As teams around the league are asked about their level of interest in soon-to-be released quarterback and inmate Michael Vick, most teams show a clear detachment from the topic. Many organizations were quoted as saying that the Michael Vick takeover is “highly doubtful” and that they are “not interested.” But why? Sure his image was ruined, boycotted and disfigured, but his athletic ability was unquestionable.
The obvious reason to turn a cheek at Michael Vick is his current prison sentence and the bad name associated with it. With Vick’s name comes boycott; PETA comes to mind. So why is this a major problem? The NFL is still a business and will always be treated as such. If you don’t make fans happy and make them want to buy clothes, attend games, and cheer on your team, you will ultimately fail. Can your image be repaired? If you remember before the dogfighting scandal, Michael Vick was a household name, an icon, and a t-shirt salesman. He was seen in commercials for Nike and Powerade showing off his iconic athletic “super image”. Michael Vick jerseys were once a hot commodity among Falcon fans, NFL fans, and street walkers. Michael Vick’s t-shirt was used as a fashion sense in some areas. Who says a repaired image can’t bring so much glory back to the Vick name? When Michael Vick played football, he would simply put the fans in their seats and their eyes on the televisions. What more could you ask for as an owner?
One thing that can be asked of a player is talent. Michael Vick’s previous marketability did not come without talent. With his blistering speed and world-class agility, Vick ran the ball like a running back. In his final season before suspension, Michael Vick rushed for over a thousand yards at quarterback on just one hundred and three carries. In case his math stayed in his SAT study guide, Vick averaged just under 8 1/2 yards per carry — twice the yard a good running back averages. So why didn’t he play running back? Aside from the fact that he may be a bit smaller, he also had an arm.
Michael Vick was known for his rocket arm. Vick’s arm is described as having the ability to effortlessly throw the ball sixty yards downfield without the use of footwork. Name me an NFL running back who can throw the ball 60 yards to start. Although his completion percentages were low, Vick seemed to have decent passing numbers with his no-name, no-finger receivers. Vick always threw for more touchdowns than interceptions, and even threw for 20 touchdowns the same year he rushed for 1,000 yards. From the looks of it, Michael Vick had all the talent to make it the deadliest weapon of all time, but he seemed to have a tragic flaw. Vick lacked the decision-making skills. So what could you do with a player like this?
While I think Michael Vick could start out as the quarterback for many teams, he could provide the x-factor in today’s new style of play: the “Wildcat.” What kind of player would you want as the signal caller in the Wildcat formation? Ideally, you would like someone who is quick and agile from the ability to run, but can also pass the ball on option. Very early on, Michael Vick seems to fit the description perfectly. Ronnie Brown ran the “Wildcat” offense effectively in the 2008 season, enough to earn him a pro bowl bid. If Ronnie Brown is considered to be fast, what do you consider to be the speed of Vick, who ran the forty-yard dash in a supposedly faster time than Brown? In any case, Vick’s speed indicated enough presence as a running back. But what makes the “Wildcat” so dangerous? The option to throw the ball stops defenders from over-chasing. You can’t overload the run when a receiver is wide open on the field. However, is Ronnie Brown such a big threat on the air? While I can’t comment specifically on Brown’s shooting ability, Vick’s previous position at quarterback warrants some support in his case as a good passer. So with Michael Vick’s two extraordinary abilities combined in the “Wildcat” formation, you have a defensive nightmare.
Along with preparing a regular defensive scheme for regular offense, he must deal with the terrifying idea of having a physical “monster” running the “Wildcat”. Although some teams may be better off with Michael Vick as their starting quarterback, almost any team could easily implement a “Wildcat” package with Vick’s skills. While Vick can bring a media circus with him wherever he goes, his value in the new “Wildcat” secondary package scheme sweeping the NFL is undeniable.
However, there are some potential problems. Vick carries with him a high “trade-unfriendly” contract and some disreputable baggage. Ideally, a team would like to sign Vick through free agency if they release him on a low contract. But what about the hippies carrying the anti-Vick signs outside the driving range that would soon follow? Although Vick will always be known as the dog fighter who was imprisoned, he could try to help save his image through actions after his release. If he is able to get rid of the bad image of him, you still have to deal with his mentality. It could even run in the family: remember the Marcus Vick (Michael’s younger brother) incidents? Off the field, Marcus Vick was involved in two criminal convictions in 2004 alone. During his 2005 season playing at Virginia Tech, Marcus Vick was heavily criticized for flashing the middle finger to a crowd and intentionally stomping on an opponent’s leg. After being fired from Virginia Tech due to “a cumulative effect of legal infractions and unsportsmanlike play” (Hokie Sports), Vick had a brief stint with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent. After Marcus Vick’s nonexistent NFL career, he continued in a spiral of legal trouble that included brandishing firearms, child molesting, countless speeding tickets and a DUI. Do the brothers share a mentality? They may have similar characteristics, but for the benefit of the doubt, each person has their own independent identity. However, Vick has his own line of legal problems, including two marijuana-related incidents. Two men were arrested in Virginia for distributing marijuana with a truck registered to Michael Vick. However, a more interesting story was the water bottle compartment scandal. At an airport security checkpoint, Michael Vick’s water bottle that had a secret compartment was taken from him by airport security. Security originally reported that there was a marijuana-like substance inside the compartment, but this was later cleared after tests revealed no illegal substances were inside the water bottle. Vick claimed that the bottle was used to store jewelry. What kind of jewelry did Vick own, jewelry that resembles marijuana? Although these appear to be minor character flaws, Vick was also fined $10,000 and ordered to donate $10,000 to charity for flashing the middle finger to an unimpressed and booing Atlanta Falcon crowd after losing a game in the Georgia Dome. What about the Vicks and their middle fingers? On the whole, the Vick family doesn’t seem to fit in very well with authority.
Is Vick worth the risk? Is it worth the baggage, the boycott and the media circus? I don’t think the high-profile Cowboys can afford to take a stab at Vick with the current media circus surrounding them, but plenty of undercover teams could liven up his image with some Vick on their roster. Although the Dolphins liked to run the “Wildcat,” I don’t see Parcells having any of that. The Vikings, on the other hand, seem to be an interesting match. Adrian Peterson has recently become the face of the franchise, and I don’t think Vick will be able to dissuade the new Viking image. In any case, many see Tarvaris Jackson as a “poor man” Michael Vick, so why not get the real deal? Wherever Michael Vick might fit in, I don’t see him with behavioral issues anymore, at least not after what happened with the dogfighting scandal. However, I was wrong about Cowboy’s experiment with Adam Jones, he ended up being released after only one season in which he was suspended. But to Adam Jones’s defense, the bodyguard feud was very minor and the incident that kicked Adam Jones out of the Cowboys happened before he signed with Dallas. Your story comes back to bite you in the ass. All things considered, if your team lurks in the shadows of the media spotlight, you have some inconsistency at quarterback, and you want to add another dimension to spice up your offense, Vick might be right for you.