By Scott Daniels, Esq., NFL Draft Bible
His talents were like nothing the NFL has ever seen before. His speed was breathtaking. His abilities were endless. He revolutionized the quarterback position. He was a 100 million dollar man and had the city of Atlanta in the palm of his hands. Michael Vick was not only a superstar, he was an icon.
But all the glitz and glamour quickly disappeared after he was convicted of several felonies stemming from a dogfighting operation he ran and funded in his home state of Virginia. For the past year, Vick has been serving a prison sentence handed down by a federal judge in one of the most captivating stories since the OJ murder trial.
It appears Vick is nearing the end of his prison sentence Vick has just plead guilty to state dogfighting charges - a move that should allow him to serve out his remaining prison sentence in a half-way house. Vick could be a free man as early as the Summer of 2009.
Just the thought of Vick returning to the league sparks my imagination.
Will he be the same electrifying talent we are used to seeing? Will he still play the quarterback position?
Reports are that Vick has been working out and remains ready for a possible return, but will Goodell allow him back in the league?
And if he does, will Goodell impose further penalties on Vick? After all, Goodell technically suspended him indefinitely last year and has probably had little or no contact with Vick since then. If we have learned anything about Goodell's tolerance level, Vick will certainly have another shot to play in the NFL. Adam "Pacman" Jones has had several chances to redeem himself and is currently in rehab for an apparent alcohol problem. My intuition tells me that Jones' problem goes a little further than alcohol abuse.
In focusing on the Vick situation, the dogfighting incident was part of a fairly lengthy list of problems Vick encountered while in the NFL. Even if we assume Goodell allows Vick back in the league, there are several questions surrounding his role on a team that is desperate enough to take him.
Arthur Blank, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons has virtually ruled out the possibility of taking Vick back and rookie Matt Ryan has solidified the starting quarterback role there. Blank has expressed his hopes that Vick does return to the game of football, but with a different organization.
One need not even ask the question of whether there is an NFL franchise that will welcome Vick with open arms. NFL teams care about one thing and one thing only - winning. If a player can help achieve that goal, he is worthy of a contract in the eyes of owners and general managers.
Possible takers? The Detroit Lions and the Oakland Raiders can't possibly get any worse. Vick could only make them a better team. The Chiefs and Bears could use a mobile quarterback.
The bottom line is, Vick is a commodity. And in this era of superstars and highlight films, commodities in the form of offensive threats will always have a home in professional sports.......regardless of the public relations nightmare that lurks in the background.
