Reinstatement for Vick is only step one
Michael Vick is free to be an NFL player again, but what happens now? (AP photo)
Note to Michael Vick: This wasn’t the hard part.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has conditionally reinstated Vick and, as expected, he likely will make him sit out the first month of the regular season. But finally getting the league’s blessing to resume his career is only the first hurdle Vick has to overcome.
Initially, the biggest thing working against Vick is the calendar. NFL teams open training camps this weekend. The league’s coaches are notorious control freaks when it comes to atmosphere. General managers are similar when it comes to the roster. The league’s owners are trying to sell tickets and sponsorships in a depressed economy. The last thing anybody wants to deal with right now is the kind of stir that a Vick signing is going to create — just before training camp.
Nobody wants demonstrations. Nobody wants helicopters flying over head. Nobody wants the media circus.
Do I believe a team will take a flier on him? Yes. (Early guesses: Redskins, Raiders, Dolphins, Rams, Saints). But this isn’t going to be an easy leap for some franchise to take.
Understand something: If this was February, a team could take the initial PR hit in the winter and have it likely die down (somewhat) by late summer. Now, if Vick is signed right away, the storm will follow his team through training camp, the pre-season and into the regular season. What also needs to be weighed is what kind of positive impact the former Pro Bowl quarterback can have on a team this season? Vick obviously won’t have time to fully digest a playbook or work with an offense. So his contribution could be limited (goal-line situations, etc.).
The question: Given the backdrop, will that be worth it for a team? After nearly two years, Vick will need time get back in shape and acclimate himself to public life again.
In a statement released to the Associated Press, Vick said: “As you can imagine, the last two years have given me time to re-evaluate my life, mature as an individual and fully understand the terrible mistakes I have made in the past and what type of life I must lead moving forward.”
Let us hope that is the case.
I’ll repeat what I’ve said before: I hope Vick rehabilitates himself, not merely for his career but for his life and his children. But reinstatement from Roger Goodell is only step one.
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129 comments Add your comment
old fart
July 27th, 2009
6:26 pm
The Braves are in the wild card hunt.
Roddy
July 27th, 2009
6:27 pm
Roger Goodell said he will make a decision on full reinstatment BY week 6 which means he may reinstate Vick to play opening day. Just wanted to point this out about all the misleading articles that say he wont play until week 6.
Jon
July 27th, 2009
6:31 pm
Michael Vick absolutely deserves a second chance. What he did was wrong, and he was punished for it. Whether people like it or not, facts are facts, and the fact is…he has been reinstated. It is up to Vick to make the most and best of that. Everybody in this world has been given a second chance at one time or another in their lifetime and should not be so quick to condemn or judge another human being. Remember, he who has never sinned may cast the first stone…and nobody in the world is a saint, so nobody should be casting any stones. Love him or hate him, Vick is being given a second chance by the NFL.
GBu
July 27th, 2009
6:36 pm
Vick (aka Mr dog torture) should not be allowed back in the NFL ever, he’s a shame to mankind. The only place where he should go is a dark jail where he should perish in silence, throw some of his dogs in there, make sure they have not eaten for a week, that they are very hungry
Charles J. Budde
July 27th, 2009
6:51 pm
How about publishing the crime or for that matter list of crimes for which a conviction would prevent a person playing professional football? We know that murder, assault, child rape and animal abuse are not on that list. Just how bad does a person have to be for them to be excluded from ‘America’s Game’?
Darnell types in all caps
July 27th, 2009
6:51 pm
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of the “deaf” penalty. Sounds horrifying unless we have to listen to you, then it might be a blessing in disguise!
a mother's love
July 27th, 2009
7:05 pm
What is the big deal about the BIG LIE? ALL people tell lies. I GUESS it depends on who you lie to in order to save yourself . My GOD, if we were held accountable for all the lies we have told, and we apply for a job and they ask you to tell the truth, how do you respond? Goodell has accepted his apology and let’s move on.
Jon, thanks for your humanizing comment.
Barry, stop the Hate and move on.
Origional Fan
July 27th, 2009
7:07 pm
As a convicted felon…no jail time, just probation… for leaving the scene of an accident I didn’t even know occured, I can sympathize. However, I have been denied employment , legally, on numerous occations because of it. Vick was no better at his job than I was at mine. It is called accountability. A deterent if you will. I suffer from it and I killed no one. Is that fair? The race thing has nothing to do with it. Racism is a major crutch for not doing the right thing.
