people that were there at kickoff. He questioned our fan base in the fourth quarter and I’m smart enough to realize there were 10 Eagles / Falcons Eagels fans to 1 of me still left. Not a great time to smack back.
VICK LOVER
December 7th, 2009
10:11 am
I waited for this day to come see Mike Vick show out! I feel they really did MV wrong, I was really disappointed with the media, team and owner letting him down. I have all pass articles and even the letter that Mike Vick wrote in prison, asking for mercy in his own handwriting. He deserves all the standing ovations and shouts he can get. MV lost it all, once upon time….now he back on top and I Love It!!!! VICK PLEASE COME BACK, WE NEED YOU AND WANT YOU!!!
DC
December 7th, 2009
10:12 am
So much prejudice on these blogs, why bother this with a response if you can’t talk about the sport. This is a sports blog, please talk sports. Keep your opinions to yourself, that is unless you know you will be definitly sitting next to the KING in your afterlife, MR AND MRS I’VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING WRONG IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
The Falcons got beat by a better team, that’s the bottom-line.
Bird Watcher
December 7th, 2009
10:13 am
I hear you Bullish. I understand, but that is also my point. You stayed, but plenty Falcon fans left. The Vick/Eagle fans were the ones that remained. Some fans even took on the idea that since my team is doing anything, then “get Vick on the field so we can have something to cheer about!”. It’s a messed up situation, but the anger needs to be with the decisions of the front office. If you lose Brooking, Milloy, and Boley, then have a logical plan in return. Don’t just play Madden and add Gonzolez like “Were gonna score 60 points a game! Who needs a defense!”. This is crazy! The fans need to be mad at the decisions of the front office, not this Vick distraction.
DC
December 7th, 2009
10:16 am
Oops. I know how to spell “definitely,” I was just typing fast sorry.
blessed
December 7th, 2009
10:21 am
To all my haters HELLO and may God Bless you and change you. Thank you for a beautiful beautiful reception in the GD. I am moving on but I will never forget your kindness. God Is Good.
Bullish-on-the-Falcons
December 7th, 2009
10:25 am
Bird Watcher, couldn’t agree more about the front office. Both Mike Mackenzie and Chris McAlister were available for us. Both were considered washed up. We didn’t take a chance. Now they are playing for the Saints. Mackenzie even had a pick against Brady in that rout.
J-Bro
December 7th, 2009
10:25 am
elvis – I did not say you couldn’t cheer for Vick – just put on your Eagles colors to do so. You are not a Falcons fan and that’s OK. Next year you will be a Raiders fan or a Browns fan because one thing is for certain – Mike Vick will not be an Eagle.
Bird Watcher
December 7th, 2009
10:34 am
Bullish – You are spot on about Mackenzie and McAlister. That was just pure arrogance to leave them on the open market when that is your most glaring need. I’m sorry – you can’t build from the draft without good veteran leadership in place to teach. Do you think Chris Houston can teach Christopher Owens how to play corner? How about Grimes? McAlister and Mackenzie would have been excellent fill gaps and also good teachers for our young corners.
Tom Parker
December 7th, 2009
10:35 am
Elvis is dead
Divination
December 7th, 2009
10:35 am
How ’bout those Saints huh guys?! Wow! The Saints are a team of destiny, if there ever was one. Geaux Saints!!
gkash
December 7th, 2009
10:47 am
I never agreed with those who thought that Atlanta was a lousy sports town with lousy fan support but after yesterday I do. If you buy a ticket you have the right to boo and cheer whomever you please, but I think it is pretty sad when the majority of those in the stands are cheering for Michael Vick while their home team is getting pasted. Vick did an incredibly stupid thing and he paid the price. He has a right to make a living now just as anyone else who has done his time but I am just baffled by Atlanta “fans” who rejoice over Vick as if he were some conquering hero. If the situation were reversed and Vick had been the starting QB with Philadelphia when he was arrested, and he returned to Philly in a Falcon uniform, my guess is that the Philly fans would have cheered for their team and booed Vick out of the stadium.
Atlanta will never change. The city too busy to hate, my a**. Predominantly black in the city, predominantly white in the burbs. Everything from the mayor’s race to Michael Vick and the Falcons inevitably comes down to race. Pathetic!
