This Vick situation will be very interesting. I can’t think of a team where I would say it flat-out makes sense. Ordinarily the first team that would spring to mind would be the Raiders and Al Davis, but they have $32 million sunk into JaMarcus Russell, so why would you muddy those waters by even considering bringing in a Michael Vick?
I think it’s pretty obvious that if Mike Vick does come back to play in the NFL, it won’t be as a starting quarterback again. This is a guy who was a subpar passer when he went to jail. Somehow I’m guessing he hasn't evolved into a Petyon Manning type marksman from the pocket. He’s been too busy making license plates and trading cigarettes for snacks.
But here’s the thing. This “Wildcat” formation is becoming more and more popular in the NFL, and if you can think of a prototypical quarterback who you’d want to run it, Mike Vick would certainly fit that bill. That would be one potential way that a team could use him, as a niche player. I just can’t see anyone trading any assets for him though, can you? So an interested team would probably just need to wait the Falcons out. They’ll have to release him eventually.
And like IdRatherBeSkiing pointed out, there will be plenty of excess baggage that comes along with Vick. You’ll have to deal with PETA pickets outside of your stadium, unwanted media coverage, etc. So will any one of the other 31 teams out there deem him worth the headache to even explore what kind of shape he’s in? Has he lost any of his reflexes after being in jail and not playing for two years? Is he still as quick and nimble as he was? What’s his mental status like after all of this? But there is one positive; he won’t yet be 30 years old if he’s released on time in June or July. So I would guess at some point, someone does end up taking a look at Vick.
Here’s one for you. How about if the Patriots end up trading away Matt Cassel? They’re not going to commit $30 million dollars between two QB’s. So if they think Brady will be healthy enough to get through the season, I just can’t see them holding on to Cassel. And Bill Belichick strikes me as the kind of guy who doesn’t lose any sleep over what anyone else thinks. Tom Brady is his guy, but you know what, on 3rd and goal from the 5 yard line, maybe Michael Vick can be his “Wildcat” quarterback/running back/back-up to Brady. It makes sense. So I’m not suggesting I think New England would do it. But if you were to ask me to name a team that might at least contemplate it, under those circumstances where they peel off Cassel, New England is a team that immediately comes to mind.
Hey, the New York Jets have an opening. You think the New York media would have fun with Vick and the Jets?
And by the way TSSJimmy, I don't think Vick will be playing for NFL Europe. As of 2007, there's no such thing. Goodell pulled the plug.
