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
Falcon Fred
December 8th, 2009
11:35 am
Falcons, you got what you deserved. When Ray Ray Lewis was in trouble, his fans, owner and city stood behind him to the end. Arthur, you should have taken notes. This man has made you Millions by putting cheeks in the seats. And you throw him away because of pressure from the establisment. All You had to do was STAND BY YOUR GUY ! Instead you cut him loose. How can you expect your team to fight for you when they know you are not a fighter. This Team Is Emarassing. They quit on You. GO EAGLES !
DeeMack
December 8th, 2009
11:55 am
I have to disagree with the you, Dr. Orlando. MV will not make life miserable for the Falcons franchise. MV is trying to move forward with his life. Every franchise out here is trying to make it to the Super Bowl. Players are traded to other teams all the time. The Falcons were never able to build a team around MV so he became the face of the ATL. Is that his fault? I think not. MV is only doing what he is gifted to do, like him or not. MV will move on, the question is will the Falcons? Stop looking at it in terms of black and white, look at it like most teams, win or lose. The Saints are coming to town with their 12-0 record. Get ready, get ready, get ready!
Jimmy
December 8th, 2009
12:03 pm
Falcon Fred
December 8th, 2009
11:35 am
What are you talking about?
Vick was given MULTIPLE opportunities to come clean and tell the truth.
He flipped off management. They didn’t abandon him.
He flipped off the commissioner.
He ignored every attempt to help him avoid what was coming.
Ray Lewis was a TOTALLY different scenario.
Vick was self destructing.
He ended up COSTING the franchise money. We are finally coming out of the hole his salary put us into.
Blank stood behind him when it mattered.
Vick didn’t care.
Jimmy
December 8th, 2009
12:13 pm
DeeMack,
I too believe Vick has now moved on.
I just wish the bitter Vick fans in Atlanta would move on too.
Many of us are sick of hearing about Vick.
We are sick of the constant harping about him…
Sick of the revisionist history…
Sick of attacks on the Falcons because Vick doesn’t play on the team.
I sure hope that now, after Vick’s “triumphant” return…after he has now twisted the knife he put in the team and fans backs…that now fanatical Vick fans can be happy to follow his career with another team and let the rest of us move on.
We’ve heard about Vick during the Petrino season.
We’ve heard about Vick during the playoff run of last season.
We’ve heard about Vick all of this season.
Isn’t THREE YEARS of whining and complaining and criticizing enough?
Please, let’s move on and support the CURRENT Falcons for a change.
ATL Observer
December 8th, 2009
12:28 pm
a) I definitely support Jimmy’s comments that it’s been three years, time to move on. He’s not coming back, folks, sorry.
b) FalconFred, you’re comparing apples to oranges. Ray Lewis, to the best of my recollection, was not sentenced to a day of jail time. Vick was. Lewis was extraordinarily talented but his playing style was not such that if you lost him, you had to change the entire scheme of your defense. Vick, on the other hand, has a specific playing style is a rarer QB in terms of how his game works (how many left-handed run first, pass second QBs do you know of?).
Had they hung on to him while he served his time, they would have a) wasted valuable money on a guy not playing for two years while telling every single QB that played for the team from ‘07-’08- “listen, it doesn’t matter how good you play, you’re just a placeholder for the guy in jail,” b) had to either develop a different offense for two years that they would instantly abandon when Vick returned or keep running the same offense for QBs that weren’t built for it.
I think someone earlier in this thread made a great analogy about how this like the husband cheating on the wife, the wife divorcing the husband and blaming it on the wife.
