Atlanta Falcons: Michael Vick vs. Falcons now more like a footnote
By Michael Cunningham
Michael Vick once energized the Falcons fanbase while winning big games. His success in Atlanta and the notorious circumstances of his departure mean he’s always going to be part of the story when his Eagles team plays the Falcons.
But Vick vs. the Falcons has become more of a footnote with each passing season since Vick last played for Atlanta in 2006. Now it’s more about the Falcons vs. the Eagles.
“Having played against the Eagles [with Vick] so many times, I don’t think it’s something the guys in here talk about or even think about that all that much,” Matt Ryan said today. “There’s probably only a handful of guys left that played with Mike. I think we are probably a little bit beyond that at this point, five years removed.”
Roddy White is one of five current Falcons to play with Vick along with Todd McClure,
White agreed that the Vick era is solidly in the past now.
“We play each other so much over the past four or five years we’ve gotten past that point now,” White said. “It’s just us against them. Whoever comes out with the win, wins.”
White, who famously earned a fine for flashing a T-shirt supportive of Vick after scoring a touchdown, said he’s still close with Vick. The two have traded playful text messages this week.
“He just asked me to drop a couple balls in the game,” White said. “I tell him I will try to drop them in the offseason. Other than that, we’ve just been kind of texting back and forth. I asked him to throw us like three picks. That would be nice. We just laugh and joke around about things like that. We are both players that want to go out there and excel and get wins.”
Vick’s time with the Falcons ended in disgrace after he pleaded guilty to felony charges for his role in a dog fighting operation at a property owned by him in Virginia. Vick served 19 months in prison. The Falcons released Vick when he was still under house arrest in June 2009.
White said he believes that with the passage of time people are able to appreciate what Vick did for the Falcons franchise in spite of how his tenure ended.
“I think he did a lot of good things when he was here,” White said. “He excited the city. That was the main focus. And he won a lot of games. He won some playoff games, too. We are under a new regime now with coach Mike Smith. Matt is here, and Matt is winning a lot of games. Matt has taken over and kind of ran with it and made that city get that spark again that we had when we had Mike. We are rolling right now and we’ve got to continue to go out there and find ways to win.”
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86 comments Add your comment
New Orleans...really??
October 24th, 2012
6:28 pm
We may not have a championship but at least we don’t live in a trash dump.
kd
October 24th, 2012
6:29 pm
@ lol at the aints- or instead of going green they can just go away
Just Sayin.....
October 24th, 2012
6:35 pm
I just have one question. Why has it been 9 years since the last Falcons playoff win?
Just Sayin…..
Dirty birds32
October 24th, 2012
6:36 pm
Sure was Jamal. He was a beast. To bad bout his knees
Judge Smails
October 24th, 2012
6:37 pm
I was waiting for an intelligent conversation regarding the Falcons and their chances on Sunday…But instead, I get a bunch of Third Graders acting like little idiots.
I’ll mosey on over to the ESPN blogs and see if the Grown-Ups are there!
Michael M .
October 24th, 2012
6:55 pm
I can’t even comment for laughin so hard…………………………………………
Dirty birds32
October 24th, 2012
7:10 pm
Who’s this guy to judge us…… O wait
Sam the Bam
October 24th, 2012
7:15 pm
@ Esquire-Yes really-no champioships-unlessof course you’re a democrat and can just invent one !
PapaK
October 24th, 2012
7:50 pm
When Mike Vick played with Atlanta, he was a boy in a man’s body. He was thrust into fame and wealth while he was still emotionally about 15 years old. He didn’t take being a professional quarterback seriously and never watched film (like a high school football player). He hung around with users. When he was confronted with dog fighting, he reacted like a little boy and denied everything. He achieved success because he was so talented. I enjoyed the first few Vick years; they were exciting. You never knew what he would do on a Sunday. I don’t think he’ll ever be as good as he was when he was a Falcon.
lowdownjj
October 24th, 2012
7:54 pm
Glad Vick got ran outta town. I’ll take Ryan any day. GOO COONS! RISE UP! Oh yea… Aints gotta visit Peyton’s Place…
steven a smith
October 24th, 2012
8:03 pm
I believe that the Eagles will be desperate for a win this weekend. Andy Reid is trying to save his job as well as Mike Vick.
steven a smith
October 24th, 2012
8:04 pm
The Eagles will be desperate for a win. If Vick is sub-standard, he will get benched.
Stumpknocker
October 24th, 2012
8:25 pm
@Seen that B4; My offer still stands. I’ll replace that tattered old paper bag with a nice new plastic one(clear), with a draw-string………guaranteed to be air tight.
nuclearjim
October 24th, 2012
8:35 pm
It’s a long season and I am glad that the NOLA trolls have SOMETHING to make their miserable lives worth waking up to – and that is the AJC Comments. If your team cannot win, you live in a sewer and have a barely literate populace (at best), I suppose your self esteem depends upon denigrating others.
Hey NOLA trolls, can you put up tonights NOLA Midtown murder odds (over and under)? Wihtout an NFL game tonight we need some captivating odds.
Brandon W
October 24th, 2012
8:51 pm
I can’t Believe T.I.! …I don’t want the Falcons to lose to anybody! I loved Mike Vick when he was with us and I am still a fan…but The Birds need to go to 7-0 then beat Dallas then folks might take the Falcons seriously…I have been tough on Matt Ryan and I think he has a skinny arm,
tim
October 24th, 2012
9:27 pm
Babineaux is a dog killer too.
White is just a plain idiot.
