Live from the Dome: A former prince returns to the city
The midfield reunion we've long awaited: Arthur M. Blank and Michael Vick. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Michael Vick has returned to the Georgia Dome. He jogged on the field at 11:24 a.m. He received a polite round of applause. (There weren’t many folks in the stands yet.) The first person he approached was Jimmy Cribb, the longtime Falcons photographer. The two embraced.
“He told me I always took good pictures of him,” Cribb said, “and if I got anything good today to send them to him.”
Then came the long-awaited meeting with Arthur Blank. (See above photo, shot by someone much less professional than Jimmy Cribb.) And then Reggie Roberts, the Falcons’ VP of communications, walked over to Vick. More hugging ensued.
Roberts: “He told me he missed being here. He misses the city, misses the Dome. He said he was crying on the bus ride over.”
Along those lines, here’s a snippet of an as-told-to article Vick did with David Fleming of ESPN The Magazine. Here’s Vick speaking his mind on, of all things, the Dome:
“I’m looking forward to going back to the Georgia Dome. I may not do much. I may not even play in the game. But just having the opportunity to be there and maybe have a chance to talk to the Falcons owner, Mr. Blank, before the game — that would be a great thing for me. I spent many a Sunday making that crowd go wild, and I appreciate all those fans. They were great. Man, I miss [those] days.”
In all the furor over Michael Vick, one truth kept getting lost: No matter what he did, the guy’s still a human being. And now he’s again a football player. We don’t know much he’ll play today, if at all. And we don’t yet know — it’s only 11:45 — how the crowd will be. My guess: Warm toward Vick, warmer toward the Falcons.
Speaking of whom: The home side is up against it. Here’s the inactive list: Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Michael Jenkins, Sam Baker and Harvey Dahl. That’s five offensive starters out for what is a game with massive playoff ramifications. (The Falcons and Eagles are tracking the same wild card.) The only consolation, and it’s slim: Philly is missing playmakers DeSean Jackson and Brian Westbrook.
And that’s why a 7-4 road team is a 5-1/2 point favorite over a 6-5 opponent. You never see that in the NFL, but today seems a day where form could take a hike. The Falcons are undermanned, but there’s almost a last-stand element to this one. Meaning: On this given Sunday, the desperate club could just lift itself by its bootstraps.
And I’ll be here to watch and report, as we say in the trade, with one difference: I have permission from AJC.com higher-ups not to make this a live chat, but because the day has started on a bright conciliatory note I’ve decided to open the floor for comments. Should we devolve into our usual volley of back-and-forthing, the live chat will go away and will not re-open. It’s your choice. Thanks in advance.
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
1,246 comments Add your comment
J.J.M.
December 6th, 2009
2:56 pm
lmaooooooooooooooooo
MATTY SMALL NUTTS
December 6th, 2009
2:56 pm
Yay Vick
Jamie
December 6th, 2009
2:56 pm
Salt in the wounds!!
Manny
December 6th, 2009
2:56 pm
Vick runs in for a touchdown. How fitting.
JSS
December 6th, 2009
2:56 pm
There is the salt…
Mr Charlie
December 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
Joe Montana was the ultimate noodle arm.
preston
December 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
nothing but cheers for Vick!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go!!!!!!
MikeVickFanAways
December 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO VICK!!!!!!!!!!
J.J.M.
December 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
gotta love the irony though
Hawksfan
December 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
Touchdown Vick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JTH
December 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
Another fine display of tackling.
Allright boys, time to score. They need to get it to White.
80sFalcon
December 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
Can you see the racial lines on that score?
LantaFalcons
December 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
i bet the Defense didn’t try to stop him much …
MATTY SMALL NUTTS
December 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
Vick 4 LIFEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Go VICKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
Once "Recent" Reader
December 6th, 2009
2:57 pm
This is actually the first week I’ve felt plainold Bored with the discussion of old QB. I like a good debate so somewhat enjoyed the contentiousness if not the rudeness of the conversation. But it really just plain feels old and outplayed. One of my favorite lines from a comic as a kid . . . . Joke’s Over Son. (Of course as I’m typing this the ole QB scores . . . .oh well.) Actually, if any were to ask Mr. Vick in person, I have a funny feeling he would tell you all to just let it go . . ..
81Dawg
December 6th, 2009
2:58 pm
This game just got worse with Vick scoring. All we will hear now is how Vick would be better than Ryan.
rabiddawg
December 6th, 2009
2:58 pm
O wow, MV scored on a 5 yard run. Now vick supporters have a reason to feel that their misguided love for him is validated. Please, if you don’t think we are better off without him you just don’t get it.. Out…
Meanwhile...karma
December 6th, 2009
2:58 pm
I think if you asked him now, Mick Vick would say he’s a believer in karma. PETA, not so sure.
J williams
December 6th, 2009
2:58 pm
The Falcons’ defence has nothing. The Eagles just went down the field like it was practice, and the defence was supposed to let them score.
woodie
December 6th, 2009
2:58 pm
And Vick scores…good for him!! The Falcons look uninspired.
LantaFalcons
December 6th, 2009
2:58 pm
“Can you see the racial lines on that score?”
any falcon fan cheering for the other team is a disgrace
Mark Bradley
December 6th, 2009
2:58 pm
Even if you don’t like the guy, you have to admit: That was a big personal moment for him. Kind of a circle coming closed.
OK, enough Bradley metaphors.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 6th, 2009
2:58 pm
HA HA HA
Touch Down Vick
HA HA HA
Steven
December 6th, 2009
2:59 pm
Despite a shower of “Boos” from the crowd for Vick, Fox has chosen to show only the pro-Vick signs in the crowd. Funny given there was such an obvious presence of people who do not support him. And so now they put him in for a charity TD. Way to go Eagles – you continue to prove yourselves to be the ***holes I’ve always thought you were.
Manny
December 6th, 2009
2:59 pm
OK. I guess that’s that. Now can we stop this obsessive discussion concerning Vick? And can we let him play his play and we can root for the Falcons? I’m a Vick fan and I’m happy for him, but this should close the door on the conversation, right?
(I’m so hopeful that I feel insane.)
Big Ray
December 6th, 2009
2:59 pm
bigdave ,
I watched him in college, and don’t really care which conference he came from. The guy was a playmaker who always seemed to be around the ball. Then, his senior year, they got stupid and kept him up near the line of scrimmage in every game. He’s got skills and strength. He just has to stay healthy. No player coming from college is guaranteed to perform well in the NFL. Banking on one is as much a risk as banking on another….But, given your skepticism, what’s the long term answer? Besides trying to buy a proven product away from another team (another risk)?
Sid
December 6th, 2009
2:59 pm
how appropriate. a convicted felon scores against this pathetic garbage organization. Arthur Blank you must be so proud. Now do us all a big favor, call BEKINS and move this sorry garbage. Gerogia and Atlanta has enough problems.
bigdave
December 6th, 2009
2:59 pm
and Ray…
DeCoud is young.. and out of anyone in the secondary ive been impressed with him most… he’s dropped his share of picks. however, he has some ball hawking ability and brought his hat a couple times out of the FS spot. i said SS meaning Coleman.. who often is out of position and FANS on tackles… not what you expect from your SS spot…
jamesr1991
December 6th, 2009
2:59 pm
Job well done. That’s what they came to see.
Giuseppe
December 6th, 2009
3:00 pm
The dogs of this nation are sad. The ultimate dog killing machine has scored a TD and humans are cheering. We have officially been degraded to a mentally retarded species.
BC
December 6th, 2009
3:00 pm
Mularkey coached himself out of a head coaching job next year…It would be nice to have a kick returner who could break a long run….Weems is mediocre at best..
Mark Bradley
December 6th, 2009
3:00 pm
There wasn’t a lot of booing after the touchdown. There was when Vick came on the field. But, as I tried to indicate, it was a muted reaction to the touchdown.
ray
December 6th, 2009
3:00 pm
Same old Falcons! It does not matter who the coaches are or who the players are this team is cursed with people making stupid decisions on and off the field.
J williams
December 6th, 2009
3:00 pm
This season is turning into a nightmare very quickly. The streak remains alive. Never tow wining seasons back to back.
Meanwhile...speaking of metaphors
December 6th, 2009
3:00 pm
Mark, at least you didn’t say every dog has his day.
Tron5000
December 6th, 2009
3:01 pm
These fools wearing a Falcons jersey and cheering when Vick scores should be shot. I’m embarrassed to be a Falcons fan and have that crap shown on TV. What complete morons.
Mark Bradley
December 6th, 2009
3:01 pm
But I will say this: That was McNabb’s drive. Vick just finished it.
Jamie
December 6th, 2009
3:01 pm
People in ATL are clueless! Vick s$#t on your team and city and you cheer him! thank you sir, may I have another!! What a bunch of losers!!
Falcon 8211
December 6th, 2009
3:01 pm
the whole team is playin like pieces of $hit
43 and counting...
December 6th, 2009
3:01 pm
Wait a second. . .
Van Gorder just pulled off some sort of mask off his face….
Oh no — It’s….It’s….It’s ED DONATELL!
3rd and 12 and we give up 11. They go for it on 4th and get the 1st…..THIS IS A RECORDING.
Mr Charlie
December 6th, 2009
3:01 pm
Geez, but Shock in.
Mark Bradley
December 6th, 2009
3:02 pm
Meanwhile, back at the ballgame … Redman throws a terrible pass in the vicinity of Norwood.
Big Ray
December 6th, 2009
3:02 pm
Congrats to Mike Vick on his short touchdown run.
The bad thing about this is that proves that he has been used as a cheap gimmick at best all this time, and the Eagles could have run plays to get him in the endzone long before this.
In the end, it’s McNabb that’s killing us, not Vick.
All the same, nice gesture to give Vick a fairly easy shot at the endzone, and touchdown against his former team.
Doesn’t prove a damn thing to me if Andy Reid goes right back to using him the way he did before, for the rest of the season, which he probably will.
Meanwhile Vick Supporters will have a reason to smile for a moment or two.
Mike Vick
December 6th, 2009
3:02 pm
The Falcons feel so warm and wet on the inside.
It feels SO good getting SO deep.
I love penetrating …the endzone, of course!
BugKiller
December 6th, 2009
3:02 pm
every dog has his day to die by electrocution, drowning, or hanging from a tree.
right?
Oh, nice to see “Choke” make an appearance.
Meanwhile...the home viewer perspective
December 6th, 2009
3:02 pm
Surprised you say it was a muted reaction. For a player from the visiting team to score, it seemed pretty big, at least for the home viewer.
SRF
December 6th, 2009
3:02 pm
sorry pass by Redman
preston
December 6th, 2009
3:02 pm
We all know that this was going to be tough game for the falcons to win considering the circumstances, so seeing Vick score was more of a happiness for him personally…….I hate to see the falcons lose like this, but cheering for Vick today was easy.
Falcon 8211
December 6th, 2009
3:02 pm
they do not deserve to win
ray
December 6th, 2009
3:02 pm
Someone please tell Vangorder you are allowed to rush more then 3 on third and long.