Michael Vick as a Falcon: Some brief shining moments …
I remember how it was that Saturday in 2001. I remember so many folks descending on Falcons headquarters for a scheduled draft-day celebration that traffic backed up for miles and even Hall County police couldn’t sort it out. I remember what Dan Reeves said about driving to work that giddy day: “People were pulling up beside me and giving me the thumbs-up. Usually they give me some other sign.”
I remember how thrilled we all were that Michael Vick was a Falcon. I remember Jamal Anderson — not Jamaal, but Jamal — saying how heady it felt to be part of an organization that traded up to make such a wonderful thing happen. I remember the feeling that a door to the future had been flung wide open, and that ahead was nothing but seashells and balloons.
I remember waiting for his apprenticeship to end, and I remember the giddiness over the opening game of the 2002 season and how splendid he was in an overtime loss at Lambeau Field. (He would soon revisit the scene to even greater effect.) I remember watching him grow week by week, from the breathless tie forged in Pittsburgh to the overtime wonder wrought in the Metrodome, and I remember thinking Jeff Hullinger said it perfectly on Falcons radio, that this was indeed “the incomparable Michael Vick.”
I remember the thrall in which we approached the 2003 season, with Vick and the Falcons coming off the playoff win in Green Bay and a Super Bowl seeming near at hand, and the utter deflation that accompanied his broken leg that Saturday night against Baltimore. And even then what I remember about that season isn’t all those Vick-less losses but the moment in Houston when he trotted on the field and even the opposing Texans were yelling to one another: “Vick’s in the game! Vick’s in the game!”
I remember 2004, the apex of his career, the DVD backfield and the stomping of the Rams on a Saturday night in the playoffs, and how headed for Philadelphia and the NFC title game it seemed fully possible Vick could contrive to beat a better team in the chill and the snow. And when he couldn’t quite, it figured to be no big deal. He and his team would be back soon enough.
But they weren’t. And what I remember about those next few years is of a career unraveling and a franchise imploding and the layers of a famous person being peeled back until we weren’t sure this was the same guy. We don’t need a recitation of all the incidents at this late date, for we know them all by heart. And indeed, that’s what the decline and fall of Michael Dwayne Vick did to us all: It hit us in the heart. It broke our hearts.
And now he’s a Falcon no longer. We’ve known for almost two years the day was coming, but still it arrived with a thud. He was once the best reason, often the only reason, to watch the Atlanta Falcons play, and it wasn’t only Atlantans who felt that way. I remember the Christmas when my wife had to go find a No. 7 jersey to take back to Northern Kentucky because our little niece had asked Santa for one.
I remember seeing him in his glory, orchestrating the fourth-quarter comeback against San Diego in 2004 and throwing the ball so expertly in Cincinnati in 2006, and I remember talking with him and feeling — every single time I walked away — that he was a good guy with a good heart. And now, when I remember the sobering spring of 2007 and everything thereafter, I feel only sadness.
He was the biggest athlete this city has ever seen. As much happiness as he brought us, he could and should have done so much more.
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258 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
June 12th, 2009
10:59 am
Nice article.
Not surprisingly, the Falcons weren’t able to find any takers for his contract. Don’t let that fool anyone into thinking teams won’t pick him up on the cheap when he is reinstated.
Curious George
June 12th, 2009
11:00 am
What will all the criminals in this town do on Sunday afternoons during the NFL Season now?
Why does it make me feel SO very proud right now to be a FALCONS fan once more?
Michael
June 12th, 2009
11:00 am
Sad but true! Well said Mark Bradley.
Marcus
June 12th, 2009
11:02 am
MB,
Hopefully his time for reflection and repentance will give him the opportunity to do so much more. Perhaps those lessons and mistakes will forge in him (and purge him of any traits/perspectives)of any that would comproimise his willingness and ability to do so much more.
I am pulling for him, and not only limited to his gridiron exploits, but for his remaining days.
What!!!
June 12th, 2009
11:08 am
I remember feeling sick when the true Vick came to surface and it almost destroyed this team!
Bye bye and good luck with the UFL.
PMC
June 12th, 2009
11:08 am
Nice article Mark. A reminder that there hasn’t been one Baltimore Raven that has ever done a good thing in this city. They should enter and leave with a police escort.
mryan
June 12th, 2009
11:11 am
One of the happiest days as a Falcons fan. I’ve been waiting for this for too long. Let’s move on, Falcon Nation. We have nothing but positive leadership from the top down and it will continue as long as Thomas Dimitroff is in charge.
Mark Bradley
June 12th, 2009
11:13 am
Thanks, folks. And I’m including myself when I say it’s a sad day. I continue to have great affection Michael Vick. I wish him the best.
Mr. Obvious
June 12th, 2009
11:15 am
Mike Vick may no longer be a Falcon, but he is will always be a F E L O N !
mryan
June 12th, 2009
11:17 am
Sad day? Go sulk in the corner. I can hear the “Happy Days” theme running through my skull as I type.
