Who Will Take The Michael?
by Chris Brophy
28/7/2009
Lock up your pit bull terriers because he's coming back. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has given Michael Vick the all clear to begin practicing and playing with any team that is willing to take the chance on him.
Which team will take that chance though? Which team will risk the fan backlash? Which front office will put their reputation on the line in order to see if Michael Vick still has the athletic ability that has put the fear of god into NFL defenses in the past? All these questions need to be considered but as well as teams considering Vick, Vick has to consider what he is prepared to do and accept.
We all know that as an athlete, Michael Vick was an amazing NFL talent but as a quarterback he was more frustrating. Not the type to be constrained by a system, Vick appeared to be the type of player who might just need to be let loose in order to get the best out of him but that was never really tried. Given where we are in the off-season (entering the start of training camp for most teams) and taking into consideration that Vick has not seen any real NFL action for over two years he has to be aware that just being part of a roster for the 2009 season (in which he is likely looking at being suspended for 4-8 games of) will be an achievement.
What I wonder though is if Vick is prepared to be an athlete on offense rather than only being prepared to be a quarterback. As a quarterback who has rushed for 1000 yards in the past and with the rise of the wildcat offense into NFL schemes, it appears fate may have handed Vick the chance to be involved in a willing offense from the get go as he can be used as a situational quarterback in a situational/surprise/alternative offensive set.
Given the options Vick is likely to be given due to his own actions, the only real option he may be offered to play quarterback straight away is in the newly formed UFL league and with the limited ability of players in that league compared to the NFL does Vick want to risk his body for less money in a arena where he is sure to be a marked man? I doubt it.
So, assuming Vick is willing to take any NFL chance given to him, which teams will take the chance on him? Here's who I think will look at taking the shot:
1, Oakland Raiders: Talented but troubled athlete, struggling franchise, owner who has lost his marbles and still thinks he can win in the NFL “his way”. It's a match made in heaven. The problem might be that with the Raiders heavy investment in JaMarcus Russell, they fear adding Vick will ruin Russell's self-belief.
2, Washington Redskins: They have an owner who still sticks his nose into player personal decisions. It's also Vick's local NFL team and former Falcons team mate DeAngelo Hall is also being “rehabilitated” by the franchise. Add in the fact that the team has actively been looking for a new QB and Jason Campbell is in his contract year and it all adds up to another exciting episode of the Snyder soap opera.
3, New England Patriots: Bill Belicheck walks on Boston water so if anyone can sell this to a fan base it's the hooded claw of the NFL. Given Randy Moss has been given a new lease of life with the franchise and they are always competitive, it'd be an easy sell to the player who would likely be asked to be runner/receiver/passer/option QB for the team.
4, Dallas Cowboys: Like Dan Snyder and like Al Davis, Jerry Jones is not afraid of a big, controversial splash. Whilst Tony Romo is the clear starter and whilst Jones has cleared house of trouble makers and troubled souls this off-season, nagging doubts about Romo's late season play and the idea of another toy for Jason Garrett to play with could just tempt the Mr Plastic-Fantastic.
5, Minnesota Vikings: A wild, wild guess that involves the belief that the head coach is still not satisfied with how they are set at quarterback position. If Brett Favre rejects a return Brad Childress might just take the ultimate roll of the dice. Given Childress has spent most of his Vikings career benching any QB who makes a mistake or two this would be the gamble of all gambles but interesting nevertheless.
Whatever happens and whatever your opinion of Vick, he is an exciting player who will draw a huge amount of interest on his return to the NFL. If he repays his new team with some big plays and a contribution to success, the past mistakes, whilst never being forgotten, will become more faded in everyone's memories.
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