BIRDCRAP
December 7th, 2009
10:49 am
I have been a season ticket holder for 6 yrs now, and this is my last! I am from Kansas city and I will tell you, if you came to arrowhead during the playoff days of the Chiefs and cheered for the other team, you wouldn’t make it out of arrowhead alive! I would say if this was Philly same thing. I guess I really am not a true falcon fan, watching from home seems a lot better than the thug dome!
Bird Watcher
December 7th, 2009
10:59 am
gkash, I don’t know if you were old enough to see Dominique’s return with the Clippers, or Deion’s return with the 49ers, but Mike Vick’s return was quite similar. In all three games, the energy was unbelievable because of the lost star power. Atlanta craves star power. It has only been those three cases in Atlanta sports history where a player is recognized nationally. In all three cases, some fans felt that the star got a raw deal and it is an opportunity to stick to the franchise for making a dumb decision to let them go. Atlanta is too young in its sports history to have a generational fanbase. Mostly because it is a city of transplants. Therefore, there is not much allegiance to the organizations. However, the stars are bigger than the team in Atlanta. Atlanta franchises are infamous for making dumb decisions. Atlanta, so badly, wants to have a winner, even at the cost blurring their alegiance.
stendec
December 7th, 2009
11:00 am
I humbly request that censors permit this post despite its length. Thank you.
This is difficult to type. I am speaking as a fan who has been a Falcon supporter since the birth of the team in the 1960s. All that ended over the weekend. I suffered in silence as Keith Brooking gloated during a Cowboy victory in Texas. It hurt but at least the Falcons competed. That was not the case Sunday at the Georgia Dome. Excuses be damned. There are no excuses for that giveup job. Some folks will say it is just a game. In this instance I disagree. This was a citywide disgrace. Falcon defenders should have been out of their minds when Mike Sick took the field. What was the response? Falcons stepped aside as he walked uncontested into end zone. Unacceptable. Falcon secondary looked the other way on his short touchdown pass. Unacceptable. Over the decades I have only despised and wished doom on several Falcons. Three quarterbacks come to mind. One of which was in the Georgia Dome recently. I can honestly say I truly hate every player/coach on present Falcon roster with the exception of Tony Gonzalez who works his butt off every play. Sorry you wound up with these quitters Tony. Just take the money and grit mouth guard tightly. A spot awaits you in Hall of Fame. I see injury prone Matt Ryan as a one season wonder with no instestional fortitude (guts). Allowing a toe bruise to keep him on sidelines. Matthew Stafford competes for his team with much more serious afflictions. Maybe the overrated Falcon QB and Thrasher waste Kari Lehtonen should tank their present seasons as a team. Both appear worthless. All I hear from apologists is wait till next year wait till next year. Listen people. I am over half a century old with a weak heart. That was fine when I was in my 20s but not now. Time is of essence for me and others like myself who have suffered with these losers since day one. Defeats are part of sports. Quitting is not. The Falcons quit against Philadelphia. That was painfully obvious to everyone with eyes to see. In the one game for which I would not sugar coat or forgive another defeat. Falcon wins used to bring me great joy. No longer. The Falcons quit on me. I have quit on them. Many will scoff and say good riddance. No problem. As a sportswriter for many decades I have an extremely thick skin. Many will call me a fair weather fan. That is not true. The decision I made was difficult due to my former adoration of team. I now wish nothing but doom and failure on this uncaring franchise. Southern teams like the Saints and Dolphins now have my support. They are now my official state teams. The Falcons are dead to me. Just as they are officially dead to the rest of NFL. Continued success Tony Gonzalez. God bless you. ++STENDEC++
T-Wade
December 7th, 2009
11:10 am
Philly fans wouldn’t cheer for ex-star on opposing team (Wrong!) They cheered so hard for Iverson after he was traded, that the Sixers just signed him to a contract when no other team wanted him. Black & White folks clapped for Vick and the white Falcons owners hugged Vick, so stop making it a racial thing.
Ivan
December 7th, 2009
11:13 am
Bird,
The Falcons were playing bad. No doubt. But, fans usually give negative feed back by booing the team, not cheering for the other one. And yes, there’s a huge difference. The dome is supposed to be loud when the other teams offense is on the field. The fans are supposed to be the 12th man. The other teams offense is supposed to struggle calling audibles and plays in the huddle. Instead, when the Eagles were first came out of the gate, the “Falcons fans” started cheering them.
So, how would you react were you a Falcons player out there on your own home turf with the “fans” cheering for the other team before kickoff?
