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
Biff Pocaroba
November 30th, 2009
11:17 am
This made me laugh AND cry:
“The smartest White guy has no concept of Black history. Who George Washington Carver was or what he was responsible for. The smartest White person couldn’t tell you where Howard University is located. I talked to White Doctor and he didn’t know who Miles Davis was.”
We (humans) have a long way to go. Go Falcons and Braves!
Ryno
November 30th, 2009
11:22 am
[i]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.[/i]
This is the most intelligent thing I’ve read in the comments. Thank you.
Atlanta_Tiger_Fan
November 30th, 2009
11:23 am
I wish him well and don’t harbor the hostility that many do, but he’s playing for opposing team so no reason to cheer him on against Falcons.
FalconUGAFan
November 30th, 2009
11:27 am
Proud Black Man…I’m with you, my friend. I’ve been a proud member of the military the past 25 years and in that time I’ve worked with and for: Blacks, Whites, Asians men and woman and all are just people at the end of the day. I presently live in DC in a fully integrated neighborhood that sounds alot like yours. The only issue I have is that they are Redskin and Dallas fans.
tim
November 30th, 2009
11:28 am
Vicks comments sound just like the “old” M. Vick…and he’s probably killing dogs again.
Hey poster Montrell with a chip on his shoulder……..you can say “black” instead of “African-American”. Or does sayin “black” bring you down?
JDW
November 30th, 2009
11:29 am
I never liked Vick nor his attitude. He was a thug. If he has changed good for him but we are so much better off without him. This team , the way they play, the way they act is light years better than the bad ol Mora/Vick days. Put me in the hot dogs vs nachos group.
dean
November 30th, 2009
11:31 am
Reid should de-activate Vick for the game. No distractions.
ConVick
November 30th, 2009
11:32 am
WHO CARES, He’s a non-factor, a clip board holder. More then likely he want even see any play time. If the Eagles win, it wont be because of Vick. The only thing about this whole game that bugs me is the so-called Vick worshipers who sill support this guy wherever he goes, and no matter what he does. Why? I don’t see any superbowl ring on him or any other Falcon while he was playing.
I think Peyton Manning is one of the greatest QB’S we will ever see and I have one of his jerseys, but I can tell you right now if he comes to the ATL, I want be wearing it, and I would want the Falcons to clean his clock. You support the team, thats clear, if you don’t get it your not a fan of the sport. Do us all a favor and stay home and keep on drinking the kool-aid.
Ricky
November 30th, 2009
11:32 am
Proud Black Man………………shout it from the mountain top ………!!!
I wish the heart of the Georgia Dome beat as one,
no matter the color of our skin,
the only us versus them,
Red and Black against Green,
when Falcons talons pierce,
Eagles scream.
Look before I leap
November 30th, 2009
11:34 am
@NEWSOUTH!: You have quite a bit to learn my friend. If you think that someone is incapable of understanding black history in this country simply because they are white, you are most sadly mistaken. If you think BEING black in this country somehow endows you with an absolute undertanding of black history you are deluded.
As an FYI, I am white, attended several classes at Howard University, certainly know who George Washington Carver was and I am nowhere NEAR being the smartest white man. I pose this question to you: Without Googling, can you tell me who Thomas Garrett and James Douglas were? How about William Still? L. Douglas Wilder? Hiram Revels? How about Robert H Lawrence or Guion Bluford?
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 30th, 2009
11:35 am
HA HA HA “YOU” people seem to be very nervous
I guarantee you, Mike Vick and Andy Reid had a longgggg talk when he signed with them. That conversation with something like this:
Mike we don’t treat our superstars like they treated you in Atlanta. If you work hard for me, I promise when we travel to Atlanta, I know how much this will mean to you, so I will have a big package for you, just for this game.
So folks, don’t get fooled by the lack of activity he has has and think he has lost a step – ask the Bear’s free safety who was in position to lay the BOOM on him and was left in the dust and couldn’t even lay a finger on him, in way to a quick 34 yards.
When a team let’s a legend go for nothing in return, you should be making an upgrade. I understand that “YOU” people said he was in decline, when he had his best overall season in his last season, 1,000 plus yards rushing, nearly 2,500 yards passing, 20 touchdowns, 13 Picks (CHOKE has 12 already) and the previous season he made it to his 3rd Pro Bowl.
