The Three Best Fits for Vick
60Michael Vick
The Michael Vick saga has been one of the major story lines that have commanded attention from NFL fans this offseason. Vick, recently freed after serving 18 months for running an illegal dog fighting ring, was given a conditional reinstatement by Commissioner Roger Goodell. The conditions state that Vick will not be able to play until week six, that is if he can find a team that is willing to sign him. He is able to practice and participate in the final two preseason games, but who will take the risk in signing him?
There are a lot of questions as to if Vick can still play the game at a high level. He hasn’t taken an NFL snap since the last week of the 2006 season, and chances are he didn’t in prison, unless Burt Reynolds started a team to play the guards. Also there is the character question about Vick. Has Michael Vick learned anything from his experience in prison, and how can he pay his debt back to society.
There are a lot of people who dislike Vick after what he did. However, there will be at least one team that takes a gamble and rolls the dice on this controversial QB.
Seattle: Jim Mora Jr. coached Vick during his tenure in Atlanta. He knows the quarterback, and knows what he is capable of, but will he take the chance, and why should he?
Well, for one, Matt Hasselbeck is getting older. Second, after last year’s poor showing out of the receiver position, wouldn’t Vick be a nice fit? They already have Nate Burleson and TJ Houshmandzadeh, but when it comes to skill players, the more the better. Vick could run the Wildcat formation, give Hasselbeck a breather from time to time, and the Seahawks could roll down the field week in and week out, but what about the Seattle community?
Seattle is really not known as a big sports town. The people there are more wrapped up in local politics than sports. Vick’s arrival in Seattle would almost certainly end up with major protests outside the practice facility, and Qwest field on game days. But, then again, won’t that happen in any of the NFL cities that he could possibly end up?
Oakland: Al Davis would be one of the guys I could easily see luring Vick in. Right now the Raiders have Jeff Garcia and number one overall pick Jamarcus Russell at QB. But who cares! Al Davis likes skill players that are fast. He proved that in the first round of this year’s draft with the selection of little known wide out Darrius whatever his middle name is Bay. I could easily see Vick going here and running the Wildcat, and ultimately starting at QB, because it is Al David’ team, not Tom Cables.
The Raiders fans are some of the scariest in football with their black face paint and shoulder pads with spikes. Out of all of the 32 NFL cities, I could see Vick be the most liked here. I cannot see a Raider fan caring about whether a guy killed innocent animals, just as long as he can run/catch/throw the ball.
New England: The Patriots are that team where anyone can go to and become a better player, and a better man. Randy Moss may be the poster child on this, and if the Patriots make a pass a t Vick, Moss could actually be a mentor. What? Exactly! The Patriots could use Vick as a wideout, slotback, and also have a reliable backup for Tom Brady. Seems like a good fit so far. Plus, the Pats already have veteran leadership in place and the head coach in Bill Belichick to keep Vick in line and help the young man mateur.
The question is, do the Patriots take a chance with him when they already have a good thing going in New England. Most people say no, but then there seems to be a low key murmur out there that Vick’s best fit is with the Patriots. We shall see.
There are already teams out there that have said no way to Vick. The Jets, Cowboys, and Giants have all made it clear they want nothing to do with him. There will be others than imitate the same sentiment.
Cleveland will never have Vick. How could you put a guy convicted of running a dog fighting ring in the Dawg pound? They would eat him, literally. Don’t look for the Bengals to have any interest in him. They already have a roster full of guys with long wrap sheets. Also don’t expect the Titans to take a stab at him. They already have an athletic black QB on the bench, so why would they need two?
What are your thoughts? Will Vick play this season in the NFL? What about the UFL? What teams are a good fit for him?
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Vick could end up anywhere, as long as there is someone who wants him
Another thing to work into the equation is that right now, Vick is a cheap date. They can pay him next to nothing, and sign him for one year, with a "What can you do for us?" attitude. A lot of teams have trouble with money, and could pick him up for next to nothng. Michael has paid his debt, but now, seems to have to pay it again with this 6 week suspension. There will be a team who takes a gamble, and they will be happy they did. No Vick jumping into the Dawg Pound?? Cleveland needs something to help them win games. Cleveland is pretty desperate. With the amount of offensive touchdowns they produce, just having someone jump up into the fans would make them happier.
Sean, I agree that the Browns need someone who can make plays and sell tickets. The problem is, Vick isn't the guy. The whole Dawg Pound/Vick thing would give everyone a chance to rip on both Vick and the Browns. In my opinion, you are better looking to Brady Quinn as your savior....
Don't forget to mention the Lions. Their hubris is to draft a top player, have him injured and not perform. Then find a has-been or a guy on the practice squad and have him start. That's a step the Lions are willing to take over and over reaching and reaching further and further back through whoever they can find that has even an inkling of football background. Given how much trouble they've had at quarterback, the Lions picking up Michael Vick is not out the question. They need a tough guy who can scramble and make tough plays from a marginal front line.
He should go to the rams, They are in a state of dilerium. Thinking of selling the team and tickets just arent doing anything. Maybe he can revive the greatest show on turf? Or maybe he should just die. either or.
Dont forget the Vikings, now that Brett Favre has decided to remain retired, I'm sure the Vikings staff will still be looking for a QB to join up with Tarvaris Jackson, Rosenfels, and Booty. I find it funny that no one wants anything to do with Vick. I understand what he did was wrong, but you cant forget that Vick was one of the most elite mobile QB's in his day. Few QB's today can match his speed and agility.
I cannot see the Vikings going after Vick, especially after the Favre merry-go-round. Look for them to stick with Rosenfels and Jackson. The only way they even look at him is if he plays in the UFL and the Vikings suck.
Vick was one of the most mobile QB's a few years ago. The guy hasn't played in 2 years! He's older - going to lose a bit of speed and agility, and of course the accuracy. Oh wait - his accuracy wasn't very accurate.
Ok, so he led Atlanta to the playoffs one year.
I'll take a quarterback that can is willing to sit in the pocket for more than a half a second to look for an open receiver rather than one that try's to do it all on his own.
Any quarterback that scrambles as much as Vick did is never going to be a great passer.
The UFL would be a good place for him. Seems so far all the NFL teams are saying, "I'm not gonna take him, YOU take him..." like the 80s Life cereal commercial (showing my age :( Anyway, if he goes there, he'd easily dominate the league, get back into condition while playing live games and winning, maybe even find some accuracy (lol Mark :) then after a year or so (if he's not too old by then), he'd have a huge payday in the NFL. But if not, I won't be too upset.
I agree that Vick to the Vicking is probably not going to happen but it should. The Vickings are into having players with high character so that is going to be the nail in the coffin for Vick but he would give them a legit threat since Farve decided to hang up the cleats until next year.
Can you imagin having the best running back in the NFL that every team has to gameplan for AND the best running QB the leauge has ever seen? Vick has a low completion percentage...somewhere in the 54% but I think he can improve if he really wanted to. Plus, it's not like the Vickings have a great receiving corps.
If I were the owner of the Vickings I would definately look into Vick; it's at least worth a shot.
Finally somebody who didn't say Detroit!
Hey there finally found someone talking football. In case you forgot who was supposed to keep an eye on Vick it's good old Tony Dungy and who is very good friends with Tony, Lovie Smith and where does he coach, the windy city. They might have made the trade of the century but they do not have a backup for Cutler. Chicago is known for being stingy and I think Vick would not care so much just so long as he has a team even if as a backup. Just saying but I might also be biased, am a bears fan
I think Chicago would be a fine fit. He could run some Wildcat, play a little receiver, and then when Jay Cutler decides he wants to cry and play elsewhere, they have Vick.
I think Chicago would be a fine fit. He could run some Wildcat, play a little receiver, and then when Jay Cutler decides he wants to cry and play elsewhere, they have Vick.
Personally if I was an NFL coach I would let him go to the UFL. If he can play a season there and show some promise while keeping his nose clean I would consider him in November if I found myself in need of a QB for some reason.
I think Vick would be a great fit in Seattle. With Housh at wideout and Vick behind center they would be tough to beat in nfc west.
