Bradley’s Buzz: The (split) verdict on Vick’s signing
The newly local reaction
The Philadelphia papers are, if you’ll pardon the expression, abuzz this morning. John Gonzalez of the Inquirer reports that the Eagles’ press corps was stunned by the news.
“And so now Ron Mexico is an Eagle,” Gonzalez writes. “To say it’s a shocking development is a gross understatement. If anyone in town expected this or knew it was happening, they did a good job keeping it a secret. Vick reportedly flew into town Tuesday night and remained undetected until late last evening. That’s a hard thing to pull off. If his football comeback falls through, he has a terrific career ahead of him as a spy.”
This being Vick, there’s no firm consensus. Phil Sheridan of the Inquirer writes: “The Eagles are taking an enormous risk. All that’s at stake is everything owner Jeff Lurie and head coach Andy Reid have ever said about what the franchise stands for, and they have put all of that in the hands of a man who went to prison for murdering dogs. It just isn’t worth it.”
In the Daily News, Rich Hofmann writes about Eagles coach Andy Reid’s announcement of Vick’s addition: “The coach acknowledged that Vick has been on his mind for months and years. He said that Vick got into trouble at about the same time his sons got into trouble, and that he followed Vick’s story from afar and compared it to what his sons were enduring. It was as open and as human as Reid has ever been at an interview podium, and it was clear that not only was this Reid’s decision, first and foremost – but that his personal life opened him to the possibilities.”
Paul Domowitch of the Daily News calls the signing of Vick “a terrific move” and believes: “He was signed for one reason, one word: Wildcat.”
Back to the Inquirer. Amy Worden handles the animal rights angle and, as you’d expect, not every animal-lover in the City of Brotherly Love was ecstatic. Writes Worden: “News that the Eagles had signed quarterback Michael Vick, a convicted animal abuser, was met with swift outrage last night by members of Philadelphia’s animal-welfare community. Many said they were concerned that the move would cast a pall over a state in which animal advocates – led by Gov. [Ed] Rendell, who has three rescue dogs – have fought to improve conditions for dogs, particularly those who suffer in substandard commercial kennels.”
And now to the national press
The headline in Sporting News Today: “Vick Signing Could Be A Super Move By Philadelphia.” If that sounds like a rave review … well, there’s a reason. From Albert Breer’s story comes this quote by an unnamed AFC personnel man: “It’s a tremendous signing. The consensus in the league is that everyone is willing to forgive him.”
Writing for SI.com, Peter King makes this contention: “When Michael Vick would see visitors during his two-year exile from football … one refrain was clear:He had deep regrets over not working hard enough at the quarterback craft during his six-year NFL career, and if he ever got another chance to play in the NFL, he’d work hard to be a good all-around quarterback, not just an electric one.” That in mind, Vick to Philly makes more sense, King writes, “than Vick to almost anywhere else.”
KIng’s SI.com colleague Don Banks makes a key point, however: “Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Vick struggle in the West Coast offense when he tried playing in Atlanta under ex-Falcons offensive coordinator Greg Knapp? Maybe Andy Reid and Marty Mohrninweg’s version in Philly will be a different story with different results, but the inaccurate Vick and the West Coast didn’t look like much of a match in 2005-2006 (35 TDs/20 INTs/54 percent passing).”
For ESPN.com, Chris Mortensen writes a key to the signing was Donovan McNabb: “As McNabb revealed after Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Patriots, he lobbied the Eagles to sign Vick. That’s stability.” (FYI, McNabb once escorted the younger Vick on a recruiting visit to Syracuse.)
Also from the Worldwide Leader: This discouraging word from Matt Mosley. “Anyone remember what happened the last time the Eagles attempted to make a huge splash? Terrell Owens had the one great year, and then he did his best to wreck the team’s locker room. Maybe I’ll change my mind. But right now, I think the Eagles are asking for trouble.”
And, in an interview with Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc., Mosley solicits this response: “I think Michael Vick might automatically become the No. 1 backup in the league.”