Elbow Macaroni
June 12th, 2009
11:18 am
Dear Former-Falcon & FOREVER-FELON Mr. Vick:
Enjoy Dallas, Goofball !
Just like with my cheating EX-girlfriend, I say: “GOOD RIDDANCE, LOSER !”
azcat225
June 12th, 2009
11:26 am
You’re going to be busy deleting comments today, Mark (as I just said over on Jeff’s blog—nothing personal, just came upon his first).
Two different perspectives, both excellent opinion pieces.
The best thing every one involved can do, and I do mean every one, including Michael Vick, is to turn and walk away. Case closed, matter concluded, that’s a wrap.
Oh, if that were really the case…
Blindog
June 12th, 2009
11:27 am
Biggest athlete this city has ever seen ??? Hank Aaron, ever hear of him? Chipper Jones, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine ??? Shame on you for putting the likes of Vick ahead of these hall of famers! Only when we got a real Q.B. did we see the talent Roddy White has.Vick was a fast runner who could throw a little…very little! He was not even the best Q.B. to come through this city, get real!!
Spacemountain
June 12th, 2009
11:29 am
Nothing worse than potential unfulfilled.
What!!!
June 12th, 2009
11:30 am
Blindog…….couldn’t agree more!!
Darth Hater
June 12th, 2009
11:33 am
I wish Mike Vick would be released…..
….. from the cargo bay of a helicopter and into the mouth of an ACTIVE VOLCANO !!!
Burn, Vick !
For how you have disgraced and humiliated our city and football team, BURN!!!!!!!!!!!!
Otto
June 12th, 2009
11:34 am
Mark, My memories of Vick are strikingly different from yours. Sure he had some great moments and as you said “Vick could contrive to beat a better team in the chill and the snow”. The most striking words are “He had” and “Vick could” It was all about him as it was in college. He didn’t win the BCS title game and he didn’t win the Super Bowl because it was not about the team. Vick was a selfishly good player which is good enough for 2nd best. I remember it became very clear the team was about Vick waking up to the radio alarm set to Z93 just in time for their news report that Vick had signed a large multi year contract. Any chances of the coaches teaching him to mature were highly unlikely. Hopefully Blank has learned alot. I like the current team much better than any Falcon team of the past.
NCFalconFan
June 12th, 2009
11:34 am
This is why I love you Bradley!!! Great article… I always tell people if it was not for Michael vick, I would not be a NFL Fan.
I have so many mixed emotions about this case. I can angry at Vick for making bad decisions. However I don’t believe he would have made those bad decisions if someone in his inner circle cared about Michael Vick the person, instead of Michael Vick the millionaire football player.
Hallmark
June 12th, 2009
11:39 am
Happy ILLEGITIMATE FATHERS Day , MIke Vick!
chc4
June 12th, 2009
11:40 am
Yeah… another Mike Vick timeline.
Steve
June 12th, 2009
11:40 am
I can’t say I am sad and I think Vick hates that he’s lost all the money and contracts. If he had never been caught he’d still be hanging out with the low-lifes he surronded himself with and he’d still be fighting dogs and he’d still be the single most overpaid, overhyped player in the NFL. He’s just sad he got caught, but most convicted felons are. To the kids out there who look to Vick as a role model, you’ll end up in prison just like him if you don’t have yoiur goals set a helluva lot higher than Vick. Kids, you can do way better than Vick as a role model.
SCN
June 12th, 2009
11:43 am
Mark you summed it up pretty well except for, as Blindog mentions, the “biggest athlete ever” part … unless “biggest” means most hyped … Vick no doubt beats Aaron, Chipper, ‘Nique, et al., and probably even Deion “Primetime” Sanders, on the Hype-O-Meter, but none of them if we’re talking performance. And there’s no doubt Vick will always be “incomparable” in this town as far as being a polarizing sports personality. Good luck and good riddance!
Joshua
June 12th, 2009
11:44 am
I feel the same way as you do, Mark. I wish him the best. We know this day was an inevitable necessity, and now starts, hopefully, a new chapter. I don’t think it arrived “with a thud,” as you said. On the contrary, I think it’s an event that hopefully allows new life to be brought to this situation. So, possibly, the measuring stick of interest from other teams can start now (rather than hearing things like “we cannot comment due to the fact that he’s still under contract with the Falcons.”) I think it’ll be quite interesting. I’m still going to root for him, wherever he goes. And, for what it’s worth, I’m one of the few people who never threw away my No. 7 jersey. Thanks for the article.
rob
June 12th, 2009
11:45 am
GOOD..now maybe we dont have to endure any more articles about MV7
Nostradamus
June 12th, 2009
11:45 am
Michael Vick will be back behind bars before he is ever back in a football uniform.
You can take that to the bank, DOG.
Biscuit
June 12th, 2009
11:46 am
Before the arguing starts, those were good memories of Vick and im really pi$$ed off that he started down the path that got us here. Forget the horrendous act of dogfighting for a second; it was giving the fans the bird that severed his ties with Atlanta, and for that I say good luck and f*ck off Mike Vick.
Sam
June 12th, 2009
11:48 am
Man, that was some exciting sh$%. And frustrating too. Oh well. At least we have a bright future again. Unless Matty Ice cooks up ice in his backyard shed. Could it happen again?
f leghorn
June 12th, 2009
11:48 am
Good article, Mr. Bradley. . .one thing is certain, this whole episode has revealed that there are still lots of haters in this city on both sides of the “color aisle”. . .shame.
Joey
June 12th, 2009
11:49 am
Great job, Mark – one of your best. I hope so much that his prison time has really changed him and that we can see the change, so we pull for him on the field again.
Optimist Prime
June 12th, 2009
11:51 am
Aw, Nuts!
I was hoping this was an obituary column.
Maybe tomorrow…
Darrin "The Vent King"
June 12th, 2009
11:51 am
I remember once saying when we drafted Vick (I was a fan of his when he was in college) that “man, this city will never be the same now!”, only to not know how that would end up being true for all the wrong reasons. I’ve seen this city go from being completely one in celebrating Vick to being the most polarized city in the history of professional sports in his downfall and now it truly won’t be the same. This scar will last for a very long time for some (small) people will always use this incident to hurl insults and degrade others, while others will just be saddened from it. It is a shame, it could have and should have been so much more and the blame really lies on #7 shoulders himself, not the fans. He had it all, the world in his hands and let it slip through his fingers. MB, you are right it is a sad day in a sense cause of all the hopes, dreams, and excitement people had in this town for him, BUT a new day is upon us as far as the Falcons are concerned and I am now focusing in on that. I was a Falcon fan before Vick, was a fan of Vick’s when he was a part of the Falcons, and will continue to be a fan of the Falcons now that he is gone. I know what sense you are saying this in, but for me the only way to depart from the ugliness of all that went down concerning MV7 and to let those scars heal is to smile and look at the possible good times watching the team we have now. I hope other fans do the same for there is nothing no one can do about what happened, we can only move on and we have something pretty good to move on with in Coach Mike Smith, Michael Turner, Matt Ryan, Roddy White, and now Tony Gonzalez. These guys are our future (a bright one at that!) and nothing unfortunately can be done about the past…
GO FALCONS!
What!!!
June 12th, 2009
11:53 am
NCFalconFan…………..stop making excuses for Vick. He did it to himself. He had the 130 million and could have very easily walked away and he didn’t.
mountain_jim
June 12th, 2009
11:54 am
I loved watching Vick play. At this point, I hope he plays again and does have the sense and the morality adjustment to reclaim his life.
I do wish the Falcons could have got something for his rights, but understand how unlikely that was.
Oh -I hope the hypocracy of PETA gets them what they deserve as well – saying they need a brain scan to see if he’s changed. MV was poorly represented and made an example of by the FEDS in a process that was way more policized than it should have been. Not excusing anything he did, but anyone without his fame would never have gotten 2 years in the Fed Penn for this, while war-criminals and torturers get away with murder in the name of ‘national security’.
What!!!
June 12th, 2009
12:05 pm
Mountain-jim are my friend are just plain stupid.
Ted Striker
June 12th, 2009
12:10 pm
If you think Hall County police couldn’t sort traffic then, you ought to see Athens-Clarke County cops on a normal day.
Madden NFL online gamers are just waiting for Vick to be added to a roster, any roster. (You should see my patented McNabb double reverse bootleg that makes opponents pull their hips out of the socket).
Fred
June 12th, 2009
12:11 pm
Vick gave this franchise way more than he got in return from it. Dont be fooled like this franchise was a victim, get real. Before the Vick era, who gave a dayum what the Falcons did? This city didn’t even sell out the 1999 season that came after a super bowl run! That’s just how irrelevant this team was and sadly, is on its way to being again. When the best selling item from the Falcons store is D.Hall’s jersey, you can best believe this franchise is on its way back to 2 decades ago.
CDawg42
June 12th, 2009
12:11 pm
To all you hypocrites, how soon we forget. Look in the mirror. You know who I’m talking about. Mark…quite simply some of your best work, sir.
Marie
June 12th, 2009
12:14 pm
The Minnesota run with Jeff Hullinger’s call is an unforgettable memory that makes me sad. A remarkable moment and there should have been many more with Vick in a Falcons uniform.
Jimv
June 12th, 2009
12:22 pm
The biggest athlete this town ever saw was Hank Aaron, especially on the night he hit the shot heard ’round the world. Aaron is so much bigger, in so many ways, than Vick will ever be.
JM
June 12th, 2009
12:25 pm
GOODNIGHT SWEET PRINCE
2001-2009
Beautiful Monte
June 12th, 2009
12:27 pm
Michael Vick was involved in a dog-fighting operation that included the torture of animals.
Then there’s the middle finger in the Dome incident, the Ron Mexico incident, the airport water bottle incident, etc.
