The Falcons’ partnership that never was: Vick and Petrino
Not exactly what he had in mind: Petrino eyes Joey Harrington. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
It’s a great Atlanta sports imponderable, occupying the same shelf as, “What if the Braves had signed Barry Bonds in 1992?” and “What if the Hawks had drafted a point guard instead of a guy named Marvin?” This one is especially excruciating because the principals were actually in place. But reality, as we know, interceded.
In January 2007 the Falcons hired Bobby Petrino as coach. Chief among Petrino’s reasons for leaving Louisville, which he had just directed to an Orange Bowl victory, was his desire to coach a player who, after six NFL seasons, was still the essence of talent untapped. In a conversation his first week in Flowery Branch, Petrino recalled how he and Dom Capers would sit together on team flights when both were Jacksonville assistants and say, “What would you do with Michael Vick?”
And now Petrino would have his chance. Or so he thought.
The first time the new coach met his quarterback-to-be, the issue wasn’t how Vick might fit into Petrino’s system but the strange doings involving the trick water bottle at the Miami airport. When nothing came of that investigation, the two began the process of bonding.
Petrino got the job because he was everything Jim Mora hadn’t been. The previous coach, a defensive man by trade, had hired his pal Greg Knapp to implement the West Coast Offense, the basis of which is short passes delivered quickly. Essentially Mora/Knapp wanted the NFL’s most dangerous man with the ball in his hands to get rid of the ball, which never made a lick of sense then and makes less now.
In 2002, his first season as a pro starter, Vick under Dan Reeves had thrown for 2,936 yards and had a passer rating of 81.6. In three seasons under Mora/Knapp he never threw for even 2,500 yards and didn’t achieve a rating higher than 78.1. At a time when Vick should have become a full-blown quarterback, his lack of coaching reduced him to being a glorified tailback.
Vick has since admitted he didn’t work as hard at his craft as he should have, but part of that might be traced to the realization that he was, at least as a passer, being misused. He had an uncommonly precise game at Miami in 2005 when the he’s-not-really-a-quarterback chorus was in full cry, and afterward he vented to me: “People forget I threw for nearly 3,000 yards in ‘02.”
Petrino should have been the man to make Vick a quarterback. Say what you will about this coach — yes, he’s a shameless job-hopper — but he’s among the best offensive minds in the business. (Note that Arkansas, in Year 3 under Bobby P., just finished second in the cutthroat SEC West and will grace the Sugar Bowl.)
With Petrino as his tutor, Vick was rededicating himself to football. He viewed this as his chance to shut everybody up, and Petrino, who’s famously difficult to please, liked what he saw. He told one associate: “We’re going to average 30 points a game.” (Note: Only one NFL team — New England — is averaging 30 points a game.)
Then it all turned to dust. Vick was indicted on the eve of training camp, which began with the quarterback in court in Richmond, Va., and a plane flying above the Falcons’ practice field bearing a streamer: “New Team Name — Dog Killers.” On Dec. 10, 2007, Vick would be sentenced to 23 months in a jail; hours later the Falcons would lose to New Orleans to fall to 3-10. The next night Petrino was gone to Fayetteville, Ark., where he could be seen calling the Hogs on live TV.
So: It didn’t happen here. But it’s happening in Philadelphia. If we wonder what Vick might have been under Petrino, we need only look at what he has become under Andy Reid. His quarterback rating is 104.3, trailing only Tom Brady. He averages 8.55 yards per pass, second to Philip Rivers. His completion percentage, never higher than 56.4 as a Falcon, is 63.6.
Yeah, he’s a Real Quarterback. The sad part is that he shouldn’t have had to go to Philly to become one. He finally had the right coach here. The right coach, alas, at the wrong time.
Oh, and one thing more: The 2010 Eagles are averaging 28.8 points. Almost the 30 Bobby Petrino had, back in 2007, forecast for a team led by Michael Vick.
By Mark Bradley
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
235 comments Add your comment
Holiday Styles
December 15th, 2010
4:56 pm
Not many people remember that training camp that year but I do. All of the reports coming out of Flowery Branch was that Vick looked unstoppable in Petrino’s Offense. I was at 2 Practices that year and I can honestly say that it looked like Vick was running skeleton drills out there ( thats with an 11 man defense on the other side).
Even Michael Smith who was reporting from Falcon training camp that year was a believer, and kept reiterating that the teams around the League better hope something comes of this Dog Fighting, cause with what he had seen with his own 2 eyes… Vick was going to light the league up.
