Sports Columnists

By VickFan

November 6, 2005 06:52 PM | Link to this

my thoughts exactly, mark…thanks for expressing ‘em for me!

the falcons had a good game. they will build on this effort moving into the 2nd half.

By Woodman

November 6, 2005 06:54 PM | Link to this

Welcome to the FinnerMan and Rowdy Roddy show. Now we have a receveing corps. Man that QB looks great when guys are making catches. All I want is an end to the never ending “Is Vick a real QB?” conversation. 2 more games like this and people will finally accept that the man runs when he wants to and throws when he wants to, and all us outsiders just need to shove it.

By dirrtybird

November 6, 2005 07:17 PM | Link to this

These idiot Vick haters will just complain that he didn’t run enough now. Falcons to the Super Bowl!!

By Falcons Fan

November 6, 2005 07:29 PM | Link to this

To MV7: If you ever think you “get no credit” or appreciation for what you do, know that there are indeed many, many fans out here who do indeed believe in you, who appreciate the courage, leadership and willingness to sacrifice your body. We may not be the loudest talkers, or have spots on television shows, but we are out there. And I’ll tell you this also: there are more of us than there are critics!

If you ever think we don’t exist, take a look around you next time you head to the sideline in a home match. I’ll be the guy wearing a #7 jersey…next to the guy wearing the #7 jersey…behind the woman wearing the #7 jersey two seat over from the kid wearing the #7 jersey just a few seats over from…

Win or lose, Mike, we support you and believe in you. And we don’t care what the critics say, win or lose. Be you!!!!!

By Pete Barkelew

November 6, 2005 07:45 PM | Link to this

Great piece, Mark… about a great quarterback! When the record books are written and read years from now, Michael Vick will be there with many other greats of the game. You’re a winner Michael… see you in the Super Bowl!

By Tony

November 6, 2005 08:03 PM | Link to this

200 yards passing and 1 TD shouldn’t silence critics. He had a good game, a great game compared to his other games this season, but he needs to be consistent to make people believe that he can be a good passing QB.

Keep throwing the ball to Roddy. He can’t do big things unless he gets the opportunity.

Very good game by the ENTIRE team, not just Vick.

By CJ

November 6, 2005 08:30 PM | Link to this

Tony, why are you even on the falcons blog, if you are obviously waiting for Vick to have a bad day at the office! You shoudl’nt be waiting for Vick to have a bad day at the office just so you can critize him. Better luck next week buddy!

By Peyton Forest

November 6, 2005 08:33 PM | Link to this

Good game Vick…but just know that the criticism is rooted in more than just your play…its also related to your position and the “athlete” (code word for non-white) that you are. Remember…its just motivation big time. It only makes you stronger.

Go BIRDS

By Joel

November 6, 2005 08:51 PM | Link to this

Would any Falcons receiver start on any other NFL team? Jenkins, Finneran, Blakely, R. White, D. White (is he still on the team?) may be number 2 receivers at best on most other NFL teams. The fact that Vick is able to complete any passes to anyone other than Crumpler is a feat in itself considering who he is throwing to. Receivers often do make the QB. Just look at would Culpepper did after Moss left.

By Joseph Allen McWhorter

November 6, 2005 08:56 PM | Link to this

Mark, yes, Vick had a great game today. He proved he can be an effective passer as well as an effective runner. This game was a good start to the second half of the season for the Falcons. They had a bye last week and I think it really helped them. They came out and looked sharp. They just need to be more efficient in point production in the red zone. The score should have really been more lopsided than it was. But, it was a road game and teams usually play with much more energy at home than on the road. Good win for the Falcons! I really think that the Falcons will go 12-4 which might be good enough for home field advantage throughout the playoffs. I think they will lose two more games-to Tampa Bay in Tampa and to Carolina in Carolina. Carolina is challenging Atlanta right now for the division title as well as NFC supremacy. It will be fun and interesting the rest of the way. I like our chances. We have the number one playmaker in the league in Michael Vick! Go Falcons! Hopefully Detroit and Super Bowl 40 bound in early February!

By lawdog85

November 6, 2005 08:58 PM | Link to this

I would like to say thank you Mark for that great piece on our QB! Thanks too all the great fans of this team! Oh! last but not least, thanks to Dan Reeves for letting the offensive coordinator know, that this guy works excellent with three and four reciever sets! And I would like to give a special thanks too the offensive line. They played great today! Good game gentleman!

By THE MACK

November 6, 2005 09:00 PM | Link to this

Funny thing happen today at the ball park Falcons are 6-2, top in the division. I know the Vick haters can’t stand it, but the MAN has GAME. Even had Jimmy Johnson giving him slight praise after slammin Vick’s ability in Pregame. We need to give ROBO QB the credit he deserves. No other NFL player has his skills, Gun like the great ones(Dan M.) and legs like Barry Sanders. There will be bumps in the road but remember we got one of the guys that defensive coaches fear most, MONEY PLAYER THAT CAN CHANGE THE GAME AT ANYTIME!!! All the great ones believed in themselves, Jim Brown, Magic, Larry Bird. More importantly their teammates believed that they would lead them to victory!!! The Claw, the Fin and Flash all got involved today snatching perfect bullets out of the sky. Steady 28 keeps eating up yards and time clock. Again the young defense is getting better making plays. These Falcons are for real and thank you haters for puttin a chip on their shoulders. Stay MAD Falcons, keep provin them wrong all the way to the SUPER BOWL!!! ONE TEAM, ONE GOAL - JUST WIN BABY!!!

By Big Money

November 6, 2005 09:13 PM | Link to this

Vick finally threw for 200 yards…whoop dee doo. First time in 18 games. It’s not entirely the WR’s fault either. Sure, they drop passes here and there but Vick doesn’t always throw catchable balls either.

By dirrtybird

November 6, 2005 09:31 PM | Link to this

Is that the best you can do Big Money? “Whoop dee doo” Same record as John Elway at this point “Whoop Dee Doo” 3rd best record among acive QB’s “Whoop Dee Doo” Can beat you with his arm and his legs “whoop dee doo” Another Falcon hater that has to shut up “Whoop Dee Doo!!!!”

By Scott

November 6, 2005 10:05 PM | Link to this

“People say I can’t throw the ball from the pocket,â€? Vick said. “I’m not trying to prove anything to the world because I know what I can do… I feel like I answered [the question] today, and I don’t ever want to hear it again.â€? ………………………………

UH HATE TO TELL YOU THIS MR VICK BUT YOU GOT TO DO IT OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON , NOT ONE FLUKE PASSING GAME OVER THE HAPLESS MIAMI DEFENSE. MIAMI ALMOST WON THE GAME AND THEY STINK OUT LOUD.

200 YARDS. WOW

LETS SEE HIM THROW 200 YARDS VS THE PANTHERS.

