Michael Vick Returns to the NFL, Maybe

by Brandon on Jul 28, 2009 8:00 AM CDT in Green Bay Packers News

I never expected any NFL team would ever again sign QB Michael Vick. I certainly don't think the Packers would even consider it. ESPN's John Clayton says "Vick is getting some calls."

He's never been a good QB. A 53.8 career completion percentage shows he doesn't have the accuracy. He always got more credit than he deserved. For example I mentioned last week all the credit he received when Atlanta defeated the Packers in Lambeau during the 2003 playoffs, but really the credit goes to his teammates on defense (for forcing 5 turnovers) and on special teams (for returning a blocked punt for a TD). Maybe his potential new team would consider him at another position, such as wide receiver, but there aren't any recent success stories I can think of when a college or NFL QB is moved to a new position.

Here's what the commish said:

"I accept that you are sincere when you say that you want to, and will, turn your life around, and that you intend to be a positive role model for others," Goodell said in his letter to Vick informing him of the reinstatement. "I am prepared to offer you that opportunity. Whether you succeed is entirely in your hands."

His crimes were awful, but he's done his time and been punished. However, another big problem remaining for whatever team might take a chance on him, besides the fact that he isn't that good, is that he lied about his involvement in the dogfighting ring. He lied to NFL commish Roger Goodell about it. He lied to Falcons' owner Arthur Blank about it. When can you start believing that he's telling the truth to you this time?

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He was a lousy QB, but as bad as he was, he was better than Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn. If Tarvaris Jackson can play in the NFL, by gum, so can Michael Vick. It might make football sense — if not business sense — for someone to sign him. I’m almost looking forward to the pre-fab Controversy! that will ensue. In fact, i’m already enjoying the hypocrisy from the Ray Lewis-lovin’ commish.

Can we really expect people to incriminate themselves? I can’t really fault him for trying to protect himself.

by uglyfatpimplynerd on Jul 28, 2009 10:19 AM CDT reply actions

I can

He could have and should have come clean.
Instead, he LIED!!!

The glass is more than half-full.

by NorthStarr on Jul 29, 2009 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions

And then what? The NFL would have had to ban/punish him perhaps more than the law did, the reason being that if word got out that they knew but hadn’t done anything, they would have had a PR disaster on their hands. People take puppies more seriously than people. Vick had nothing to gain from “coming clean” in the commissioner’s office. And it’s not clear to me that it would have been to the Falcon’s or the NFL’s advantage for him to do so, either. It’s even conceivable that they knew before asking Vick but did not admit it.

And while we’re at it, please turn yourself in for speeding, rolling through stop signs, and all those other naughty things you’ve done. It’s time to come clean with your insurance company and the law.

by uglyfatpimplynerd on Jul 29, 2009 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Try as you might, you can’t justify his action – none of them.
Or, at least, maybe you can with your moral values; I can’t with mine.

The glass is more than half-full.

by NorthStarr on Jul 29, 2009 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions

BTW

What would have been to the Falcon’s or the NFL’s (or even Vick’s) advantage has absolutely nothing to do with what would have been the right thing to do.

The glass is more than half-full.

by NorthStarr on Jul 29, 2009 11:52 PM CDT up reply actions

However...

Aren’t we talking about whether someone should be able to continue their career, not whether someone should experience the punishment of law? He seems to have paid the price for withholding information as all of his partners in the dog fighting ring took the opportunity of Vick’s denials to escape most punishment for themselves by ratting him out to the authorities.

As to whether he should be allowed to earn a living now that the justice system is done with him, his lying seems somewhat tangential. Having said all of that, though… his past indiscretions probably will matter to Green Bay more than they would for many other teams, since the smaller town feel makes player ethics a greater focus. I think back to the James Lofton situation and the Mossey Cade trial as two illustrations that the Packers might be less able to ignore character than other teams can…

by NYCPac on Jul 30, 2009 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions

This isn’t about the crimes — they were already committed — it’s about turning yourself in. The authors of the American constitution didn’t want to force people into ratting on themselves, which is why the 5th amendment is there. Anyway, at this point, as NYCPac says, it’s the classic BFD.

by uglyfatpimplynerd on Jul 30, 2009 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Actually

I was replying only to uglyfatpimplynerd’s following statements.