And yet, Mark Bradley continues to have “great affection” for this piece of human garbage? You’ve got to be kidding me!
Evidently, Mr. Bradley is one of those guilt-ridden white libs who believes that it is unfair to expect minorities to obey the rules of civilized society.
I guess Vick has just been “keepin’ it real”, huh, Mr. Bradley?
Ted Striker
June 12th, 2009
12:27 pm
Marie — I can’t handle anything with Jeff Hullinger. I’ll never forget watching a segment he was broadcasting about the Braves upcoming World Series berth. Rather than discussing the Braves, he broadcast footage of himself in a dental chair receiving emergency dental work and discussing his treatment. At the very end of the segment, he rolled some canned Braves footage and casually mentioned that the Braves were excited about the upcoming opportunity. End of segment.
Shortly thereafter a friend of mine was at WAGA studios and needed an ink pen. Hullinger told him to open his desk drawer and get one. My friend did — but he also spotted what must have been 2 dozen hairbrushes and 3 cans of hairspray.
Vick Supporter
June 12th, 2009
12:30 pm
To me, it’s a sad day for the city of Atlanta who really apreciate the player that Vick was/is. He single handedly resurected the franchise and the city. We haven’t had anything like that sense and we won’t have that kind of excitement again. Vick was a good QB regardless what you people think, and I think its good for him to have a fresh start and he can come back and dominate again. I wish he wouldn’t have been involved in dogfighting, we would have been a better team if he was still here….Roddy would have been developed (which is the ONLY REASON he’s playing well with Ryan), and have a RB that can carry the load like Turner.
This time, he’ll go to a better franchise, better city, and have better fans that all the mess he had to go through here….I remember all of the racial taunts…which is why he gave them the finger and deservedly so. The Falcons will never be the same. People are latching onto Ryan so fast, and maybe he can get it done, but I doubt it. This franchise has made mistake after mistake during the Vick Era as far as personnel decisions, yet you people can’t even remember that. You people wanted Roddy ran out of town just 2 years ago, and now you love him. What a hypocrite sports city. They would never do that in Pitsburgh or any real NFL City/fans like those. ATL sucks as a sports city, and yes, Vick did all of this to himself, but the heart of the falcons is now gone. It is truly a sad day, but redemption is near for Vick. He can’t go anywhere but up from now on. When Vick comes back with his new team, the dome will be electric again, not some place where you can fall asleep in 10 minutes. We miss you Vick. ATL is still your city.
Vick 09
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
June 12th, 2009
12:33 pm
MIKE VICK: The Failure of Affirmative Action at the Quarterback Position in the National Football League
Curious George
June 12th, 2009
12:39 pm
RE: “This time, he’ll go to a better franchise, better city, and have better fans that all the mess he had to go through here….I remember all of the racial taunts…which is why he gave them the finger and deservedly so.” – Blogger Known as “VICK SUPPORTER” @ 12:30 pm
——–
Gee, VICK SUPPORTER, why don’t you go with Vick to that “better city,” get out of all our lives and make Atlanta a better place for everyone else in the process?
OldTimer
June 12th, 2009
12:41 pm
A dancing village idiot is still a village idiot.
Vick Supporter
June 12th, 2009
12:46 pm
@Curious George
First of all, I like the city of Atlanta, I just think it sucks as a sports city.
Second, I say a better franchise/city, because he won’t have to carry the entire load like he did during his time here. If you can’t admit that it was a one man team you really don’t know football. It’s funny how the Falcons get Ryan, and all of a sudden, they’re a “team”. Vick carried the Falcons after Dan Reeves left or I should say unfairly fired. Deep down in your pure hatred of people, you know its true.
The Great Mike Vick Has Returned
f leghorn
June 12th, 2009
12:47 pm
Vick Supporter. There were no “racial taunts” that day Vick “fingered” the fans. .that’s my section. .I was there. They were booing a poor performance. .again. .by your hero that cost us a game. .again. Quit making stuff up to support your own racist view. Dope.
lawton
June 12th, 2009
12:47 pm
reminds you of when dominique wilkins left, the REALITY that the omni would never be the same. i am all for matt ryan and the falcons, but the ELECTRICITY inside the dome will never be the same. NOTHING short of a superbowl championship will get the stain of this out of TRUE falcon fans minds, athletes like vick dont fall from the tree everyday.
Coldwell Banker
June 12th, 2009
12:47 pm
Maybe ex-QBs MIKE VICK and VINCE YOUNG can get an apartment together here in Midtown and “mentor” one another…
…on the DOWN-LOW.
Keeping It Real
June 12th, 2009
12:48 pm
Fighting dawgs was never the issue. Race was and is the defining factor. We all know it yet we continue to hide behind the computer screens. MV7 was just the catylst to bring it out in the open. Hank Aaron did the same but made better decisions. Vick and Aaron are still the most exciting athletes to ever hit this City.
Good luck MV and have a good life.
North GA Nole
June 12th, 2009
12:48 pm
Interesting….2 seasons ago Roddy needed to be run out of town for failure at the WR position. 2 years later, he’s a Pro Bowler. What changed? QB and better coaching.
John OTC
June 12th, 2009
12:51 pm
“He was the biggest athlete this city has ever seen.”
Really? How about HANK AARON? I think he was the biggest athlete this city has even seen.
Naydean
June 12th, 2009
12:51 pm
Well done article. I live in New York and only became a fan because of Mike Vick. Keep your head up # 7 because from your current position you can only go up. You will rise again.
Stephen
June 12th, 2009
12:53 pm
NEWSFLASH: The HEART of the Atlanta Falcons IS NOT GONE. The Falcons will be just fine and the REAL fans will continue to be supportive of the team win or lose. THAT IS WHAT “REAL” FANS DO!!!
GO 2009-2010 ATLANTA FALCONS!!!!
AND…I agree with the other bloggers who have stated that Henry Aaron is without a doubt the GREATEST ATHLETE to ever play at a professional level in the ATL (Neon Deion will be in the NFL Hall of Fame as a Falcon before Vick).
Vick Supporter
June 12th, 2009
12:54 pm
North GA Nole: “Interesting….2 seasons ago Roddy needed to be run out of town for failure at the WR position. 2 years later, he’s a Pro Bowler. What changed? QB and better coaching.”
I find it interesting that Roddy himself stated that he let Vick down as a WR and that he didn’t really learn how to have success (catch the football for once) until 2007. Of course you don’t remember that. You just like the sound of Roddy “becoming better,LMAO” after Vick left. Thats totally untrue. If Roddy truly felt that he got better with Ryan, he wouldn’t even attempt to defend Vick in the press, communicate with him while he was in jail, say anything negative about him as far a football, and support his comeback. Of course you don’t remember that either
Falcons Diva
June 12th, 2009
12:54 pm
@ Vick Supporter
We can all tell by your angry, sub-articulate posts that you are an angry, rage-filled jerk and not a very nice person.
No one called you any ugly names, but you still lashed out at “George” just for asking you a simple question which held you accountable for your own commentary. He never used that “T” word, yet you accused him of it and insulted him. You own him an apology.
We don’t need monsters like you here in Atlanta, GA, Vick Supporter.
Why don’t you move to some other “Better City” that you desire so much, Loser?
Buzz Capra
June 12th, 2009
12:55 pm
Mr Bradley: Regarding your recent post about Raul Ibanez and the steroid issue, dumping on Selig is an easy cop-out for the ill-informed..you are better than that. The MLBPA is 100% to blame for the steroid mess, not MLB. Fehr would never agree to drug-testing in any form and Selig would have had to shut down the game and break the union in order to start a drug-testing program. The MLBPA’s membership were the cheaters/users and their union protected them from detection until the scandal broke and they had to agree to the current testing program under extreme public and congressional pressure.
Ibanez might be clean and could be being unfairly scrutinized but I don’t feel sorry for him one bit. He should have been one of the many clean players in the steroid era (assuming there were some) who demanded that their union protect the clean players, not the cheaters, by demanding a vigorous drug testing program from day one. This is the price you pay for not standing up and demanding that the union look out for all of its members and not just the guys hitting 75 homeruns per year while losing their hair and sporting acne all over their backs.
Put the blame where it belongs: On the players and their union. If Raul Ibanez is really PO’d, he should not blame some blogger who is making a natural point about a 37 year old who is having a career year in the steroid era. He should go find Donald Fehr and punch him in the face!
Selig has actually done quite a masterful job of generating public pressure on the issue and then using that to extract drug-testing-concessions from the union. The Mitchell Report was 100% his idea and he was smart enough to realize that, even though it would generate bad publicity for his beloved sport, it was the only way he could get the leverage necessary to clean up this major problem long-term.
And when is someone with some common sense going to do a story on the rampant HGH use in the NFL? Does anybody with a brain really think that baseball players are the only ones who use PED’s? How do you think those guys get to be so much bigger and faster and stronger than the players who were in the NFL say 20 years ago?
Blake
June 12th, 2009
12:57 pm
Mr. Vick Supporter,
This is with all due respect, but, Michael Vick “single handedly” resurrected the franchise? Maybe, but he also tore it down to nothing, “single handedly.” You do remember 2007, don’t you. However, Arthur Blank, Thomas Dimitroff, Mike Smith, Matt Ryan, and the rest of the entire Falcons TEAM are bringing this franchise out of the Vick induced nightmare. THAT, my friend, is the difference. Team effort versus ME effort.
Having said that, I think Vick will play again. What he needs is a coach like Mike Singletary who will not only help him as a football player, but more importantly, help him to become a real man.
Vick Supporter
June 12th, 2009
12:57 pm
Falcons Diva, trust me, I’m not angry. i happy that this day has finally come. Why don’t you mind your own business? If i was “attacking” Curious George, it would be alot worse.
Vick 09. Redemption time is here.
The Real Fan
June 12th, 2009
12:59 pm
When I see all the hateful comments I wonder if those are season ticket holders.