Ben Hill Shawty
December 8th, 2009
12:45 pm
Bird Watcher I am a Vick fan
midnite
December 8th, 2009
12:52 pm
Jimmy
Any attempt to have a rational dialogue with the “worshippers” is a futile waste of time. Logic does not apply with these guys. You are wasting your time. Vick is a god to them. Somehow to this “lunatic fringe” in their simple way of thinking “the man stuck it to Vick”. No respect for the law is their mantra.
beavis and butthead
December 8th, 2009
12:55 pm
midnite,
Amen
Ben Hill Shawty
December 8th, 2009
1:04 pm
Midnite, I am a Vick Fan. Christ said forgave. Are you a mad to see Vick do well? Do you like black people? Could it be that since he killed dogs and not a human being, you are mad?
Ben Hill Shawty
December 8th, 2009
1:04 pm
Forgive I mean Midnite
midnite
December 8th, 2009
1:38 pm
Ben Hill Shawty
Do you call being a felon, serving time in prison, smoking weed, lying, stealing a Rolex, killing animals, getting caught with a stash bottle, standing up the U.S. Congress, and foolishly blowing millions doing well?
If you want to talk about Christ then you need to read and digest the the First Commandment of God.
Lesa
December 8th, 2009
1:39 pm
Bullish-On-The-Falcons, you have made the best analogy possible to describe the situation on Sunday: “That’s like a situation where a husband cheats on a wife, then actually cheering the husband on to get back at the wife because she divorced him over his poor choices.” I loved MV7 when he was a Falcon and I still care about him as a person and wish him well. Had I been at the game, I would have stood and cheered for him when he first came on the field, but after that I would have been cheering for MY TEAM. Thank you, Bullish, for encapsulating my thoughts so precisely with your analogy.
Kirby
December 8th, 2009
1:57 pm
A note to Mr. Blank:
I will never again watch or attend a Falcons football game! This team will never be a winner. You can’t win with guys giving up on plays, coaches making sorry play calls…I’m sorry four straight run plays at the goal line?
This team is full of quiters and guys just showing up for a paycheck. I see no real desire to win games. I hope your Faclons lose every game left Mr. Blank!
Kirby
December 8th, 2009
2:00 pm
A note to Mr. Blank:
I will never again watch or attend a Falcons football game! This team will never be a winner. You can’t win with guys giving up on plays, coaches making sorry play calls…I’m sorry four straight run plays at the goal line?
This team is full of quiters and guys just showing up for a paycheck. I see no real desire to win games. I hope your Faclons lose every game left Mr. Blank! Given the way they have played this year I will call it for you, Arthur, 6-10.
Ben Hill Shawty
December 8th, 2009
2:06 pm
Midnite Since you know the commandments, hear is what Christ said
Matthew 18 verse 22
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Ben Hill Shawty
December 8th, 2009
2:07 pm
Do you hate black people Midnite?
beavis and butthead
December 8th, 2009
2:12 pm
Ben Hill Shawty,
Are you on drugs?
midnite
December 8th, 2009
2:14 pm
You don’t know me dude, but I can tell you are a racist. Just because you can reference a verse of Scripture means nothing, even the devil can do that. You are not letting your light shine, only running your mouth. There is no love in you. Now go away.
Ben Hill Shawty
December 8th, 2009
2:26 pm
Midnite, are you getting mad. Beavis and butthead Are you on drugs?
Jimmy
December 8th, 2009
2:27 pm
Ben Hill Shawty
December 8th, 2009
2:06 pm
Nice quote of scripture.
Now…do you think its possible that the Vick fans can practice it?
Can they now let go of their hatred for those they feel “shafted” Vick?
Can they forgive all those Falcons fans who are ready now to move on past the Vick era?
It’s been three years since he left.
Can those who feel they have been wronged…whites, blacks, and Vick fans just forgive and move on?
Ben Hill Shawty
December 8th, 2009
2:29 pm
I was raised by White people
Ben Hill Shawty
December 8th, 2009
2:30 pm
Sure Jimmy, But I am a Vick fan.
Ben Hill Shawty
December 8th, 2009
2:38 pm
Jimmy, I forgave. But I am still a Vick fan
beavis and butthead
December 8th, 2009
2:49 pm
Ben Hill Shawty,
How many times do I have to tell ya,
Don’t DRINK the bong water…
Ben Hill Shawty
December 8th, 2009
2:51 pm
beavis and butthead, Are you mad at me?
Ben Hill Shawty
December 8th, 2009
2:51 pm
beavis and butthead, I am still a Vick fan
mojo rising
December 8th, 2009
3:19 pm
Why is it whenever a team or an opposing player sets a “first” it’s always against the Falcons? What a joke for a football team.
Sean from DA SWATS
December 8th, 2009
3:57 pm
Isn’t it funny how all the white folks on here are MAD AS HELL that nobody respects their sorry ass falcons. They are mad that Vick came home and esposed their sorry ass quiting football team for what they truly are, LOSERS. Mighty funny how they weren’t saying Vick destroyed this franchise when they were going to the playoffs last year. Now that EVERYBODY knows that the falcons are a team of LOSERS, they want to blame Vick. The white folks want to use revisionist history when it suits them, but when it goes against their argument they simply say, lets move on.
You see, people can’t get mad at others because of who they support or want to cheer for. That is pettiness at its highest level. If you want to support the falcons, fine. But don’t criticize me because I would rather support a winner instead of a Loser. The falcons have been in Atlanta for over 30 plus years and they have NEVER CONTINUOUSLY PUT A WINNING PRODUCT ON THE FIELD. Thats not because of some stupid ass reason like, ‘the fans won’t support us’ crap. Nobody has ever stood behind a Loser consistantly. And truth be told, Michael Vick lost pretty much all the white support in Atlanta when Author Blank rolled him out in a wheelchair. I couldn’t believe majority of the white people in Atlanta reaction after that episode.
Funny how in Atlanta, the black athletes are scrutinized a hell of a lot more than the white ones. If you don’t think so, just think back in the history of Atlanta sports and try to be rational if you can let yourself be.
Funny how all the black ones get run out of town only to come back and get their revenge.
Boy, ITS A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO BE A VICK FANATIC AND A BUMMER OF A DAY TO BE A LOSING ASS FALCON FAN.
losers make excuses
winners take resposibility
Falcons = LOSERS
VICK = WINNER
Where Are The "REAL" Fans???
December 8th, 2009
4:56 pm
Atlanta is a city of transient people so there is little surprise that when visiting teams come to the GA Dome there is always a large group of fans cheering the other team. The problem that I have is that the people who are Falcons fans don’t even make noise until it is 3rd down. Where is all that energy and excitement during the entire game.
Granted the team stunk up the field on Sunday against the Eagles but even in games earlier in the year, the crowd was almost a non-factor. There is more crowd noise in most outdoor NFL stadiums than you hear at the dome.
Honestly
December 8th, 2009
4:59 pm
Sean from DA SWATS,
“Isn’t it funny how all the white folks on here are MAD AS HELL that nobody respects their sorry ass falcons.”
How do you know they are white?
Ben Hill Shawty
December 8th, 2009
5:04 pm
Oh yeah beavis and butthead , I do not know what a bong water is. However, you do.
SirReal
December 8th, 2009
5:49 pm
Well…if ‘As the Racial Banter with a hint of football” is done…..I’d like to move back to the actual SUBJECT…gentlemen, that’s what you are actually typing about when you come on to express your opinion…say it with me “SUB-JECT”! Ok…we good? You guys sure? Ok, We have a football game against another TEAM in Sunday. Not a player, we have to fight 11 at a time. TEAMS play on Sunday. I think the birds are in the point of the season where it’s about time to reassess. Face it, this season’s a wash. I’m ok about it now. Not much of a choice not to be. Maybe we’ll win it all one day…..maybe. But we obviously have a LOT of work to do…..
Shaad
December 8th, 2009
6:19 pm
First off I want to point out this fool crabapplejoe said that Vick couldn’t hold S. Bartkowski’s jock strap???? Man I’m not sure who that is (S.Bartkowski) and you tellin me Vick can’t hold is jock strap. Just please don’t talk about this bum when referring to Mike Vick cause you and I both know that this guy would never get the kind of standing ovation that MV7 received sunday!!! Secondly, Many times on this blog people talk about Mike Vick and his character issues off the field and how if he got fired from a regular job he wouldn’t get his job back. You bring up the trick water bottle, herpes, and fliping the fans off. I guess somehow people feel like Mike Vick has to gain their approval by his pesonal life in order to play in this league and to be successful. You ignorant fools he don’t give a crap if don’t like him cause it’s so many others that do; this league is about making money!!! Yall act like he flipped off all his fans? If some individual was talking crazy to me I would have did more than just flipped him off. People say he robbed this city??? Do you think he signed up to go to jail? Do you think he wanted to loose his contract? Do you think he wanted A. Blank to say he couldn’t play for the falcons no more? I don’t give a crap what goes on in Mike Vick’s personal life (Itz his life stupid) I just love to see the man play, I didn’t know that these athletes had to be good samaritans to be good football players. I hate what Mike Vick did but, I don’t agree with his punishment it’s so much worst going on in this world(killing humans, abortion, drugs on every corner, and God’s law being mocked)
Shaad
December 8th, 2009
6:34 pm
Just a thought to add to my post would yall give a crap if he was a good samaritan and couldn’t play a lick my survey says no cause you wouldn’t even know the guy let’s be real the only reason we talk about MV7 is because he’s so good we can’t help it. I wanted to list an example of someone who is sorry in this league but is a real stand up guy but I can’t because I don’t care and you guys don’t either people have prefrence, Tom Brady denied his child and was with another woman before the peternity test results came in, but guess what I don’t care and his fans don’t care cause they love what he does on the field. You might bring up P. Manning and say he has never done anything wrong(to our knowledge) and he is a great football player but that’s just it you only care because he is a great football player!!!!
"Ole Falcon"
December 8th, 2009
6:45 pm
I tink da Mike Duhwayne Bick woodza beezah betur QB if hisem receesir woodz ware pit bull doggys on der handz glovves. Heza hitzem all duh tyme den!
Dat aint’ nos Liez I tellz yuh!
me
December 8th, 2009
7:01 pm
DOL, I would like to apologize to you for a comment I made last night. I was wrong for writing what I wrote and again I apologize.
The Boss
December 8th, 2009
7:23 pm
Who cares! It’s amazing that so many “Vick Fans” hate the Falcons so much, yet they spend every unemployed moment of each day spewing ignorance on any and every blog. Move on people. BOTH SIDES.
REAL FALCON FANS, Discuss the current team. There is certainly plenty to work on with just that subject alone!
ie; Pass rush, Secondary, overall depth…etc, etc.
Eagles Message Board
December 8th, 2009
7:23 pm
Andy Reid played his cards perfectly Sunday. He’s been negotiating a new contract so he put the beat down on the Falcons AND helped improve Vick’s trade value from zero to at least a #3 pick. With Eagles in the thick of playoffs positioning he won’t trust Vick in close games plus why jeopardize trade value?
The Boss
December 8th, 2009
7:28 pm
“Eagles message board”, your on the wrong blog. You must be lost.
Eagles Message Board
December 8th, 2009
7:29 pm
Gosh, after last Sunday figured we own this town too…
Jimmy
December 8th, 2009
7:38 pm
Shaad
December 8th, 2009
6:19 pm
Shad,
When someone is violating the law…it is not part of his “personal” life.
We live in a society of laws that when broken, puts you under the scrutiny and at the mercy of your fellow citizens (if caught).
Vick’s water bottle incident would have personal if it hadn’t at one time contained marijuanna.
Marijuanna is a controlled substance UNDER THE LAW.
At that point…this became a public matter.
On Vick flipping off those harassing fans…
Vick is a PUBLIC FIGURE.