J-Bro
December 7th, 2009
11:13 am
I like standec’s passion, but turf toe = toe bruise? Are you crazy? And if you are a true Falcons’ fans (like I am) and you grew up here (like I did), you’ve seen a lot worse than what we saw yesterday without Ryan, Turner, Dahl, Jenkins, etc. It’s true the defense stinks, but part of the reason we can hide that bad defense is with our ball control offense. That wasn’t there yesterday.
No matter how bad yesterday was (and it was horrible), this is a team in general that is going the right direction. they don’t have a lot of depth as we saw yesterday and the defense is horrible, but young.
Bird Watcher
December 7th, 2009
11:18 am
Ivan,
I hear what your’e saying, but that’s when you steal your crowd back. Big time players make big plays in big games. You had fans in the stand who hadn’t been back since Vick left. They have no idea who is on the Falcons roster. Players should be professional, understand the situation, and make a name for themselves. I hate that Ryan couldn’t play because that was his opportunity to put a stamp on this franchise. I know things happen, but his injury was costly…hmm. now that I think about it, if this sophomore slump thing is true..it’s problably a blessing that he was hurt.
MTGUMMIBEAR
December 7th, 2009
11:30 am
Question for Orlando: I know it’s close to a sin to question Van Gorder in these parts, but I’m really starting to question his rotation on the D-Line. I understand keeping players fresh, but I see guys literally in for 1 play & never have a chance to work against an O-Lineman to set him up for next move and things like that. Sometimes I think they would be more effective playing at least a series with some allowances for down & distance.
In the interest of full disclosure, I lived in Montana 15 years and moved to Atlanta 10 years ago, and started noticing this because I follow the hometown guy Kroy Biermann very closely. It seems like he’s in the doghouse lately getting many fewer snaps. Yet for the season he’s tied for the lead in sacks and has more tackles than any other D-Lineman except for Babineaux.
Are you hearing anything about coaches being disappointed in his performance?
JEB
December 7th, 2009
11:46 am
Vick could have NEVER come into the game – and the Falcons were STILL embarassed!
Give Vick all the accolades you like,
but the Falcons were just flat our whipped! Vick would never have even had to come in to the game for that to happen.
A
December 7th, 2009
12:03 pm
Man, w people are so bend out of shape about a funky dog. Those same dogs we hate, yall love, were used to attack black protestors in the sixties… now I guess we are supposed to forget about that… to hell with you and your god forsaken dogs… by the way, Angels from heaven do not visit homes where dogs are presence.
A
December 7th, 2009
12:05 pm
my bad for bringing GOD into this… because white folks do not GOD, they jesus as their GOD… SAD
Real2
December 7th, 2009
12:17 pm
Lets be real about one thing, Arthur Blank was glad they put the Eagles on the Schedule for ‘09. While you people, white and black are getting emotional about the game, Arthur made millions, thats what its about people Green not black and white. Vick was a product that the Falcons sold and we brought hook, line and sinker, you brought it, the advertisers brought it and the whole NFL made money on it. Don’t get mad at the Eagles or their coach for making him captian sunday, because the plan worked did you notice the score? The Falcons was thrown off by it. Bottom line, human life means very little to the rich, once the lion or bear kills the gladiator they invest in another. Not only did the Falcons try to sale Matt before last season but the NFL also because each city doesn’t only make money own their team but the visiting team also… Remember Micheal Jordan? The NBA is still trying to replace him. People wake up, no need in getting mad about MV7, even the system made millions by putting him away, they don’t put away your everyday dogfighters becasue it cost them to much money and they get nothing out of the deal. OJ, rather he did it or not made more many people rich who could care less about the two victims than you think. Another case of America getting emotionally involved which always generates money for the rich. The hug between MV7 and AB before the game said it all. You all need to hug each other.
NorthFLAFalcon
December 7th, 2009
12:17 pm
The Falcons seem to collapse in these big time media-hyped games. When they are DOOMED to fail, they fail: the Saints return to the Superdome after Katrina. Vick’s return. Monday night football (they have one of the worst records on MNF in the entire league). They get spooked, they don’t execute. Does anyone know why?
sad brotha
December 7th, 2009
12:20 pm
the same people that cheer Vick are the same ones who cheered for OJ when he was let go! Never forget!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 7th, 2009
12:28 pm
If Chipper Jones signed with another team and came back here and hit a game winning home run, I am convinced he would have gotten the same reaction. This has much less to do with race than y’all think it does. In fact, I’d be willing to bet a lot of the people criticizing us for cheering Vick were the same ones giving Jeff Francoeur a standing ovation when he returned with the Mets this summer.