GEEZZ LOUISE….. VICK IS GOING TO THE HALL OF FAME FOR SURE NOW.

By Jennifer

November 6, 2005 10:12 PM | Link to this

I just want to extend my hand to Justin Griffith’s shoulder and let him know that he still did good. Man, that box to his ears gave him a stunner. I could see him trying to focus on that ball after it popped out of his hands but he was too fligh to get at it.

WD-28 is my favorite, but JuG is going to be a great back someday soon. I feel bad for him taking some hard hits today.

Speaking of hard hits, wow, was that game smash mouth. Everyone on offense was rode hard and put up wet, especially WD and MV. Those two got smacked all over the place and never let up.

And thank the Goddess for Keon, huh? She blessed you with cahones,man, and you used them. Praise Be.

By Jennifer

November 6, 2005 10:17 PM | Link to this

Scott….uh, obvious you didn’t watch the game. Miami so did not almost win the game. They had no chance to win. Rather, ATL should have won by a greater spread but gave up two important turnovers, which however, did NOT make the ATL lose momentum. Conversely, Miami did lose momentum when we turned their table upside down.

You must think we’re all blind. Idiot.

By Ely

November 6, 2005 10:23 PM | Link to this

Scott, please GO AWAY. You are a bonafide IDIOT!!! The falcons are 6-2, Vick can play the QB position. I think some people posting these hate filled posts about vick aren’t even atlanta falcons fans. They are vick-haters waiting to pounce on his every move despite him winning for the past couple of seasong. It seems like you have a complex about vick and it has nothing to do with his throwing abilities but the color of his skin. The REAL falcons fans will route for vick when he has good games as well as bad games because we know what he can do. And the owner and coaches know if vick isn’t playing, half the dome would be EMPTY!!!!

By Big Money

November 6, 2005 10:37 PM | Link to this

What is Vick’s passer rating?

Before you say “he wins games” just realize that the QB is only one person and he can’t do it by himself. Dan Marino was the greatest passer ever, yet he wasn’t surrounded by as good of a team as Vick is.

The team wins games, it’s the QB that helps.

By dirrtybird

November 6, 2005 11:14 PM | Link to this

Hey “No Money”. Why don’t you look up the Falcons record when Vick starts, and then look up their record win Vick is on the sidelines. Being a great passer and a great winner are two different things. Go root for another team, and look stupid when we shove the ball down that teams throat too.

By larry w.

November 6, 2005 11:53 PM | Link to this

I think the team played it’s best overall game of the year today. I was more impressed with this win than I was with the Minnesota win. The Falcons were three plays away from a blow out. All phases of the team played well today, offense(running and passing), defense, and special teams. The safeties held their own for a change and Keion came up with the huge pick at the end. The passing game was crisp and efficient. The running game complemented the passing game very nicely. Over all a very good, solid victory on the road in a tough place to win. Remember, Carolina and Denver both lost in Miami. It appears that the team is focused and ready for the stretch run. Barring a MAJOR upset next week against Green Bay, the team should be 7-2 going into divisional play.

By doc

November 7, 2005 12:16 AM | Link to this

i am sick of the vick detractors, but i feel compassion for them because their lives must be pretty awful to demean someone who is so special. hear about it in church all the time.

the guy is a winner and has NO CATEGORY as there has been no qb like him ever so no comparisons can be made. i assure you almost any qb past and present would have loved to have what he has. i wish the writers and “fans” that cant see something so special will be enlightened at some point but i am afraid i will hear too soon the words crucify him, crucify him.

By Brian Hunt

November 7, 2005 12:37 AM | Link to this

What a game! Vick looked great. If he plays like that the rest of the season, you have to like the Falcons’ chances of playing in another NFC championship game, at which point anything would be possible.

What was with all the empty seats in Miami? The team was celebrating it’s 40th anniversary, Honoring its best historical players at half-time, and playing one of the NFL’s best teams, but nobody could take a seat? And I thought Atlanta fans were fickle.

By Michael

November 7, 2005 01:10 AM | Link to this

As the announcers said today: isn’t it nice how Vick doesn’t really seem to care about his numbers as long as the team wins? T.O. this man is not.

By Voice of Sanity

November 7, 2005 02:08 AM | Link to this

How about a little credit to the defense for a change?

The Falcons scored a grand total of 17 points today. That is the lowest offensive total of any winning team on Sunday.

Yet, Mark the male cheerleader Bradley and the other Vick groupies seem to think he is the primary reason for Atlanta’s win—as usual.

Vick had a decent game today but 220 yards passing and 17 points is nothing to get giddy about.

By Great Falconi

November 7, 2005 02:36 AM | Link to this

Here’s a question: Why did the Falcons run a handoff to Warrick Dunn on the 4th and 2 in the fourth quarter? Why wasn’t Vick on a rollout on that play? Why didn’t they kick a field goal? Good thing Keion made a diving play on a bad throw by Frerotte.

Moving along, Michael Vick had a good, efficient, Phil Simms-esque passing game for the Falcons. I personally don’t think that Vick has to throw the ball for 200 yards every week. What I DO think is that he needs to throw the ball efficiently each week. The Falcons play the Packers next and Vick should be able to string together a couple of good passing performances. Let’s just hope he continues to build on that and take that next step as a quarterback.

Now, as for Vick’s postgame comments, I can understand that he’s mad about people criticizing his passing ability, but he shouldn’t have complained so vehemently about it. His comments make for good copy, but they come across to a lot of the fans a little like the infamous “weather conditions” cop-out that he used about the NFC title game in Philly last year. Vick is a cocky guy, which is great on the field, but not so good in the media. He comes off looking like a spoiled guy who can’t handle warranted criticism when he spouts his mouth off like that.

Despite what you may think, I like Vick. He’s a hell of a guy to have at the quarterback position when he plays like he did today. He stood in the pocket and took the hit when forced to, rolled out when he needed to, made running plays when he had to and helped lead his team to the W. In fact, the Falcons could win a Super Bowl with the Vick who played against the Dolphins. It is that simple, folks. Throw it efficiently with a great running game and watch the victories roll in.

As for doc’s “there is no category” for a guy like Vick, remember that he is a quarterback. Even Vick will tell you that he should be a passer first, so Vick’s category is as a quarterback, plain and simple. The team wins when he starts. He has always managed the running game well and that running game has been the Falcons’ bread and butter during his time as a starter. He deserves credit for that and doesn’t often receive it. However, he hasn’t been a good passer over his career. The proof is in the stats.

