AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 10
Monday, December 10, 2007
Vick hurts Falcons now and later
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On the day his team plays its next to least home game and makes its final 2007 appearance on Monday Night Football, former quarterback Michael Vick, wore a black and white striped prison suit, stood in front of a judge and received a 23-month prison sentence.
His role as the main financier of a Virginia-based dogfighting ring, a failed drug test after reaching a plea deal on dogfighting charges, and lying to authorities wrought the nearly two-year incarceration. Vick lying to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and to Falcons owner Arthur Blank months earlier also factored into his indefinite suspension from pro football.
While this sordid chapter reaches closer to conclusion, the team Vick left behind will try to work through another distraction tonight against the New Orleans Saints.
The feel-good story of Chris Redman starting in Vick’s place will be a nice story line, but the tone has already been set by this morning’s events. Players will be distracted. Maybe not when they step on the field, but all day, a guy most of them knew as a competitive teammate received punishment none of them expected.
As for Vick’s future, who knows? He might return to the NFL but not with the Falcons. They won’t say it, but there have been way too many hurt feelings for him to ever wear the uniform again. Some team might give him a shot when he’s out but nobody knows if he will even want to play football anymore. He says he does now but things could change.
Regarding the Falcons, they are still on the hook for $20 million in salary cap space over the next two seasons for signing Vick to that 10-year, $130 million in 2004. The NFL won’t give them any type of exemption because of these unforeseen circumstances. That’s why Atlanta is suing to get that money back.
Even if Atlanta wins the grievance, there’s no telling if Vick will cut it a check. And, by rule, there will be no salary-cap credit unless a check from a player is received.
Vick’s absence has hamstrung the Falcons already and his cap charges over the next few years could hamstring them even more.