On CBSsports.com, Mike Freeman writes that Vick’s arrival is just one more insult to McNabb: “It constantly seems as if the city of Philadelphia and the Eagles organization can’t wait to ship McNabb’s big butt out of town as quickly as possible. Oh, and that’s what the Vick signing means. If you don’t believe that Vick is McNabb’s heir — sooner rather than later — you’re a fool. McNabb is once again being prepped for pasture.”
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
122 comments Add your comment
FALCONS SORRY
August 14th, 2009
10:58 am
ALL HATERS! BEWARE PHILADELPHIA! THERE IS A NEW KING IN TOWN! AND HE IS TAKING OVER! I HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR TIME AS QUARTERBACK MCNABB BECAUSE THE EAGELS HAVE A NEW STARTING QUARTERBACK WHO WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO WIN A SUPPER BOWL AND THAT IS SOMETHING YOU COULD NEVER DO BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE THE TALENT OR THE SPEED OR THE STRENGTH OF MV7! MVP THAT IS! YOU CAN GO HOME AND CRY IN YOUR CAMPBELL CHUNKY SOUP BECAUSE THE COMPETITION FOR 2009 EAGELS STARTING QB IS OVER MCNABB! ITS OVER! YOU HAD YOUR RUN AND YOU COULDNT GET THE JOB DONE AND NOW YOU ARE GOING TO GET PASSED BY A NEWER AND FASTER AND BETTER MODEL! UPGRADE ALL THE WAY! MAYBE WHEN YOU GET CUT MCNABB YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO WORK FOR AUTHUR BLANK SINCE HE WILL SPEND THE REST OF HIS SORRY BACK STABBING LIFE TRYING TO REPLACE THE FRANCHISE HE LOST WHEN HE MADE THE MISTAKE OF LETTING MIKE VICK GO TO JAIL FOR NO REASON! JUST WATCH YOUR BACK AROUND BLANK D! TOO BAD SO SAD MCNABB!
Paul H
August 14th, 2009
10:58 am
I agree with Kiddos AND Joe. The man has paid what he owes. Does that mean he “deserves” something as priviledged as playing in the NFL? NO. However, if the NFL has granted him the priviledge of playing in the league again and a team has offered him a job, he has the right to accept that offer.
Mike
August 14th, 2009
11:00 am
Since he is now a Philly Eagle…can the Atlanta media stop reporting about him? Just a thought…we do STILL have a team here.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
August 14th, 2009
11:04 am
McNabb slapped in the face one more time. I think it will really payoff for the Eagles this year. Karma is a b**ch baby.
pollywannacracker
August 14th, 2009
11:04 am
If Jesus was a hypocrite like all of his so called followers, Mike Vick would be in an Octagon w/ Pits snapping at him w/ “Civilized” animal loving frothing from the mouth for more blood. The detractors are the same people crying because Obama is in office, thinks that Latinos are the cancer of this nation & nobody earned anything in this nation but them & all is not forgiven unless by their standards. You losers, morons, bigots & rascist get a clue. You don’t run squat, this is not just “Your country” (Latinos actually have more right to the SW U.S. than you do) & you don’t dictate how a man makes a living. I hate the Klan but I don’t care how they make money or where they work, they’ve been running the state of GA since colonial times.
SimpleDawg
August 14th, 2009
11:13 am
To Proud Black Man:
Thanks for a rational explanation of why you hope he succeeds. I can roll with that.
Personally, I’m ambivalent to whether he succeeds or fails. I’m disgusted with his acts of commission ( his criminal enterprise, passing STD’s to unsuspecting women, his division of the Falcon locker room and fan base, his arrogance in denying his culpability, and the indignant manner in which he conducted himself leading up to his incarceration ) and with his acts of omission ( his lack of commitment to improving his skills as an NFL QB, his lack of regard for his position as a team leader, and his failure as a role model for the young people who watched his every move ). He was both boon and bane for the Falcons and the city of Atlanta.
All of that aside, he is now an Eagle….an enemy of the Falcons, and he is in our way to the Super Bowl. If he’s standing on the track when the train comes through, he’s going down.
TampaGator
August 14th, 2009
11:25 am
I can’t wait until Vick returns with Philly because the Atlanta “sports fans” will once again prove themselves to be the worst in ALL of sports…as they will probably wear Vick Philly jerseys and scream with suppport every time has does something on the field…even though it is against the Falcons. You don’t go to any field in Chicago, Philly, NY, Boston and here any local fan pull for any former player on the field. They may applaud him before the game, but would never pull against the home team during the game. Watch, the fans will go crazy in the Dome every time Vick does something agains the Falcons. As I said, the most uniformed and worst fans in all of sports thrive in Atlanta football, baseball, and basketball stadiums and arenas. It is embarrassing to the city.
TampaGator
August 14th, 2009
11:26 am
That should be “hear any local fan”….
TampaGator
August 14th, 2009
11:29 am
FREE VICK…give me a break. That is an old story now. I guess this country will never elect a black man as President either. Vick going to jail had nothing to do with the color of his skin, and neither did his suspension from football. And Stallworth KILLED a man while driving drunk….oh, he is a black man…big deal.
NRBQ
August 14th, 2009
11:29 am
Much ado about nothing.
He’ll get hurt before the Eagles come to town.
TampaGator
August 14th, 2009
11:32 am
Oh…FREE VICK…if Stallworth hadn’t been a rich man, he would be in jail right now and would not have been able to “pay off” the family of the man he killed with millions of dollars to avoid serving prison time. And he is a rich black man, too, just like many rick while and blue collar criminals or law breakers who use money to avoid true justice. The suspension for Stallworth was, at minium, the right thing to do.
tmd
August 14th, 2009
11:36 am
I am sad to even live in the same state as philadelphia – that the would sign this dog killer on! go ahead – you signed your fate – the steelers will rock again this year -
Bob from Dahlonega
August 14th, 2009
11:41 am
Pa. home of vick ,arlen spector,and ben rothlisberger. a real moral state. not to mention the horny guy who shot up the health club.. pa deserves vick
Bobby Dowell
August 14th, 2009
11:53 am
Fan comments from the Eagles message boards:
>I am an enormous fan who is absolutely heartbroken knowing my hard earned money will go into his scumbag pockets.
>This is a terrible feeling. I love the Eagles but I cant support this decision. Im beyond upset.
>He’s a terrible quarterback even if you ignore the whole slaughtering defenseless animal aspect of this.
>He cant read a defense, he is inaccurate and he hasnt played in two years. How is this a positive move?
Marcus
August 14th, 2009
11:56 am
MB,
I hope Vick does well. As a Falcons fan (all ATL sports fan) in the Philly area, this came as a bombshell … but it makes sense football-wise. A lot of the points brought up by Schultzie and yourself are valid. Plus, in Vick, Reid also could have seen a raw version of McNabb. There has been scuttlebutt about his lack of work ethic/dependence on ability while with ATL so the structure, rigor, and discipline (key word) of the Eagles and Coach Reid will fix that. Also, lets keep in mind, while in ATL, Vick probably had his best professional development under a veteran head coach (Reeves) vs. a 1st time head coach (Mora). We cannot discount that factor either, and in fact, may have regressed profesionally from 2004- 06 vs. his projected path had Reeves been retained.
Marcus
August 14th, 2009
11:57 am
John 8:7
dap01
August 14th, 2009
11:57 am
He will let the Eagles down.
Roy Hobbs
August 14th, 2009
12:19 pm
We could all learn something about second chances and forgiveness from Andy Reid.
However this turns out, thats a guy with the confidence and ability to make a decision, and the empathy and desire to give someone a second chance.
ThaMan
August 14th, 2009
12:46 pm
Falcons Sorry -I see you slept through your English classes.
wink
August 14th, 2009
12:47 pm
richtfan
I am not a Vick supporter as it relates to the fan base, however, I do support the man’s right for a second chance. He has paid his debt the State of VA. He owes them nothing, but the taxes on his home and any income he generates in that state.