I also remember the comments from the WR’s… they were estatic and stated that they were going to do serious numbers.
I always said that Vick would be a MONSTER in a Mike Martz type offense… and Petrino runs a VERY Similar style.
But now all is well… we have Matt Ryan who is a winner… do I miss Vick… HELL YEA… but it worked out for both parties.
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 15th, 2010
4:56 pm
Joe Tess Fish House I am bad but try “Falcons turned their backs on Vick.”
If I lie to your face, do drugs, kill your dog, spread sexually transimtted deases, and didn’t work at the job you gave me, then what would you expect me to do? Keep kissing your butt while you sit in jail? Let you just take over the QB job when you get back? Not get a new QB while you were in jail? Not move on to a new QB not knowing what the NFL was going to do?
Joe you need to get real. VICK did this to himself just like Farve did it to himself while he was in Atlanta. If Vick is lucky and learned about himself while in Atlanta, then maybe Vick can be just like Farve. I doubt it, but it could happen.
Atlanta didn’t do anything to VICK that Vick didn’t cause himself.
Chris Redmond
December 15th, 2010
4:58 pm
Petrino saved my career
Wreck Garz
December 15th, 2010
4:59 pm
If Mike Vick wants to have him a dog again I hope he buy UGA.
See how you haters like it when Mike to your precious sorry bull dog what you all try to do to him when you put him in prison. FOR NO REASON !
Enemas for Christmas
December 15th, 2010
4:59 pm
Insane.
Selective Memory Much?
December 15th, 2010
5:02 pm
Petrino’s a douche bag because he quit the Falcons with three games left, so what is Blank for firing Reeves with three games left? Hypocrits…
Escaped from Email Purgatory
December 15th, 2010
5:06 pm
Dear Wreck Garz.
Huh!!?
Actually, yours is a pretty coherent post for a guy who just chased half a dozen percodans with a fifth of Grey Goose.
Maybe what you wrote is in some kind of code that only you and your parakeet understand.
KimZ'spackage
December 15th, 2010
5:08 pm
Selective Memory have you had many good jobs? Anybody can be fired for a bad job any day of the week. Most people that quit a job give 2 weeks notice. If the company or boss choses not to have you come back then so be it. It is not a Hypocrit. Reeves knew what was coming and understood the job. Blank and the team had no idea it was coming and Petrino said nothing to Blank just days before.
"Da Real" Damon Evans
December 15th, 2010
5:10 pm
Mike Vick will always be better than Matt Ryan and there is nothing anyone can do to change this.
Unless mike vick killed your dog, he had every right to do what he wanted to do with his property. The stinkin’ mutts were his property just like furniture. This country was founded on property rights, some of you must have been sleeping during history class.
How he treated his dogs in the eyes of the state of virginia was no worse than a parking ticket.
Mike Vick served time for gambling, none of you clowns are offended by gambling. After all the Hope scholarship is funded by gambling.
Mike Vick is back, he leads in pro bowl votes. Matt Ryan will once again not make the Pro Bowl. Mike Vick is an ATM machine.
That left arm is a thing of beauty that only a higher power could have created.
Greg Mendel
December 15th, 2010
5:11 pm
Mike Vick wants a dog? A dog probably wants Vick less than Jodie Foster wants a date with John Hinckley, Jr.
Enough
December 15th, 2010
5:16 pm
I know you need page hits, but pleeeease give the Vick story a rest. He hasn’t taking a snap for the Falcons in 4 years.
Ijery Prune
December 15th, 2010
5:19 pm
@ Joe Tess Fishhouse
What exactly is the PRO BOWEL
Ijery Prune
December 15th, 2010
5:23 pm
Is it anything like the SupperBowel,,,,
kudzu
December 15th, 2010
5:36 pm
Yeah, Vick is gone, Petrino is gone, and a lot of dogs are dead. What is the point here?
still@the bar
December 15th, 2010
5:40 pm
If Vick wants a dog I think we should make him adopt Snookie from the Jersey Shore. She is a DOG for sure and just what Mike would deserve.
St. Clarkston
December 15th, 2010
5:47 pm
My biggest Falcons regret is that they passed on Hines Ward in the draft. Think about 12 years of those sure hands and the best blocking from a wide receiver ever.
The biggest difference in the Falcons story is when the Smiths finally sold the team to Arthur Blank. Thanks mr. Blank for giving us a franchise to be proud of.