2004 Was the last time the Falcons won a playoff game. Vick has not played for the Falcons since 2006, so what have the Falcons accomplished in that time? How many playoff games have they won? How many Pro Bowls has the CHOKE played in? He is regressing when he should be improving and don’t use the sophomore slump excuse, because Vick had his best passing numbers in his sophomore season.
Where is the upgrade? Where are the individual and team improvements?
Hell he hardly is even a blimp on the radar with the AJC blogs. His jersey sales are far behind the former quarterback, whom he was supposed to make a distant memory in Atlanta.
This is and will ALWAYS be Vick’s City, whether “YOU” people like it or not.
Joshua
November 30th, 2009
11:39 am
Can’t wait to be at the game, with my #7 green jersey on……….rooting for Michael and the Eagles. Doesn’t matter that I’ve lived in the ATL for 6 years, watched the rise and fall, etc, I still like Mike. Hope he gets some opportunities to play. Go Falcons…….on any other week except this one.
uga_b
November 30th, 2009
11:44 am
I support the Falcons, so I cannot support the Eagles or any of their players…even Desean Jackson who is on my fantasy team. The Vick story has been extremely well chronicled and is a tired debate. It’s both sad and amazing that people still ignore the facts of the case. The man systemically murdered animals in cold blood. Regardless of your legal views, you should recognize the repeated and unconscionable masochism involved here. That is what I cannot support.
I support Vick as a human being; some of you should question yourself why you would support him as a black man. Same goes for those who wish him to fail for the very same reason.
I personally find your slavery argument intrinsically funny. I don’t try to downplay the horrors of slavery just because it was my “race”; why would you not do the same for the horrors of animal cruelty?
tell it like it is
November 30th, 2009
11:44 am
Who has worst defence Falcons or GT.and did you notice how good Redman looked at QB?
showmekid
November 30th, 2009
11:45 am
Michael Vick has paid a price for his mistake (and it was a huge price). I don’t think that he should be overly cheered and certainly not booed when he comes onto the field.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
November 30th, 2009
11:47 am
Jeff this is not news,everyone knew this game would get reaction months ago when vick went to philly and they where on the turdy birds schedule.Just another column for race baiting comments.AJC is the worst.
William
November 30th, 2009
11:48 am
How easy people forget what Vick did for the Falcons? Vick sold out the dome for years and this is how he is treated. People need to take a good look at themselves and make a change.
You There Jeff????
November 30th, 2009
11:52 am
@Look Before You Leap – I am a Black man. I attended an exclusive private prep school in Pa. I attended a small private “white” college in N.Y. and a large well known “white” graduate school in California, all on academic scholarships. I still do not know what it feels like to be White in America.
You can regurgitate all the “Black History” facts that you want. You still will probably not understand what it is like to be Black in America.
I suggest that you read the works of a White author named Douglas Blackmon for further insight (if you are truly interested).
IceFan
November 30th, 2009
11:54 am
Who gives a damn as long as the Falcons win!!!!!
If you’re cheering him just because he’s black then you’re an idiot.
If you’re booing him just because he’s black then you’re an idiot.
His role in the game is bound to be insignificant, and the truth is if we lose this game the season is basically over. Let’s get a win however we can get it!
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 30th, 2009
11:54 am
McNabb or Vick – who cares because either way a brotha will win the game.
When the Falcons needed a leader on the field, the CHOKE didn’t want to tough it up and LEAD his TEAM to victory in what could have ended their season.
Instead the TRUE leader was the BACKUP. Matt Stafford had a SEPARATED SHOULDER and sucked it up and LED his team to victory. The CHOKE is OVERRATED & a big WUSS
“DUMP THE CHUMP”
What's a job?
November 30th, 2009
12:01 pm
Mornin, CHOKE, good to see you finally crawled out of bed after staying up so late last night attacking your boy Matty.
Darrick
November 30th, 2009
12:01 pm
Jeff, I thought you would shut the forum down if and when ” obscenities and racial overtones”, became involved? You knew this would topic would go right to the spot where you threw the bone, no it is not your fault but sometimes things are better left alone …clearly this is one of them.
The Falcons will not have a successful season not because of Mike Vick, but do to lack of scheme, personnel, and it is something that has haunted this franchise long before Matt Ryan and Mike Vick were thought of.