Well I'm going to burst the proverbiale bubble. Mr. Vick represents all thats wrong with Pro-sports. He obviously has no consious and its all about Michael. Mr. Vick is a product of a mindset that thinks anything goes. He had a shot to be star and it didn't matter as long as he got over. We have a very destructive element in our sociaty that doesn't care about anything moral or decent. Yet we find it ok to monitor the lives of our employees and terminate them for any behavior issues. As long as we give atheletes a pass the people that model they're behavior are going to continue to be anti-social and destructive. Lets support atheletes for the right reasons and if they choose to not maintain some level of decency let them receive the same treatment a normal citizen would receive.Peace.
No matter where Vick ends up, there will be the protesters and media. Now comes the toughest part of his rehab...being accepted.
I cannot judge him since I do not know what he is thinking.
But as far as football...Jim Mora loved him as his QB in Atlanta. I could see him trying to get him to Seattle.
The UFL could be a good place to start if he is not signed. It would give Vick a chance to get himself ready for more football in the NFL later. He is a player who will want to Start, not just be a back-up.
Vick is a very confident and cocky guy; I don't see him playing in the UFL, even if he doesn't get signed right away in the NFL.
From his perspective it may not be such a good career move to play in the UFL anyways. If I was him my thoughts would be this: if I get signed in the NFL, I probably won't play much unless someone gets hurt or if they run the wildcat just so I can run the ball so I won't have much to screw up, and even if I do get a lot of playing time and I play bad well I can blame that on being out of football for a couple years.
But... if he signed in the UFL and has a horrible season, he will never have a NFL future again.
Neso
I'll tell you what, if all else fails, Vick could always play in Canada. Ask Herschel Walker, Doug Flutie, Warren Moon, and Raghib Ismail...The all had very successful careers there. Who knows, maybe he could go there, make a better name for himself and then come back to the NFL when everything cools down. The media tends to have a bad memory after all.
You're right, however. Chances are he'll play for the Patriots because that's the smartest move he can make. If Dungy tells him to go there, he'll do it. Hell, if Dungy tells him to become a kicker, he'll probably do that too.
Likelihood is that Vick gets nabbed by an NFL team and plays a couple of games down the stretch... depending on the team and their playoff situation.
I don't like the Pats for Vick, but that just may be enough for him to go there.
I, as a Bears fan would have taken a shot at him. Yes, what he did was horrendous. Did he serve his time, only those with elite moral fibre can argue this. I am not one of those people. He spent time in the Pen and is now working on becoming a productive member of society... which will be mirrored by his less than $650,000 salary. Yes, sports players get tons of breaks (IMHO) but hey... its how things work.
I could see him in Seattle, but, with Mora already vouching for Hasselback as his starter... think Vick would prove too big of a threat. Despite Hass's talent, it's his ego that has kept him back. Vick would just be another reminder that he is aging and the team needs something more than Seneca Wallace as back-up. I think it would play on Hass's mind and we'd see Vick starting in Seattle before season's end ... should he end up there.
Lions,Browns, and Vike's all have their own issues at QB but Vick will not end up either of these teams saviors.
I think Vick may be a shoe-in for the UFL now. No one has grabbed him up, and the main reason is that they are scared about all the protestors and hoopla around him. There is a rumor that the Packers may be interested in him, which does not surprise me since Wisconsin once tried to make hunting cats legal.
Vick will end up in Green Bay cause Ted Thompson is an idiot
I just love the idea that Vick will be cheap enough to be considered disposable. Means someone can finally just stick him in a "wildcat" role and turn him loose.
Coach: "Now Mike, we all know you can't throw for sh!t, so if there is anyone within 15 yards of that receiver, you just run your @ss off!"
Vick: "But coach, I'm an NFL Quarterback"
Coach: "Yeah, and you love dogs too."
I just don't think it's possible for Vick to end up in Green Bay. He just isn't the type of player the Packers organization likes. You have to remember that the Packers are unlike any team in the NFL, the citizens of Green Bay own the Packers.
No, I think it's safe to say that Michael Vick will not be playing in Green Bay.
Cowboys will go back on their word and take a chance. They feel naked without controversy.
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Todd 2 years ago
I could see Vick in J`ville , Tampa , Miami