Falcon Josh
December 15th, 2010
5:58 pm
This article is a bunch of crap.
Reality Check
December 15th, 2010
6:04 pm
Top 10 in NFL Pro Bowl fan voting (as of Dec. 15):
1. Michael Vick, Eagles: 981,687
2. Tom Brady, Patriots: 947,194
3. Peyton Manning, Colts: 806,025
4. Adrian Peterson, Vikings: 736,603
5. Aaron Rodgers, Packers: 690,619
6. Drew Brees, Saints: 662,953
7. Philip Rivers, Chargers: 633,269
8. Arian Foster, Texans: 519,154
9. Matt Ryan, Falcons: 484,949
10. David Garrard, Jaguars: 479,018
Fear Monger
December 15th, 2010
6:09 pm
“The Eagles are coming, the Eagles are coming”
Larry
December 15th, 2010
6:15 pm
Why the surprise that Vick is leading in pro bowl votes? Look at who votes for him…those who have no jobs and have ample time to vote as many times as they can!
This isn’t rocket science!
Eagles vs Falcons - Destiny can't be denied!
December 15th, 2010
6:16 pm
No matter who the Falcons play in the playoffs, they can’t avoid a final showdown between Vick and his replacement.
The Eagles with all that fire power…….
1st in NFL in total offense
1st in NFL with 16 offensive plays of 40 yards or more.
1st in NFL with 7 offensive plays of 60 yards or more.
1st in NFL with 3 offensive plays of 80 yards or more.
There is talk already that a championship game in the dome with the Eagles vs Falcons will be the highest rated game in NFL history.
Just imagine all of those number 7 jerseys, some Falcons and the rest Eagles.
It’s going to be interesting to see how Matt Ryan handles all that pressure and then he has to face the game time pressure.
Reality Check
December 15th, 2010
6:18 pm
@Larry
Kind of hard to make that argument when you are on the blog during normal working hours – don’t you think?
Reality Check
December 15th, 2010
6:20 pm
@Larry
Is it possible that those same so-called unemployed voters, also voted for Matt Ryan? Just only half the times as for Vick, since there is about 400,000 vote differential.
supa
December 15th, 2010
6:20 pm
No one outside of Arkansas has any respect for or trust in Bobby Petrino. He is a pathetic man. Karma will catch up to him, if it hasn’t already.
what!!??!!
December 15th, 2010
6:21 pm
Lazy Story Mark. Just sooooo lazy. Your better than this.
al
December 15th, 2010
6:22 pm
Some of you are wishing that Vick will get hurt. A word of caution,same thing could hapen to Ryan.
Reality Check
December 15th, 2010
6:22 pm
@Larry
Correction: 500,000 – my bad.
Bleed Green
December 15th, 2010
6:24 pm
al
December 15th, 2010
6:22 pm
Some of you are wishing that Vick will get hurt. A word of caution,same thing could hapen to Ryan
Actually the Eagles stand a better chance of winning if Ryan stays in the game.
SUPERBOWEL
December 15th, 2010
6:28 pm
So Mike Vick wants a dog,,, thats funny as he//
ATLfan94
December 15th, 2010
6:28 pm
Why would write about what could have been with Petrino and Vick? Especially when the Falcons are 10-2 and on the road to the Super Bowl, I could understand if the Falcons were 2-10 right now. C’mon MAN!!!!! Plus I would take Smith and Ryan rather than Petrino and Vick.
DHD
December 15th, 2010
6:29 pm
Maybe the AJC writes more articles about Vick than does ESPN talk about Favre and the Yankees.
It is truly amazing. Man crush city.
SUPERBOWEL
December 15th, 2010
6:32 pm
I’m not wishing Vick will get hurt but I am predicting it,, its just a matter of time.
Larry
December 15th, 2010
6:38 pm
What does Mike Vick, Jamarcus Russell, Vince Young and Cam Newton all have in common? Double digit IQ’s that can throw a long tight spiral!
Sorry, brothers, but the guys quarterbacking Super Bowl Champions year after year like Brees, Manning and Brady have triple digit IQ’s and are not obsessed with tattoos, ear piercings, braids and longing to mate with any female species walking along the sidewalk!
