Vick’s return will illustrate division in Atlanta
Except for this 34-yard run against Chicago, Michael Vick has been a non-factor for Eagles.
As you might have read, Michael Vick expects, “to get a great reaction from the crowd. It’s going to be a standing ovation,” when he returns to Atlanta next Sunday with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Well, I will agree with him to this point. He will get a reaction.
When Vick was at the top of his game, he united this city more than any other athlete. But when he declined and then train-wrecked his career and the Falcons’ franchise with his off-field issues, he divided Atlanta. Those hard-core Vick fans who bought Falcons season tickets, more to see him than the team, have defended him throughout and blamed others for his faults, even when he admitted guilt. Others have refused to let go of their hatred, saying Vick should never have been allowed back in the NFL.
Loading ...Neither group should surprise anybody. This is sports. Sports is emotional. Emotion often clouds judgment and objectivity.
A divide still exists and Sunday’s Falcons-Eagles game will illustrate that. Some will stand and cheer their hero’s return. Some will stand and hurl insults at the man they’ll never forgive. Others will ignore the whole thing and spend more time on the hot-dog-or-nachos debate.
Of all the “returns” sports has experienced, this will be one of the strangest. Vick has been a non-factor for the Eagles. Coach Andy Reid has struggled to work the “wildcat” offense into the game plan, and Vick has admitted he’s not thrilled with it anyway. He makes cameo appearances in games. He’s only 3-for-9 as a passer and has rushed for 65 yards, with 34 coming on one carry against Chicago two weeks ago.
When Vick returns to the Georgia Dome Sunday, he’ll mostly watch Donovan McNabb run the Philadelphia offense. He’s an afterthought for Reid. I’m guessing once the game begins, he’ll become an afterthought for most fans — at least until he makes an appearance. Then there will be noise. Lots of noise. We’ll hear and see the division.
How will you react? I realize any Michael Vick blog is combustible. But I’ve got a poll up asking which side of Vick fence you stand on (boo, cheer, don’t care), and feel free to weigh in with your thoughts.
One final request: It’s OK to be passionate with your debate. But please keep commenting clean and free of obscenities and racial overtones, otherwise I will quickly close the forum. Thanks.
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558 comments Add your comment
MyView
November 30th, 2009
9:13 am
Young has won 9 in a row as a starter. McNabb has been to 3 NFC championships and a super bowl. How are they losers again???
JSS
November 30th, 2009
9:14 am
Jeff Schultz, you should have come out on Catalina Channel and kayaked the wake of Super Tankers with us on Thursday morning… I would have only tried to serve to the Great Whites once or twice…
This is rich, so it begins… I see the Chef has already launch his campaign, only a matter of time before the “little fella” chimes with some report from the APA placing Vick this side of Alexander von Howart or Josef Mengele… It’s going to be a LONG week!
Jam
November 30th, 2009
9:14 am
ROB you are the LOOSER
tell it like it is
November 30th, 2009
9:14 am
Who’s got the worst defence GT or the Falcons? Falcons can’t stop the eagles.Vick and eagles will roll ending Falcons playoff hopes.
blazerdawg
November 30th, 2009
9:17 am
I booed Jeff George when he came back with the Raiders; stayed silent when Glavine returned with the Mets; and will probably stay silent (if I were going to the game) when Vick hits the field.
MV made some mistakes, but gave it up for the Falcons when he was here – so he has my respect…I just do not cheer for the oposition in football.
Rod
November 30th, 2009
9:19 am
Jam – actually you’re the loser because you never got an education.
It’s not LOOSER, it’s LOSER.
Go back to school.
Mike
November 30th, 2009
9:20 am
I remember when news came out that Vick has signed with the Eagles. I believe I was listening to 790 at the time and the host tossed out the question, “Will you be rooting for the Falcons or Vick?”
First guy that called up muttered something to the extent of “I was nice to see a young black man playing QB for the Falcons so i’m going to root for Vick after what Blank and the Falcons did to him.”
