Favre’s retirement could open door for Vick to Vikings
If Brett Favre decides to walk away again ...
... Michael Vick (or Donovan McNabb) may walk in.
Brett Favre is pondering retirement again, and for all we know that pondering might extend through the winter, through the spring, past the draft, past free agency and into summer and the start of training camp.
Should he step away (again) — and there are indications he will — don’t be surprised if the name Michael Vick comes up as a possible replacement.
Let’s start with Favre. Earlier in the postseason, he told ESPN’s Ed Werder, “If you win, you go on. If you lose, you’re done, and for me, that could very well be my last game.” And just this morning, my pal Adam Schefter of the same network sent this on Twitter: “Let this be the first of hopefully very few Favre-Watch updates: Favre told ESPN’s Ed Werder it was ‘highly unlikely’ he’d play again.”
I know. We can’t know because even Favre doesn’t know, and even if Favre knows something at lunch, he may change his mind at dinner. And then back again at breakfast. But let’s operate on the unsafe assumption for now that he’s retiring.
The Vikings’ quarterback depth chart reads: Favre-Tarvaris Jackson-Sage Rosenfels. Jackson is an impending free agent and, while he says that he is open to staying with the team, you have to wonder about how the franchise views him, given the way they treated him through the romancing of Favre. If Favre doesn’t come back, there is no telling what direction the team will go.
Enter Vick: Minnesota was one of the teams believed to show early interest in Vick, until the rumor finally was shot down by owner Zygi Wilf and coach Brad Childress (both of whom have truth issues). Vick had some of his best moments against the Vikings. He obviously doesn’t have Favre’s accuracy but his strong arm pairs well with receivers Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian.
ESPN already is floating Vick-to-Minnesota in its “rumors” section this morning (requires Insiders subscription). Speculation also has Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb going to the Vikings, where he would be reunited with Childress (his former quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator with the Eagles).
Very few people believe Vick will be back with the Eagles. Other rumored destinations are Buffalo (needs a quarterback; owner is looking for a marketing tool), St. Louis (general manager Billy Devaney was with the Falcons and has kept in contact with Vick), Arizona (Kurt Warner may retire; Matt Leinart’s status is uncertain); Oakland (Al Davis: enough said) and Carolina (Jake Delhomme’s future is uncertain).
For what it’s worth, the Falcons play St. Louis, Arizona and Carolina next season, but not Minnesota, Buffalo or Oakland. Any thoughts on Vick in purple?
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419 comments Add your comment
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 30th, 2010
8:40 pm
Matt Ryan is OVERRATED+
Matt Ryan is OVERRATED-
Navigator322 Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Jan 8, 2009
November 15, 2009 4:59 pm Score: 136
Can we finally stop anointing players that haven’t done anything the next Manning or Brady. Last year Matt Ryan threw 16tds to 11 ints and they acted like the guy was throwing it all over the field and on his way to breaking every Brett Favre passing record. He was called one of the top 5 QB’s coming in this year and what has he done. 13tds to 10ints and he looks antsy in the pocket. He is averaging 2 picks a game in his last four and looks like a rookie QB. I like him as player
truth
January 31st, 2010
8:22 am
The spinanator hasreturned.
Again Choke I remind you……….Ryan starting QB…….Vick 3rd string QB.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 31st, 2010
10:54 am
Here is the list of Top 20 selling NFL jerseys, courtesy of Darren Rovell’s SportsBiz, via Shutdown Corner:
1. Brett Favre, Vikings
2. Jay Cutler, Bears
3. Troy Polamalu, Steelers
4. Michael Vick, Eagles
5. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
6. Tony Romo, Cowboys
7. Mark Sanchez, Jets
8. Tom Brady, Patriots
9. Adrian Peterson, Vikings
10. Eli Manning, Giants
11. Terrell Owens, Bills
12. Peyton Manning, Colts
13. Hines Ward, Steelers
14. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers
15. Jason Witten, Cowboys
16. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
17. Joe Flacco, Ravens
18. Matt Ryan, Falcons
19. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
20. Michael Crabtree, 49ers
- 3rd String NUMBER 4
- 1st String NUMBER 18
BWAA HAA HAA
Matt "Choke" Ryan
January 31st, 2010
11:15 am
Favre, Vick Jerseys Headline Sales List24
Comments
Say Something »
9/02/2009 3:45 PM ET By Matt Snyder
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Matt Snyder
Matt Snyder is an NFL and MLB Blogger for FanHouse
So, how is that boycott the NFL because of Michael Vick movement going? How about the sentiment that everyone hates Brett Favre? When taking a look at the highest selling jerseys in the NFL at present, we stumble upon a more apt word in describing the two: Polarizing. Sure, there are plenty of people who loathe both players, but there are plenty on the other side of the fence. The numbers don’t lie.
Darren Rovell of CNBC.com has published a list of the top-20 selling jerseys at NFLShop.com from April 1 to August 28. Favre’s Vikings jersey is the top seller, and Vick’s Eagles top checks in at number four.
The rankings are especially staggering when you consider the short amount of time people have had to stock up on the jerseys of these two. Vick signed August 14 and Favre signed August 18. That means in two weeks (for Vick) or less (Favre), these two have pummeled the competition since April 1.
truth
January 31st, 2010
2:27 pm
Sad………..just sad. To bad jersey sales don’t make a 3rd string QB a starter. I don’t care if he sales more jerseys than the intire league together he’s still a 3rd string QB.
Silly little jersey selling wildcat pawn giving up on his team 3rd string QB fan.
No matter how you spin it Matt is a starter and Vick is 3rd string at best.
If the UFL gave up on Vick he is in trouble.
ChokeStopper
January 31st, 2010
7:49 pm
Choke: its true that vick is #4 in jersey sales. But in the game of life Vick is dead last. No one would trade their life for Vicks because Vicks life is pathetic. He is a former jailbird and will end up back in jail in the not too distant future. Vick is and has always been a scandal waiting to happen. An investigation is now being done on Vick into possible steroid use. If Vick is guilty of that, depending on the logistics of when, where he used steriods and under what jurisdiction he was in, Vick may land himself back into the state penitentiary again. The book has not been closed on Vick and trouble will continue to find Vick as long as he lives.
truth
January 31st, 2010
7:53 pm
thank you Stopper! I’ll second that.
Ace The Norse superfan!
February 1st, 2010
2:57 am
It’s sad everyone seems intent on bashing both Favre, and Vick. First of all, farve’s interception at the end of that game was nothing more than the end of a whole string of bad outcomes…. I truly believe that his pick wouldn’t have mattered if the Vikes hadn’t fumbled 6 times that game, which I believe kept us from at least 1 more touchdown. Next, Vick is a solid player who gets the short end of the stick because people can’t get over his animal cruelty conviction. I admit h doesn’t have the kind of accuracy you see in other star quarterbacks, but he is still young, and i think could be a strong asset to the Vikes.
I hope Favre gives it one more season with us, but vick would be an adequate choice… behind McNabb… btw screw the Packers!
truth
February 1st, 2010
11:43 am
I hope you get what you wish for Ace.
ATL Observer
February 4th, 2010
4:28 pm
Hmmm, wow, a perfect cross-posting of two players a lot of people have no “in-between” feelings on right now! :-p
1) For those who say “this is an Atlanta sports blog, why are you here?,” remember that these feeds typically get posted through Google News, so you’re going to get lots of “tourists.”
2) 85′ Bears made a good point, which is that if Rex Grossman can “lead” his team to a SB, then just about any NFL QB can. Minnesota has a great defense and a lot of offensive weapons. Everyone acts like they were dismal without Favre. But in fact, they won their division in ‘08 and they didn’t have Favre OR Percy Harvin then.
3) Favre won’t retire. This speculation will be moot.
4) There’s a 95% chance that Favre will put up MVP numbers in 2011. Also a 95% chance he’ll throw a boneheaded interception to end his team’s playoff run.
5) Vick defenders love to cite his marketability as if that’s what the hell we’re talking about. Bert Blyeven wasn’t one of the world’s most marketable baseball players…does that mean that I would have wanted Mark Fidrych over him? Yeah, we get it: Vick packs the stadium. But you don’t build a team going “let’s get the one guy that fills the seats.” You build a team saying “let’s build a winner and then it won’t matter who suits up, we’ll always fill the seats.”
A lot of fans hate the Steelers, but guess what? Their popularity isn’t beholden to one player. Fans of teams like that are absolutely laughing at the Vickolytes right now because they would have moved on. The moment you say “we gotta bring this guy back to fill the seats,” you may as well put on a big billboard that reads “I’M A GREAT BIG LOSER.”
6) Vick on the Vikings? Could work although it would require revamping the playbook. A Favre offense and a Vick offense: one of these things is not like the other. Vick’s not terribly accurate (spare me the “he got crisper in Philly” crap, he was 6-13 on pass attempts) but it would turn a team that’s already one of the fastest in the league into an even faster team. It’d be an all-out track meet. Defenses would huff-and-puff trying to keep up.
7) If I was the Vikings, I’d aim to get McNabb. He’d be the right fit, IMO.
Doug
February 10th, 2010
2:08 pm
Larry
Jeff,
For the one millionth time, Vick is not an NFL caliber Quarterback. He is simply a short, fast guy who can throw a long, tight spiral with perhaps the poorest accuracy in NFL history coupled with the IQ of a door knob.
Why is this so hard for you and others to grasp?
Larry, please shut up. Vick has accomplished more in Atlanta than any other QB before him. He will always have fans here.
showboy
February 10th, 2010
2:49 pm
You atl haters of Vick should only remember he filled the Dome every week and added more excitement to that team than any Falcon in history. He deserves a chance to start on somebody team, have yall looked at the trash in the NFL now calling themselves starters Vick can’t do no worse.
BET
February 10th, 2010
2:58 pm
The only reason some of you are sooooo negative about MV7 is becuase you know he may succeesd wherever he plays. Right now we have Mat Ice and I think he’s GREAT…but Mat did NOT improve this year and so we really don’t know how our QB situation will end up. I hope both have tremendous suceess becuase how can you be a real footblall fan and not like seeing MV7 play…KRAZY.
I certainly don’t miss seeing him in a Falcon’s uniform but I want to see him PLAY. Bottom MV7 is certainly better that at least 6 starting QBs right now. I hope he ends up in St. Louis because of the dome there…he’s much better in a dome. I truly believe he has matured and I want to see what a “PREPARED” MV7 can do.
Big Man
February 10th, 2010
5:38 pm
Anyone that says Vick is a tailback or slot receiver does not know football.
cowboy fan
February 12th, 2010
5:32 pm
Vick will shock the world !!!! and is accuracy was good enough to get the falcons to the NFC title game. what people don”t understand about Vick was he never had good pass protection!!! tell me who’s accuracy is good when he is being pressured not even Tom Brady’s so take that to the bank ! And one more thing vick will be a good fit in Viking country .
stephon
February 14th, 2010
11:51 am
get over the dog thing ,if it was payton manning you guys would blame the dog
PhillyMustang2010
May 3rd, 2010
8:06 pm
I have been a Vikings fan most of my life. Even with that being the case,if the vikes were to sign vick like the rumors say, I would immediately stop watching them play! I would no longer consider myself a fan. Then I would stop buying Vikings merchandise(I am by no means keeping the team going by my purchases but I have bought very many items over the years). As a loyal fan for years I can’t believe that Minnesota could even for half a second consider vick to play for them. By his actions he has shown that he is not the type of person anyone would trust to build a team around. vick brought nothing but disgrace to the Atlanta Falcons who knew all to well that he needed to go as quickly as possible. He did not think about the poor dogs that died and fought and suffered through his lack of morality. He did not think about giving the dogs a chance at life,so why should vick have so many. Any other team can call on him all they want just not the Vikes,(MY VIKES)!
Brett Favre jersey
May 15th, 2010
9:20 am
Don’t kid me! Michael Vick for Brett Favre? O, aweful idea, how about Russell?
mike
September 20th, 2010
12:43 pm
i love looking at comments in retrospect now that vick looks like joe montana out there
i want nothing more than for him to be a viking