Try NFL Sport Channel Seach:
Selected searches:
NFL Football Players Draft Injuries Rookies Season Superbowl
Items by
Why Michael Vick Will Still Work in the NFL
Published: July 29, 2009
No Comments
The reinstatement of Michael Vick couldn’t have come at a better time.
It’s late July, with training camp set to open not too far from now. The only condition of the reinstatement, for Vick, is that he will miss a few games because of a suspension by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
The suspension is really a blessing in disguise for Vick, as it will give him time to practice and get himself back into form. After all, he hasn’t thrown a pass in a game since 2006. Likely, it will take some time before Vick is anything close to what he was then.
But it’s a low-risk, high-reward signing for whichever team picks him up.
Surely Vick could be signed for a cheap price, meaning that if he doesn’t work out, then it’s not a huge loss—and if he does, he can be a huge asset to the offense.
Remember, in his prime, Vick was a genuine two-sided threat, a QB that could throw the ball or run with it. He wasn’t overwhelming, but he still managed to throw for over 2,300 yards in each of his full seasons, while rushing for about seven yards a carry.
In 2006, his last season in the NFL, Vick gave signs of entering his prime. He threw for almost 2,500 yards and 20 touchdowns (and 13 interceptions), while rushing for over 1,000 yards (an average of 8.4 a carry) and two majors, nearly matching the numbers put up by Warrick Dunn.
However, the lingering question, does Vick still has anything left in his tank? Picking up where he left off is unlikely and playing in a similar role is questionable. Other rushing QB’s—Steve McNair, Donovan McNabb, etc—have had either a short shelf life or had to transition their game towards passing, something that has never been Vick’s strong suit.
But in the right setting, Vick could still pose a threat.
With the emergence of the Wildcat/Single Wing offense used by Miami last season, teams looking to install a similar scheme could use a player with Vick’s skill set. He’s got the speed to run around the outside on a sweep, yet also has enough skill throwing the ball that he could play regular snaps too.
And while Vick is a pubic relation’s nightmare, there will surely be teams looking his way for that reason:
-Oakland: They tried the Wildcat last season (with limited success) and have a history of signing people with a troubled past. Plus, as one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, what do they have to lose?
– Pittsburgh: Would the Steelers bring Vick in? BetUS seems to think so, giving the team 4-1 odds of signing him. Vick could work on the Steelers and help to take some of the spotlight off of Ben Roethlisberger’s recent legal trouble.
– New England: BetUS also gives the Patriots 4-1 odds to sign Vick. The Patriots have had some success recently with troubled players (i.e. Randy Moss). Here Vick would only play a small role in the offense, but I wouldn’t put it past Bill Belichick to get the most out of him.
