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.
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1,246 comments Add your comment
Giuseppe
December 6th, 2009
3:09 pm
Tron5000, although that sounds harsh, I completely agree.
Mark Bradley
December 6th, 2009
3:09 pm
Will Witherspoon almost with an interception. Believe he played at a college close to here.
Mr Charlie
December 6th, 2009
3:09 pm
JSS, regardless, Montana had a noodle arm.
J.J.M.
December 6th, 2009
3:09 pm
has any other WRs made a catch other then white?
DHunt
December 6th, 2009
3:09 pm
I am so tired of that lame wide receiver screen
Bob
December 6th, 2009
3:09 pm
If I were Arthur Blank I would move this franchise to another city. Our fans are an embarrassment. Cheering for an opponent’s touchdown in a game that will probably knock us out of the playoffs. Worse than contemptable. Pathetic.
This state has great Georgia, Tech, Auburn, Clemson and other fans who would never even think about cheering for the enemy. Our professional fans are simply a sorry lot. Then again, we see that every year with turnout for Braves playoff games don’t we? Pathetic.
Mark Bradley
December 6th, 2009
3:09 pm
There’s the interception. Touchdown.
JSS
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
Pick 6!!!
Mr Charlie
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
Good 4th down play.
The Dogfighter Returns
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
The reason they have the worst fans? Because the hood and thug crowd only cares about their “brotha” who the white man brought down. That is why we have a mayor no one knows named Kashim. Our fans are made up of doo rags and semi automatics.
—
you don’t even know the mayor’s name dude. I detect just a slight bit of bitterness. Dude drink some more.
81Dawg
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
See ya.
SRF
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
Yep – Redman is DEFINITELY better than Ryan
J williams
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
WOW!
Big Ray
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
Knew it was going to happen eventually. Redman sucks.
DHunt
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
There you go Bradley.
GA Girl
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
Sweet! Another T-down!
J.J.M.
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
thats what happens when you stare down a player
JTH
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
Say goodnight Gracie
Jimmy
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
Bradley…you are banned.
La Jolla Dawg
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
Wow, Mark, you are psychic!
MATTY SMALL NUTTS
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
GOOOOOO VICK AND THE EAGLES WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
preston
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
WOW…….there you go Mark…………..right again with the INT…….Wow I’m speechless.
80sFalcon
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
Hey, well at least we get a new set of downs.
Manny
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
Pick 6. That’s bad coaching, there. I knew where we were going. Plus Chris Redman looked at him too much
Jamie
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
Manny, he is just speaking the truth!
dawgfan13
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
What A Joke!
FalconFan
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
The team is much more than a person. DO you really think that the Philly fans if Vick had been an Eagle and screwed over the fans and team and city like Vick did, then came back to Philly as a Falcon they would have cheered him scoring? No, they would have been throwing things at him. It is surely a minority of the crowd cheering him today, unfortunately that is all the camera’s are showing. It’s embarrassing.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 6th, 2009
3:10 pm
Falcons SUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
HA HA HA
Mark called that one
December 6th, 2009
3:11 pm
yep
GA Girl
December 6th, 2009
3:11 pm
Karma is alive and well!
Sonny Clusters
December 6th, 2009
3:11 pm
Mark, is Mr Blank making his way down to the sidelines yet?
Meanwhile...now we know
December 6th, 2009
3:11 pm
I guess now we know why they ran it on 4th down with Snelling earlier in the game…
43 and counting...
December 6th, 2009
3:11 pm
Good call on the INT Bradley —
They should be wearing the throwbacks today because they’re playing like the ‘66 club.
Falcon 8211
December 6th, 2009
3:11 pm
how nice of philly to not embrass our defense @ least we can put the offense back out on the field because they need alot of practice
SRF
December 6th, 2009
3:11 pm
NEVER had back to back winning seasons – NEVER will
J.J.M.
December 6th, 2009
3:11 pm
lol@the fans leaving
LantaFalcons
December 6th, 2009
3:11 pm
It took a last second touchdown for this team headed by “Garbage”man to beat Tampa, this should hardly be a surprise result to anyone.
DHunt
December 6th, 2009
3:11 pm
Can’t even blame Redmond for that. Everybody knows the Falcons only run a couple of routes. Every defense we play is sitting on that short route because we don’t have a QB that can legitimately stretch the field.
J williams
December 6th, 2009
3:11 pm
Mark, Why don’t you use those special powers that you have to bring some good to the Falcons’ cause.
Atlanta Fans
December 6th, 2009
3:12 pm
Win three SuperBowls in a row for us and then maybe we’ll think about actually backing our team. Even Cleveland’s fans are better than us and that team has stunk for decades.
Steven
December 6th, 2009
3:12 pm
Bob- I’ve thought the same thing. This city doesn’t deserve this franchise. Falcons fans cheering for an opponent touchdown…………………………………?
O'Brien
December 6th, 2009
3:12 pm
Mark,
According to the announcers, Redman is looking straight at the receiver to who he will throw the ball. Thats why Brown had such a good read.
Go Vick!
December 6th, 2009
3:12 pm
Go Vick! I’m a eagles fan today!!!!
SRF
December 6th, 2009
3:12 pm
Play Wilson – how bad could he be ?
TB
December 6th, 2009
3:12 pm
wow he sucks
sam the sham
December 6th, 2009
3:12 pm
same old falcons
81Dawg
December 6th, 2009
3:12 pm
Really an embarrassing effort today. Injuries or not, this team mailed it in today. Coaching staff and players have not excuse. They all need to forgo their paycheck because nobody earned anything today.
ray
December 6th, 2009
3:12 pm
Is it to late to become a NO Saints fan?
JSS
December 6th, 2009
3:12 pm
Joe Montana won a Super Bowl with Bill Ring as his leading running back! Enough said! Big Throw Joe!!!
J.J.M.
December 6th, 2009
3:12 pm
i mean honestly who thought the falcons were going to win with all the injuries and the horrible D?