I’m sure we’ll see/hear some amazing things on Sunday…sadly off the field.
PMC
November 30th, 2009
9:21 am
It’s difficult for me to put much emotion whatsoever into a question about whether I care if an essentially emergency QB plays in a game. Who cares. Mcnabb is the guy. Vick was brought in with the intention of trading him for something if he had anything left.
THe only thing I’d care about is if the Eagles won and he took some kind of classless victory lap like Jeff George. If that happens. I’m ripping chairs, bricks, concrete… whatever I can to throw at that loser. Just like I would if I ever saw Jeff George in public.
PMC
November 30th, 2009
9:23 am
If people want to cheer fine… If people want to boo fine…. I don’t really see the point either way.
Ms. KP
November 30th, 2009
9:26 am
I will be at the game with my Vick Jersey on yelling and screaming as he take the field. But um, I am a Falcon fan first. But I still like Vick. Oh and Tiger said he was Cablasian not Black. Vick in getting a bad deal in Philly, let the man do his thing. Rob, what professional team do you play for? NACFL(National Arm Chair Football League) is not a reputable league. It is amazing how when African American athletes who are often overly exposed when they do things are considered thugs, ghetto and other derogatory names most of you can think of. Those terms can apply to anyone. Don’t get me wrong life is about choices and we are often judged by the choices we make, but dang.
Ms. KP
November 30th, 2009
9:26 am
I will be at the game with my Vick Jersey on yelling and screaming as he take the field. But um, I am a Falcon fan first. But I still like Vick. Oh and Tiger said he was Cablasian not Black. Vick in getting a bad deal in Philly, let the man do his thing. Rob, what professional team do you play for? NACFL(National Arm Chair Football League) is not a reputable league. It is amazing how when African American athletes who are often overly exposed when they do things are considered thugs, ghetto and other derogatory names most of you can think of. Those terms can apply to anyone. Don’t get me wrong life is about choices and we are often judged by the choices we make, but dang.
Listen for the cheering fools
November 30th, 2009
9:28 am
Not division. It is racism. Vick was cheered and supported by all Atlantans. He made the decision to betray their trust in him and was convicted. He was given tens of millions of dollars and blew his money and career.
Now a segment of Atlantan’s will not support Matt Ryan because they think Vick was not treated well by the Falcons.
This segment can be labeled the ‘fools’ of Atlanta. They will be the ones calling for Vick to return as Atlanta’s QB.
joshua
November 30th, 2009
9:28 am
I am going to the game to specifically see what he will do. I think that he will be hyped and I think this will be an opportunity for him to show what he has against the team that expelled him. I don’t believe that Andy Reid is going to let him play much though. It wouldn’t make good football sense.
I am all for redemption. I believe in it. I believe that he will still get his chance at greatness. But I will be cheering for the Falcons. I want us to break the curse of never having a two winning season back to back. So if our beating the brakes off the Philadelphia Eagles is what it requires then so be it. Go Falcons!
The Hype
November 30th, 2009
9:29 am
Vick will play and get an arousing ovation—-the man paid his dues and did more time than other criminals in this unjust judicial system—-I hope he scores a TD.
Verone is a fool
November 30th, 2009
9:30 am
Verone
November 30th, 2009
9:01 am
The falcons made a big mistake in getting rid of vick. He’s better than ryan and will show the falcons they made a mistake! Ryan’s choking big time this year.
The above post is an example of a fool I described earlier.
The Hype is fool II
November 30th, 2009
9:31 am
The Hype is a fool.
Michael Who
November 30th, 2009
9:33 am
Who cares….he was a loser then and is still a loser!! At least the Falcon’s were smart enought to cut him, but the Eagle’s were stupid to pay him one red cent!! Go Falcons!!
j
November 30th, 2009
9:33 am
Wow jeff. you definitely will not be close to winning an emmy any time soon with “piss poor” articles like this.