Honestly
December 7th, 2009
12:36 pm
Why do I keep following this team? 15+ years of this and I haven’t learned a thing. What an absolute, complete and total embarrassment Atlanta is as a sports city. Whether its the degenerate idiots in the stands rooting for Vick….or the sissy team that rolls over and plays dead after the first jab…..completely and utterly embarrassing.
Capt Kirk
December 7th, 2009
12:37 pm
A,
that post REALLY made sense..(eye roll)…….
Look I dont like dogs either..was biitten by one..Its just ludicrous..(no NOT LUDICRUS) to bank roll and participate in a dog fighting ring.. And to piss away the largest contract in the NFL in order to..POSSIBLY win abet of..on a good night (drum roll) maybe $2,000…..
Thay IMHO is the height of poor decision making, esp if you’re the face of Atlanta sports..all these kids in little guys who wanna be in the NFL…And to prattle over n over again abour Vick being ” VICTIMIZED by the establishment BECAUSE of his wealth on a big stage and NOT because of his bad behavior is really instructive with regard to the “critical thinking” of VICK suppoorters everywhere.
That his rise and fall occurred via factors other than his behavior and was jailed for things white folks do “routinely?????”….begs the issue..If white dog figthers were the face of a pro sports franchise, and became so public and in yo face about it,,with all the rules of conventional society for “other people” then I GUARANTEE you they be in jail too….
Vick was a SENSATIONAL talent in a city starved for it..and chose to flaunt numerous bad choices, in serial fashion, the bird fliups, the herpes issue, the water bottle airport piece….cmon
Its even more revealing about lotsa bad choices among lotsa Atlantans that these choices by him were OK like the lady in my neighborhood, whose dogs barked nonstop morning to night..It clearly violated the law..I told her about it and she replied “So if Im breakin the law..too bad..deal w it” and thats the exact same mentality of the Vick as victim crowd..
The poster who said..only in a place like ATlanta would thug behvior be considered Exemplary was spot on..
Yeah and it IS just a game for the poster who said that..but some behaviors, the inexplicable ones..explain why I had to leave the city I still and will always love…..
Ive been a Falcon fan since 1977 and yes the franchise has been serially inept..maybe its the water, and the Vick issue is just one more instance when front office serially inept people continue to act in a serially inept way…and have no clue about what they’re doin”
Ivan
December 7th, 2009
12:49 pm
Kirk,
The only thing I can say I disagree with about your post is that you put the words “thinking” and “Vick supports” in the same sentence.
Ivan
December 7th, 2009
12:58 pm
…”Vick supporters”. Darn those typos.
planb
December 7th, 2009
1:28 pm
Lots of changes need to be made. I thought we had a good backup QB. Wrong. Get rid of him. Norwood, no help. Get rid of him. Corners, no good. Get rid of them. I hope I am wrong about MS & TD, and they had a bad year picking injury prone people in the draft. We blitzed a couple of times & McNabb hurriedly threw incompletions. He must have asked us to stop that because we did. I keep seeing OFF plays & DEF schemes that don’t work. Game after game. Whos fault is that? Get rid of them. I hope injuries is our biggest problem this year and not something else. Arthur, spend some money and get us some people. MS & TD., quit passing up good talent due to certain morals. Have you forgotton that this is the NFL. You are acting like some teachers putting kids on ritalin so as not to have any problems with them or in your case, not have them in the classroom at all.
Go, next year, FALCONS!!!!!!!
SAL
December 7th, 2009
1:50 pm
This was without question one of the most painful games to watch in the dome since the days of Jim Mora (and that was a painful era). We can point to the long list of injuries that has blanketed this Falcons team, but make no mistake, the real problem appears to be that the coaching staff has lost their way. This team simply plays without a sense of urgency! In fact, there was a time when you could count on hearing one of Mike Smith’s sound bites about “the team playing fast, or quick, or playing with urgency. We have not heard those words in some time. With the exception of the 49er’s game, we have consistently shown little to not tenacity in these games. We literally gave away games to the Patriots, Giants, and the Panthers; and almost gave one away to the Buccaneers at home. GOOD teams do not lose these types of games and especially in the manner in which we lost them. Contrary to popular belief that Altanta fans are not supportive, MOST simply want to see good football played in all three phases. In the end should we lose to a better team then so be it. But the lethargic, sleep walking manner we have been playing this year is a quick way to get fans leaving for the exit and turning off their televisions. Sickening loss!