Can we really expect people to incriminate themselves? I can’t really fault him for trying to protect himself.

Sorry if that wasn’t evident.

The glass is more than half-full.

by NorthStarr on Jul 31, 2009 1:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Vick is a legit WR prospect. We know he can run, but can he catch? A more Vick-appropriate question is can he take a hit?

Others have done it. Anquan Boldin converted from QB to WR after high school, and played QB a littlt while at FSU, but I wouldn’t count him.

Here is a list of college quarterbacks who turned receiver -

Cowboys: Patrick Crayton and Isaiah Stanback
Rams: Ronald Curry
retired: Drew Bennett
FA: Matt Jones
Steelers: Hines Ward
Redskins: Antwaan Randle El
49ers: Arnaz Battle
Jets: Brad Smith
Browns: Joshua Cribbs
Cardinals: Early Doucet

by Squatbulk on Jul 28, 2009 12:10 PM CDT reply actions

There is a difference...

between changing positions while in college, where the position coaching is more remedial, and in the NFL, where the position coaches are expected to get players who SHOULD already know the basics of their positions to add professional nuances. Simply put, college coaches are teaching basics to everyone from the beginning, so accommodating a position changer is not so much of a disruption.

Although I am not an expert on the story behind each name that you have given above, how many of those came OUT of college as full-time QBs, having not played another position like WR in college, then learned the WR position from scratch in the NFL? I think that the closest anyone came to success at such a learning curve might have been Kordell Stewart, but that was hardly a complete success story.

by NYCPac on Jul 28, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Hines Ward

He stands out as a great receiver, but there aren’t any other obvious success stories. Cribbs is a great returner, but not much of a receiver. Randle El has had some decent seasons, but he’s never been a good receiver and has been a better return man too. Crayton has put together a couple good seasons in Dallas, and he might be the next best receiver behind Ward. Overall, that’s a low success rate.

by Brandon on Jul 29, 2009 12:37 AM CDT up reply actions

I do not know that Hines Ward qualifies...

According to his page on Wikipedia:

As a wide receiver for the University of Georgia Bulldogs (1995–1998), Ward’s 149 career receptions for 1,965 yards placed him second in team history.

It sounds to me like Ward was already a darned polished WR coming out of Georgia, which is distinctly different from trying to take a Michael Vick, and transform him into an NFL-caliber WR while already on the NFL level. I think back to an experiment that the 49ers once tried, signing an Olympic hurdler, Renaldo Nehemiah, who was not able to learn the catching and other nuances to have a solid career despite blazing speed. WR is simply a position that requires much more than raw talent to excel— that is my only point in this discussion. :-)

by NYCPac on Jul 30, 2009 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions

it could happen, but not likely

Is there a chance that Vick could come back a be a legit back up, I think so. But him getting a chance to be a starter once again is probably not going to happen. As far as him switching positions, I’m not sure on that. He played QB for so long and wasn’t that good at it, could he switch and start getting thrown to? What Vick could do, was scramble like no other, he would have more rushing yards in some games than the teams running backs.

I think, if he still has the speed, he could make as a kick return and/or punt return man, if that route isn’t available- he could always try the newly formed United football league.

by Sealeg87 on Jul 28, 2009 2:46 PM CDT reply actions

Will the Real Michael Vick Please Stand Up

Let’s start with some facts:

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Articles/11_2702_The_future_of_Michael_Vick.html

Vick averaged more yards per carry than Brady averages in yards per passing attempt. Vick was a running back when he ran the Atlanta offense. Taking a hand off and following the full back should not be a problem.