Jo
July 27th, 2009
7:15 pm
Boy the hatred expressed on this site is just as criminal as the acts Michael Vick went to jail for. Hatred needs to have it’s own sentencing period, some of you would serve a life sentence. If this were your family member you’d be defending him saying he’s served his time. According to our justice system, which we know for a fact is sooooo equitable and fair for all Americans, you do the crime you serve the time. He has served his time and now it’s time for him to move on with his life. HATERS or racists, whichever best describe you, get over it. He’s Back and I hope he becomes a REDSKIN. Go Skins!!!!!
a mother's love
July 27th, 2009
7:17 pm
GBU I am saddened and sick about your hateful comment. Please watch the Black America documentary on CNN and just maybe you will see that your hateful comment reflects how people were treated that were sent from Africa as slaves. Please use your time researching the history of dogs from England and slavery in America. You just might gain an understanding of the value of human life.
a mother's love
July 27th, 2009
7:23 pm
Jeff, why did you edit my comment. Does the truth real hurt your blog?People write hurtful things and you let them print. NO MORE COMMENTS AND GOOD BY to my AJC SUBSCRIPTIONS BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT FAIR. Where is my freedom of speech?
Chuckles
July 27th, 2009
7:29 pm
Two Words – Jacksonville Jaguars.
David Granger
July 27th, 2009
7:31 pm
Once he served his sentence, he should be allowed to do anything he can be hired to do, in my opinion. I do expect Vick to get in trouble again, I’m sorry to say. He’s got a lot of “punk thug” in him, and that’s always close to the surface. (His hitting the strip club with Allen Iverson, the absolute DEFINITION of “punk thug”.) If he doesn’t change his friends and his hangouts, he’ll get “dissed” somewhere and go ballistic. And he won’t get another chance, I don’t think.
Roddy
July 27th, 2009
7:42 pm
David Granger, you sound like a moron. Are you the only person on the planet that thinks he was at a strip club with AI?
lee
July 27th, 2009
7:42 pm
can we talk about something more important than vick????? PLEASE!!!! i mean there are so many other more important things to talk about!!! the Taco Bell Dog died the other day!!!
Roddy
July 27th, 2009
7:46 pm
Some really sick freaks in here. —–>GBU
Larry
July 27th, 2009
7:48 pm
“Larry A” wrote:
“I think the Falcons should take him as their backup.”
Thank you for adding the “A” to your name! I have a reputation here and I do not want to be confused with an idiot and only an idiot would suggest the Falcons add such a distraction to their team and promising new QB!
Larry
July 27th, 2009
7:51 pm
“a mother’s love”
Yes, slavery was horrible, but you talking many, many years ago. Get over it!
Plus, how many white men died for your freedom? Think about it!
The Commies
July 27th, 2009
7:52 pm
People who can’t spell should get the “deaf penalty.”
Suckers.
chipdip
July 27th, 2009
7:56 pm
WHO CARES…MJ IS A THUG..NO TEAM WILL PICK HIM UP ANYWAY…SO OVER RATED…HOPE HE FAILS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tim
July 27th, 2009
8:39 pm
Good grief, the guy couldn’t play when he was playing. Overhiped, overpaid thug. Was I the only one who thought during the postgame press conferences he looked more like he just did a “drive by” than played a football game? The guy is what he is, TRASH!
Michael Bicknell
July 27th, 2009
8:54 pm
Kinda hard to deny the man the right to make a living. He did his time. His name will forever be linked with animal cruelty. You know someone is going to take a chance on him and he’ll probably be real good. If they keep him out of a West Coast Offense he’ll probably be great.
Maybe cleveland could use him. That would be poetic justice. He could play in the ‘Dawg Pound’.
Paddy
July 27th, 2009
8:58 pm
Charles Budde… I will give you a crime that MV came within an eyelash of be accused. This will make your list of crimes the NFL would not tollerate:
Can you say, RICO?
Ralph
July 27th, 2009
8:59 pm
UFL first as a ticket draw (and probably last).
NFL only if he shows something, and probably not as a QB.
Jeff Schultz
July 27th, 2009
9:10 pm
Fish Bisch – not going to happen.
Dave – did you have an answer for your daughter.
Mac – Carolina? Doubt it. They’ve had enough PR problems to overcome through the years. Have one guy in jail for murder.
A mother’s love – Don’t remember. I edit a lot of comments. But if you have to ask, the answer’s probably yes.
Chuckles – Possible.
Chris
July 27th, 2009
9:27 pm
“A Mother’s Love”, you are a moron. Gee I wonder what part of town you live in. Vick is a thug and like all of them, will screw up again and be out of the league in no time. He was not even that good to start with. Matt Ryan is ten times better. I know you thugs hate him because he is white but DEAL WITH IT.
Navigator
July 27th, 2009
9:48 pm
I love it Jeff Schultz, you pulled a MVick so early in the year. I’m amazed there isn’t a 1000 postings, or maybe folks around here are tired of talking about it. My guess is Oakland too (for the many who said this before me), as that owner doesn’t care or maybe is looking for the bad publicity. He needs someone else to be in the bulls eye beside himself.
Scott Anderson
July 27th, 2009
10:02 pm
Vick absorbing a playbook is like a Eskimo kissing lips. It aint happening. That was part of the problem with Vick. He only knew three plays, Vick run left, Vick run right, Vick bounce ball off Crumplers helmet again. Any team that takes a chance on him will regret it. I still remember him faking injurys, pulling up lame with his hammy only to be back in the next series. Reeves got it right when he gave Vick the book on leadership and Vick threw it in the nearest trash can. Vick dont need no leaders. Vick do it on his own.
Are we going to have to read about this in the AJC for the rest of the season. Articles on Vick should be dropped and concentrate on the Falcons players, not the has been QBs of the past.
GO FALCONS !
DrJ
July 27th, 2009
10:04 pm
Vick…the best of luck to you, but it’s like trying to quite nicotine, and they will have a defensive back spying on you, again.
Vick Links | The Blog of Champions
July 27th, 2009
10:06 pm
[...] This is step one for Vick. [...]
Justice Pro
July 27th, 2009
10:20 pm
MV is more that a thug…he is trash, the NFL doesn’t need him at any place he goes there will be organizations that will raise so much hell with the management and the press it will be great to watch. MV said in one comment that I read that Tony Dungy was a mentor, how could Dungy ever support him, I lost my respect for Pro Basketball a few years ago and the NFL is sinking fast.
Vick Supporter
July 27th, 2009
10:22 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=4359449
Its time
dan
July 27th, 2009
10:23 pm
To those that say Vick sucked in his prime, that’s just stupid. He was great in 2002, was awesome after his ankle injury in 2003, and solid in 2004 when the Falcons won the division( even though the NFC was EXTREMLY weak that year). When Vick was in the zone, man no one could stop him!
But in 2005 and 2006 he wasn’t the same player for multiple reasons. Some of that blame falls on him( his work ethic, being distracted by things off the field).Some of it can be attributed to defensive coordinators learning how to defense him. Some of it falls on the coaching staff (notably OC Greg Knapp) for not using him effectively in the offensive game plan. Some of it falls on Rich McKay for not giving him receivers to help him out or an offensive line to block for him. And some of it falls on Arthur Blank for enabling him when he should have kicked him in the ass.
Hopefully Vick can get it together, but as a Falcon fan, I rather focus on what we are instead of what we are not.
SY
July 27th, 2009
11:12 pm
ALL U PPL HATE MIKE VICK Y?? JUS BECAUSE HE DID SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE IN THE WORLD HAS BEEN DOING FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS?? ITS NOT LIKE HE RAPED A LITTLE GIRL OR KILLED SOME ONE… IM SUR 97% OF THE PPL ON THIS BLOG HAS FOUGHT A DOG BEFORE I DNT CARE WHO YOU ARE OR HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE
Brian Jones
July 27th, 2009
11:31 pm
Yes,he is an incredible athlete,he can throw,he can run and for a few short years made watching the oft basement dwelling Falcons exciting to watch{in person and the nationally televised games} but the Falcons have moved on to bigger and better things and I would like to think so has my country and the NFL Let this Idiot go..let him consume himself,he will.
stendec
July 27th, 2009
11:55 pm
Roger Goodell can roast in Hell! Rhyme unintentional. The guy is not fit to be commissioner of a pay toilet let alone the NFL. He can f#ck off! Damn MF. So a son of a betch dog killing thug bestard will soon be back on NFL fields. If there is ANY justice, which, this shows, there is not, then Michael Sick will sustain a career ending injury on the first snap. Snap? Has nice sound to it. Keep the oxygen waste away from Uga! Of course, if Ron Mexico did anything to the University of Georgia mascot, he would no longer be a consideration to anyone! Man that has a nice ring to it. To all animal haters who support this pervert: F#CK OFF! Good night.
Gorilla Glue
July 28th, 2009
12:35 am
Some of these posters are acting stupidly.
Jonny Justice
July 28th, 2009
12:40 am
Michael Vick’s only talent was being able to run like he was trying to escape a lynch mob.
Which, ironically, is what he deserves. He was mediocre QB and is a totally pathetic excuse for a human being.