At the time of this offense, dog fighting in VA, this was not a FEDERAL offense. As a result of Michael missing a function in DC & a politician in CA raising the bar, this offense was made FEDERAL, and taken away from the State of VA. Being high profile individual, PETA, jumped on board to raise the stakes higher in the court of public opinion. Mike lied, yes; was found guilty, yes; sentence was handed down, yes; Vick completed his sentence by a court of (Federal) law. Time has been served according to that law, which makes your opinions on further penalty moot. Again, very MOOT. You are entitled to your opinion, as am I, but to lanquish in your opinion of justice regarding Vick’s debt to the State…just does not matter…it’s done!! Cheer for Vick, don’t cheer for Vick, just move on or continue to lanquish….ha ha ha ha!
Go Falcons
Ticket Operator
August 14th, 2009
12:53 pm
I have some good news & bad news
The good news:
Tickets sales are sky rocketing since yesterday.
The bad news:
They are generated by a former player
Bad News
August 14th, 2009
12:58 pm
I am taking a poll, Eagles or Falcons, who has better chance of winning the superbowl, I know the Falcons don’t even make the playoffs, but I will be open-minded.
Falcons
or
Eagles
McNabb
Westbrook
Vick
Macklin
Jackson
Cobb
Avant
Something to think about
Matty Ice
August 14th, 2009
12:59 pm
I want my blog dammit!!!!!
Darrin "The Vent King"
August 14th, 2009
1:04 pm
Enter your comments here
Mercenary
August 14th, 2009
1:11 pm
Actually both the pro- and anti-Vick folks should be pleased. For the pro-, Vick gets to play in the NFL again and for a solid organization, albeit not as a starting QB. For the anti-, at least he’s not playing for a division rival and if you think he was sensitive enough to flip off fans before all this dog fighting mess, he’s gonna get it hard in Philly sooner or later…
bigeasy830
August 14th, 2009
1:18 pm
The Falcons suck and so do their fans.
Falcons, 4-12 in 2009.
“Back to Life, Back To Reality”
MO Zack
August 14th, 2009
1:34 pm
OK Vick you got your second chance. Do well bro.
MO Zack
August 14th, 2009
1:43 pm
bigeasy830, stop “Sippin on Sizzurp”!
You mean 12-4 in 2009!
regijoli
August 14th, 2009
1:46 pm
To all of you(richtfan,Animal Lover!!!! Mike Vick hater!!! and the likes) who are saying Vick is not human and proclaiming him to be unforgivable, I hope that you are as unforgiving to your Great Grandfathers and other members of the generations that pre-dated you; who bought, sold, kidnapped, raped, brutally beat and murdered(by way of hanging,burning,electocuting and other unspeakable methods) Africans and African Americans from 1619(The start of slaver in Jamestown Virginia) to the brutal beating of Rodney King(in 1993 Los Angeles) and all reported and unreported incidents of cruelty towards the Black race in between and after. That MAN(Vick) paid the price for his crime where as many of the above mentioned scum never did. If what he did was so unforgivable, GOD will make the final judgment. Especially since your blood-lines are without true morality and compassion. He is a human who did a bad thing, his debt has been paid, Unless you are offering to pay the debt for your ancesters and fore-fathers, crawl back in your self-righteous holes so we sports fans can enjoy some football whether he gets on the field or not.
MO Zack
August 14th, 2009
1:51 pm
Ok bigeasy you can keep that one….
regijoli you a bad mother…..
Ticket Operator
August 14th, 2009
2:02 pm
Falcon fans you should be ashamed of yourselves. How can you let a former player who has not played since 2006 out sell your current qb?
Shame! Shame! Shame!
Smart Jay
August 14th, 2009
2:08 pm
Regi – just a point of fact,very few Southerners actually owned slaves. If we just took the people you mentioned bloodlines, you probably wouldn’t touch a single poster here. It’s one thing to engage in stereotyping, it’s quite another to tar an entire race with the sins of the very, very few.
Also, why should the heirs to the guilty have to pay a price for something they had no personal involvement in? Michael Vick personally did the things he was convicted of, and he has paid the debt society forced on him. But, your comparison of people needing to pay the price for their ancestor’s crimes to Vick’s paying the price for HIS OWN CRIMES is pretty far off base.
As for Vick, he has paid his debt to society off. I think he’ll get 4-8 games off,then he can get back on the field. You may hate what he did, but he doesn’t deserve his livelihood taken away from him, and I look forward to him being back on the field.
Mercenary
August 14th, 2009
2:08 pm
Ticket Operator, I think you’re mistaken. People still ponied up for another Mike after he got out of jail. Mike Tyson – because he had become a freak show. And that’s what Vick has become. Works for me – I plan to sell my season tix for this game for a nice profit now. Thanks Frea(vic)k!
wxwax
August 14th, 2009
2:34 pm
Thank for all the links, good stuff Mark.
To me the most telling observation is that Vick regrets not working harder at developing his QB skills the first time around. That bodes really well for him, signifying a humility we haven’t seen before. For the first time, I begin to think perhaps he might establish himself as a starting QB again.
In the short term, his presence on the Eagles is being overblown. It will be a long time, perhaps most of the season, before he’s able to contribute. Assuming the Iggles make the playoffs, perhaps it’s there that he might finally bring a surprise factor to the games.
Finally, in sharp contrast to the horror of Vick’s crimes is the heartwarming response by Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb. Especially Reid. It’s not often you see such a human and vulnerable side to people in the NFL, and it makes me feel good to see it.
tj
August 14th, 2009
2:50 pm
FREE VICK,
White men do not do stupid stuff like, then play a stupid race card, time for a change dont ya think ??
tj
August 14th, 2009
2:50 pm
D.J. Shockley is a better QB than Vick!!
gdawginkalamazoo
August 14th, 2009
2:55 pm
Mark, the Eagles don’t make the Super Bowl again this year, Andy Reid retires and Tony Dungy becomes the new HC of the Eagles and caretaker of MV.
regijoli
August 14th, 2009
3:01 pm
SmartJay,
thank for your comments to my posting. My point, though extreme, was to point out the self righteous of so many of the bloggers on here that speak of this man as if he committed a crime again mankind.
Let’s be clear(and both you and I are on the same page with this) he did commit a crime, but the main people(the so called animal lovers) that do not feel the debt paid was enough of a payment and would rather see him subjected to even harsher punishment as if he committed a crime again his fellow man; are the same ones who have not and will not condemn,even in words,their ancestors for there horrible crime which were again man(Helpless Man-Stolen Man-the African Decent Man). And yes you are correct, there were only a select few Southerners who owned slaves, but there were countless southerners and others from every region of this country who committed these heinous crimes against blacks people with no atonement. I hope that he has learned his lesson, my hope is that anyone involved in dog-fighting learned a lesson from witnessing his downfall, but alas they were ANIMALS not humans. He is no less human than those who hunt for sport.
regijoli
August 14th, 2009
3:06 pm
SmartJay,
thanks for your comments to my posting. My point, though extreme, was to point out the self righteous of so many of the bloggers on here that speak of this man as if he committed a crime again mankind.
Let’s be clear(and both you and I are on the same page with this) he did commit a crime, but the main people(the so called animal lovers) that do not feel the debt paid was enough of a payment and would rather see him subjected to even harsher punishment as if he committed a crime again his fellow man; are the same ones who have not and will not condemn,even in words,their ancestors for there horrible crimes which were again man(Helpless Man-Stolen Man-the African Decent Man). And yes you are correct, there were only a select few Southerners who owned slaves, but there were countless southerners and others from every region of this country who committed these heinous crimes against blacks people with no atonement. I hope that he has learned his lesson, my hope is that anyone involved in dog-fighting learned a lesson from witnessing his downfall, but alas they were ANIMALS not humans. He is no less human than those who hunt for sport.
FalconsRule
August 14th, 2009
3:08 pm
I don’t know why you stupid Vick supporters think Vick is going to run all over the Falcons. He will likely not even play in the game. The whole “who is laughing now” thing is ridiculous. Why should anyone be laughing. He signed, big deal. He hasn’t done anything to make anyone eat crow. He likely won’t either. He was never a good QB in the West Coast offense in ATL, and he won’t be in Philly…and that’s assuming he actually plays QB.
