Falcons

By fansince66

August 20, 2007 9:16 PM | Link to this

All my buds and I were so excited in 2001 that Atlanta finally got that player whom every other team was drooling over. We were all overjoyed that we would eventually see this superman on the gridiron hoisting the Super Bowl trophy for Atlanta. That this turned into another stupid debacle for Falcons football makes no true fans happy. All you guys turning this into a racial issue completely miss the point. Every Falcons fan was pulling for this guy to be our Joe Montana, even up to the hiring of Petrino. What a sad ending to that dream.

By NASCARfan

August 20, 2007 9:19 PM | Link to this

What about Jim Sorgi, of the Indianapolis Colts?

The guy always plays well when he comes into games (usually in blowouts or the Preseason). He’s learned from the second best quarterback in the NFL for years.

Why not Jim Sorgi, Steve?

By Edd

August 20, 2007 9:29 PM | Link to this

Vick brought hope and a new energy to this team , Atlanta and the NFL. He made a mistake. Let him pay for it and lets’ move on. I have always been a Falcons fan (66) and will continue, but it hurts.

By Lee

August 20, 2007 9:37 PM | Link to this

Oh lord, another column about the conVICK. I wish college football would crank up to give all you talking flower pots (sports columnists) something else to write about.

Vick cannot lower taxes or raise the price of gasoline.

Which translated, means I don’t really give a rat’s a55 about what happens to him or the Falcons.

By dna

August 20, 2007 9:38 PM | Link to this

This is a sad day. I pray for Michael Vick and I hope we fan’s can forgive him for the pain he has caused to so many people. He gave so much excitement to the game, city and team. We all make mistakes. It will never be the same in Falcon land. Thank you for the memories Mr. Vick, I wish it didn’t end this way. I had to tell my 7 year old why they were saying Michael Vick was going to jail today on the radio. Everyone in my family loved to watch him play football. I keep asking why, why would you risk everything for such a stupid reason.

MV7 I forgive you and I hope you will forgive yourself.

By destin

August 20, 2007 9:40 PM | Link to this

Hey Steve, could you give a complete analysis of how the salary cap is affected under each scenario that could play out? You mentioned seeking relief on a portion of the bonus money. How long does this usually take and who dictates when and how the cap is credited? As to his regular salary — First of all, when are the Falcons ‘legally’ off the hook? Can this occur when the NFL suspends him or do we have to cut him? Does the 6 mil. salary for this year open up cap space for this year? Is there any sense in maintaininy Vick’s contract rights (i.e. trade value)? Is there a major difference for the Falcons if the NFL suspends him for a definite period vs. an indefinite period?

By poolefan99

August 20, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this

arron brooks

By andy

August 20, 2007 9:48 PM | Link to this

If he serves a year and a half of prison time, and then the NFL “bars” him from the NFL for a year maybe two(after he is done serving time)—it might as well be a lifetime ban. There is no way he could ever recover. I don’t think he ever had any idea that this crazy pasttime of his(to keep his street rep/keepin it real guy card) could cost him so much. He deserves it—I am a Vick fan—the falcons future is …dark. How does that LT trade with SD look now? At least Ryan Leaf imploded in the start of his career. Man this is bad.

By Y2Jcub

August 20, 2007 9:49 PM | Link to this

What I would like to know is what other NFL players were/are involved besides Vick because it’s a sure bet that it doesn’t end with him.

By QBwatcher

August 20, 2007 9:49 PM | Link to this

Vick sucked anyway - This is a blessing

The birds would never get to the SuperBowl with this C- running back pretending to be a QB

Look at the stats - Vick has never been better than 20th in the NFL - That was $130 mill wasted

Move on and the hope can become real

By Uhhuh

August 20, 2007 10:09 PM | Link to this

Well, you have to admit Vick “kept it real”, He kept it so real and so much like a black man that He’s going to jail, you have to admit “Vick keeps it gangsta”….no doubt about it folks, MIKE VICK IS NO UNCLE TOM. I cannot understand for the life of me why African Americans always seem to side with the most rebellious, stupid, and bad example role models. YOU CAN BE SURE OF ONE THING-THE WHITE MAN IS RACIST. Peace, isn’t that what they say? Or is it (KEEP IT REAL DAWG)…..LOL

By Luther

August 20, 2007 10:11 PM | Link to this

I really don’t think MV was aware of the seriousness of his kennel venture. He didn’t think about it. Don’t you think that if he knew this would ruin his whole life … he would have stopped it and covered it up? He surrounded himself with h.s. dropout low life friends who didn’t know the seriouness of it also.

Was MV that stupid or was he just not aware?

By sic-bird

August 20, 2007 10:11 PM | Link to this

bye-bye Mike Vick, thank god it’s over.

By LTX

August 20, 2007 10:27 PM | Link to this

White People/PETA are quick to judge but always seem to want forgiveness when they caught doing crimes. If was your “American Dream” Payton Manning or his sorry little brother, you would label them as good kids who made a mistake. Oh yeah AJC when all this passes and it will…Vick will back on top!!!!

By Dave Mickler

August 20, 2007 10:30 PM | Link to this

To the people of Atlanta, with regard to Michael Vick’s actions, I am troubled by how some people are making this a white and black issue.

While Mr. Vick’s guilt is indicated by the plea agree, it has nothing to do with the color of his skin but the character of his soul.

From T. Moore’s comments heard on ESPN today it would appear the Atlanta community is in for some very tense racial times. I pray that Mr. Vick comes forward before his hearing and openly confesses and begs his fans to accept his punishment for his mistakes.

Right now we only have lost some dogs who’s only desire was to be loved by their owners. It would be a shame to lose any lives needlessly over Vicks transgressions.

By LTX

August 20, 2007 10:31 PM | Link to this

Write this AJC: “AJC Divides the Racial Barriers with VIck Coverage”

By Jack Macpherson

August 20, 2007 10:32 PM | Link to this

Losing Vick is a good thing for the Falcons, and maybe even for the short run. Vick was a all-show, no-go QB. He gave up on his team last year and showed himself to be a loser. I guess it’s a good thing the Falcons didn’t treat him the way he treated the dogs that lost in his fights.

Good riddance.

By cc

August 20, 2007 10:36 PM | Link to this

Thanks AJC, you’ve finally got what you’ve wanted, another white guy to play qb for the Falcons. This city is scarred because another black idol has fallen, and with the media’s help his fall was increased tenfold. Now all the lil white kids can learn a valuable lesson from this. Black guys have no business being the face of a franchise in Atlanta. And all the lil black kids can learn that no matter how hard they try, there’s no room for mistakes if they are given a shot. All behind some friggin’ dogs!

Vick you are an idiot that represented hope for so many. You took your opportunity and flushed it down the toilet. You never learned that there’s no loyalty in the black community when the man turns up the heat. You wanted to identify with the hip hop culture, you got suckered by the very culture you believed in, your own hype, and dumb decision making. You’re not a victim because there are no rich victims, you’re just living proof of the proverbial, “A fool and his money will soon part.”.

Most black people know that the motivation to jail you was racially motivated. Ya see, most of us with a strong parental background learned from our parents that laws were made for us to follow. We know that a dog’s life is no more than an elk’s life unless the whites want to place greater weight on the dog’s life. We also know that there are plenty of other blood sports like horse racing, dog racing, sport hunting, and the likes. But they aren’t a crime because white America enjoys it, even though all the animals end up dead. Then there are the PETA people. Where were they when the two whale sharks were caged and murdered by the Atlanta Aquarium? It’s not a crime because PETA and white America only see’s crime when black people kill animals.

Well Vick they think Atlanta has been set back 5 years because of this debacle. I feel they’ve been set back 15, guys like you only come around once or twice in a generation.

I enjoyed you, loved your game, and still enjoy seeing the super fast athletes emulate you on Friday nights. You’re a matyr, in the annals of NFL history.