Olivia
December 7th, 2009
1:57 pm
Were the White’s, -who booed Vick, called him names etc. when he didn’t win games as a Falcon,- Thug, Stupid or whatever you chose to label Blacks as- but it’s Ok for Whites to turn against the team when it doesn’t go their way. MR you are the stupid one – get a real life and learn to respect the rights of others. DC did you forget-freedom of speech- when did one not have the right to an opinion.
Ben Hill Shawty
December 7th, 2009
2:05 pm
I am a Vick fan.
DHunt
December 7th, 2009
2:17 pm
DLed, you get a lot of credit for being willing to even start this conversation. I can only imagine how many truly offensive comments you’ve had to censor.
@Najee-Keep on keeping it real son. Just like birthers, truthers, the KKK, and tea baggers, I understand that the true Vick haters, the ones who would forgive him in an instant if he wasn’t young black and rich, are a very small, yet very vocal minority themselves. Back in the day you would have been vilified as a N-lover, likely subjected to threats and physical intimidation. Don’t worry, we got your back too.
For any of you Stupid people who feel like only a bad person could support MV7, how can you rationalize ex-convict Martha Stewart’s return to fame and fortune? I guess lying, cheating, and stealing are OK with you just as long as no dogs were injured during the filming of that movie.
In fact everyone makes mistakes; Martha is just as deserving of a second chance as Mike. The good book that you are so fond of hiding behind instructs you that no one is free of sin; “NOT ONE OF YOU”. It says more about what kind of person you are that you will disregard the words of your professed God to hate Vick, than it does about the people who believe in forgiveness and redemption.
And for all you idiots who want to marginalize what Vick did yesterday, Hating is bad for your heart, and this man is going to continue to break your hating hearts. He was out of football and on lockdown for two full seasons. You may despise what he did, but to pretend like he hasn’t paid a steep price for his actions is disingenuous at best, and more likely just outright racial animus. The Falcons organization suffered from his actions as well, no one is denying that, but in reality it was only one bad year. The Falcons organization has done a lot of suffering so it should be used to it by now.
Vick obviously needed some time to get back into football shape, and so we are beginning to see more of him and will see even more as the Eagles go into the playoffs. Andy Reid gets a lot of props for putting MV7 in a position to get back to his former self. Yesterday, Vick got maybe seven snaps yesterday, did exactly what you should expect of him, and outperformed the Falcons full game offense.
Here’s what you now know about what Michael Vick can still do. The ability to pick up positive yards whenever he has the ball, Check. The ability to make defenses overcompensate to deal with him, Check. The ability to escape the pocket and make plays on his own, Check. The ability to throw the ball on a line 45 yards in the air with a flick of his wrist, Check. The ability to find an open receiver (something he was vilified for not being able to do when he was a Falcon), Check. The ability to draw the entire defense to one side of the field and then throw back to the other side on a rope with some accuracy, Check. The ability to put points on the board, Check. The ability to move a crowd and galvanize his teammates, Check and Check.
Keep on hating. Keep on pretending that because he doesn’t play the game like Peyton, Brady, or Brees, he is a failure at QB. The man has more upside potential than anything the Falcons have at QB. Vick will get a chance to compete for, and likely win a starting job next year. I for one have no problem saying I really wish it could be with my beloved Falcons, but I figure ownership and management doesn’t have the balls to do it, even after being shown on yesterday that the fans are willing to forgive and forget, because they might then be perceived as having made a mistake by cutting him loose in the first place. And so the Vick conversation will never go away in Atlanta as long as he is playing and winning in the NFL. And especially while the Falcons continue to trot out an inferior product year after year.
If history is any indicator that could be a good long time haters, so keep that heart medicine handy.
Ben Hill Shawty
December 7th, 2009
2:18 pm
I was born and raised in Georgia and I was cheering for Phila and Vick
Ben Hill Shawty
December 7th, 2009
2:38 pm
I like Ryan . However, he cannot run out the pocket on Madden 2010