You are stealing money dude. This subject has been mentioned so many times that I can’t believe you had the gall to bring it up again.
MV7 does not divide the city, you and your buddy do a damn good job at it. Maybe the city is already divided and it is being reflected. What is the source of the data that is the basis of this division you speak of? Your blog, right?
That’s really reliable 
Just when I think you are turning around and going to produce some really great work, you revert to being just another hack collecting a paycheck.
You are a disgrace to your profession.
Rod
November 30th, 2009
9:33 am
Vick was adored by the fans and his boss.
He committed a FELONY, lied to his boss’s face, went to prison, refused to pay back money owed to the Falcons.
So they fired him. That’s racism? If you think the Falcons were wrong and Vick was mistreated by them, then YOU ARE THE RACIST ONE.
Christian
November 30th, 2009
9:34 am
This is still Vick City! Think about it if it wasnt for Vick Matt Ryan wouldnt be here, and to let yall know Matt Ryan is doing the the same thing Vick has done Vick FIrst year where did he go NFC Championship where did Matt go? first Round LOSS! VIck is better get over it and when vick scores the Atlanta fans who truely loves the guy will stand on there feet and Cheer!! STANDING OVATION!!!! Showdown n the A-Town! VICK CITY
midnite
November 30th, 2009
9:38 am
Noone will even know he is there, unless he gets on the field. He will not be announced. I will do as I do at all the Falcons games…boo the opponents. I don’t think Freddie Falcon will ride Vick onto the field on his 4 wheeler. As mentally shallow as Vick is he will be a basket case by game time. NOT A FACTOR…GO FALCONS!!
JSS
November 30th, 2009
9:39 am
Listen for the cheering fools and Verone is fool…
Pick your own user name and post under it… Lets make this the week, that an end is put to that silliness…
Christian
November 30th, 2009
9:39 am
If Vick sucks why does he hold records?? What is Matt Doing?????
Cannonball Butler
November 30th, 2009
9:41 am
I guess this would be the week to do a Michael Vick story. I wonder what folks on this blog think about Vick. We haven’t covered that this year.
Mark Olsen
November 30th, 2009
9:42 am
(((who’s got my ACC championship ticket?))) hahahahahahahaha
Rod
November 30th, 2009
9:42 am
Christian – Vick sucks because of what he did off the field. HE SCREWED UP BIG TIME. He was a good quarterback, but he screwed himself AND the Falcons.
I don’t care if he threw his career away, but he had no right to take down the Falcons with him. That makes him SUCK.
Tide Rising
November 30th, 2009
9:43 am
Vick will be cheered by some much like OJ was cheered when he was acquitted of murder because for some this degraded a long time ago into a racial issue.
I even met a woman who blamed the whole thing on Arthur Blank because in her mind how could a powerful man like Arthur Blank have not known that Vick was fighting dogs? Never mind that it was Vick and not Blank that did the criminal misdeeds to begin with. In her world it was somehow still Blank’s fault that Vick was caught fighting dogs. You can’t reason with that sort of people and those will be the people that will undoubtedly cheer for Vick. And its not completely racial. Some of the Vick supporters such as this woman was will be white.
I hope the people that dislike Vick will not boo at all but remain silent. No matter how heinous his crime is to some he paid his dues and deserves a second chance. Besides, by not booing it just means you’re treating him as insignificant which he is. And for those that irrationally cheer him on. I just hope they are few in number.
Alan The K
November 30th, 2009
9:44 am
Hide your dogs! The Hannibal Lecter of the dog world is in town!!!!
