Vick

More than cheering on the home team, booing the opponent or throwing a $10.75 beer at a player, something that we non-athletes tend to excel in is jumping to conclusions. And so the news of the Philadelphia Eagles’ signing of Michael Vick led to plenty of speculation; some founded and based on logic and the nature of the NFL while the rest was based on sheer hate, stupidity and “Philly being Philly”*.

Because no active athlete other than Kobe Bryant has been more scrutinized in this decade than Vick (arguably even more than the Los Angeles Lakers star), this signing gains attention that neither the NFL or its associated fans and media have ever encountered. You’ve seen enough analysis from beat reporters, former players and coaches, fantasy experts, legal experts, etc. This post has been edited so much that most of the analysis seems to be redundant and pointless to throw into the pot. Yet, there are a few things that we should consider.

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For starters, let this be said in regards to those who are protesting and representing animal rights groups. Most of the Vick supporters are dismissing your message not just because of some hierarchy of justice or an outrage towards the lack of venom towards other prominent individuals who have and continue to commit crimes. They look at the methods – or lack thereof – to make the issue known.

Coming up in the Bronx in the eighties and up until the mid-nineties, there was a fairly-known dogfighting and cockfighting ring in my old neighborhood. Never saw PETA or the Humane Society or anyone representing the interest of the animals involved. Never saw law enforcement come around to bust this thing up. There were, however, plenty of people who walked around the blocks with pit bulls, Rottweilers and other breeds that were used for fighting. So when Vick said that “it’s part of our culture” statement was an excuse to justify his actions, the reality is that these groups are so far removed from where the actions take place that the statement has validity.

Maybe PETA didn’t feel like coming around the projects, but the shotgun approach that its executive board takes DOES NOT WORK in an era where people have become desensitized to their tactics. Waiting for some fashion show to disrupt or hoping that some celebrity wants to pose nude for a magazine ad to make a statement has done little to actually educate people on the seriousness of animal cruelty.

So, instead of protesting and boycotting the Eagles, why don’t you get down to the grassroots level and go to the communities to educate people on the perils. Vick’s crime brought this to light more than any other event in history,

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The other manner of protest that I found rather interesting comes from fans who have claimed they will essentially disown the Eagles by not purchasing merchandise or not watching a game until he is gone from the team. The latter makes far more sense if this was a losing team, but as sports always proves, everyone loves a winner. To not watch games lowers ratings and can convince advertising partners to shrink their investments with the team.

However, do people really update their team gear annually or even semi-annually? I could understand buying a new hat or adding some team paraphernalia like signed balls and Super Bowl DVDs every few years. Yet, the folks who say that they won’t buy another team thread again were probably are better off not grabbing the new Eagles jacket since they barely broke in the jacket from last season.

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On the field, no one knows what kind of player they will get in Vick nor how exactly he will be used. However, something that we should keep in mind is that just because the Wildcat has become the new craze of the NFL, it doesn’t mean that he was signed for that purpose. Vick amazed the football world before the Wildcat and if the Miami Dolphins didn’t take the New England Patriots to the woodshed with that formation last season, Vick would have still been a prized commodity.

Analysts on television and online have spent years picking apart his passing abilities, dismissing him as a less-than-spectacular passer who just happens to run. Yet, let me remind you that Rex Grossman played in the Super Bowl. If Jay Cutler did not fight his way out of Denver (and not that the City of Broad Shoulders was exactly behind Kyle Orton), Bears fans would have been jumping on the Vick bandwagon. Vick didn’t remind anyone of Dan Marino and certainly isn’t in the realm of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees or even his new teammate, Donovan McNabb as a passer. Yet, just as those quarterbacks, coaches placed enough faith in his abilities that he could win games by any means necessary.

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Finally, “Philly being Philly” is akin to the infamous and clichéd “Manny being Manny”. What I mean here is that those of us with a vested interest in sports – no matter what’s the game – have come to expect fans from there to display a level of obnoxiousness and crudeness that is leaps and bounds above anywhere else. This isn’t said to disrespect or dismiss passions in the city nor does it make other places seem like homes for monks ('Duk at Big League Stew rightfully points at some in Wrigleyville because of that classless act on Wednesday). However, there is good chunk there that does embrace the unfortunate history of crass behavior, continuing to perpetuate the perception of it being a poor sports town.

Leavenworth

It’s time for the obligatory Michael Vick piece!


Well, maybe that’s a bit strange. See Scribe usually doesn’t follow the blogosphere script in terms of writing about the salacious controversies as they happen unless there is something that must be said.

Wednesday's prison release of Michael Vick has inspired all sorts of opinions, but it’s the extreme sides of these thoughts that always get attention.

There are presumably millions of people out there who think that the former Virginia Tech standout hasn’t been punished enough for his crime. Nineteen months in the all-male, medium-security USP Leavenworth was some sort of slap on the wrist for someone who was a responsible party for the mutilation of animals for nearly six years.

There are presumably millions of people out there who think that the former Atlanta Falcons star (the team has his rights, but he’ll never suit up for it again) has not only served his penance, but should be afforded the same chances to gain his former standing in society as anyone else exiting prison. Jails were ideally built to not only keep the public’s gravest offenders away, but to possibly deter some of their inhabitants from ever returning.

There are presumable millions of people out there who think that the player whom Hall of Famer quarterback Steve Young once said has a chance to be better than he ever was – which is saying something – shouldn’t have spent one minute in jail. As MJD points out on Shutdown Corner, there are active players in the league who were not incarcerated for what can be considered far more serious crimes such as vehicular manslaughter, DUI/DWUI (as discussed here recently) or sexual assault.

There are voices from supporters and antagonists of PETA, citizens disillusioned by the conduct of athletes or the legal system and the denizens of a football-mad nation following the speculation of his next stop. Yet, regardless of what we may believe, there are only a few voices and opinions that matter when it comes to reclaiming Vick’s future.

For starters, as we have seen since he took over as Commissioner in 2006, Roger Goodell will be the greatest barrier to re-entry into the NFL. Chris Henry was arrested several times before he was hit with an eight-game suspension. Terry “Tank” Johnson was dealt with a half-season ban of his own after his legal troubles. Adam “Pacman” Jones has been given two lengthy suspensions under Goodell’s conduct policy, including a current indefinite suspension after another (idiotic) folly. However, only Johnson spent actual time in the can before Goodell meted out his league punishment; four months after violating probation during the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl march in 2006.

We’re assuming that Vick is going to suit up for an NFL team right away, but if Johnson sat out for eight games on top of a four-month sentence, what could Vick get for being incarcerated for a year and a half?

Vick, himself, must appear more than remorseful for ending up in prison and losing millions, but at least publicly remorseful of his acts. He’s going to have the biggest media circus in the United States following him since Bernie Madoff the moment he finishes his house arrest in July. Add the protesters and the random people who want to make their feelings known, and he’s going to have to do much more than say the right things.

Kevin Sullivan, a public relations guru with extensive experience in both the political and sports worlds, laid out a suggested PR campaign on Shutdown Corner that could possibly placate all the interested parties as Vick’s talent and age (he’s just 29 years old, remember) will certainly land him another job. Whether one holds PR/publicity as a noble field is a moot point here, but what Sullivan’s four points reflect is a chance at not only salvaging what can still be a productive career, but a chance at a second act that could serve a grander purpose than merely getting a roster spot again in the NFL.

A third voice that matters here is one that few, if anyone, have mentioned. The fraternity of NFL players is going to deal with the most unique distraction since the September 11th attacks in 2001. Before anyone interprets this as comparing terrorist attacks to the resurrection of an athlete’s career, let it be understood that this is speaking about the immediate media frenzy they will face on top of what they deal with on a normal basis. They will be hit with a constant stream of questions, demands for statements and some will give those always convenient “unnamed player” quotes.

To save you the trouble, here’s what will be asked by some of my fellow pigskin scribes: “what do you think of Michael Vick’s return?”, “do you think he deserves a second chance?” and “would you want him on your team?”. Truthfully, they’re not terrible questions to ask, but the responses might be influenced by the timing of Goodell’s decision, team personnel needs and how much hell PETA will raise between now and then. Some of the former teammates who openly supported Vick will find the spotlight shone on them. Washington’s Clinton Portis was derided for his opinion on the matter when Vick was indefinitely suspended before his trial, but you’d be foolish to believe he is the lone player in the league that feels that “they’re just a bunch of dogs”. Even those players who condemned Vick will see an extra mic or camera to see if they can forgive and forget.

If his release presented a caldron of reactions, we can only imagine what will take place in eight weeks. On July 20th, Michael Vick will have finished serving his entire sentence after two months of home confinement. By that summer Monday, several teams will have already started their training camps for the 2009 season while others will be setting up shop in towns across the country. From that day forward, position battles will be decided by performances, salary concerns and devastating injuries. Each personnel decision made by coaches and managers will be influenced by those very battles, but you can expect that Vick’s name will be connected to nearly every one of them.