To wrap this up, I just want to say that whenever I see Vick throwing the ball well in a game, I get really pumped up. All the “haters” (or skeptical fans) want (and I’m sure he wants it much worse than we fans do) is to see consistent success in the passing game to go along with all of his other talents. Hell, he even gets calls from the refs because of those talents. I’ve never cheered for a team that benefits from the “Jordan Rules”, so to speak, but the Falcons are becoming that sort of team. I just hope this ride continues for a long time, because I know Vick has it in him to win a title. When that day comes, I’ll do the Dan Reeves version of the “Dirty Bird” and absolve Eugene Robinson of his sins.

By geechee

November 7, 2005 07:26 AM | Link to this

Great column Mark.

Jennifer, you have very entertaining posts.

Falconi, I only get to see a few Bird’s games a year way out here but, from what I have read on this site since his last game, Vick has every reason to be mad and to speak his mind. You call him cocky like that is something for a QB. With a few exceptions you do not become a great QB without being cocky.

As for doc’s “there is no category�, he is absolutely right. When you read comments about Vick from people who know the game, such as Madden, those are the exact words they use. He is in their words a totally new phenomenon and can not be judged by simple statistics or at least the ones that are normally used.

This makes your comment; �Even Vick will tell you that he should be a passer first, so Vick’s category is as a quarterback, plain and simple.�, without merit. I can see you are a fan of his but; it’s probably comments like yours that get him mad. In his head, I would think what comes first is whatever he thinks he needs to win that particular game he is in. For the time being at least, until the rest of us catch up, the only category of the man that can really be judged is wins and losses.

By tb

November 7, 2005 07:47 AM | Link to this

It’s cool. Good day for Vick. But, in the NFL, good QB’s are expected to have days like that routinely.

Still work to do.

he Falcons did streach the feild a bit with the passing game. They should keep it up.

By CJ

November 7, 2005 07:53 AM | Link to this

Matt Schaub who?

By doc

November 7, 2005 08:26 AM | Link to this

said it before and will say it again, if you get lost in statistics with vick you will miss one of the greatest qb’s of all time. he is changing the game right in front of your faces. what he does cannot be measured. how do you measure his ability to keep the defense honest and at home in the position? it cripples the pursuit as the defenders ALWAYS have is defend the bootleg where vick can score on any posession. that in itself opens the lanes for the powerful running game. listening on the radio in the first drive, that was a point made, that miami wasnt defending the boot. sure enough he was off on a keep, they scored on their first drive and then played chess to hold service and win. they didnt blow out miami though vick had credible numbers but got the win.

as far as vicks passing capabilities, he has it. how can you explain his numbers in a drop back system like reeves had him in, but to be honest that takes some of his best capabilities away from him. one of the prettiest passses i have ever seen is when the falcons playing for nothing against the panthers the year of vicks injury and the panthers rise to the super bowl. he efffortlessly threw it 60 yards to peerless off his back foot on a string for a td. in that same game he also made the defenders look silly as he would stop on a dime and they were literally flapping at thin air. these are guys who are the best, looking like what you or i would look like playing in the nfl …. LIKE IDIOTS.

i am sorry that he cant be superman or mercurial on every play with every game and i too get frustrated as i think at times he loses focus in games but just the sheer virtuoso quality of his play is a marvel to watch, all while he intends to play in a team concept and proves it by just winning baby.

i really thing his detractors miss the big picture. of course this is what i was saying about the a jones bashers this summer, to wake up to one of the greatest singular performances in braves history. it finally quieted down and jones has won just about all awards that his peers could vote on. i just pray that vick listens to his peers and coaches more than the sportswriters making a story or fans with their own sad petty agendas.

By kudzu

November 7, 2005 08:32 AM | Link to this

Good overall game…there was definetly some hitting going on out there; Justin G. my gosh man, did you see him trying to stay balanced after a couple of jars to the noggin? He’s tough though…I like him. Dolphin D was smacking some people…

Best receiving game I’ve seen in a while. It was like everything thrown was going to be caught, no matter who was doing the catching, nice to watch for a change.

However, what in the crud is up with Rossum the Possum? Man, doesn’t he need to step up and catch a few of those punts and save the team ten or twenty yards in field position? It seemed like the Birds were starting on the 10 yard line most of the day. He’s been letting punts drop all year, it seems. Is it just me or has this really been happening?

Good win, that first drive was pretty, Vick, you showed me something today.

By kudzu

November 7, 2005 08:41 AM | Link to this

One more thing, the more I listen to Vicks post game and hear of his remarks, the more I don’t like the guy. He thinks he’s silenced the critics, he’s proven after yesterdays game “he’s a pocket passer” One game, now we’re all convinced. What? Why doesn’t he just say only positive “team oriented things” or shut the heck up?

I believe he must have been doubly motivated after watching “little arrogance” play like crap on Saturday night.

By johna

November 7, 2005 08:42 AM | Link to this

After the last game I said the Vick was better suited to a vertical game. Not only did Knapp finally put together a solid passing game plan, but I think I saw Vick throw the best pass of his career in the second quarter to Roddy White. It was the first time since I’ve been watching him at Va Tech that he actually threw the ball and took off the zing that he usually throws with. I have to say now we are getting somewhere. If he learns how to do that consistantly no defense in the NFL will have the ability to stop him. Congratulations Mr. Vick you are now on your way to being the best in the game.

By Robert Sagoes

November 7, 2005 08:56 AM | Link to this

I say yet again. There is no “I” in Team~~~

By Dave Norris

November 7, 2005 09:03 AM | Link to this

Well, I was one of those who criticized MV’s passing skills and excuse me if I don’t get all contrite just because he had one fair to good game.

You don’t want criticism Michael? Then chuck the jersey and return the paycheck. Because if you’re going to get millions of dollars in compensation to throw a bladder of air around you better damn sure do it well all of the time. If you’re less than perfect then you need criticism to point out where you need improvement. It’s also called feedback and it comes with the territory.

That being said, I think you’re the most dynamic talent in the NFL today. I am thrilled by your exploits, am thankful that you play for the team I pull for and wouldn’t trade you for anybody.

But you’ve got to get consistent. Fortune blessed you at birth but you really didn’t earn that. What you earned, through effort and prseverance, was a chance to become one of the if not the greatest players of all time.

I wish you well. I know you do want to be considered the best. But I also know that until you achieve that designation through consistent excellence you will continue to be criticized. Better get used to it. Better yet, use it to motivate you through all the repetitions, all the meetings and through all the games yet to be in your professional life.

Do I have realistic expectations of your potential? I think so. But even if I’ve asked too much, do you think all the fans that follow this team aren’t expecting more and more from you with each dramatic play you pull off? Do you really think we won’t always want more?

I want Sunday’s performance to be routine, just another day at the office. My suspicion is that you also want this. Take the criticism as an expression of love from the people who say it. Because you know what? Worse than criticism and the pressure of those expectations is the curse of laboring in obscurity where no one knows your name or cares what the hell you do.

By Ignatius

November 7, 2005 09:38 AM | Link to this

Micheal Vick is a great QB and the Falcons are a team on the rise to greatness. The big change this year is that they are playing as a team. The defense is great, the running and passing were balanced yesterday, you’ve got a backup QB that half the teams in the NFL are lusting over, just a fun game to watch. Too little credit has been given to Jim Mora, Rich McKay and Arthur Blank. Thanks to all. It’s great to be a Falcon fan but it’s a lot more fun when they’re playing like they’re playing now.

By David C

November 7, 2005 09:55 AM | Link to this

“Worse than criticism and the pressure of those expectations is the curse of laboring in obscurity where no one knows your name or cares what the hell you do.”

Which would make Vick like you.

By Jim

November 7, 2005 09:57 AM | Link to this

I am not against vick being the qb of the falcons, whether he’s black white blue green or any other color ( to you idiots who chose to play the race card any time anytime any kind of criticism is put forth, idiots)and contrary to what alot of you seem to think it is not a prerequisite to kiss vicks a* to be a fan of the falcons. Yeah he had a decent game. If you don’t mind I’ll wait till he’s a little more consistent before i declare him the next all time great nfl qb. everybody keeps bringing up almost 3000 yards from 02, that’s less than 200 yds a game, not exactly top tier stuff. Having said all that if he can stay more consistent with yesterday’s performance I like our chances against most teams and watch the run stats blow up with more performances like that. Go Falcons All Falcons not just one of them.

By Big Dawg

November 7, 2005 10:03 AM | Link to this

Money, QB rating = Dumbass, overrated statistic. What is the only statistic that really matters? WINS VS LOSSES. “Vick is only one person, can’t do it by himself” The man has the ability to win games single handedly (“The Run” against the Vikings, “Levetation” vs the Panthers”)there is a reason we have him at quarterback, he has the ability to break the game on every offensive play. I know you will probably try to pull a stat out of thin air to tell me how overated Vick is, but remember, there are liars, there are damned liars, and then there are statisticians. Pay attention to the only stat that matters.

By Auron

November 7, 2005 10:06 AM | Link to this

You know, it’s funny that most people who are wanting Vick to be consistent in the passing game are forgetting something.

Because of Vick’s abilities as both a PASSER and a runner, plus our ground attack, is causing most defensive coordinators to come up with completly different schemes. Vick mentioned this in one interview on how studying the film for the team’s upcoming opponent, usually does not do him any good because the opposing defense throws this innovative scheme that throws off his reads.

By geechee

November 7, 2005 10:11 AM | Link to this

�One more thing, the more I listen to Vicks post game and hear of his remarks, the more I don’t like the guy. He thinks he’s silenced the critics, he’s proven after yesterdays game “he’s a pocket passer� One game, now we’re all convinced. What? Why doesn’t he just say only positive “team oriented things� or shut the heck up?�

Since you seem to be such a big team guy, the bigger question is; why don’t you?

I don’t live there so I really don’t know all he said but, from what I’ve read; it all seemed to be directed towards critics, such as yourself and not towards his team, unless in your mind, you really are a member of the team. In fact Crumpler, according to Bradley said; “He’s the leader of our team, and we rally around him. We don’t think [the criticism] is fair.� Please notice the words of an actual member of his team; “leader of our team�, “we rally around him�, and “We don’t think [the criticism] is fair.�

�You don’t want criticism Michael? Then chuck the jersey and return the paycheck. Because if you’re going to get millions of dollars in compensation to throw a bladder of air around you better damn sure do it well all of the time. If you’re less than perfect then you need criticism to point out where you need improvement.

Just exactly what do you do everyday that you feel is such a service to mankind? “If you are less than perfect�, give me a break, just how perfect are you in that above mentioned service to mankind that you do everyday? The NFL is a business. It was started to make money providing entertainment. Tom Cruise and Jim Carrey get 25 million bucks per picture and they get stunt men. The value of the Falcons has risen around 100 million since Blank bought the team. The stadium is sold out.

Get outta town, Vick and his bladder easily earn their keep.

By Mojo

November 7, 2005 10:22 AM | Link to this

Hey Scott, last year Vick only threw for 150 yards against the Carolina Panties…both times. While your boy Jake GoHomme put up over 300 both games. The funny thing is though that he beat you both times…how ya like them apples Biaattchh!! Better go root for the Tarheels RE-RE

By Rell

November 7, 2005 10:38 AM | Link to this

Two people passed for 300 yards yesterday and both guys lost. I dont care what Vick does with his arms or his legs as long as he is winning. And thats something he does on a consistent basis.

By mike

November 7, 2005 10:55 AM | Link to this

He scored two touchdowns against the number 28 defense in the league? Is he seriously expecting the doubters to go away with this performance? Miami has a terrible team no one can seriously be impressed with this performance against a sub par team. I almost fell out of bed I laughing so hard last at the tv when I saw Vick talking about “shutting up the doubters” then I see it was 17-10 victory over Miami.

By John Reid

November 7, 2005 11:08 AM | Link to this

Great job by the defense…if not for being placed in bad field position due to Rossum’s fumble (good thing he had enough sense to no longer touch the ball again) they only would have given up 7 points. Atlanta will soon become a team that will dominate weak teams on the road as they do at home (like what they will do to Green Bay next week at the Dome). We are really showing our depth with the young guys on D stepping up against a game Miami team. The difference between great teams and so-so teams are the ones that still win in spite of making mistakes. Atlanta is well on the way!

Great posts by many of you, however, I think there’s one simple way to analyze Vick’s performance yesterday, as solid as it was. Terry Bradshaw said it best “When Vick manages to master the touch pass, look out”.

By Rell

November 7, 2005 11:08 AM | Link to this

Yo Mike did you watch the game? First off Miami’s D is ranked like 16 in the league not 28, and the Falcons should have beaten them by at least 3 TD’s. The score should have been like 28 to 7. Finn dropped a TD pass that hit him in the hands and Justin fumbled at the 8 yard line. Those are two mistakes that werent Vicks fault. And Rossum had a fumble on a punt return that lead to a Miami Field goal. The game shouldnt have even been close.

How about you use your energy to do something else besides bash the Falcons, and Vick.

By Randy

November 7, 2005 11:12 AM | Link to this

During the game, excellent job Michael, AFTER the game, needs improvement. These are JUST people with opinions, not worth your time Mr. V. No matter what these people think, you are a professional, you have proven time and again. Show them the class you have, don’t become a TO, Please, we love you and our Falcons too much for the lack of class he shows consistently. Michael, I am one of the fans that has constantly said you need to use QB instincts first, run as a last resort. This, I feel WILL catch the defenders off-guard. The more you run and show your moves, the more they will adjust and change pursuit lanes and angles. I want you to be around a long time. The Falcons and fans deserve it… You deserve it with your talent. There is NO racism intended with saying you are a great athletic talent, just praise. There is also no racism intended when I say I think your wide receiver corp should be all white. That was proven yesterday. Finneran and Roddy (White) (He, he, he.) Of course, Algie is the greatest tight end in the game today, and I think Brian and Roddy should be the WR corp, based on performance.

Dave Norris, you should write the columns instead of Bradley.

Jennifer,,, Marry me.

By Catch222

November 7, 2005 11:17 AM | Link to this

Great game, good to see Vick & the receivers having a good day! Concerns, saw the graphic on TV yesterday showing quaterback sacks, hurries, knockdowns and one other category. Vick had significant numbers in every category obviously showing he’s getting knocked around quite a bit not to mention the hits he’s taking when he runs. The Miami QB had zeros in every category. Obviously, we need to keep Vick from taking so many hits because eventually he’s gonna go down & we DON”T WANT THAT! Schaub’s good but Vick’s our guy. GREAT JOB FALCONS!

By John Reid

November 7, 2005 11:18 AM | Link to this

You know what it really comes down to, for both fans and “haters” alike? it’s the fact that everyone knows Vick is so supremely talented, that we are anxiously awaiting for all of that to come together on a consistent basis. Yesterday wasn’t even the tip of the iceberg, as we know Vick is too good and too special of a player for any team to really shut him down (sans Derrick Brooks).

Personally I don’t think there’s any team in the league that Atlanta can’t beat (no I’m not high) especially in the NFC. The Falcons have the personnel to win anywhere, and had Vick played the entire game against Seattle and NE we’re talking about an 8-0 team. At best the Colts could give Atlanta fits, so let’s see who else you think could beat Atlanta right now? Honestly? You can say Carolina right now but mentally they know they can’t beat Atlanta when Vick plays.

By mike

November 7, 2005 11:19 AM | Link to this

I’m not bashing the falcons just Vick. The guy has no business running the offense for any team. you should trade a running back for a decent wide receiver put vick at running back or wide out and let schwab run it. I keep hearing how good Vick is, yet I still don’t see the ring. Where is it? I don’t care what it “should” have been. It was 17-10 against a sub par team. Period. It was one week not even close to consistant.

By mike

November 7, 2005 11:23 AM | Link to this

“Had Vick played against NE and Seattle”. Had Vick been playing his position and not running he would of played. You still would not have beaten the champs. I watched Vick eat peanuts on the sidelines when the champs came to town. Tom Brady runs for 0 yards a game and has 3 rings in 5 years. Vick is so spectacular and so athletic but has none. If anyone on here would honestly take Vick late in the 4th in close game over Brady your doing drugs.

By falcon guy

November 7, 2005 11:34 AM | Link to this

Wow, what a shock, Vick haters still can’t shut up. This isn’t the first 200 yard passing game of Vick’s career, so I’m not sure why people think yesterday was an aberration. Can we make a deal with the Vick haters? When the Falcons make it to the playoffs (again) I think all the Vick haters have to admit they are wrong, because winning is the name of the game.

By mike

November 7, 2005 11:38 AM | Link to this

Winning is the name of the game your right. How many rings does Vick have? ZERO thats not a winner.

By Randy

November 7, 2005 11:43 AM | Link to this

Mike, Mike, Mike….How many QBs IN HISTORY have super bowl rings???? Was Marino a LOSER? Was Tarkenton a LOSER??? Namath has ONE. Was he a LOSER???

Come on.. Super bowls rings do not distinguish between losers and winners.

Was EARL Morrell a winner?? (See Miami)

By mike

November 7, 2005 11:45 AM | Link to this

If you don’t get a ring YES your a loser. Marino was a great qb, but he never won it. The object of the game here is to win the super bowl. Regular season wins are only meaningfull if they lead to the bowl.

By Randy

November 7, 2005 11:47 AM | Link to this

PS How about ALL the back-up QBs on super bowl champ teams, that NEVER played a down during super bowl years?? They have rings. Are they WINNERS?????

No ring. Tell Tarkenton’s Viking teams that WENT to the super bowl 4 times, without winning ONE that they are losers.

Give me a break!!!

By mike

November 7, 2005 11:48 AM | Link to this

If your the backup of course your a loser. Anything less then number 1 is a loss period. If you think any different then your just a sappy heart that needs to justify losses to yourself.

By geechee

November 7, 2005 11:49 AM | Link to this

All I can say is; that being someone who likes the Falcons and lives very far from Atlanta,looking at things from a distance, of all the teams who have had similar records over the last two seasons, no other city bashes their QB quite like Atlanta does.

By falconchick

November 7, 2005 11:52 AM | Link to this

I EMJOYED THE GAME YESTERDAY,VICK SHOWED ANOTHER SIDE OF HIMSELF,SHOWED US THAT HE CAN BE A POCKET PASSER.THE TEAM PLAYED WELL.I THINK THE O-LINE COULD HAVE BEEN ALITTLE TIGHTER.WHOSE JOB WAS IT TO GUARD JASON TAYLOR? CAUSE I THINK NOBODY WAS IN THE POSITION YESTERDAY.TOO MUCH BLITZING BY MIAMI, NONE BY THE FALCONS.OVERALL A GOOD GAME,I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE BLOWN THEM OUT MORE.THANKS GREG KNAPP FOR SUPPLYING US WITH SOME PASSING PLAYS AND CAN WE SEE MORE NEXT WEEK AGAINST GREEN BAY?VICK YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DEFEND YOURSELF AGAINST THE MEDIA.WE TRUE FALCON FANS LOVE YOU AND WE KNOW YOU PUT THE W IN WIN.WE LOVE YOU AND CONTINUE TO DO THE THINGS YOU DO.NEXT WEEK ATLANTA 32 GREEN BAY 10 GO FALCONS!!!!!!

By John Reid

November 7, 2005 12:08 PM | Link to this

Ok Mike obviously you needed to be corrected on some things. By your warped thinking, Trent Dilfer is a winner (he did win one, which apparently according to your asinine mind makes him the ultimate winner). So let’s make a deal shall we? no actually here’s the deal because I don’t have time to deal with you when I have a real life to get back to: when your (insert name of Super Bowl winning team here) “team” (which consists of whoever is currently the champion) wins the super bowl this year, and you’re considering them for the hall of fame, come back to this post and let’s compare how good they really are; let’s see if they are considered hall of fame material compared to Vick, ok?

Ok you’re dismissed son

By Randy

November 7, 2005 12:09 PM | Link to this

Hey geechee, How do they bash their qbs? Do we need lessons. I thought we bashed better than anybody. I guess we’re losers THERE, too. Right Mike?

By Falcons Fan

November 7, 2005 12:18 PM | Link to this

I think the Oline has improved its pass blocking overall this year, but yesterday Jason Taylor had his way with Todd Weiner. I like Barry Stokes there over him. Weiner’s banged up and has lost some quickness.

By geechee

November 7, 2005 12:26 PM | Link to this

Randy, don’t get bent out of shape. I was just making an observation. As I said I like the Birds, they are my favorite pro team, I just could not honestly say I was a fan, like I am with the Dogs.

By Scott

November 7, 2005 12:36 PM | Link to this

jennifer

looked to me like Miami was going to tie the game with under 2 minutes left to play until Carpenter intercepted.

jennifer - marry me

By jason45

November 7, 2005 12:39 PM | Link to this

Lord have mercy, the guy is ranked number 30 out of how many NFL starting QBs,…and ONE GAME PROVES his point?

What a curve he’s graded on

By Da Truth: AdrianF

November 7, 2005 12:54 PM | Link to this

Michael Vick had a good game passing…great job!!! But it was well over due. But with that said…better late than never. Now for Da Truth…

Da Truth is…if the Falcons want not only to make the super bowl but to win it as well, Michael Vick is going to have to pass like this on a consistent basis. The Falcons have to develop consistency both in the run and pass game if they want to win a super bowl. If Michael Vick can do what he did this past Sunday every Sunday then he will truly be unstoppable and indefensible. Can you imagine defensive coordinators having to plan for both a running attack and a passing attack in the form of one Michael Vick?…Scary, very scary!!

GO FALCONS!!!

By Randy

November 7, 2005 01:09 PM | Link to this

No problem Geechee, just trying to inject a little humor here. We all get WAY too bent out of shape over Michael, which is ridiculous. He’s only a man, and it’s only a game. I agree though, don’t mess with my DAWGS.

Hey Scott,,, I ASKED FIRST!!!

Later

By Falcon Fan

November 7, 2005 01:23 PM | Link to this

Great Falconi,

Not a criticism, just a thought…

Re: Vick’s b*** after the game… Unless you saw different footage than i did, there’s no way to know what reporters were asking him. We all know how they are and it might be hard to decipher what context his responses were in.

i just throw this out because we all know he is a quiet personality and a team first guy.

i like your perspective, though

By L Luv

November 7, 2005 01:45 PM | Link to this

Look, people - I’m not a Falcon fan. In fact, I’m a Dolphin fan and maybe some of you are too close to this situation to be unbiased, but here’s a few things to consider.

1. The Falcons are a good team..with an emphasis on TEAM. They are not great yet, but they are good and that’s undeniable.
2. Mike Vick can be an average QB for the Falcons and they can still be winners. If you need an example, look no further than Jay Fiedler. When he was the starting QB, the Dolphins won over 60% of their games. Yet, he was not considered an all time great, a Pro Bowl QB, a future Hall of Famer, the greatest QB of all time, etc. To be sure, he’s had much better games as a passer than Mike Vick - what is he today? A backup to Chad Pennington…and that’s exactly what he should be.

Do we need to see another example of a QB with extreme talent, but an inability to win the Super Bowl with that talent - call him Randall Cunningham! Vick before you knew of Vick - he could run almost as well and had as strong an arm. He took those same criticisms for bailing on plays, etc and guess what - the Eagles won b/c of and in spite of him. It wasn’t until he couldn’t win with his legs that he resurfaced for the Vikings in ‘98 and guess what - he was league MVP as a mobile (not running) QB. Now, Vick can do those same things, but he still has enormous room to grow - just wait until you don’t have a team to depend on (i.e. the defenseless Colts of old with Peyton, the defenseless and running back-less Dolphins with Marino) before you start talking about how great Vick is - he assuredly hasn’t had to do the winning on his own, so to keep bringing up - he’s a winner is as short sighted as the day is long.

Now, this isn’t to hate on Mike Vick (I still can’t understand why communicating that Mike Vick still has work to do as a passer has to be about hating), but to say that you overstate his good qualities (of which he has many - he’s a playmaker, he’s a great runner) and understate his bad ones (he doesn’t have touch, he bails on the play too often, he doesn’t look off safeties well, he doesn’t get out of harm’s way even when he sees it). If we can criticize Favre (who has WORSE receivers right now than the Falcons) while he has the most TDs, but also most INTs or Peyton (who has put up some of the best passing numbers in history) for not getting to the big game - why can’t Vick take some criticism even though the team wins the games. Point blank, Mike Vick being back behind center didn’t help them beat the Jets - the Jets handed the Falcons that game. Give that to the defense. Give some love to Warrick Dunn who in my mind is MORE important than Vick right now. Give some love to the run blocking (though take some away for their pass blocking). I don’t want to stay on this too long for fear that I have to be drawn and quartered for saying that Mike Vick is a talented individual who still needs time to get better as a passer.

As he is, he can help you defeat weak to average teams, but in the postseason - he will need to pass the ball better and to ignore that is to ignore reality. And save bringing up Green Bay or the Rams as his postseason success. To make my point even plainer, I thought he was a better passer under Reeves than now. So, as a sum total, his running ability helps him mask his shortcomings as a passer - the people who identify those things don’t have to be haters. Many people ‘hated’ on Steve Young when all he was was a runner with a strong arm before he got to San Francisco - he turned into a Hall of Famer some 6 years later…Vick has the same skill set and the same opportunity, but ease up on the sensitivity to the fact that Mike Vick can be MUCH better and I shutter to think that a 220 yd, 1TD day (average for anyone not named Kyle Boller or Joey Harrington) is the barometer through which he’s proven anything. Mike passed ok yesterday - the Falcons won and are winning while he’s average at passing. Let’s just let it be that and enjoy it b/c trust me, had we won a Super Bowl with average Fiedler - I’d have taken it. And I wouldn’t be running down the streets telling people that Fiedler was a great QB - I’d tell you that he’s a Super Bowl winning QB and that’s all that matters.

NE way, Mike’s talented - he’s a winner - he’s exciting. Doesn’t mean he’s a great QB b/c he’s not. He’s average to good with the upside that not many QBs have ever had - let’s just all wait and see how the story is written 3-4 years from now when he’s gotten the offense down and has had time to grow. Until then, don’t let the wins keep your eyes from deceiving you. If that’s the case, next you’ll be telling us that Keion Carpenter is the next Rodney Harrison or DeAngelo Hall is the next Deion Sanders.

By Jennifer

November 7, 2005 01:48 PM | Link to this

Hi, Scott, Randy,

Thanks for the proposals, it’s been a while since I got one. I have commitment issues, though, since the last guy who asked is still around.

However, in regards to the game looking like a tie until the Immaculate Interception….I have to admit that I felt confident that we’d stop the score. Mostly because we’d be doing so all day.

We’d been moving the ball down the field pretty easily the whole game so that if that game HAD been tied I was confident that we’d win in OT, take the 3 and go to the beach.

I was disappointed that the score wasn’t 31-10, like it could have been if we’d been perfect. But..ah, whatever, I’ll take the win however it comes.

By Randy

November 7, 2005 02:01 PM | Link to this

Just keep me in mind, Jennifer. I like the way you think on football.

By Randy

November 7, 2005 02:07 PM | Link to this

Jennifer, you are soo right. End of the season, no matter the point spread, 14-2 is 14-2 no matter if each game is 1 point or 100. (though 100 points would be a fun game to watch).

Keep the guy around, although, keep me in mind, I like the way you think football, and handled Scott in the earlier blogs.

(How long has it been since you had a proposal?)

By PreyDawg

November 7, 2005 02:16 PM | Link to this

After this one I will not post regarding Mike Vick again. That is because his supporters all follow him with such a blind alleigance (see the above reference where he is likened to the Messiah)that they cannot engage in a discussion. Any mention of areas for improvement (that all quarterbacks face) results in an irrational and emotional reaction.

I have NEVER hated on Vick or treated him with a lack of respect. I have laid out logical arguments as to why he is not yet the complete quarterback. As I have said over and over (though it has been totally ignored) I like Vick alot. I love watching the guy play.

But since I have been critical of him at times I wanted to make my last post about Vick a positive one.

They guy played a helluva ball game yesterday. I reject the notion that it was average as some here have suggested. If you look at how quick his decisions were and how accurate his throws…that was a big time performance. Hope he can keep it up.

As an aside, I once saw Jenn at a sports bar and come to find out she is a black belt in TIVO or Fung Shuay or Kung Fu or something. I am nearly able to chew food again now though.

By cp

November 7, 2005 02:17 PM | Link to this

Its funny how people are saying Mike only had one good game so that proves nothing but they are the same people who say start Schaub who only had 1 good game. I really dont get it. The team wins when he starts yet you wouldnt think so if u read half of these blogs. At the end of the day its about the W. I dont care how we win as long as we win. Vick said if he is losing games then yea criticize him, he has no problem wit that so next time read the whole story before you make up some more insane stuff. I also want to thank Knapp for opening up the playbook. I was sick of the predictable play calls from previous weeks. And for some reason all the nfl analyst (guys who actually played in the nfl) think that the falcons can win the Super Bowl with Vick yet people who havent even played junior high ball seem to think they can’t. I hope Vick keeps doing what he is doing and the team keeps winning because the real tru fans appreciate it so dont even worry about the bandwagon and fake fans who come on here and rant about nothing what so ever.

By Shiney

November 7, 2005 02:31 PM | Link to this

N E OF U THING THAT THE FLACON SHULD GET TERRELL OWEN 2 HELP VICK OUT HE NOS WR COACH GOERGE STUERT AND PLAYED FOR GREG NAPP HE CULD HELP VICK A LOT AND VICK NEDS IT BAD CUZ HE NOT THAT GOOD TREWING THE BALL MR BLANKS IF U R READING THIS PLEEZ GET TERRELL OWEN NOW

By Randy

November 7, 2005 02:33 PM | Link to this

Shiney, you are out of your mind. Only the federal penitentary needs Terrell Owens.

By Jennifer

November 7, 2005 02:38 PM | Link to this

Randy,

It’s been 8 years since that proposal. And now it’s complicated because we made more people since that time. Look at it this way…if none of them want me anymore you sure as hell don’t.

But, you’re right. I will take my wins how the come. But I don’t like games that make me nervous, win or no, like against New Orleans. I think yesterday the team just pulled it together and showed us a peak at what they’re going to be consistently sometime soon.

PreyDawg, my blackbelt is in beer and that was a hangover you had from trying to keep up with me.

By Dan

November 7, 2005 02:38 PM | Link to this

Nice of Mike Vick to gracelessly take a shot at Marino on the day Marino is honored by the Dolphins by saying passing is not how you measure the success of a QB, winning is how you measure the success of a QB.

OK - Vick is in his 5th year, has won 2 playoff games against flawed Ram and Packer teams, and has been whacked twice by the Eagles in the playoffs.

By the conclusion of their 5th year in the league, Unitas, Starr, Griese, Bradshaw, Montana, and Brady (yeah Mike - he’s your measuring stick for this generation of QBs) all had won at least one Super Bowl.

If winning is all that matters, Vick has done very little to justify his endorsements and the argument that he is the future of quarterbacking - he still has a way to go before he is much more than Kordell Stewart Version 2.0.

By geechee

November 7, 2005 03:01 PM | Link to this

Dan, he wasn’t taking a shot at Marino and I doubt Marino thinks he was. You say he was. Call Marino and ask him. It was a very good point.

As far as a starter, the guy has not been playing that long and yet you have people saying “if he’s so good how come no SB rings”.

This is a stupid argument at this point in his career and his example was Marino. Clearly one of the greatest QBs of all time but no ring. So does that mean he really wasn’t one of the greatest. We know he was. Some of the best BB players never won a WS.

It has been proven with the Birds that, when Vick plays they mostly win and when he doesn’t they never do.

By Big Dawg

November 7, 2005 03:01 PM | Link to this

Dan, dont be jelous just because your team’s (whoever they are)quarterback cant compare to Vick. You should be banished from this blog for mentioning Vick and Cordell Stewart in the same breath.

By doc

November 7, 2005 03:22 PM | Link to this

it amazes me to read how people feel they are ENTITLED to bash, trash, impune, denegrate, use no objectivity, and abuse someone on these sites. their erroneous belief is that when someone makes a lot of money, they therefore have the right or priviledge to tear them down when that person doesnt meet their expectations.

they call themselves fans. i see more that they disrespect themselves for their own lack of perfection or integrity of their word to do such actions to somehow make themselves bigger or better. i am glad mv let a little steam off to let you know what it was like under the microscope and then to have his teammates second it. sadly, most of you dont realize how destructive you can be. are you just as destructive in your own lives? you probably dont see it there either.

as far as vicks reference to marino he was just stating what his drive and performance is for and it is for the team ring of a champion not for individual accomplishment. its funny that the braves are trashed because they dont sound like this, then vick does make the statements that super bowl rings are what you play for and people make it sound like he is shirking his responsibilties to be the best stat machine or maybe not being uncle tom enough.

By Dan

November 7, 2005 03:29 PM | Link to this

Big Dawg

What would you say if I was a Patriots fan - that Tom Brady does not compare to Mike Vick?

My team is the Steelers and I am more than comfortable comparing not only the QB rating but the winning percentage (which Mike Vick says is the only stat for a QB that matters) of Big Ben (20-2)to Mike Vick.

