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
Najeh Davenpoop
December 15th, 2010
8:31 pm
“admit it; you cringe every time he (loosely) tucks the ball and runs.”
Actually, that’s probably the most improved aspect of his game. He has become much, much better at protecting the ball when he carries it. All the other so-called “improvements” are in my opinion a little overblown — I think he had the instincts to be a good passer here, and was stifled by the coaching staff’s mind-numbing stupidity — but the criticism about how he held the ball was valid, and he has completely changed that aspect of his game.
D-Man
December 15th, 2010
8:32 pm
I do not understand why after all the countless blogs regarding this subject that brings about the UGLIEST responses the ajc continues to drag this story back up over and over. Do you enjoy all this bickering and ignorance spewed when the darkest moment in Falcon’s history is brought up? We had three ugly years of hearing and reading about all this and NOW when both parties have moved on, had success, and wounds have somewhat healed or at least subsided you rip the band-aid right back off. What more can be said (or typed) about this? Too bad, so sad that this paper and people in general will never be allowed to move on from this. This scar will be apart of Atlanta sports and brought back up whenever there is a slow day in sports news I guess if the ajc has their way.
What a shame…
D-Man
December 15th, 2010
8:33 pm
PLEASE STOP BRINGING THIS BACK UP!
scott
December 15th, 2010
8:37 pm
why is this even talked about now you got the falcons 11-2 playing some good football this city should be excited and going crazy about now and you bring this up??whats the point??i like vick but he is no longer an atlanta falcon ..and i,m crazy about my Atlanta falcons can we talk about this team presently on a 6 game winning streak and the possibilty of home field advantage throughout the playoffs..it doesnt get any better here in Atlanta the falcons are in a great position..better than in years..talk about that instead and lets get pumped up!!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 15th, 2010
8:41 pm
I also think this idea that “the Falcons are better off without Vick” is pretty hilarious, as if they wouldn’t be at least as successful with him right now. No, the Falcons are better off without the clown show known as Jim Mora, Greg Knapp, and Ed Donatell. It’s not just Vick that suffered under their pathetic excuse for coaching. People like to pretend like Roddy White blossomed because of Vick’s absence (conveniently forgetting that Michael Jenkins hasn’t blossomed in Vick’s absence). What about Jonathan Babineaux? Is he also playing better now because Vick isn’t here?
Yeah, the Falcons are doing great right now, because they methodically execute and don’t make mistakes, particularly when they are at home. Credit Mike Smith and his fantastic coaching staff. But the one thing the Falcons are missing on both sides of the ball, which is the main reason they continue to get dissed by the national media, is the threat of the big play. The general feeling I get from reading what national media has to say about the Falcons is that they will face some team in the playoffs at some point that will step up and execute as well as the Falcons AND make the big plays necessary to beat them. We’ll see if it actually happens or not. But do you really think Vick, the league’s ultimate big play threat, wouldn’t dominate with the Falcons’ O-line, that power running game, a version of Roddy White that has actually had his raw talent developed by a competent coaching staff, and the greatest tight end of all time? The man is #2 in the league in passer rating and has only lost one game he has started and finished this year. You can’t play at a much higher level than that.
Blame Falcons’ brass for not hiring people like Dimitroff and Mike Smith back in ‘04, when they purged the old regime and tried to start fresh. It’s not Vick’s fault he had no help from the people drawing up the game plan.
adelfersy
December 15th, 2010
8:44 pm
C’mon Bradley, I don’t have time for this crap. 11-2, there has to be some angle about this team that hasn’t been explored by the mainstream media. Do your job and don’t keep harking back to a couple of clowns who used to play here. I here enough about MV on espn etc. I come here to here about these extraordinary Falcons!
nash
December 15th, 2010
8:49 pm
no one ever talks about what if Matt Schab had stayed? Look at what he has done in Huston. I hate that the team lost that guy. What do you think would have happened if the team had kept him?
Atlanta Peach
December 15th, 2010
9:00 pm
I bet’cha you know who wished he could blog here on this site ! (wink)
Real American
December 15th, 2010
9:08 pm
LOL…Vick still the main draw huh?
nash
December 15th, 2010
9:17 pm
Ok tells play this game. What if Vick had not forced a Matt Schub trade and he stayed? Look at what he has done in Huston.
falconfan58
December 15th, 2010
9:24 pm
“The Falcons sit atop the NFC? Alert Mark Bradley.”
lamac66
December 15th, 2010
9:39 pm
Pathetic. This fishwrap NEEDS Vick. I can’t recall any other newspaper enthralled with a former player that goes on to another city. Amazing!
lamac66
December 15th, 2010
9:41 pm
Oh, by the way Vick would have done some of what he is doing in Philly here in ATL under Petrino. Overcoming those butterfingered WR’s at the time would have made it difficult though. Mike Vick lives on in this town..lol.
Jinx Master
December 15th, 2010
9:43 pm
Arthur Blank resume as an owner to date.
Arthur Blank dumb moves:
1) Firing Dan Reeves – it would have been 4th yr with Vick in his system
2) Hiring Jim Mora – a yes man & overrated DC
3) Giving Vick a huge contract – not listening to whispers of character issues
4) Hiring Bobby Petrino – another overrated OC with character issues
Arthur Blank smart moves
1) Lowering ticket prices – rejuvenating fan base
2) Bringing in a new GM & HC – someone with a blueprint for the org.
3) Signing Turner in off season – Even after getting burnt on the Vick contract
4) Drafting Matty Ryan – young QB that will grow with org.
There has been a – & + journey for Blank,but one thing is for certain every move made along the way nobody could have predicted the outcome. So this article makes no sense, maybe you should be writing about true possibility. The fact that if things continue at this rate that these teams the Falcons & Eagles have a real chance to meet up in the Dome for what may be the most watched & highest rated playoff game in NFL history!
Ed
December 15th, 2010
9:52 pm
Vick wants to own a dog. Stupid thug makes me sick. Hey MV, just as child molesters are forbidden to be around children, you are forbidden to be around dogs. If you want a pet, get a fish IDIOT.
Ed
December 15th, 2010
9:53 pm
Of course if you did get fish, I’m sure you would put some fish in the tank that would eat them all and laugh watching. right.
extremus
December 15th, 2010
10:04 pm
Mr. Bradley,
Just when the Falcons are enjoying the crest of what could be a very special, maybe even Superbowl championship season, you had to bring up the topic of the most polarizing figure in Atlanta pro sports history. What-ifs can be interesting diversions now and then, but considering the kind of outright hate and nastiness (generally along racial lines) thrown about on these boards weekly and the disruption caused by people who won’t acknowledge our present quarterback Matt Ryan (because of his skin color; let’s call a spade a spade here) and can’t let go of the past, this article was clearly not thought through sufficiently. I think it was poorly chosen even if your points have merit, simply because of what the Michael Vick mess has put this team and its fans through to this very day.
All you did with this article, Mr. Bradley, was to throw gasoline on a fire that was finally, hopefully, about to go out on its own as more folks realize that we have a pretty darn good team (and quarterback) right now. The Atlanta Falcons didn’t need this, and we fans (the TRUE fans) who regularly post on this board and support our Atlanta teams sure didn’t need it. The past is dead and it stinks; let’s leave it buried, please.
Jinx Master
December 15th, 2010
10:13 pm
Your real name must be Mr. Ed why would you even compare molested children (some of which were murdered after the act) to dogs or animals. Some molesters may even live in your neighborhood. Your the same person that are screaming about dogs, but doesn’t see anything when a child gets snatched MORON ! Poor choice of comparison.
bob
December 15th, 2010
10:23 pm
Ironically, it was Petrino that was the Dog killer in Athens this Fall.
yo mama
December 15th, 2010
10:39 pm
i am glad what happened in 07. as i look back on it, I had grown tired of the vick offense that couldnt figure how to win the tough games. heck, chris chandler won bigger games than vick. he became a waste of money. matty ice has come in here, and out performed vick the whole time. he is a winner, and is smarter than vick. vick is all performance, no brains. he has trouble throwing in the red zone, matty ice doesnt. give matty ice the recievers vick has right now, and we are hands down nfc reps in super bowl. its not vick in philly that is making the difference, its the coach, and the receivers. any qb could excel in this system. i am happy for vick, but i am happier with the present team, and its future. built to last.
bad dawg
December 15th, 2010
10:50 pm
Vick has reached new heights in his road back in the NFL,better wait till the end of the story to weigh the misfortune of the Falcon side of his story,cause it ain’t over yet.Don’t forget he’s still MV7,and once an MV7,always an MV7. Not really sure what happened at his birthday party.He’s a naturally bad decision maker so stay tuned!
bad dawg
December 15th, 2010
10:59 pm
Also I’m hungry,when is that supper bowl?iiiieeee…
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
December 15th, 2010
11:08 pm
WOW….another article from Bradley about Michael Vick….SURPRISED???? NOT!!!!!
Sid
December 15th, 2010
11:15 pm
yawn
Tidomonkey
December 15th, 2010
11:15 pm
Good riddance to both. I don’t care if the felon is playing well for Philly, he brought an embarrassment to this organization it may never get over.
Foolish
December 15th, 2010
11:45 pm
Vick wants a dog. That’s like giving a murderer a gun.