KakNiqueTree
December 15th, 2010
6:39 pm
As for drafting Marvin Williams instead of Deron Williams or Chris Paul…since ‘it’s the Hawks” what would have happened was that they would have drafted one of those guys and passed over Marvin and Marvin would have become the superstar, the Olympian, and the All-Star & fools would have wanted to know why they didn’t draft Marvin.
al
December 15th, 2010
6:40 pm
Superbowel, your prediction could come true,but i am predicting Ryan’s next injury will be worse than the turf toe he suffered last year.
Matty Ice
December 15th, 2010
6:51 pm
I do not wonder what could have happened. Mike Vick is gone. ATL is better off now. Glad Mike Vick is doing good, but for the falcons to move on, Mike Vick had to leave. Our offense is better than Mike Vick and the wounded Eagles. Home Field Advantage may be our undoing if Mike Vick comes to ATL in the playoffs. He is really fast on turf! I still take Matty Ice at home with the game on the line though. We cannot look back. We can only look to the future of our organization, and Falcons fans it sure looks bright. We have an opportunity to have a successful team for years, and I personally could care less about what might have been. Its been rough to be a Falcons fan for most years, and I want to enjoy our success.
Clifton
December 15th, 2010
6:55 pm
Who cares?
Child Support
December 15th, 2010
6:59 pm
@Larry
Didn’t Brady leave his pregnant girl friend?
sidslid
December 15th, 2010
7:03 pm
Ya know. We now have the right QB in the right situation. Things turn out. Always had faith that Arthur Blank would put this organization together. He built a real company as opposed to the Mark Cuban/Daniel Snyder make a quick billion mold. That is the difference. I think pushing McKay aside was the key decision of his tenor. I’ll bet he had to replace a store manager or two in his early HD days
FrontRow
December 15th, 2010
7:08 pm
Eagles fans….admit it; you cringe every time he (loosely) tucks the ball and runs.
From experience let me tell you he will:
1. Get the ball knocked out
2. Get his clock knocked out
Yeah the arm’s great but how many drops has it gotten you this year?
A great player but a turnover / injury waiting to happen. Enjoy the good times because the bad play WILL happen and you are going to love him as much as you loved him when he was here.
And you all know the NICE things you said about him when he was a Falcon.
crafty
December 15th, 2010
7:30 pm
Assuming Petrino could coach Vick better than or even as good as Reid is astoundingly naive.
This Gets OLD!
December 15th, 2010
7:36 pm
And……of we goooo. Thanks Mark, guess you guys can’t go two months without a piece about a guy who doesn’t play here anymore.
Falconmike
December 15th, 2010
7:39 pm
-It pissed me off what Mike Vick did to my team.
-It offended me to no-end to hear MV7 admit that he didn’t work hard here w/ Falcons.
-MV7 would NEVER be with the Falcons what he is now with the Eagles.
-who cares about Pitrino and his poor character.
I just thank god everything since then has gone the way it has. And coach Smith and Matt Ryan continue with the direction and success we are seeing now.
GO FALCONS!
This Gets OLD!
December 15th, 2010
7:51 pm
Off we go. I can’t go two days without making a mistake around here
vickwho
December 15th, 2010
7:51 pm
Wasted space. Point in writing this column is ????
Matt the Brave
December 15th, 2010
7:53 pm
Mark, I know you’re being nostalgic, but can we focus on the task at hand? The 2010 Falcons are 10-2 with a chance to match the 1998 Super Bowl team. Why can’t we focus on that team rather than the fiasco that was?
Also, please don’t bring up your quote about the 1996 Atlanta Braves being crowned the new kings of baseball after we won the first two games of the Series. That would be painful as well.
Amaysn'
December 15th, 2010
8:02 pm
Suppose Mr. Blank had hired a competent GM and never fired Dan Reeves.
Pat
December 15th, 2010
8:13 pm
::::::::::::::::::::::::::;;;;YAWN::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Joe Mama Angie Daddy
December 15th, 2010
8:15 pm
I agree with vickwho, WHO CARES!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 15th, 2010
8:29 pm
Knowing what we know now about Petrino’s personality, I doubt he would have been a great long-term fit for the Falcons, or any pro team. To me it’s pretty obvious that he came to the Falcons for the sole reason of coaching up Vick and thereby boosting his own resume as an offensive genius, and his single-minded focus on one player probably would not have gone over too well in the locker room.
With that being said, I think he would have worked wonders for Vick’s career. Then again, I think Mike Smith and Mike Mularkey would have worked wonders for Vick’s career as well, as would pretty much any coaching staff with a basic level of intelligence that Mora and Knapp completely lacked.