Falcon James
October 24th, 2012
10:13 pm
The Eagle are flying on a wing and a prayer much like the lowly Saint team. Hard to believe that the Falcon are underdogs in this game. Vick will probably leave the game with a injury after he throws us the ball a few times. STDB4 is on crack if he think the Eagle will win this game. He can say what he want, but everybody already know the Saint cheated they way to they only two win and look like they be paying the Ref some money to call some penalty to keep them in the game. Maybe STDB4 Momma will put him back on restriction from the internet so we don’t have to hear him spew.
Okay Now
October 24th, 2012
11:51 pm
One thing I can say about atlanta fans…95% have moved on from the “vick era” especially this season. I was a HUGE vick fan when he was in atlanta and I was pissed when he left, Sadly I was one of the ones cheering for him on his return a few years ago. That time is long gone now. I’m glad Matt Ryan is getting the respect he deserves in atlanta. The falcons have DEFIENTLY sparked the excitment back into the city and outside. I currently live in California but I have seen so many falcons fans over here, it’s unbelievable.
FedUp
October 25th, 2012
12:39 am
LEAST Liked NFL Players-ESPN.com
Player Pos Team
1. Ndamukong Suh DT Lions
2. Jay Cutler QB Bears
3. Michael Vick QB Eagles
4. Randy Moss WR 49ers
5. Matt Leinart QB Raiders
6. Tony Romo QB Cowboys
7. Kyle Orton QB Cowboys
8. Santonio Holmes WR Jets
9. Mark Sanchez QB Jets
10. Brady Quinn QB Chiefs
FedUp
October 25th, 2012
12:39 am
LEAST Liked NFL Players
Player Pos Team
1. Ndamukong Suh DT Lions
2. Jay Cutler QB Bears
3. Michael Vick QB Eagles
4. Randy Moss WR 49ers
5. Matt Leinart QB Raiders
6. Tony Romo QB Cowboys
7. Kyle Orton QB Cowboys
8. Santonio Holmes WR Jets
9. Mark Sanchez QB Jets
10. Brady Quinn QB Chiefs
rafael
October 25th, 2012
12:44 am
“SeenThis B4″ …………. I did not know the ‘Georgia Home for the Mentally Handicapped’ allowed their residents to use computers….
'Aints blow
October 25th, 2012
1:52 am
To the ‘aints fan: you have to live your life knowing you ‘won’ the most tainted championship in the history of football. Happy bounty hunting! 2-5 coming this week for the ‘aints.
Buddy Landel
October 25th, 2012
6:36 am
How many points will Peyon Manning put up on that Saints defense this weekend?
Joey the Bull
October 25th, 2012
8:02 am
With a win vs the Eagles and another Saints loss, can we clinch the South before the halfway pt?
I jest, just pointing out to Saints fans that bounty gate gave us the division and the road to SB goes thru Atlanta.
and?
October 25th, 2012
8:09 am
The rivalry is mostly a media play to get someone to pay attention to their article
and?
October 25th, 2012
8:12 am
shouldnt the Aints fan gone back to their city to help rebuild and not live off other cities
mike
October 25th, 2012
8:57 am
Not another article about MR Vick. Let it go folks. How many times are you going to write about Mike vs Falcons. If you want to write about something, write about all the money Mike generated for this city and team while he was here. Better yet write about all the teams the Falcons have beat this year who have a winning record. Lets see? There are none.
Call It Like It Is
October 25th, 2012
8:57 am
Such a non-story. Only reason the name Vick is brought up is due to the media. Vick is more than likely worried about being replaced versus his thoughts or lack there of in regards to the Falcons. How many times has he dropped the ball this year, 11? Only sad thing is how the cameras will focus on the posers in the stands wearing Falcon #7 shirts instead of the real fans. Thats okay I see those idiots and think “Here’s your sign.”
markie mark
October 25th, 2012
9:02 am
I think I will send Seen a Christmas card this year…….
Mr Seen This
Central State Hospital
c/o Delusional Wing
Milledgeville, GA
CJ
October 25th, 2012
10:44 am
VICK all the way…VICK, is the man! This will be the dirty birds FIRST lost!
MV7
October 25th, 2012
10:56 am
Vick still owns this city and he will dominate the Falcons (if our line can protect)
Braves #17 Fan
October 25th, 2012
10:57 am
It’s a dead even split here: http://espn.go.com/nfl/picks, with half predicting the Falcons to win. Also, on that same page, the Saints are not predicted to win by one single person on the Expert Picks panel. As for me, I could type some uneducated post about how great the Falcons are and how bad the Saints are, but it should be quite a game for the Falcons. For the Saints, Brees has been on fire lately, but I predict Denver to win. Go Atlanta. Go Denver.
Samuel
October 25th, 2012
11:46 am
The Falcons will play solid against the Eagles and come out with a win. I like to see Jaquizz Rodgers and Harry Douglas get the ball out in space more than once. I feel these two are sleepers along with the offensive line. Special teams will be the next important thing. Go Birds!
Barry
October 25th, 2012
12:31 pm
Enter your comments here
Barry
October 25th, 2012
12:37 pm
HEY YALL:
“IT’S TIME TO KILL A COACH ON SUNDAY!! It’s time to do it in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!”. THUMP!!! Can you hear it???!! THUMP!!! IT’S GETTING LOUDER!!!!!! THUMP!! THUMP!!! ………..!!!,etc.
GO FALCONS!!!!
THE “PROCESS” CONTINUES TO THE SUPER BOWL!!
“FALCONS, RISE UP!!” WE “RISE UP!” IN “ONE HEARTBEAT!!”
SSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN!!. TELL EVERYBODY!!
………………”ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!……..
Sheffield
October 25th, 2012
2:39 pm
One heart beat!!! Yes!! Btw…Vick is not our Quarterback…Stop bring him please! and thank you…