Eric
December 16th, 2010
12:16 am
I’ve been on you for not writing about the Falcons for two weeks and this is what you come up with? Wondering “what might have been” with Vick and Petrino when the current franchise is 11-2 and knocking on the door of Atlanta’s first number one seed in the NFC ever? What the hell is wrong with the AJC sports writers? Mike Smith is the best coach we have ever had and Matt Ryan is (or will be) the best QB. Why bring up this old crap?
As a footnote, I hope the Eagles do come down to Atlanta for the NFC Championship game. Then maybe we can finally put to rest the question of who is the better QB for the Falcons: Vick or Ryan….
JuneBaby
December 16th, 2010
12:32 am
For all u haters, regardless of what he did i would prefer him as a friend than any of u hypocritical scrubs. At least he has admitted to his transgressions, and that’s more than any of u haters have ever done. And at this time and place i would prefer him as the qb over Matt Ryan. I have nothing against Ryan, he does the best he can with the talent he was blessed with,but Vick is worlds better. Ryan doesn’t have one third the talent that Michael Vick has, nor the smarts, and if Vick was the qb this year the Falcons would be undefeated, and wouldn’t be struggling to put teams away. Again, i have nothing against Ryan and i hope he leads the Falcons to a superbowl victory this year, but i only wish Vick had been smarter with the choices he made. This is a reply to all these overly judgemental folks blogging their ignorance and hate over an incident that should be well in the past!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 16th, 2010
12:33 am
Mike Vick’s first endorsement deal since getting out of jail… like him or hate him, I have a hard time seeing how anyone can’t laugh at this.
NYfalcon
December 16th, 2010
1:08 am
I made this almost exact claim back then as an excited season ticket holder to see it never get a chance. My peers at work when I was in Atlanta all spoke ignorantly negative…and then came the dogs. The guy(Petrino) did make those college quarterbacks(bums) on the roster back then at least look like decent NFL backups. I guess we will never know…..
Michael Conner
December 16th, 2010
2:29 am
Bradley, why don’t you just go and propose to Mike Vick and get it over with? At least get a job in Philly or something. This is ATLANTA, you jackwagon and we are 12-2 with the team WE CURRENTLY HAVE! Figure it out!
Tissue?
Jen
December 16th, 2010
2:33 am
nsane Braves Fan
December 15th, 2010
2:32 pm
The NFL is adjusting from Vick the runner to Vick the passer. His rating will go down, but my question is why are we talking about two people who took a dump on the Falcons franchise?
A MEN!!!
I’m pretty dang happy with THIS Falcon ORG and team
Vick can’t stay healthy for an entire season….hmmmmm just like when he was with Atl.!!!, he’s not all that.
falconfan
December 16th, 2010
2:43 am
this story is ancient history. Must of been a slow news day
Nativebird
December 16th, 2010
6:58 am
and your mention of an Owner that coddled, kissed, and enabled the then “Gangster”-version Vick is where in this revisionist history? C’mon Man. Yes Mora was an incompetant midget-ego-case, but this constant attempt to shield THE one man that had the actual ability and authority to fix and thwart the franchise-killing disaster that was to become known as Michael Vick, is truly embarrasing.
CarrolltonTrojans!
December 16th, 2010
7:01 am
The Falcons are 11 – 2 with a great shot at being the #1 seed in the NFC. This is what you have to write about? Who cares about these ghosts of football past? How about some positive, forward thinking perspectives or is that beyond your limited thought and writing ability?
Mark
December 16th, 2010
7:27 am
Bradley you num nut…you do realize Vick is playing in the West Coast offense now….do some research.
Timbo
December 16th, 2010
7:42 am
What’s the point of this article? Vick is gone. Petrino is gone. The Falcons are now 11-2. YOu’re becoming like a gossip columnist just trying to inflame the fanbase. In the last 3 games, Vick has 4 picks and like 6 fumbles, and it’s always a legitimate question whether he will finish the season before getting knocked out. Has Vick ever played a full 16 game season? Petrino proved that he couldn’t handle the pressures of the NFL. I’m sorry Mark that 11-2 is not good enough for you to envison “what could of been” for the Falcons. You know real sportswriters in Philly, NY, Chicago, Boston/New England are writing about the current state of their franchise, not stories of how New England would have been if they had held onto Drew Bledsoe and the like. You’re becoming such a hack it’s pathetic. NO wonder the major sports cities laugh at what kind of sports town Atlanta is. This drivel you have given us today does nothing to help that perspective. Here’s and idea Mark how about an article about Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Michael Turner, and a young defense that will get better and better as the years progress’ on its way to a playoff run and possibly home field advantage….And yet we get Vick and Petrino? Really?
