Around the NFL: Vick’s Release

There’s not a whole lot going on this week in the NFL with the exception of the release of maligned QB Michael Vick from prison. This week I’ll offer up my take on the situation, while providing a few updates on the other happenings around the league.

Does Vick Deserve a Second Chance?

It’s hard to have a completely unbiased answer to that question. A person’s views on animal rights, the welfare of dogs, and the definition of “the integrity of the sport” are just a few of the factors that might influence a person’s decision. I believe that when push comes to shove, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will let Vick back into the league. Providing he keeps his nose clean, Vick will surely be reinstated by 2010, and will possibly even be playing this coming season.

I was never really a fan of Vick. I thought he was a tremendous athlete with game-changing ability, but I rarely saw him make clutch, accurate throws when his team needed it most. He often struggled to stay healthy and I think that teams started to figure him out after that great season where he led the Falcons to the NFC Championship game. While he still produced good numbers and kept the games interesting, the wins weren’t as plentiful and I think that his struggles as a passer were why.

I also believe in animal rights and in treating our furry friends with love and respect, therefore I find his Bad News Kennels venture to be appalling. I believe that his possible work with the Humane Society is a step in the right direction for helping repair his tarnished image.

All that being said, I think that Vick certainly should be reinstated into the league and that it should be sooner rather than later, the reason is simple. When I look at the facts objectively, I see a man who (according to the federal government) has paid his debts to society. In my opinion, the league doesn’t have a right to say that the time he spent in prison wasn’t enough of a punishment. I support a probationary period and a provision that states something to the effect of “any infraction that the league finds to be in violation of the NFL’s conduct policy will result in a lifetime ban from the league.” I’m perfectly okay with that. In fact, I think it’s a very good idea in order to counter the barrage of negative publicity that might come along with reinstating Vick. I also simply believe that Vick regrets what he did and that he’ll never do it again. Maybe he still doesn’t care about dogs. However, I think he understands the punishment for animal abuse and about the consequences he’d have to face again should he make any similar mistakes.

Additionally, if I were a General Manager, I would definitely be considering bringing him in. I think that Vick can thank the Miami Dolphins for whatever opportunity he gets, because Vick is the perfect Wildcat QB. I know that the Wildcat formation is a gimmick, but I believe that it yields results and that Vick would be able to run it to perfection. Additionally, Vick can function as a backup QB because he was at least a functional passer. Imagine a team like the Saints getting rid of Mark Brunell as their backup and inserting Vick. They could keep Joey Harrington as their emergency quarterback and use Vick in the Wildcat formation. Imagine Vick on the field with Reggie Bush, Jeremy Shockey, Marques Colston, and Devery Henderson. Vick has a cannon of an arm, so you’d lose a deep safety over the top by running Henderson on a straight fly route. Shockey would provide a great safety valve. Colston demands attention. Then you have Vick and Bush, each with the ability to take it the distance. This would be just another wrinkle in an already potent offense. Any team (perhaps other than Miami with the presence of Pat White) should consider signing Vick to a short-term, low priced contract and let him run the Wildcat offense while also functioning as a backup quarterback.

The downside is the possible negative publicity. However, I still believe that Vick jerseys would sell, that stadiums would be full, and that fans would be excited to see him back on the field, even if he’s a bit rusty. I think that using an “everyone deserves a second chance” public relations angle could turn this into a positive experience for everyone involved. In fact, this has Dallas written all over it if they hadn’t just purged their team of questionable character players.

The bottom line is that Vick was a very talented player just a few years ago. I believe that the risks involved with bringing him into the organization validate the potential impact he could have on your team. While I don’t see him as a valuable starting QB, I do see him as a great addition in gadget plays and as a decoy. With all that talent, there has to be some way to get him on the field.

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Other Happenings

49ers starting CB Walt Harris tore a ligament in his knee and could miss the entire season. While not a star in the league, Harris is a former Pro Bowler who adds stability to the defense and he’ll be sorely missed. To replace Harris, the 49ers signed Dre Bly, who was cut by the Broncos following the season. This is a great signing, in my opinion. It’s a one-year deal and will force Bly to put all he has into the season. He has Pro Bowl ability but he didn’t play like it the last couple of seasons. Maybe Singletary can contain him of his risk taking ways just enough to get some consistency out of him opposite Nate Clements.

Longtime Eagles DC (possibly one of the greatest defensive minds in the game) will be taking a leave of absence while he battles cancer. My heart goes out to him and his family. He, along with Monte Kiffin and Dick Lebeau, are truly masters of their craft.

The Lions added some depth along their offensive line with the signing of Ephraim Salaam, who will likely play swing tackle for Detroit, providing a little insurance in the event of an injury to Jeff Backus or Gosder Cherilus.

Until next week, enjoy the NBA playoffs as we get closer and closer to a possible Kobe vs. LeBron match up in the Finals.

By: Brandon Niles
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer