Rumors of Vick deal actually make sense now
There's actually reason to believe Michael Vick will be wearing an NFL jersey again soon (just not this one).
(Warning: This is another blog about Michael Vick. But don’t worry! Our wait may at long last be over! I think.)
The Washington Post, a pillar of journalism if you don’t count that whole Janet Cooke thing, quotes a source saying that “at least five” teams have “behind the scenes” interest in Vick. Now, I’m not sure what this story really means. I’d venture to say that 31 NFL teams — we’ll exclude the Falcons — have had behind-the-scenes interest in Vick. His talent is interesting. His potential impact is interesting. He’s interesting. (I have a broad definition of “interesting.”)
Are five teams actually in some sort of bidding for his services? Doubtful. Very doubtful.
But the odds of Vick signing in the next few weeks are significantly higher than they were when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell first officially unsuspended/suspended him. Consider the recent chain of events: 1) Tony Dungy has been making the media circuit, speaking on his behalf; 2) Vick appeared in Atlanta at an Humane Society-organized event to denounce dog-fighting; 3) “60 minutes” followed him to the event and will broadcast excerpts of that Sunday with the first post-prison interview with Vick.
It has been a relative coming out party.
But here’s an even bigger issue from an NFL coach’s perspective: Training camps will begin to shut down next week. As noted in this space before, football coaches are control freaks. They don’t want distractions at any time — but they particularly don’t want them in camp. Once camp closes, practices are closed to the public. Media access becomes limited. What this means is that, while there still will be a major circus and probable public relations hit for whatever team signs Vick, the situation will become more controlled. It will be easier for a team to shelter Vick. It will be easier for Vick to blend — well, to a degree — with his teammates and fall into the daily structure of an NFL practice-and-meeting day.
Which team is most likely to sign Vick? At this point, it’s impossible to know who has been truthful and who has lied about their interest. But just because the Post reported “at least five,” I’ll give you my five (in no particular order):Baltimore, Jacksonville, St. Louis, New Orleans, Minnesota. I’m still not buying rumors that he’ll be signed by Pittsburgh, New England or Green Bay. Or the UFL.
But I am buying that he’ll be signed soon.
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116 comments Add your comment
dooley
August 11th, 2009
11:35 am
First, and Vick will be signed by the Redskins or Bills
Herschel Talker
August 11th, 2009
11:37 am
I can’t wait for FALCONS SORRY to post on this.
Schultzie – great column on the Braves and Nats. This has all the makings of a Nats sweep. Why? Because that is the Braves’ modus operandi.
Clemson538
August 11th, 2009
11:39 am
who cares about Vick.. why do articles about him KEEP coming up on the AJC website.. Is there REALLY no better story to cover.. My god.. A guy wipes his arse with the city and we still cover him to no end.. Pitiful
Jeff Schultz
August 11th, 2009
11:39 am
Dooley: Never know about Skins. Dan Snyder is the wild-card. Also never know about Bills — they just signed T.O.
midnite
August 11th, 2009
11:40 am
Shooo! What is that smell? Schultz you just opened up a can of stank. Something smelling funky up in here. Lock and load, batten down the hatches, and let the circus begin.
Joe T
August 11th, 2009
11:40 am
I believe ratings will be very high when “60 Minutes” airs the interview. Due to the “interest” factor. I agree with dooley. I think the Bills sign him.
Carlos
August 11th, 2009
11:42 am
Check out this video released a couple of days ago. I don’t think this a good way to make an impression with the owners whom might be interested in his services. I wonder what Dungy would think of this video….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJOQ5gZawzg
Boo Boo
August 11th, 2009
11:43 am
As long as 32 teams’ fans boycott all teams visiting cities, for bringing with them ex-cons as employees, making those cities unsafe for women and children to walk the streets during the day, because some drunken jaywalker killer is pumped up on steroids, or some simpleton has so much money he funds a dog fighting/killing interstate gambling ring is quick on his feet, the teams that hire such riff-raff will get the message from the other owners and ex-felons will not be hired.
Boycott all professional sports that hire convicted felons. I wouldn’t want to confess to a priest who had been in prison. I wouldn’t want to have my UPS package delivered by a convicted felon. I don’t want to pay for a ticket to go watch the prison league play sports.
Mike's Pitt Bull
August 11th, 2009
11:44 am
YIPE – GLUB GLUB…
MightyQuinn
August 11th, 2009
11:45 am
Remember, FALCONS SORRY is really Jeff Shultz! Come clean, Jeff! Admit it and move on!
Paul H
August 11th, 2009
11:46 am
Everyone is waiting for that first team to make a move. No one wants to be the first one, so the league is waiting for someone to take one for the team and be the first. Once that happens, the floodgates are open.
FALCONS SORRY
August 11th, 2009
11:47 am
JEFF SHULTZ! DONT YOU DARE BE SUPRISED IF THE SORRY FALCONS HAVE SECRETLY REALIZED WHAT A HORRIBLE MISTAKE THEY HAVE MADE AND ARE SECRETLY PLANNING TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER THE TABLE TO WELCOME MV7 BACK HOME INTO THE FOLD WHERE HE BELONG! THIS MAN HAS BEEN PERSECUTED LIKE NO BODY EVER HAS AND THE WHOLE TIME HE HAS HELD HIS POISE JUST LIKE YOU EXPECT A CHAMPION LEVEL QUARTERBACK AT THE NFL FOOTBALL LEVEL TO DO! THERE ARE PROBABLY A LOT MORE TEAMS THAT REALIZE VICK IS WAY TOO GOOD FOR THEM TO PASS UP BUT THEY ARE ALL SCARED ABOUT WHAT THE SORRY HATERS WITH PETA WILL SAY AND TRY TO BOYCOT THEM! BUNCH OF COWARDS! PACKERS YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT! IF YOU WANT TO BE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD YOU NEED TO GET A CHAMPION TO TAKE YOU TO THE PROMISE LAND AND YOU NEED TO SIGN VICK ASAP! HE MAKE GOOD TEAMS GREAT AND HE MAKE GREAT TEAMS CHAMPIONS OF THE WHOLE WORLD! EVEN THAT SORRY AUTHUR BLANK KNOW IT TAKE A CHAMPION PLAYER LIKE MIKE TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY! WHEN VICK GET ON 60 MINUTES THIS WEEK HE WILL HIT A HOME RUN OUT OF THE PARK AND WIN BACK THE PUBLIC THAT HAS BEEN DOUBTING HIM ALL THIS TIME! I BET BLANK EVEN KNEW THAT VICK WOULD BEAT OUT MATTY HOPELESS FOR THE STARTING JOB AND SHEAR TALENT ALONE AND THAT THE AJC WOULD CRUCIFY THE WHOLE FRANCHISE FOR IT! THE TIME IS HEAR FOR YOU TAKE BACK EVERY THING YOU WORKED HARD FOR! LET ALL THESE HATERS KEEP DRIVING YOU ON WARD MIKE! YOUR TIME TO SHINE ONCE MORE IS ALMOST HEAR MIKE!
Al Beeski
August 11th, 2009
11:48 am
Boo Boo, that’s why this is called Amerikkka, u dont have 2 do any of those things if u dont want 2, but u are free to tell all of us about your beliefs. But remember Boo Boo those who live in glass houses cannot throw rox, brix, or event platez. Get a life u loser, and give MV7 another chance. keep ur head up mike, we still luv u in da ATL
jim
August 11th, 2009
11:49 am
watch out for the panthers. makes sense to me.
Enough is Enough
August 11th, 2009
11:50 am
For the love of God, no more meaningless Vick stories!
jim
August 11th, 2009
11:50 am
hey “falcons sorry,” when you type in all-caps, it makes you sound really smart and helps your argument.
okay
August 11th, 2009
11:55 am
We live in a society when Donte Stallworth murders a man ,and gets 30 days in jail(releashed in 28 days by the way)Leonard Little same crime, but 3 months in jail. Not saying what vick did was okay, but come on now! Vick was in jail for 2 years, the man has done his time… let him play. I hope he plays the falcons and owns them WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO… THATS MICHAEL VICK #7 Right there
Kane337
August 11th, 2009
11:58 am
Here’s my five in no particular order: Redskins, 49ers, Rams, Bills, Ravens.
Redskins and Ravens because Vick is from their areas. Fans would be more accepting to him. Redskins don’t have that much faith in Jason Campbell (see how they tried to replace him this offseason).
49ers: Look at their QBs.
Rams: Billy Devaney worked with the Falcons when Vick was there. Bulgers stinks.
Bills: Did you see their QB play last Sunday night? Ugh.
Paul H
August 11th, 2009
12:00 pm
I think it’s pretty clear that FALCONS SORRY is fake. Someeone is just having some fun getting attention, like that Saint Simons guy.
Ron Mexico
August 11th, 2009
12:03 pm
“You People” and “you” know who you are, need to quit this bring vick back to “da atl”. Good grief man, take a look at yourselves and have some damn self respect.
K Dog
August 11th, 2009
12:04 pm
Look, when he signs, then let us know. Otherwise, nobody gives an ess. No speculation, no attempts to be the first to report, no rumors or other BS, please. You’re a “newspaper,” remember? Just the FACTS. “Certain teams are interested” is not a story!!!!
Lupus
August 11th, 2009
12:07 pm
Falcons Sorry sounds really fat.
Vick's Agent
August 11th, 2009
12:26 pm
When Vick finally does sign with another team, I’ll be sure to reserve a motel room in that city for him and Falcons Sorry.
Tech75
August 11th, 2009
12:27 pm
Vick will never be a top-level player in the NFL again. Two years out of it is almost unrecoverable.
Add to that the fact that he was inconsistent as a QB, never throwing a high percentage of completions, inaccurate, no touch, and you have the formula for a part-timer playing a position OTHER THAN QB.
I hope he’s trainable as a ball-carrier; when he was on the run in ATL he carried the rock like a loaf of bread, and dropped it a bunch of times.
Not promising. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in Canada for a couple of years before getting back into the NFL.
Notty Dred
August 11th, 2009
12:29 pm
Hey Carlos, stop being a hatred hater. I saw the video and the only problem anyone may have with it is that Vick is black and urban. He is not in the club nor is he making it rain. He is not drinking or smoking. He doesn’t use profane language and he isn’t around any dogs. He’s with Young Jeezy, someone who is rich because “white” america buys tons of his albums. He is around a person who “white” america kids has accepted as a role model. Tony Dungy, who is well respected in football and in life, vouches for Vick. Do you need Jesus himself to come down and ask for Vick’s forgiveness too?
You like many others don’t have to forget what Vick did but it probably would be righteous to forgive him. Forgive him for being a human that God made. Forgive him for not being perfect. Forgive him because you have been forgiven. Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Unfortunately Vick can’t go back to his youth and stop the dogfighting culture he grew up around.
Vick is too talented not to be apart of the NFL. Can you imagine Lebron not in the NBA or Manny not in the MLB? What if Ovechkin was not signed? Thats just crazy.
We’ll talk Vick and NFL (Stew-a-days) from 1p – 4p eastern with the 2 Live Stews. Listen on 790 am or sirius 127. Listen online at http://www.2livestews.com, http://www.790thezone.com or http://www.sportingnewsradio.com.
I love you all. God bless you and Mike Vick.
gdawginkalamazoo
August 11th, 2009
12:29 pm
The problem that the NFL and Goodell SHOULD be looking at now with Vick is that he GAMBLED on the dogs. Sure he may be rehabilitated in that he served his time but he is bankrupt and owes millions. His new salary won’t begin to cover it. A fumble here, an interception there to cover the point spread etc……. A money making machine he will become.
Tech75
August 11th, 2009
12:29 pm
Lupus….funny.
“if stupid was bricks, FALCONS SORRY would be a housing project”
Da Coach
August 11th, 2009
12:30 pm
Vick was; is, and always will be one blown-out knee away from being a janitor.
TampaGator
August 11th, 2009
12:30 pm
Can you imagine T.O. and Vick on the same team….the both are fine examples for teaching character education in middle school.
Tyger
August 11th, 2009
12:32 pm
The fact that at least 5 teams…
…want a Pro Bowl QB isn’t surprising, their livelihoods depend on winning football games. The PR backlash can be managed, afterall, PETA jumped on Obama for swatting a bug, so their credibility/judgment is questionable.
FANS love their teams and if Vick can take them higher, they’ll love him. His talent is unquestioned, his judgment is, and if he screws up – he screws up. I hope he doesn’t.
The real question is whether its worth it to bring in Vick? If you have a Pro Bowl QB; no. If not; maybe. What are the franchises expectations? Playoffs, then maybe. Super Bowl, definitely. Are 3-4 more wins worth the headache?
If you are within playoff range, then Vick could get you over the hump. Its a question of how bad do you want it? Right now, everyone’s pretty healthy, but by Week 4, things could change drastically.
His market is rising quicker than the price of gasoline. If not by the end of preseason, definitely after the 1st game, several teams are going to be forced to re-evaluate their positions.
Either injury or sub-par play will become the determinate factors not PETA.
Ralph G
August 11th, 2009
12:33 pm
I say the Bills as a back up. The guy can’t throw anyway. T.O. was mouthing off about what Goddell should do. It will be funny to see what T.O says when Vick can’t get him the ball as Vick trys to run around in the snow. Be careful of what you wish for.
Ken
August 11th, 2009
12:35 pm
This will be so funny! I can’t wait until he screws up again and is kicked out of the league or is back in jail. Once and thug, always a thug.
Notty Dred
August 11th, 2009
12:37 pm
Tech75 you remember the fumbles but you don’t remember the greatness? Hell Eli Manning, the highest paid QB, is passing under 56%. GTFOH hater! And gdawginkalamazoo, stay in Kalamazoo with those absurd and hatred comments. Vick got bread and he will earn plenty more. He stands to make more by performing well than gambling. The reason you put that out there is because thats what you would do if you were in the same predicament. People in glass houses should throw rocks and people in paper house pray it doesn’t rain.
I still love y’all. Peace.
Notty Dred
August 11th, 2009
12:40 pm
Ken, once a hater always a hater huh?
Dave
August 11th, 2009
12:42 pm
The only way this vicious thug should ever be let into an NFL stadium is to pick up trash after the game. Sadistic dog torturers and killers have no place being role models for our kids. Vick has done his time, but that does not mean this scumbag has earned the privilege of playing in the NFL. The league had better be prepared for massive protests and organized boycotts of NFL sponsors if any team is stupid enough to sign him.
Jeff Schultz
August 11th, 2009
12:44 pm
Carlos — Young Jeezy. Offensive coordinator?
Mighty Quinn – You caught me.
Falcons Sorry – CAPS unlocked. BRAIN unlocked
Kdog – Thanks for the journalism lesson. What does that have to do with a blog?
RalphG – Funny how many people are buying into the Buffalo rumors. But I’d imagine a Buffalo winter affects Vick’s speed.
Angus
August 11th, 2009
12:45 pm
While the Jeezy video (see Carlos @ 11:42) showed nothing explicitly wrong or illegal, it did show what an idiot MV is.
He’s begging the world for a job and trying to convince everyone he’s a changed man. That video is enough for someone to say “I don’t believe you.” That video may have been enough for one owner to say “no.”
Andyman
August 11th, 2009
12:46 pm
jim, don’t forget about the exclamation points after every sentence too. That makes him appear really smart.
Deion Sanders
August 11th, 2009
12:48 pm
FALCONS SORRY, you need to realize there is more to life than some stupid football championship.
Paddy
August 11th, 2009
12:48 pm
The vast majority of us are real Falcon fans. We have a good chance to have a contender this season in ATL. I believe I am safe to say the majority of us just don’t care anymore about our past qb. We have moved on and it is a better place.
Terrell
August 11th, 2009
12:50 pm
Ron Mexico
August 11th, 2009
12:03 pm
“You People” and “you” know who you are, need to quit this bring vick back to “da atl”. Good grief man, take a look at yourselves and have some damn self respect.
And this is coming from “Ron Mexico”
CrownRoyale
August 11th, 2009
12:51 pm
I know this for a fact. The only reason I can think of why fans; NFL owners; NFL players; and the remaining population in general are so appauled and outraged by Vicks barberic behavior, even though he paid his debt to society is that they feel that these heinous acts were COMMITTED BY A SAVAGE BEAST! (Michael Vick). They dont want to forgive Vick because they feel, along with the folks at PETA and Animal Rights is that when you sign Vick to a new deal you are excusing this behavior and you are turning a savage beast loose on society. All of these folks feel that Vick is better served to be put in a cage in your local zoo; with the lions and tigers and you throw away the key and leave the guy in there to rot. i dont necessarily disagree with this, but most people will never foget the dispicable acts that vick committed and they will be glad when the whole Mike vick fiasco is over with so they can move on to other sports topics.
Eroc
August 11th, 2009
12:52 pm
My only problem with Vick now is whether or not he can throw a football. All of this drama outside of the game serves to rile people up and get interest in whichever team picks him up. As for me, I will put my trust in the rehabilitation system that I pay taxes to help fund. All I am willing to say is we’ll see how this turns out and I hope for the best.
Chris Lewis
August 11th, 2009
12:52 pm
To all of my fellow African-Americans…WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE “Falcons Sorry” HAVE TO EMBARASS US WITH HIS DUMB COMMENTS!!! Vick did some horrible things over a long period of time. He paid the price, now either one of two things will happen:
1- A team will sihn him and he will be able to prove himself on the field.
2- no team will sign him and he will have to get a job.
Whatever happens, I hope he learned his lesson and wish him the BEST!!!
Crowler
August 11th, 2009
12:53 pm
Mike Vick is a SAVAGE BEAST and does not deserve another job in the national football league.
Paul Hamilton
August 11th, 2009
12:56 pm
I don’t see the Bills signing MV because that would take all the spotlight off TO and we all know that TO must remain in the spotlight to stay fairly happy.
Todd G
August 11th, 2009
12:57 pm
Boo Boo, like you ever purchased a ticket to see the Falcons, heck or even the Gwinnett Braves or Brook High School for that matter.
Spend some money then you cantalk about not spending money…
Terrell
August 11th, 2009
12:57 pm
Paddy I agree to the extent that I am a true Falcons’ fan, but I disagree with you on the fact that I don’t care about our past QB.
Todd G
August 11th, 2009
12:57 pm
Boo Boo, like you ever purchased a ticket to see the Falcons, heck or even the Gwinnett Braves or Brookwood High School for that matter.
Spend some money then you cantalk about not spending money…
MiltonDawg
August 11th, 2009
1:03 pm
Still think the Seahawks with Mora & Co will be the dark horse and snag Vick.