Timbo
December 16th, 2010
7:46 am
Mark, you have contributed to the decline of the AJC. You know the people/target market that actually drove the newspaper and advertisment sales over the years are quickly going away never to come back. Your projected target marked rarely reads anything and certainly won’t purchase a newspaper. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. What a hack..
JSS
December 16th, 2010
8:23 am
Well I truly hope this has been cathartic for all of those so raptured by hoping that Michael Vick would never evolve as a quarterback or as a human being. I avoided this blog on purpose to see how it would play out. As usual, it has descended into a hot mess. The Falcons get no respect crybabies are at full throat. The Mike Vick is a _ _ _ _ subculture have brought their same empty plate to the table again. Just goes to prove that a fool rarely goes hungry.
The only good thing about this has been that the “Sociologist” has not weighed in his usual “Willie Martinez, I lost my mind in Fallujah” rants, Hallelujah!
In terms of Petrino, you made a deal with the devil… To paraphrase Shaquille O’Neal: “How does his _ _ _ taste?” Nothing good can ever come of a man with social standards of Thom Watson or the character traits of Sonny Perdue.
How bout them . . . . . . . . . . 11-2 Falcons
December 16th, 2010
9:25 am
The way to the Super Bowl goes through the Georgia Dome,
if we beat the Saints.
Penelope
December 16th, 2010
9:26 am
The bigger point made here is the 3 years wasted on that dolt JIM MORA and his band of idots led by GREG KNAPP. They both proved since leaving ATL that their nonsense doesn’t work anywhere. Knapp got fired from Oakland and Seattle and Mora was literally handed the reigns to the Seattle franchise and got axed in one year. No telling how Vick could have developed if that jocksniffer (MORA) and his clueless buddy (KNAPP) were never hired.
How bout them . . . . . . . . . . 11-2 Falcons
December 16th, 2010
9:39 am
Mike Vick unfortunately, never led the Falcons
to three straight winning seasons like Matt Ryan.
Eagles more than Vick
December 16th, 2010
9:53 am
Falcons at 11-2. Eagle beat Falcons with no Vick which shows us the Eagles are good because of their speed all over the field, namely DeSean Jackson. Vick throws it as far as he can and Jackson runs under it. How many times have we seen that play?
Vick is playing well, but the Eagles are more than Vick.
Blank learned
December 16th, 2010
9:56 am
Bad Move : Firing Dan Reeves which took away the discipline from Vick.
Good Move : Hiring Thomas Demitrof. No one is perfect but lots of good free agent signings and draft picks.
FrontRow
December 16th, 2010
9:56 am
Penelope – BS on you. If Mora and Knapp were never hired; MV would have STILL been smokin’ weed and fighting dogs.
Everybody gets fired at Oakland. Seattle is a mess and they are stuck with a RAH RAH college coach.
Arthur Blank layed his investment in the roach-stained fingers of Mike Vick. I could care less one way or another about Mora but to blame his crew for a QB that was stealing Arthur’s money is equivalent to blaming a turkey for you post-Thanksgiving belly ache.
Thank your lucky stars TD had the sense to pick an ego-less “face of the franchise”.
Brian Hunt
December 16th, 2010
9:56 am
Running out of ideas Mr. Bradley? Did this really need to be rehashed? You are aware that the Eagles run the west coast offense right?
FrontRow
December 16th, 2010
9:57 am
DeSean Jackson is a smurf that lays down to avoid the big hit. I would love to see that smurf running across the Falcon’s secondary again.
Lets Hope
December 16th, 2010
9:57 am
How bout them . . . . . . . . . . 11-2 Falcons
December 16th, 2010
9:25 am
The way to the Super Bowl goes through the Georgia Dome,
if we beat the Saints.
Actually just beat Seahawks and Panthers. Then against the Saints play the starters for the first qtr and sit them.
PMC
December 16th, 2010
9:58 am
Totally Agree Najeh. The Falcons had to move on and try to win games during the 2 years Vick was in prison. They couldn’t afford to wait those 2 years and see what he had. It worked out well for both entities.
The real crime was that awful Jimmy Mora got to coach this team at all and his answer for offense was a guy who needed a Jeff Garcia type more than Mike Vick. Gregg Knapp is a guy who would drive a Ferrari around in 2nd gear all the time.
He’ll say… oh we got to the NFC championship game…..and got worse every single season.
Jim Mora set the team back actually more than Mike Vick ever did.
PMC
December 16th, 2010
9:59 am
I just don’t think Mike ever reaches his potential if he never goes to prison.
I mean, the difference between press conferences here, and press conferences there is night and day. Mike matured a lot during that process.