He was on one of the largest stages there is in this country.
When he flipped off one or two fans on that stage
he did it for everyone there to see.
If the guy next to me curses that is wrong and I will report him to security.
I certainly don’t want Vick responding in a vulgar or obscene way in front of my children.
You got that…when he flipped off some jerk he also flipped off my children because they saw it.
That was not the appropriate venue for such behaivor.
I can’t report Vick to security and have him removed can I?
As a public figure who makes his living off fans…including the jerks…he must accept criticism.
The herpes deal…I agree that should be off limits.
But then that darn, “public figure” bug bites him again.
Again, such stories go with the territory.
On his punishment…he entered a plea bargain.
Do you know what that means?
He accepted punishment rather than go before a jury of his peers.
Why?
Because his friends betrayed him and the evidence was overwhelming against him.
Also…he lied about his involvement.
So Vick’s punishment was his own fault.
We have laws against people running illegal gambling organizations because they are a haven for organized crime.
Vick was involved in illegal gambling operation across state lines and pled for a lesser charge.
So he was not harshly treated.
He actually got off easy when considering the full extent of charges and possible sentences he could have gotten if convicted..
I do agree…this league IS about MAKING MONEY.
Vick’s choices threatened the league’s revenue.
Vick did indeed rob the city…
He robbed us of one of the most exciting players to come along in a long time…
He robbed the team of a a whole season (The petrino debacle)
He robbed the fans of the joy being excited for our team.
I wish things were different…I wish Vick had made better choices.
But he didn’t.
And now the fans are reduced to aruging on blogs as yet another season tanks.
And Mike Vick, the poor victim, came back Sunday and twisted the knife he plunged into our collective backs.
Jimmy
December 8th, 2009
7:50 pm
One other thing,
I don’t wish Vick ill.
He has paid his debt.
I just get sick of hearing people suggest he was a victim.
He was not.
He was one of the most highly paid people in this country.
As an athelete, he got more deference and perks in one year that most of us will see in a lifetime.
When he chose to slap all the hands of aid that were extended to him before all this went public…
he made his own bed.
I root for him everywhere he goes (but Atlanta).
But I won’t let people suggest that he was shafted and the victim of racism or some other slight.
That is simply not true.
If his fans could stipulate to that…
Then I think the majority of fans can come together over his talent and his exciting play.
The Boss
December 8th, 2009
7:57 pm
“Eagles Message Board”, “Gosh”? No, your lost.
Eagles Message Board
December 8th, 2009
8:00 pm
With Vick Supporter and all these fans of the Eagles back-up QB seems more like a pro-Eagles board than Pro-Falcons…
The Boss
December 8th, 2009
8:02 pm
I wouldn’t argue with that. Sort of my point.
whodat70816
December 8th, 2009
8:07 pm
When are all you racist rednecks going to die? The real crime is that you people are allowed to reproduce!
Eagles Message Board
December 8th, 2009
8:12 pm
Boss… Falcons will be fine. Just need to get healthy. Headed in the right direction. Just curious if you think some of the “fans” will chant “We want Vick” if Ryan or Redman struggles… I don’t even think that would happen to McNabb.
QB problems
December 8th, 2009
8:14 pm
D.J. Shockley should be given an opportunity to play this week.
The Boss
December 8th, 2009
8:21 pm
Good question. I agree we are still headed in the right direction. Read the blogs and you would think “the sky is falling.” Most of the Vick fans do not go to the Falcons games anymore, they are Vick fans, not Falcons fans. Of course there are some exceptions to that. For me its simple. If you are a Falcons Fan, you would NEVER cheer for an opponent to score…regardless who the player or team is.
I agree would never happen in Philly. You guys have sports passion. I would think another “fan” would take a stand if a person wearing Eagles jersey or hat did such a thing. I’d pretty much bet on it.
TCCB
December 8th, 2009
8:22 pm
@ SHEAN FROM DA SWATS NOW YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!