There is an elite group of NFL players who are so freakishly athletic, it's a sheer joy just to watch them play. Reggie Bush, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Larry Johnson are the primary members at tailback, and the receivers include Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, and Roy Williams. Sadly, Randy Moss hasn't paid his dues since 2003, so his card's pretty much expired at this point.
There's only one member of the group who plays quarterback, though. No, not Ken Dorsey. The Atlanta Falcons' Michael Vick is as unique a quarterback as there's ever been in the NFL (at least since Jim Abbott's ill-advised foray into the league in 1988). Unless he's got DeAngelo Hall lining up at receiver, he's always the fastest man on the field. He's already re-written the NFL's record books on quarterback rushing performances. Vick excelled during the Run-DVD years, with DVD standing for Duckett-Vick-Dunn. Now that Duckett's gone, though... no, too easy. He led his team to the NFC championship in 2004. He's made it to three Pro Bowls, which not many #1 picks can say. There's a very good reason why he went #1 overall.
The trouble is, though... well, that there's trouble. Lots of it. There's the well-documented herpes lawsuit that led to being outed as "Ron Mexico." His old coach's dad called him a "Coach Killer," which is incidentally one letter away from the nickname Vick gave himself in college--change the "a" to another "o." There's also the middle finger for the fans (now there's a souvenir worth tossing back at him), the weed bottle fiasco at the airport (he was exonerated, but the whole thing stunk, and not just of weed), and then there's the extremely disconcerting dog abuse case that's unfolding. Put together, it's an unequivocal PR nightmare in the Goodell-era NFL.
As for the dog case, it seems pretty clear that while he wasn't personally aware of the inhumane practices going on, they still happened on his property, and were directly related to a company using his name for publicity. That's a level of association that is far past unacceptable.
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Article comments
1 - Chris Malumphy
Check out this article: The Falcons traded up with San Diego to get Vick. They could have stayed where they were and drafted LaDainian Tomlinson or Quarterback Drew Brees. Bet they wish they hadn't made that trade.
2 - The Haze
Is Vick a bust? What has he done ever? Please! Not even worth it.
3 - Tan The Man
The man has talent, no question. The problem is that with a guy that plays like him, the ENTIRE team needs to be built around him with the right players, and that's pretty hard to do so with patchup trades/signings.
4 - RJ
RJ's Prediction:
Mike Vick never wins a Super Bowl.
No, that's too easy. How about: Mike Vick never even makes it to the Super Bowl.
Still too safe? Let's try: Mike Vick retires in a few years without ever returning to the playoffs as a starting QB.
Ouch. But is he a bust? I'll let ya'll decide...
5 - Dan
I think I would take that last bet.
He's got a beautiful long ball if only he could have the type of receiver who can run under it.
He needs to take a cue from Steve McNair: Save the athletic running ability for when games are on the line. Avoid the possibility of a blind side career threatening hit.
Algee Crumpler is Vick's ticket. Vick knows it. Possesion tight end receivers like him take pressure away from the quarterback and move the chains. Moving the chains gives him more opportunity to open things up.
It takes a balance of discipline and risk to make big plays.
Of course, defense is half of the equation. Nothing Vick can do about that.
6 - The Haze
I think everyone agrees that "Ron Mexico" has "skilz",but there's just something about him(the person)that tells me he all the talent in the world around him is not going to help.The cue he needs to take from Steve McNair is not stay in the pocket but rather get his shit together and lose the the "black tude". McNair brings a lunch box to work,Vick brings fightin' dogs,flippin' birds and weed! That just does not cut it in todays sports entertainment world and Roger Goodell will remind him of that it appears sooner than later.