HOOTIE
November 30th, 2009
9:44 am
Vick represents all that is wrong with pro sports. A person who didn’t graduate from college when given a free ride. Left for the NFL and began to live a “Hip-Hop” lifestyle with hangers-on,cars,bad porno flicks. All the while a so-called adoring fan base that likes and looks up to that kind of lifestyle. Going to a Falcon game made you feel sorry for the people cheering this guy. As for the franchise and the games what a breath of fresh air. No longer the thugs of the NFL getting outclassed by the Patriots or Cowboys the Falcons have become a class act. To me Vick’s leaving was the best thing to ever happen to sports in Atlanta.
FrankieBaby
November 30th, 2009
9:48 am
I am hiding my puppies this weekend.
JSS
November 30th, 2009
9:49 am
Cannonball which player was wearing your throwback yesterday? Why didn’t warn Arthur that those unis were jinxed… OK, a serious question, which is worse, being a Cubs fan, Clippers fan, or a Falcons fan? Now that question deserves a poll! No, which team is more jinxed?
tell it like it is
November 30th, 2009
9:51 am
The only thing i won’t to see is another win for the falcons.a win over the eagles will give the falcons a tie breaker over the Eagles for an nfC wild card.to much distraction away from game will hurt falcons.stay focust falcons fans.
willdave
November 30th, 2009
9:52 am
Jeff, I agree with you, man: Vick will definitely get a reaction from the Dome crowd this Sunday. But it will not be the absolute standing ovation that he is trying to imagine. I expect a mixed reaction, probably as many cheers as boos. I expect a few fist fights, too. Remember that this is the one game this season that the Vick fans have circled way in advance. They will be out in full force Sunday. At the same time, the true Falcon fans, the ones who really care about this team and fully understand what a jerk Vick is and how damaging he was to the Falcons, will be there to bring some “reality” to the situation.
As you have correctly indicated, Jeff, Vick has been a nonfactor this season. That should remove any remaining shred of a reason whatsoever for anyone to second-guess Mr. Blank for cutting that convict loose. His lack of effectiveness with the Eagles proves that, besides being a criminal, he is definitely NOT the superstar player that his diehard fans insist on imagining him to be.
GO FALCONS!!! WIN THIS SUNDAY!!! KEEP MARCHING TO WIN # 9!!!
Falc. exec.
November 30th, 2009
9:52 am
I sold my tickets for this game because I did not want to be a part of this circus…People are going to be there cheering for a guy who betrayed this city, flipped off Falcons fans in one of his last games..and you say he is a better QB than Ryan and we should have kept him?…He is a back up for the Eagles..(and probably won’t be with them next year) By the way I am all for 2nd chances but I think he needed to have a clean slate and start somewhere else. I as a season ticket holder sat in stands and watched our team fall apart because he couldn’t let go his dog killing. I wish him well but not against my team..not against (Turner and Abraham and Loftin and White and Ryan…etc) Everything Vick has done he brought on himself. Let’s cheer for the home team… GO FALCONS !
JSS
November 30th, 2009
9:54 am
YTJ…
He’ll only shut it down after he gets his requisite number of hits for the IT Department… If he shuts it down now, that means he would actually have to write 4 more paragraphs before lunch and that would cramp his style…
Peadawg
November 30th, 2009
9:54 am
“If Vick sucks why does he hold records?? What is Matt Doing?????”
You expect Matt Ryan to break Vick’s records in 1 1/2 seasons? Really?
AlternateReality
November 30th, 2009
9:56 am
Normally, I regard the cheering vs. booing argument similarly to the way Braves fans have treated some of the former Braves when they come back here as opponenets: cheer them when they first come to bat as a show of respect for what they did in the past, and after that, then treat them like you treat every other opponent.
But Vick is a different story. He was my favorite player for his first few years as a starter, but his lack of progress and general attitude changed that. Still, I was a supporter (and sometime defender of his play) as long as he was still our QB.
Now, it’s obvious how much he hurt the franchise in the long term. His performance didn’t measure up to his salary his last few years, there was the internal controversy and taking of sides (see D. Hall, Alge Crumpler), the incident with flipping the bird to the (paying) fans, and the lost cap dollars that could have been spent on better players while he was in jail.
With all that, I think I would boo if I was at the game.
DLink
November 30th, 2009
9:56 am
Can we please find something else for the TV on the weekend? Football, reality TV, and re-runs aren’t cutting it for me…
I hope Halo has enough levels to last through this season of disaster TV. $60 video game vs $800 for for 2 hour family of four football game, and hours of arguing about people like Michael Vick and Rodman, Kobe and the like. *shudder*
Bring back the movies!!
Vick Supporter
November 30th, 2009
9:57 am
Man I cannot wait for this game. I really believe he’s going to get a positive reception overall….he took this franchise to heights that it has never known.
I will be there with my sign, and Vick jersey to show my support.
Vick will break a big play against the Falcons. Mark my words.
“Vick will shine again”
Deuce
November 30th, 2009
9:57 am
FedUP…. where have you been lately. Roethlisberger accused of rape. Police won’t pursue charges. Gimme’ a break.
Larry
November 30th, 2009
9:58 am
Either cheering or booing expresses interest. The greatest reaction to Vick is the unabashed indifference of stone cold silence!
DJ
November 30th, 2009
9:58 am
Ron Mexico had his chance – a big, fat $100million chance. AND HE BLEW IT BECAUSE HE IS A STUPID IDIOT WITH AN IQ OF ABOUT 78. He deserves nothing, least of all media coverage. I will bet anybody out there that by the time Vick is 50, he is indigent, homeless, possibly an addict, or maybe even dead. He is a loser, plain and simple. Time, energy, and opportunity are best spent on other people. He had his chance. Now other people deserve his chance. Why anyone thinks he deserves anything, with so many talented young people who are deserving of, and waiting for a break, is mind-boggling. Anyone who thinks he deserves more than the the time of day is morally bankrupt. “Family values?” Yeah, right.
Fred Grant
November 30th, 2009
9:59 am
Hate it or love it….Vick is the reason for the football hype in Atlanta, be it for good or bad reasons. Without Vick’s arrival we would still be a team with 50% of unsold seats. He made mistakes and he was wrong. He deserves a second chance..I will cheer for him because he has done well so far with his road to redemption and I am a football fan. Go Falcons, Vick stay straight
Peadawg
November 30th, 2009
9:59 am
“FedUP…. where have you been lately. Roethlisberger accused of rape. Police won’t pursue charges. Gimme’ a break.”
There was no evidence. The evidence against Vick was as plain as day. Don’t even go there…who was it that got 30 days for killing man w/ his car?
Vick Supporter
November 30th, 2009
10:00 am
The Great Mike Vick Has Returned
You There Jeff????
November 30th, 2009
10:03 am
Peadog – hmmm….killing a man w his car?
Wasn’t that the hockey player? Did he get ANY time?
MWoodring
November 30th, 2009
10:06 am
As far as Michael Vick, what he did to this franchise and this city is unforgivable. As far as his career, I’m glad to see that he got a second chance in the NFL because we all deserve that. But I will have my BOO-Ing voice on as i sit in the crowd! Go Falcons!!
Peadawg
November 30th, 2009
10:06 am
Donte Stallworth isn’t a hockey player.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-browns-stallworthsuspended&prov=ap&type=lgns
Atleast the NFL did something b/c the judge sure as hell didn’t.
JSS
November 30th, 2009
10:07 am
OK, 5 is my limit… Time to fight L.A. traffic… Stay classy Atlanta ((((((((((Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha))))))))))) I just had to say it… Can’t stop laughing!!!
MWoodring
November 30th, 2009
10:08 am
As far as Michael Vick, what he did to this franchise and this city is unforgivable. As far as his career, I’m glad to see that he got a second chance in the NFL because we all deserve that. But I will have my BOO-Ing voice on as i sit in the crowd! And lets not make this about race either people because black or white, you still do 18-24 months in jail for the crime Vick ADMITTED to.