Can any NFL team be so stupid as to hire this monster? Let him crawl back into the ground and be rid of this pestilence once and for all! Impressionable children don’t need to be exposed to this disease-carrying, dope-using, lying psycopathic killer!
p hawes
July 28th, 2009
1:21 am
WHAT happened to the hockey player that was racing (alledgedly drunk) for fun and killed his best friend. His friend was a HUMAN being and he was not even given a pat on the hand AND the press stopped reporting about it. Why was he allowed to keep his career after what was clearly a homicide. Vic however gets 2 years and people are still trying to take his career.
Palin can proudly boast about moose killing for FUN, SPORT and RELAXATION but I haven’t heard a word from PETA about prosecuting her for that. Are moose and humans less important than dogs?What gives?
clyde
July 28th, 2009
1:59 am
Another of the flotsam and jetson crowd that people want to see get another chance.Why?He’s already blown more chances than most people will ever see.Why can’t we concentrate our efforts on someone that doesn’t need another chance.Someone who’s going to succeedd on the first one?
r martin die hard braves fan
July 28th, 2009
2:31 am
MV HAS PAID HIS DUES LET HIM PLAY IF HE CAN…….. HE DESERVES A CHANCE.
Football Fan
July 28th, 2009
3:48 am
Do people forget Mike Vick was an All-Pro Quarterback? Beyond maybe Peyton Manning, I think he could start anywhere. It’s about MONEY. Mike Vick will generate MONEY for the NFL. Especially if the Football Gods make it so whatever team Mike Vick is on, plays the Falcons in the Super Bowl.. Dolla, Dolla Bills Ya’ll…Always follow the money.
Bruce Farmer
July 28th, 2009
5:46 am
I’ts amazing how stupid people like Jeff Schultz think. Mick Vick is a great player and will not have any problem getting back in the N F L I bet he already has been talking to teams and will chose the best fit for himself. people in the media are so stupid sometime and the only circus intown will be the stupid media (CLowns).
chris
July 28th, 2009
6:12 am
Can we stop blaming (even partially) Vick’s on-field problems on the receivers? Ryan threw to basically the same set of guys last year.
There is a reason why run-first quarterbacks never win Super Bowls. Football is 11 on 11. The only advantage the offense has over the defense is that the offense knows what the play is. When you have a run-first quarterback like Vick (and early Cunningham and early Steve Young), the plays often break down into a scrambling free for all. At that point, the offensive players have no more idea what is going to happen than the defense does, so they lose their one advantage. Sure, some plays go long and spectacular, but an equal number go wrong and spectacular. So, you can’t win consistently enough against good opponents to make it through the playoffs and Super Bowl.
Paddy
July 28th, 2009
6:21 am
SY….. I doubt I can keep this up much longer with you folks. DOG FIGHTING IS NOT A FEDERAL CRIME. He went to Federal prison for committing Federal crimes; felonies that sent him to one of the toughest prisons in America. There are no dog fighters in Federal prisons, never has been and never will be unless they change the law. He will get his chance to play in the NFL soon. His suspension is a result of his lying to the Commish. (my guess) or something very few have written about, running a gambling ring across state lines.
Former Falcons 365 Employee
July 28th, 2009
6:21 am
Lots of virtual fans on here! Love to pretend they hate Mike Vick. They LOVE MIKE VICK! I know, these virtual numbnuts haven’t supported the Falcons in 2 seasons where it counts…with their wallets!
hop
July 28th, 2009
6:27 am
i do not think mv is a very good qb,but he is a great athlete!
he deserves the opportunity to play and i do not think the commish did the right thing by dissing him for a possible six games.
i hope and pray that he has changed ,but we will soon know whether he has or not,but we all should be hoping and praying that he has since he has a family to take care and support!
Tonye
July 28th, 2009
7:32 am
I think those that get to express their views on a national level, like Jeff, make a lot of personal assumptions about the future of someones direction in life. Those assumptions become the truth to so many people that can’t think for their self. Jeff wants us to believe that because of groups like PETA, that teams will be affraid to sign him because of a proceived possibilty of large demonstrations. Jeff ,if your going to guess, guess to yourself. I’ve read some your stories in the past, you were given a second chance. Vick deserves that same chance..
Top Dogg
July 28th, 2009
7:43 am
Darnell is no doubt one of Atlantas public schools sucess stories.This is not a black or white issueit is however about right or wrong.I hope Mike does what he needs to do to put this all to rest once and for all.Death is not spelled Deaf dumbass.
TD Jakes
July 28th, 2009
7:43 am
Are all of the Vick Supporters thumping their chests yet over the return of their “Messiah?”
The Lake of Fire awaits you, Michael.