From a strictly business side this makes no sense:
1.Vick was never going to play for the Falcons again. We all get that, but we should have gotten something for him even a 7th round draft pick.
2.All cap money is money to being used on active players or picks.
3. The Falcons had a waiting list for season tickets and are now running specials to sell tickets. Wonder why?
4. Vick has a winning record as a starter.
All those are facts. There are those of us who are true fans of the Falcons and we want to win. Then there are the others who are just whiners and poser fans. Bandwagon. There is no better feeling than to be at a Falcons game with full stands causing the opposing team to jump off sides from the noise. (We use to lead the league in false starts).
It’s a new season. Stop the foolish hating and move on. We had enough hating this week in D.C.
modrod
June 12th, 2009
1:01 pm
Well said Beautiful Monte. It is mindblowing how and why people want to continue to make excuses for MV and not call him out and say what he really is. He only cared about one thing, and that was himself. Anybody that would want to continue to wear that jacka**** jersey and “support” him needs to be committed. I say good riddance. I have never been prouder to be a Falcon fan than today. To bad Blank cannot recoup the money he gave that assh***.
Vick Supporter
June 12th, 2009
1:02 pm
@Blake
You are right about one thing, the Falcons did bring in the right people to form a “team”. To bad they didn’t try this 7 years ago. They got caught up in Vick’s mesmerizing ability just like the rest of us and they rode it into the ground by putting sub-par players around him and having him carry the team on too many occasions. You don’t see Ryan carrying ANYTHING, and he shouldn’t, because you can never truly win like that. It’s to bad the Falcons management thought Vick could do it alone. Good that the Falcons brass learned their lesson
Terrell
June 12th, 2009
1:03 pm
Curious George, I don’t know what they will do. You want a banana to think it over george?
BossLady
June 12th, 2009
1:04 pm
It is sad to see a young talented man ruin his life so badly. As a parent it is quite disappointing. He had all the potential to have
done so well in life.
Pi$$onaDAWG
June 12th, 2009
1:05 pm
the Biggest Atlanta Sports Figures were in the NWA with Gordon Souly as the “PLAY-by-Play” guy on TBS in the 70’s. Abdula the Butcher, Andre the Giant, the 4 Horsemanand, the Minnosota Wrecking Crew, and Mr. Wrestling # II just to name a few. A Pro from GEORGIA I will go with WILD BILL from DAWSONWILLE ELLIOT. 212.86 mph in a stock car and the first $1 million dollar race winner.
David C
June 12th, 2009
1:06 pm
Hey Mark..I was giddy that Saturday too. I live 3 miles from the training facility. I heard about the draft party on AJC and drove over. Stood in line not knowing it was for season ticket holders only and when I got to the front two cheerleaders asked if I had my ticket.. I said No…they looked puzzled..guess they don’t hear No too often..shrugged and waved me in..This is a sad day. But the dead money does get us closer to the cap floor if not over it. Its just accounting. Good luck Vick. Hope you have your life together. There will be no third chance.
What!!!
June 12th, 2009
1:09 pm
Vick Supporter………..Vick almost single handedly destroyed this franchise…come back and dominate again?….what was his last two seasons like?…don’t want that kind of domination in Atlanta again…..better team because of Vick….again go back to his last two seasons.
His only season starting every game w/o injury was 2006 and the team went to a grand record of 7-9!
No vick Supporter, the Falcons are better off with out Vick!!
Vick Supporter
June 12th, 2009
1:13 pm
@What!!!
We shall see….. That’s why they play the games. How about blaming the ENTIRE TEAM FROM TOP TO BOTTOM instead of one player (on the field). I assume Vick missed tackles and field goals too, right?
Vick Supporter
June 12th, 2009
1:15 pm
One thing i do know…..if the team fails this year, Ryan won’t recieve any of the blame……
Lynn
June 12th, 2009
1:18 pm
What…..there still seems to be a problem on the Falcons store’s website. Look at the best sellers.
http://store.falcons365.com/store/
Is that right? What’s the problem? How come you and your friends won’t support the Falcons financially? Dont blame the economy, the Saints did just fine with their ticket sales.
modrod
June 12th, 2009
1:20 pm
Vick Supporter, what a fitting name. There is a MV jock for sale on Ebay. Why don’t you buy it to sniff it.
At least we have a QB now that doesn’t refer to himself in third person.
BRAVESHATER
June 12th, 2009
1:20 pm
GOODBYE FALCONS! ITS BACK TO OLD DAYS.
BRAVESHATER
June 12th, 2009
1:21 pm
YOU ALSO HAVE A QB THAT CANT THROW 50 YARDS.
BRAVESHATER
June 12th, 2009
1:22 pm
BUT THATS WHAT U CRACKERS LIKE SINCE ALL OF YOU ARE UNATHLETIC AND NEED STERIOS TO GAIN STRENGTH.
Mac
June 12th, 2009
1:26 pm
Bradley wrote: He was the biggest athlete this city has ever seen.
You really shouldn’t insult Hank Aaron like that. Maybe the biggest athlete since you’re been here is more accurate. And, even then, there was ‘Nique.
Jerome
June 12th, 2009
1:26 pm
Once again we see there are still some true white trash hicks in GA.
rte2
June 12th, 2009
1:27 pm
Nice lie Stricker..you coward
What!!!
June 12th, 2009
1:36 pm
Vick Supporter….No Vick did not miss field goals but he did miss alot of tackles when he would fumble the ball.
He went through 3 Coaches. Blank and the GM did everything they could to help Vick be successful. I mean come on, trying to teach a runningback how to be a quarterback is like trying to teach a rock how to float on water.
Again look at the over all facts. We all can see this one trick pony was figured out and again his last two seasons proved it!
I’m glad for one thing and that’s Vick getting caught. The Faclons team have been 100% better because of it.
No team is shaking in their shoe because Vick “MAY” come back. Heck alot of defenses just see him as a tackling dumby coming back!
IDC
June 12th, 2009
1:37 pm
Braveshater, you might want to tell Barry Bonds he’s a cracker.
Keeping It Real
June 12th, 2009
1:37 pm
Mac,
I saw Hank, Nique and MV7 play. Vick was the best athlete to play here because he did not have good players around him. He carried the team on his back every Sunday.
Dawg4Life
June 12th, 2009
1:38 pm
I was out at a restauraunt up at Lake Lanier, and sitting outside was the entire Falcons Oline and sitting right in the middle of them was Matt Ryan. VIck would have never done that. What Vick did here was great, but it was always about him and the other poo stains on the team like D Hall. Then you had Jim Mora Jr. letting these guys get away with murder. He has no team concept. It was always about him taking off running. Matt Ryan is 10 times the QB that Vick ever was or will ever be. All you people that are saying that the Falcons have set themselves back by releasing them are downright ignorant.
Whatever
June 12th, 2009
1:38 pm
To BRAVE SHATER…you are really troubled, are’nt you? Running from blog to blog to spill nothing but hate and vile. Suggestion to you my friend: GROW UP, move out of your mom’s house and get a job. You really need some serious help….how pathetic.
Barry
June 12th, 2009
1:40 pm
Hey Y’all:
Vick will always be a Falcon legend. One day, he will return with all the “old guys” he played with during his six years in Atlanta. I am more than confident he knows he ended his career here due to his lack of judgement, not for anthing he done on the football field. And that alone is what is going to “reignite” his career: What he does on the football field. We pray that he is a better man now due to he has rid himself of all those insane, negative, so called friends he had. I know he feels better just in that regard. So let the man go on with his career, but to a lot of folks around here, he will always be a FALCON. But right now , our FAclcons are too busy building
“NEW LEGENDS” that will call the GEORGIA DOME home.
Good luck Vick. We will see you on the field one day to play the game the “NEW ATLANTA FALCONS” way and that’s in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…………………………”ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!!………………
aj
June 12th, 2009
1:43 pm
Good!! let him go work in a chicken processing plant like the rest of the felons out there. If this was anyone else do think they would be givin a chance to make that kind of money? Heck No!
midnite
June 12th, 2009
1:44 pm
There is no way that Vick will be able to stay clean for 3 years. He has not quit smoking marijuana you can bet on that. He will violate his parole in less than a year. Plus he is fat and so out of shape no team will take a flyer on him. Might ought to hold on to that $10.00 per hour construction job Mikey.
Petrino Hater
June 12th, 2009
1:44 pm
@ Vick Supporter and the rest of us. You have to place blame for the team from 01 – 07 first and foremost on Rich McKay. He didn’t draft one OL worth a lick and made bad move after bad move to kill the locker room with guys on the team and no one, not McKay, not Blank, not anyone on the team during that time held Vick accountable.
If we had the structure we have now 6-7 years ago a lot of things would be different…but you can’t live in the “what if.” Vick brought this downfall onto himself and never surrounded him with the right people off the field. Too bad McKay never surrouned him with the right coaches/players on the field either.
I truly thought we were turning the corner to greatness after the loss in Philly in the NFC Championship game, but that was Reeves’ last team that Mora got to coach. 80% of the moves after that failed and hence the blow up of the front office, coaches and players the past 2-3 years.
It will always be unfortunate that Dimitroff and Vick never worked together. I think he could actually assemble the right team around him. This is a big part why Ryan will be successful this year and for a lot of years ahead. He has a great GM, and a true NFL guy at head coach who can relate.
Daniel
June 12th, 2009
1:46 pm
Bad News: Vick owes lots of money to all his creditors.
Bad News: Vick’s salary in the CFL won’t even make a dent in this debt.
Good News: Vick has the chance to take his CFL team “to the next level”.
Enjoy the snow in Canada, MV7. Just don’t go buying no dogsled to gallant through the snow.
Mac
June 12th, 2009
1:48 pm
Yeah, he carried them to a 15-18 record his past two seasons. Hank Aaron is the best professional athlete Atlanta has ever seen. That’s what’s real.
Vick Supporter
June 12th, 2009
1:50 pm
Great point Petrino Hater. Too rest of the city can’t see the big picture.
Pi$$onaDAWG
June 12th, 2009
1:50 pm
THE VICK BOYS are “GETTO TRASH” and don’t even try to say they are not. You are right “Vick Supporter” I hate NIG$#rs just ask my black employees. Yes, I did say BLACK because that is what they tell me to refer to as not Afreak’n Mericans. Vick was a cute expirement but that was all it was. Vick is a POT SMOKING GETTO NI**ER and he will continue to prove that fact.
Vick Supporter
June 12th, 2009
1:51 pm
@Mac
Let’s see Ryan carry a team by himself. Whoops!!!! I forgot. We already did. ONE AND DONE…..Arm looked like a noodle by week 10. It was obvious.
FalconFan60
June 12th, 2009
1:52 pm
mountain_jim you need to research your comments a little better before you type. After Vick was convicted I looked on the internet and found a dogfighting case in North Carolina in which a WHITE man (non-celebrity) was convicted of eight cases of dogfighting and given 5 years for each charge. 40 years is a helluva lot more than 23 silly months. The bottom line is he was guilty. He lied to everyone about everything and listened to that idiot attorney who said he would be found innocent. Don’t forget him flipping off fans after a WR was ripped for dropping easily caught passes. Yes, he may deserve another chance but he also should be suspended until the 2010 season. That moron Adam Jones was suspended and he wasn’t even convicted. Vick is a remarkable athlete and that’s it. He’s not a QB and never will be.
Mark Bradley
June 12th, 2009
1:55 pm
By “biggest” I meant as a personality, not as a performer. Obviously Hank Aaron was a better baseball player than Vick is a football player, but Aaron did not dominate this city’s discussion of sports the way Vick has (and still does). Aaron did not energize the Braves in the same way Vick rejuvenated the Falcons.
What!!!
June 12th, 2009
1:57 pm
There’s not an o-line in the league that could block for Vick. A d-lineman would fart and Vick would take off running.
Once Vick was figured out he couldn’t do a darn thing!! WHY? Because he was not a true QB when all was said and done!
Let him go and play with all the college and NFL rejects. He will look like a superstar in the UFL or CFL. Good luck and good bye Vick!
Vick Supporter
June 12th, 2009
1:57 pm
FalconsFan60: “He’s not a QB and never will be.”
What a f-ing idiot statement. How in the hell do you be a starting qb in the NFL for 7 YEARS and not be a QB? Since anyone can do it, why not make all RBs be QBs then? How in the hell would he learn how to run plays at the NFL level if he wasn’t a QB? Why don’t you go to a hunting blog or something and blog about something you know, because football isn’t your strong point, if you have one
Vick Supporter
June 12th, 2009
1:59 pm
@What!!!
You really need some mental help, woman.
What!!!
June 12th, 2009
2:02 pm
BWAA HA HA HA HA!!!!!! Team fans vs Vick fans. Team wins every time. Cutting Vick…….just the biggest part of the process!!
Hey Vick Supporter after you get through watching the UFL we Falcon fan will let you back on the bandwagon to watch Matt take the team to the superbowl!!
Vick Supporter
June 12th, 2009
2:05 pm
@What!!!
Sorry, woman. I’ll never cheer for this team again…the fans here caused me to lose interest in the team. Not that it matters to you people anyways…..Who cares
Zoomie
June 12th, 2009
2:12 pm
Very well put, Mark. Your article accurately reflects my Michael Vick experience. Lots of hope, some confusion, then ending with a feeling of heartbreak for MV and the Falcons organization. I told my sports-fan friends and family repeatedly over the MV years that the Falcons organization completely lacked any semblance of leadership at any level. That really killed any potential MV had.
I don’t dispute MV lacked apparent leadership characteristics; I don’t dispute that he was maddeningly inconsistent as a passer; I don’t dispute that he often looked confused in the heat of play; I readily acknowledge that each time he took off holding the football in his left hand, I responded with a gutteral “Oh s__t!” knowing that a fumble was likely. I will say this: I watched, in its entirety, the game after which MV flipped off fans in the Dome. In that game, though a bit out of the norm for the team at that time, MV was the ONLY Falcons player who, during that game, played his guts out from start to finish. What he did was unjustifiable, but understandable. (Wasn’t that the game where Roddy White, at a dead stand-still facing the quarterback, dropped a beautiful pass lobbed into his hands when there wasn’t a defender within 15 yards of him; a guranteed TD that would’ve won the game?)
I don’t want him back on the Falcons. I’m glad he didn’t get a pass for his transgressions, but he’s paid the price we, though our legislative representatives, deem appropriate for his crimes. I hope he can play again and I wish him the best. At the same time, I’m a Falcons fan first, so let’s close the MV chapter and move on to bigger and better accomplishments!