The Wildcat will not work as well this year. It will frizzle out just like the option in the NFL did, and then what will Vick do>?
tj
August 14th, 2009
3:10 pm
there is a poor white man serving 40 years for the same crime that the great black athlete only served 2, where is the justice ??
tj
August 14th, 2009
3:20 pm
AJC, if you are going to remove my comments concerning justice or race, then you should do the same for these people are complaining that race had anything to do with his sentencing.. bunch of hypocrits!!
MightyQuinn
August 14th, 2009
3:35 pm
All I can say is that this (Vick in Philly) is the second worst scenario for Atlanta, as a city. Number one would have been him signing with an NFC South team and coming here every year. Signing with Philly is bad because it will be late in the season, and probably both teams will be in contention, making an intense situation even that much more combustible. All I can say is there had better be a very strong show of force from the law enforcement community in Atlanta that day, in and all around the Dome, because I have a sickening feeling that it could possibly explode into a race riot. Today I just feel sad for my hometown. God help us all.
Fair and Balanced
August 14th, 2009
3:36 pm
The Falcons have a preseason game tomorrow night? Can somebody tell them? They’re all still crowded around the TV watching Vick coverage.
Get Real People
August 14th, 2009
3:40 pm
Wow..I just had a Willie B flashback. The above pic definitely reminded me of good ‘ol Willie. Willie amused lots of folks for many years too.
Zoomie
August 14th, 2009
3:50 pm
I think this is great for Vick, great for the Eagles, and great for football.
MV’s sins have been publicly exposed. He lost everything (his own doing, of course). He’s paid the debt required of him and I’m glad he’s in a position to get back on his feet. It remains to be seen whether he’s a changed man. I believe he is. He finally broke ties with the posse he financed and protected for most of his professional life when they sold him down the river to save their butts. If this doesn’t make him see the light, nothing will.
MV is with a good program and has some great mentors and associates now. Once he gets past the locker room hijinks ( I envision one of those homemade hot dog cookers placed in his locker, you know, the ones made with two nails and electric wire) I believe he’ll settle in, work hard, and become a great addition to the Eagles. I’m happy for him and wish him well.
Congrats to MV and the Eagles, but . . . GO FALCONS!
lexluther
August 14th, 2009
4:15 pm
I commend Philly for giving Mike Vick this opportunity. The guy contribution to this team will be tremendous. I don’t understand how this society can persecute someone for animal cruelty and not help a homeless person. What does that say about us? This guy (Mike Vick) made a mistake, and he’s paid his dept. We give people that kill or beat the h-ll out of another human being more support than they have given Mike. So I say, good for you MV7! Show the Falcons that they gave up on you too soon. Go get that ring in Philly…damn, did I just say that…anyway..Good luck Mike.
Stat Checker
August 14th, 2009
4:23 pm
Of all NFL active qbs with 62 or more starts, Mike Vick ranks 7th on the list – source espn.com
That means there are at least 25 starting qbs with worst winning percentages.
Food for thought.
YUP!!
August 14th, 2009
4:38 pm
Bye bye Vick.
DANG!!! IT IS SO NICE KNOWING THE FALCONS HAVE GOT SUCH A GREAT REAL FUTURE HALL OF FAME QB BEHIND CENTER!!! GO MATT RYAN!!
Good to see the one trick pony Vick in another uniform…..could not be more proud!
Vick fans you can be sure the NFL has not forgotten how to shut his azz down. The wildcat worked for awhile last year but will not do anything for any team this year. The Falcons will prove that when they play the Dolphins.
Look out Vick I’m sure some LB’s are ready to knock the sh** out of you leaving you crying on the field!!
YUP!!
August 14th, 2009
4:41 pm
Vick hasn’t had a winning season since 2004. 2005 and 2006 was HORRIBLE!!
SOOOOOO GLAD HE’S NOT THE FALCONS PROBLEM ANYMORE!!!!