Which leads to a second thought: Wildcat. This guy is the ultimate Wildcat signal caller. The biggest problem I see is that there isn’t enough to the Wildcat to make a full game out of it. It only works as a change up. It would be like asking Dean Martin to play the lead in a western. He’s great supporting the Duke, but he can’t carry it by himself.

So my guess is he goes to a team that wants to run some Wildcat. They would be taking their QB out of the mix anyway, so that would ease the sting. And if he didn’t pan out they can still use a running back for the direct hike.

Any thoughts on who is desperate enough to try such thing?

by 50 years and Counting on Jul 28, 2009 8:46 PM CDT reply actions

The Jets?

Ha, ha.
Or, any team whose clear cut starter goes down with a season-ending injury prior to Vick’s eligibility to return for the regular season.

The glass is more than half-full.

by NorthStarr on Jul 29, 2009 11:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Except for the Viqueens, of course.
They would renew their pursuit of Favre, no doubt. Ha.

The glass is more than half-full.

by NorthStarr on Jul 31, 2009 1:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Why not the Dolphins?

I mean, they were the ones who brought the Wildcat out of the antique mothballs of NFL history, so why not take it to another level? Consider that Pennington was good for them last season, but has a serious lack of arm strength, such that Vick might agree to the idea with the thought that he could eventually supplant Pennington and return to being a full-time QB again, which seems to be what he would most like.

Also, when one considers that Parcels lives for head games, he might be someone who could get inside Vick’s head and get more from him than most anyone else…

by NYCPac on Jul 30, 2009 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I'll take his accuracy

At 66.0, Pennington has the highest career completion percentage (among qualifiers with at least 1,500 atempts) in NFL history.
I’d take that over arm strength.

The glass is more than half-full.

by NorthStarr on Jul 31, 2009 1:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Most of that...

was logged prior to injuring his arm repeatedly and going from average arm strength to poor arm strength, for an NFL QB. I have tons of respect for Pennington as a player and a competitor, but the Jets let him go and his successful season was a shocker to most pundits for a reason. Heck, put his brain, football vision, and accuracy into Michael Vick and that would be one hell of a player!

by NYCPac on Jul 31, 2009 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions

His successful season was no shocker to me

After the 2006 season, Pennington’s career completion
percentage was 65.1 (1080 comp., 1659 att).

In 2007 (with the Jets) he completed 68.8% (179c, 260a) and his career percentage went up to 65.6.
BTW, his 260 attempts is enough to qualify a quarterback for the passing title and single season percentage records.

Then, in 2008 (with the Dolphins), he completed 67.4% (321c, 476a) and his career percentage went up to its current 66.0.
I’d say he’s still got it.

The glass is more than half-full.

by NorthStarr on Aug 1, 2009 1:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Heck, put his brain, football vision, and accuracy into Michael Vick and that would be one hell of a player!

You sure said a mouthful there, whether you know it or not.

The glass is more than half-full.

by NorthStarr on Aug 1, 2009 2:01 AM CDT up reply actions

Miami?

Do you really think Bill Parcels is going to bring Michael Vick to be a QB for the Dolphins?!!! DOUBT IT!!!

by Strohman on Jul 30, 2009 12:44 PM CDT reply actions

Why not?

He has done the unexpected for most of his career. I know that he also has been big on character players, but yet he was able to tolerate a Lawrence Taylor on his team. He needled Terry Glenn, but got the most from him. He is pragmatic and usually does whatever is 1) in his own best interests, then 2) what is good for his current team. If his coaches and he feel that Vick is enough of a talent to want, then he could work through the character stuff, I believe.

The bottom line is that Parcells usually thinks short term (for example, see the Jets, where he devastated the cap to get immediate success and leave), since he rarely stays more than a few seasons. Vick becoming an awesome weapon from the wildcat would make Parcels even more attractive to potential future employers.

by NYCPac on Jul 30, 2009 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions