Michael Vick and His Favorite Pitbull
It's not as if the Atlanta Falcons were going to be the darlings of the NFL this season to begin with, but now their superstar player, one of the league's biggest stars, Michael Vick, has drawn what is likely the worst negative stigma of any incident in NFL history. Even after the NFL has had to absorb the negative press that the arrests of Chris Henry, Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones, Chris Chambers, and others have piled onto the league's seemingly invincible public image, Michael Vick has gone and gotten himself mixed up in something that reportedly involves killing a dog by "slamming it to the ground." Of course, he's only been indicted, not convicted, but in the court of public opinion an actual conviction for involvement in dog fighting is unnecessary. Even if he's, by some miracle, found to have had absolutely nothing to do with what went on at the Virginia house that he owns, people will still associate him with the brutal slaying of dogs. This country loves its pets, especially its dogs, and something like this will never be forgiven.
This news will have as devastating an impact on the Falcons on-field performance as it will on Vick's public image. Atlanta is a team that has, since they selected Vick number one overall in 2001, been constructed specially to fit the former Virginia Tech star's unique abilities. In the off-season the Falcons traded backup Matt Schaub to the Texans after signing new head coach Bobby Petrino, essentially making the statement that this is Vick's team. Atlanta did sign WR Joe Horn in the off-season to give Vick a receiving target who can actually catch, but the team's offensive production is almost entirely dependent on the running abilities of Vick and RBs Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood, and Vick's passing to TE Alge Crumpler. To back up Vick, the Falcons signed former Dolphin and Lion Joey Harrington in April, who threw for 2236 yards last season in Miami with 12 TDs versus 15 picks. It will be interesting to see how the offense fairs with the differences between Vick's and Harrington's styles. Getting used to the team not revolving around Vick will be quite an adjustment, but coach Petrino favors a typical NFL style offense with a pocket passer quarterback anyway. Maybe the signal caller change will not be so difficult to adjust to if it's coupled with what was a much needed coaching change.
Titans' CB Adam "Pacman" Jones has gotten into trouble that has caused negative press for the league on numerous occasions, but has never been convicted of any crime and commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him for the entire upcoming season. Former Bears' DT Tank Johnson was suspended for his trouble with the law and then eventually released by the Bears because of a drunk driving arrest in which he was later found to have been under the legal blood alcohol limit. Judging by the ramifications the league has found necessary for seemingly more minor offenses, Vick's fate does not look good. The league needs to separate itself from Vick as much as possible and as soon as possible. That may mean a long suspension once they acquire more information.
Vick has never completed more than 56.4 % of his passes in a season and never thrown for 3000 yards in a season. He did run for over 1000 yards last season, starting all 16 games and leading the team to the NFL's rushing crown, but not to the playoffs. All in all, this may mean the end of Vick's carrier.
-AB
