Any Takers On Vick?
February 19th, 2009 by Tank
So the Falcons are looking to deal Michael Vick’s contract. Can’t blame them for trying to recover some value, but I’m interested to know if anyone expects any takers?
This Sporting News article makes what seems like a strong argument to me that reinstatement is not a given and will likely not occur before 2010.
Clark Judge of CBS points out that any team picking him up faces an uphill PR battle.
Chris Harry of the Orlando Sentinel suggests that Vick’s trade value may be a second *day* draft pick at best.
So what say you? Will Al Davis or Jerry Jones pake the plunge?
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:30 am
As discussed previously… I am convinced Vick will play in the NFL again. He may or may not be a QB… he may or may not be as electric as he was before… but at *least* one team will be interested in his services. However, no team is going to take on (the remainder of) his current contract.
Like you, I give the Falcons credit for trying to trade him… heck, why not try? Don’t cost nothin’. Recall last season where that minor league pitcher got traded for a few bats (I believe it was?)… well, I suspect the Falcons wouldn’t even be concerned about draft picks (although they’d undoubtedly take whatever was offered), but would take the proverbial bucket o’ (foot)balls, just to get out from under Vick’s contract.
I expect they’ll have to release him… cuz there ain’t *no* way he’s playing in Atlanta again, despite what his remaining legions of fans in the area hope for. Then once released, at least one team will offer him a contract low on guarantees and high on incentives.
Maybe it’s 2009… maybe it’s 2010… heck, maybe it’s 2011… but that’s the scenario I envision.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
I agree that Vick’s current contract isn’t worth the proverbial bag of balls, and in the abstract it seems inevitable to me that *someone* will sign the guy to a low base/high incentive contract. I just wonder who will be the owner to do it. Al Davis seems the obvious candidate, but by the same token I can’t think of any market likely to generate a bigger backlash than the Bay area. The Cowboys have a perfectly good QB and I would think the Pac Man saga would put Jerry Jones off the Father Flanagan routine for a while. Minnesota remains a quality QB away from serious contention (and has been susceptible to the siren song of scrambling QBs since the club’s founding) but I would have to renounce my Viking fandom were they to sign the guy.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
I wouldn’t get hung up on Vick as a QB. I suspect that’s what he’ll want - at least initially. But if his only (and/or best) offers are at another position, he’ll go. Given the success of the Wildcat Formation this past season (starting with the Dolphins), it seems inevitable that Vick will be in somebody’s backfield - as a QB or perhaps as a RB - in the next year or two.
Personally, I’ll go chalk and say the Raiders. It’s just the obvious choice.
And regarding Dallas, you seem to intimate that Jerry Jones has learned his lesson? You ignorant slut. He had a great head coach in Jimmy Johnson, who assembled a dynasty, and won two SBs… until Jerry drove him away. Then Switzer came in and won Jimmy’s third SB for him (seriously - *I* could’ve been the head coach for that team that year and they would’ve won… Switzer is *not* an NFL head coach). Then Dave Campo. Then he smartened up and brought in Parcells - but before Parcells could return the Cowboys to glory, Jerry drove him off and brought in Campo again… er, Wade Phillips. That guy will never learn.
TO is a head case with baggage… but has talent - so he was brought in, and he’s staying (despite his most recent antics). Pacman was a head case with baggage… and was only released when it was shown his talent had diminished (seemingly from spending more time shooting up strip clubs than pumping iron in gyms). Who was the defensive lineman that was a head case with baggage? He was brought in… and dumped when it was determined the talent was no longer there.
No, sir… Dallas (under Jerry Jones) is a very plausible landing spot for Vick - and he’ll remain as long as his talent shines on the field. And he’ll only be released if his talent has waned. The PR hits, the circus, etc? No worries, as far as Jerry Jones is concerned… heck - he probably considers those things to be “positives” cuz it makes people talk about *his* team, and allows him to make money by allowing HBO (I think it was) to come in and film his locker room for a TV show. Yup… he’s got his priorities straight. Think Jimmy Johnson or Bill Parcells would allow the team to be a glorified reality show on cable? Nope, me neither… which is why they no longer coach “America’s Team”.