When you constantly allow losing teams to get better by playing you, I think that says where you are as a team, a organization etc… And again this was going on long before either arrived in Atlanta. Mike nor Matt plays defense, has Mike thrown interceptions, yes with the game on the line? Can’t remember that happening but Matt has done some good things also, it is just the play this year would have been expected last year. he simply looks unsure at times, running into his blockers, and his mechanics have been bad, the poor throws this year to include interceptions have been because the ball has sailed on him, not setting his feet, etc..
I hope Vick plays well, but I need a Falcons victory regardless if Ryan or Redman is playing. The Defense on 3rd down will be the killer for Atlanta, the inability to get off the field has haunted them all season, they play well 1st and 2nd downs then give a big play on 3rd … scheme and talent will keep this franchise from winning.
Phinizy
November 30th, 2009
12:09 pm
There should be another option on the poll. I don’t really know what I am going to do when Vick comes out. I don’t think I will boo or cheer, but he certainly won’t just be another player. I think I’ll just stare at him in confusion. Part of me misses him, but part of me despises him. It’s a strange mix of a emotions. I do know for sure that he did a tremendous amount of damage to our team and that it makes me sick when I see people in our stadium wearing not only Falcons Vick jerseys but Eagles Vick jerseys. I’ll never understand it.
deetee
November 30th, 2009
12:10 pm
I am more upset these black athletes don’t realize that they are under a microscope and there are people sitting back waiting on them to screw up. Especially if a 130 million dollar, #1 draft pick, Black quarterback. Vick definately screwed himself. The problem I have is bringing in Ryan… highly overated and over paid… bringing him in and making him out to be the next John Elway or something. And by the way.. Why the hell Vick couldn’t get the same type of offensive support that Ryan got when he came in?
Christian
November 30th, 2009
12:16 pm
What happen to the money guys Vick got a second chance so what let it go. God gives 2nd chances why cant you forgive people the man served too much time you guys beating this man down to death you aint paying him so leave the man alone! whats the difference n killing dogs than killing bear deer n birds? until you can give me logical reason then stop beating the guy down he aint playing for your organization! So when Vick here all yall were Vick FanS now he gone you Cant stand the guy! i call that bandwagon!!!!
Mike "Inmate 58665" Vick
November 30th, 2009
12:20 pm
Skee Wee, you bleed stupidity within your comments. Mike Vick can’t even spell QB much less know the mechanics and techniques of a real one. And CHOKE, I believe Levinworth, KS will always be Vick’s city. Atlanta is Chris Chandler’s city. (Only one to take us all the way SO FAR) But you idiots immortalize him because he won a road playoff game at Lambeau? Where did we go after that?? Nowhere.. I will give him one thing though, he is probably the fastest third string QB who will amount to nothing. And even that is fading. Long live Chris “the Concussion” Chandler and Go Birds!!!!!!
Larry
November 30th, 2009
12:23 pm
Matt “Choke” Ryan wrote:
“McNabb or Vick – who cares because either way a brotha will win the game.”
There you have the overwhelming and convincing evidence of the agenda. Ignore everything else!
Ms Chelle
November 30th, 2009
12:25 pm
GO VICK………GO FALCONS!!!!!
Mike "Inmate 58665" Vick
November 30th, 2009
12:25 pm
Im no hunter but last time I checked, you dont wet deer down and electrocute them. When was the last time you saw a bear hanging by the neck in the woods? Or a bird that was repeatedly slammed to the ground? What he did was sickening and he betrayed his football team to engage in horrific activites such as these. With all that money, you’d think he could find a legit hobby?
uga_b
November 30th, 2009
12:30 pm
@Christian Killing animals for sport and hunting are very different things. Most hunters try to be humane and kill their prey quickly and only kill what they eat. If a hunter tortures the animal, then he is no better than an animal abuser. Someone who has to put down a family pet is not the same as someone who electrocutes and starves dogs. Your argument ignores both the intent and the manner in which the animals were killed. Same end result, but for different purposes. Hope this helps.
Reid Adair
November 30th, 2009
12:32 pm
He is an opposing player, and I, for one, will boo – just like I do every opponent that comes to the Georgia Dome. It’s no longer about what he did in Atlanta. Most Falcons fans I know have realized he’s in the past, and they have moved on from that.
Donna P.