By Ray

August 20, 2007 10:48 PM | Link to this

Everyone needs to stop saying that Vick made a mistake. A mistake is when you lock your keys in the car or forget to turn out the lights. Violating Federal law for your own purverse desires (and making defenseless animals suffer as a result)is not a mistake….it is conscious criminal activity that should be delt with harshly. Although it is correct to forgive (and we should), it is not necesary to forget. Someone with such tendencies should not play in the NFL again.

By mack 2

August 20, 2007 10:52 PM | Link to this

Well now that this is coming to a close, I hope Atlanta can see it’s true colors. For one of the AJC writers to say there was no racism involved, didn’t read the same blogs I read each day. I wonder how the Black Falcon players feel playing for a city that has shown that much hate and open racist comments as we have seen in the past months. Mr. Vick was just the sounding board to spread that which was in your hearts already. This is why you now see some former teammates speaking up for him.

*Mr. Vick did the crime now he will do the time. But as my seven year old twins said to me today as I explained the Vick situation, *”Daddy when people make mistakes aren’t we suppose to forgive them??” Some will forgive, some will gloat, some will continue to hate, GOD is the only true judge. But my boys forgive and are still begging me to get them that #7 Falcon’s jersey.

By ELIZABETH JOHNSON

August 20, 2007 10:55 PM | Link to this

Vick has lied to the owner and the coach,hes a trader because when he was on field he was the falcons and off field he was the bad knews kennel what a disappointing thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Sad Day

August 20, 2007 10:57 PM | Link to this

A very sad day for Atlanta Sports. Wyche, Schultz, Moore none of you guys are Atlanta natives so the pain is not there for you. The I told you so stance will hurt all of you in the long run. I think now we can start to recover, the man made a big mistake and will pay for it. Blank and the media and us fans played a part in it too. The path set now for athletes will lead to more of them falling. Had more of his coward teammates who know he kept his mouth closed to protect some of them come forward in his defense, it could have been different. None of these guys here are around the league will say a peep because they know they have dirt too. He is being made an example of, but he put himself in position for that to happen. I hope you all are happy at the AJC, you got what you wanted. I’d be shocked if you guys get interviews from any one at the Branch. Moore is sickening, he groups all people who were just hoping for the best in one category and goes around on his soap box saying all blacks are stupid for it. Schultz, hust seems bitter and is now labeled a racist which I am sure he is not. But he just keeps coming from one point of view. Wyche, trying to make a name for himself at ESPN at Vicks expense. Just a bad situation in which I hope Goodell, Blank, Vick, PETA and the Feds can sit down a say whats fair, how can we make it better and show America how to turn a bad situation into a positive. Wishful thinking though that Moore and Schultz will surely blast!

By FAlconStar

August 20, 2007 10:57 PM | Link to this

Just let him serve a little time in the slammer, and get back to the Falcons, who drafted him and have all that money invested in his contract. It would be a waste of money to let him go—-Arthur Blank’s too smart for that. Vick can take the falcons to the Super Bowl next year with some good coaches finally.

By Sad in Atlanta

August 20, 2007 11:09 PM | Link to this

Vick brought me back to watching pro football. Watching him reminded me of Barry Sanders, Bo Jackson in his prime and the greats of the past. Watching him play the game early on was like watching Jordan in his prime…the man could do it all. Now this.

Those of you that think this is a racial thing are living life with blinders on. I wanted Mike Vick to succeed so badly for this team and for this town and he blew it. He continued to hang out with a bad element and the Falcons covered for him. From what I’ve read, the Falcons put Billy Johnson in the position for cleaning up Mike’s messes. I know Billy and I’m surprised he took the job. We as a society need to figure out that coddling athletes isn’t the way to go. Teams need to be able to write behavior clauses into the contracts. You pull a Pacman, Andre Rison or a Mike Vick stunt and you get no cash and no penalty for the team. Enough is enough. Give me 1,000 Warrick Dunn’s. We’ve been blessed to have this man represent this team and this town and haven’t really given him his due for what he does off the field as well as what he does on the field. THAT is who the Falcons should put in charge of controlling players after he’s through playing and pay him whatever he wants…he’s earned every cent of it.

By jon

August 20, 2007 11:09 PM | Link to this

Vick must pay for all of the slaughtering he has done. Causing physical pain to a helpless animal (or person for that matter) is the most despicable form of human behavior. Mike is a sad deranged fellow who should instead be fighting with boys his own size but he is apparently too cowardly to do that. He is a disgrace to humankind and must, for the sake of football fans worldwide, be banished forever and suffer so that the league can once again prosper and children can see that a positive behavior and attitude is the way to go.

By Jake Bogartis

August 20, 2007 11:11 PM | Link to this

I’ve never been, and will never be, more excited about a Falcons aquisition than when Rondexter Mexico was drafted.

I’ve never been, and will never be, more happy to see a disgusting, vile, half-human, misfit, go down!

By stendec

August 20, 2007 11:14 PM | Link to this

I, too, was caught up in Vickmania those many years ago. Another victim of the hype! Hard-core Falcon followers like myself have become more and more disenchanted with Vick over the years. The Falcons are better off without him! The NFL is better off without him! The world would be better off without him! Sad, but true. Such a revolting and sickening waste!

By joeybagodoghnuts

August 20, 2007 11:24 PM | Link to this

Who cares any more? As a season ticket holder I just want my money back. Arthur Blank is an bandit, he had no knowledge what so ever that this grease ball was involved with this stuff? Please the guy was jerk all around, a thug smile here, a middle finger there, what a joke. I am glad he is gone, hopefully he will be someone’s boyfriend behind bars. He deserves much worse.

By NCR

August 20, 2007 11:43 PM | Link to this

Face it folks. Vick is an average Quarterback. Yeah, he’s flashy and runs fast, but he’s an AVERAGE, at best, QB. His arm strength and accuracy is average. Really, it is.

I don’t know why this town doesn’t see that he’s an average QB. He might win you 2 games a year with his legs, but he’ll lose you 2 games a year with his average QB skills. That’s the truth.

Move on. Let’s get a real strong accurage QB with some mobility. That’s what we really need.

People are just still mesmerized with his flash. That’s the only thing that I can imagine why people are still holding on to the Vick dream. Run Vick run. That’s all they see. We’ll, a few more years of running and he’ll be done and washed up and we’ll be left with an average arm QB.

By Clay

August 20, 2007 11:46 PM | Link to this

Preface: I am a Falcons fan and regularly attend games at the Georgia Dome. I was a MV7 fan and always thought “This year is the one that Mike really gets it all together and plays great”. I do not see skin color, just actions, presentation, and honor.

Michael Vick was a thug from the start. He hid it well from everyone. He is only out for Mike, and in being that way, has hurt every fan of the organization. We are hurt, but we must support our TEAM, which is made of individuals banned together for a common cause. MV7 was one of 53, now he is gone for good. Move on.

My comment to those who think Vick was set up “by the man”: You will only succeed in life when you get past looking at someone’s skin color and judging them by it. I cannot believe those who compare legal hunting of deer, dove, and otherwise to what happened on Vick’s property. If Vick had done to him after that game in 2005 (that he admitted he didn’t play hard) what he did to dogs that “gave up”, then he would be in the same place as those dogs that were removed in black bags from his house.

By Bluestreak

August 20, 2007 11:50 PM | Link to this

I remember the day we got him and thought to myself, “This is going to blow up somehow, we’re talking about he Falcons.” No way this would be how I thought it would go.

I hope Vick is able to get through this and make it back to the NFL, but I don’t ever want to see him back in Atlanta in the home team’s colors.

LT and Brees look like a lot better picks 6 years later…but we all know how hindsight makes things look better.

The sooner we end our association with him (I hope the NFL gives us some kind of cap compensation so we can sooner rather than later) the quicker we can attempt to rebuild (again).

Are the Falcons just a snake-bit franchise?