November 30th, 2009
12:35 pm
I think someone should release a few pit bulls on Vick! He needs his a** kicked for harming dogs the way he did. The show “Dog Town” replayed the episode where they helped his dogs to recover. He is a disgusting human being but is owned by the NFL and needs to perform for his masters. Go Falcons!
PMC
November 30th, 2009
12:40 pm
I wish Vick good luck in every aspect of life outside of this game. I truely hope he gets his head on strait gets out of debt and goes on to live a good life. I’m just a Falcons fan first and foremost. I’m not booing or cheering other than to boo the Eagles collectively.
ATL Observer
November 30th, 2009
12:44 pm
Here are some observations on the matter:
1) Blank was the first man to make Vick a millionaire (not the other way around). Vick lied to his face. In doing so, he also put the long-term Falcons plans in jeopardy. Sports owners don’t idly sit by while their players are in jail and waste millions on someone that can’t produce wins on the field. Blank owes Vick nothing. He cut Vick loose, Vick did his time and found another job and the Falcons have found another plan. So Vick no longer owes Blank anything either. The slate is balanced on that front.
2) Comparing Ryan to Vick is difficult because Ryan’s career is young. At this point, Ryan is a little behind in that Vick scored a playoff victory in his first full season whereas Ryan didn’t (albeit Ryan took control of a more moribund team). My impressions of Vick when he was in Atlanta was that he was never as good as his touters made him out to be nor as bad as his critics suggested. The man was a three-time Pro Bowler with a 40-30-1 record…that’s gotta count for something. But let’s not make him out to be Favre either, people. He got to one conference game (and was woefully overmatched in it).
3) Did I read someone earlier in this thread refer to Vince Young as a loser? Are you watching the same guy the rest of us are watching?
4) The person accusing Ryan of “choking” for leaving the game due to injury is an idiot. Stafford came back FOR EXACTLY ONE PLAY with that separated shoulder…then played like utter horsecrap on Thursday. Here’s a newsflash, genius: WHEN YOU GET TURF TOE FIVE MINUTES INTO THE GAME, IT’S PRUDENT TO LEAVE SAID GAME! Or maybe Vick was a choke artist for not finishing out that exhibition game in 2003…..
5) This idea that the whole representation of blacks in football rises and falls with Vick is ridiculous. The NFL is filled with African-American players. Vick’s not even the best African-American QB *on his own team,* let alone in the league. He’s one of hundreds of NFL players– black, white, etc. If he fails, it has nothing to do with “blacks being bad QBs.” If he succeeds, it’s not proof that “blacks are better QBs than whites.” Judge the man as an individual and leave this race iconography out of it.
6) If you’re a Vick fan and upfront about it, fine. But don’t call yourself a Falcons fan while cheering the Eagles in the Falcons’ biggest game thus far “just because they have Vick.” That’s bogus. You’re a Falcons fan or you aren’t. Figure it out.
7) Most importantly, this is the game of the year for the Falcons thus far regardless of who suits up for the Eagles. The wildcard race is the real story here.
BDB
November 30th, 2009
12:47 pm
Vick was a good QB…now he is a novelty player. It is hard to separate race from this discussion, sorry Jeff. I’m white, and I would boo Mike Vick because he did damage to the Falcons by getting himself thrown in jail, but I don’t hate on the black QBs in general. They deserve credit where credit is due: McNabb is an excellent time-tested QB, Vince Young is looking good now since he has had a chance to mature. Best black QB ever would have to be Doug Williams of the ‘87 Redskins with a stud performance in the Super Bowl, beating John Elway and steamrolling the Broncos. I think he threw ~4 TD passes in that game. But J.M. Russell is a bust so far, although playing for the Raiders probably doesn’t help.
Fair and Balanced
November 30th, 2009
12:47 pm
LMAO….good grief y’all are so predictable.
cdog
November 30th, 2009
12:47 pm
THE FALCONS WILL PUMMEL PHILADELPHIA 31-21 NUFF SAID
CincyDog
November 30th, 2009
12:49 pm
What should the reaction be? Indifference. Neither boo, nor cheer, make the staduim so quite you could here a pin drop. The deafning silence would speak volume’s.
Why cheer for a player that let his team down, that let his city down, that lied to the teams owner? That maybe even lied to himself? Actions speak louder than words, and Vicks actions spoke plenty about his character.
Why boo for a player that has paid his debt? He has suffered for his crimes, paid his debt and watch a once promising career crumbled around him, to a point where he is nothing more than a cheap card trick, a freak to fascinate the fans that can’t help think what could have been.
Why indifference? To remind Vick and all football players that pure god given talent isn’t always enough. That giving 110% isn’t always enough. When you are a professional player, making obsene amounts of money to play a game, there are certain expectations. You are not only representing yourself, your team but also your city. You are held to a higher standard than the oridinary citizen for sure, but then again that’s a small price to pay for the fame and fortune that follows.
To remind Vick and all those in the spotlight that fame and fortune does carry a price, and if that price is too high, then you can always join the rest of us in obscurity-a place that the vast majority of us didn’t have the luxury to choose.
-CD
Fair and Balanced
November 30th, 2009
12:49 pm
There won’t be any booing that will be heard seeing as half the Dome will be Eagles fans anyway and more than half of the PAYING Falcons fans in there will be cheering for Vick as well. Get real, this will be the most attended game since 2007 and people are not going just to boo Mike Vick, they will welcome him back and thank him for the 56 straight sold out games…and by sold out, I mean actual individuals paying for tickets, not corporations helping out the Blank Foundation.
Fair and Balanced
November 30th, 2009
12:51 pm
All this rhetoric and everyone knows he’ll get a great reception back. Please, why is this even up for discussion? All of these virtual Falcons fans on blogs pretending like there will be booing are just that….virtual.
What is scary
November 30th, 2009
12:52 pm
is most of the people cheering him will also cast their vote for Reed for the same reason. Because they are black. Clayton county is always in the “bad” news. Wonder why.
HAPPY AS HECK
November 30th, 2009
12:52 pm
I will cheer Michael Vick regardless what team he is on…
I will have my Number 7 Eagles Jersey on with a Big Bright Smile
on my face… Yes I am a big Fan of Michael VIck…
Fal Can Fan
November 30th, 2009
12:53 pm
You There Jeff????—No Peadog- he won’t learn that slaves were kept in this country until the 1940’s, just like you didn’t learn it.
If you would watch the news, something beside CNN, you might know that slaves are still kept in this country. Illegally, but they are still here.
NEWsouth!
November 30th, 2009
12:54 pm
I was making a point. Not throwing Black History facts! I simply meant that some White folks have no concept of Black history but know everything else in the world. They measure life by how they have been raised. They measure everyone else by their own success. They don’t understand the historical struggles of Black Folk. It’s those people that can’t understand why Black people forgive Mike so easily. It’s those white people that can’t understand why Black people hold Mike in such high regard. I have moved on and I recognize Mikes faults but I wont throw stones at him cause I ain’t perfect. And I said SOME!! Not ALL White people! But the SOME make up most of Atlanta!
I love all and that’s because I don’t have tunnel vision.
Atlien
November 30th, 2009
12:59 pm
LMAO! Mike Vick really does own this city…he sure does dictate the conversation. The Falcons own fan forum on their team site shows the most active threads on the “Talk About The Falcons” forum are those about Mike Vick. LOL
falconfanrow1
November 30th, 2009
1:00 pm
the media will hype this division that everyone thinks will happen. shame on them and shame on us private citizens to be manipulated like that to feed them their storylines and ratings/revenue.
Vick for Mayor
November 30th, 2009
1:00 pm
after seeing the crime, corruption and sewers conditions of Atlanta, MV can have it.
Mark
November 30th, 2009
1:01 pm
Vick still owes me for my season tickets I bought! I could careless that he is playing in the NFL…but how anyone can respect him and cheer him after what he did to his teammates, Arthur Blank and the fans is something I don’t understand
Atlien
November 30th, 2009
1:08 pm
Mark
November 30th, 2009
1:01 pm
Vick still owes me for my season tickets I bought! I could careless that he is playing in the NFL…but how anyone can respect him and cheer him after what he did to his teammates, Arthur Blank and the fans is something I don’t understand
Why does he owe you for your season tickets? ROFLMAO!!! So that means the other guys on the team meant absolutely nothing to you huh?? LOL! Just as we thought!
ERich42
November 30th, 2009
1:10 pm
All I have to say is MV7 do your thing when your number is called. It will be so great if this is his breakout game. While on the other hand our franchise QB will be sitting out with a sore toe…I will mos def be cheering for MV7.