As far as the heresy of metioning Mike Vick and Kordell Stewart in the same sentence, I endured Stewart’s tenure in Pittsburgh and while Vick is a better player (version 2.0) their games are very similar. Stewart got to 2 conference championship games (the future of football has only made one so far) and, like Mike Vick last year, lost because the opposing team forced him to try to win the game with his arm rather than his legs. Mike Vick is the most entertaining QB in football, but until he becomes a boringly dependable passer he will not win a Super Bowl.

By Larry Stewart

November 7, 2005 03:36 PM | Link to this

Sorry for getting back in, but do you members of the Vick cult do any research or reasoning before you comment?

As far as running ability, I wouldn’t ever try to compare Kordell and Mike Vick, but before Kordell went through whatever brain lock he was afflicted with (I’m assuming it’s the same one that stopped Roy Jones from throwing punches or keeps Jamal Lewis from hitting the hole like he used to) - he was a Pro Bowl QB who went to the Super Bowl and he went in the 5 year window you’re talking about (uh, something Mike hasn’t done). And he went through much of the same criticism regarding his QB play (I mean they booed their Super Bowl QB out of the town he regressed so bad). Some days he looked wonderful and others he was as lost as Aaron Brooks looks some days, but let’s not forget that the Steelers were winning with Kordell and in many cases - in spite of Kordell. But hey, they made it there as a TEAM. Not b/c Kordell took them there by himself and be SURE - that if they Falcons make it there this year - it won’t be simply b/c Vick took them there. It will be a factor, but if Mark Rypien, Trent Dilfer, etc can take teams to the Super Bowl and WIN, then what more evidence do you need about this winning thing. I’d surmise that if you want to talk about winning and how the Falcons match up with the league, it’s 6 and 2. If you want to talk about QBs and how well they handle many aspects of the game, well, Vick has work to do and that’s that. Quit trying to confuse the two as if they are one and the same. And I say that wishing my team had the same record that the Falcons do. I wish with Frerotte the Dolphins were 6-2, but if they were - I’d be saying why can’t Frerotte throw a damn 5 yard pass that doesn’t get intercepted or not overthrow Chambers at least 5 times a game. Wouldn’t make me less happy with the record, but it sure wouldn’t make me come to his defense to say that one day that just might come back to haunt us?

Please don’t be so short sighted in your analysis of this man (I have to emphasize that to the God complex you’ve put on Mr. Vick)…all those years, Marino wasn’t in the Super Bowl (aside from his 2nd year in the league when he WAS there) - it was b/c they didn’t have a defense or a running attack whatsoever, not b/c Marino wasn’t maybe one of the top 3-5 best QBs of all time. Give Marino just one year of Ricky Williams and they would have won a Super Bowl (and I’ll back that up with examples of John Elway - Terrell Davis or Brett Favre - Dorsey Levens or when they contended Ahman Green), so guys - I know you have this allegiance to this cat. No criticism I’ve seen doesn’t say that he’s not talented (though I might question his football smarts in some areas), but to blindly ignore his faults and to just say - do what you’re doing, Mike…when doing what he’s doing has gotten him hurt every year in the league and has caused him to barely complete half his passes is ludicrous. My goodness - I think Dominique Wilkins was one of the top 50 players of all time, but guess what…he didn’t play any defense his whole career and if you got on the airwaves and said then or even now - I’d agree with you while still defending the fact that I believe him to be one of the top 50 players of all time. Why can’t you just acknowledge that he can do some work on his game while being happy that that work hasn’t caused you to have as many losses as it would on other teams. I promise if he played on the Dolphins squad last year - they would STILL have been 4-12 b/c the surrounding pieces sucked so bad that not even Vick could have saved it. I guarantee that. It’s ok for Mike Vick to be average at passing the ball, people - while you win football games, ok.

By mike

November 7, 2005 03:50 PM | Link to this

John Reid,

Vick qb rating is 30. Thats not the rating of a quality QB. Flashy running doesn’t win super bowls. Your dillusional because you like Vick which is fine. BOTTOME LINE IS THIS.. STATS DON’T LIE AND VICKS STATS SUCKS. Until you win the big show, your just another no one that played in the NFL. Your probably the same guy who throw a party for your son when he comes home with a 9th place ribbon. I got news for you 9th place out of 30 isn’t bad. However, the bottomline is thats 8th loser. Vick is and always will be a loser until he wins the big one. He won a few regular season games so did a million other no one qb’s going way back in time.

By bigbelly

November 7, 2005 04:27 PM | Link to this

You know,I’m starting to think that “Vick-worshippers” is really code for “black people”.

I root hard for Vick to succeed. Because if he doesn’t, it will be used as an excuse never to draft another black qb, because black people are subject to the “You’ve seen one, you’ve seen ‘em all” idea.

Look at Notre Dame. You think they’ll ever have another black head coach? Nope.And Willingham started out 8-0. Weiss goes 5-2 and gets a 10 year extension.

Sylvester Croom is the 1st black person to coach in the SEC. And where does he go? Miss. St. Everyone knows it would take about 5 acts of God to undo what Jackie Sherrill did to that program. But If Croom fails, it will give the rest of the SEC the excuse it needs not to hire a black coach. By the way, don’t you think that it’s a little funny that in the new millenium, black people still have to be “pioneers for their race” in ANYTHING?

And why are people comparing Vick to Kordell Stewart? Reminds me of Steve Young, except his skin color. Oops, think I just answered my own question.

Yep, Michael Vick has his flaws. We acknowledged that MONTHS AGO. The beauty of it is that with all these “flaws” he has, he keeps winning. And though he isn’t throwing like Peyton Manning, he’s winning like him.Vick has this uncanny ability to go the whole game throwing like garbage, and then going 10 for 12 in the fourth quarter. But I don’t ever hear him being praised for his 4th quarter performance, only ripped for quarters 1 through 3. If Peyton Manning is having a bad passing day in Indy, they turn to the running game. If Vick is having a bad passing day in the A, He BECOMES the running game. To the guy who said that if Vick was in Miami last year, they’d still be 4-12; you might be right. But the same holds true for Tom Brady. Miami was complete garbage. But then again, Vick or Brady could have been the difference between 4-12 and 8-8.

Vick is changing the game at qb. I root for him because despite you nay-sayers, he just keeps on winning.All this despite his shortcomings as a consistent passer.

Some of you need to just stop being a Falcon fan for the next few years. Because you are just going to keep making yourselves mad. Come back in 10 years when Vick’s career is done. GO FALCONS!!! GO VICK!!!

By Chef_Raggu

November 7, 2005 05:03 PM | Link to this

Vick’s passer percentage would be higher if it wasnt for all the dropped passes throughout the season. I’m not refering to the ‘only a great receiver could have made’ passes, I am talking about the few easy ones that Dez dropped, the very few that Finneran didnt catch and the ones that Jenkins didnt make happen. Of these passes, a few were sure touchdowns. Had our receivers caught half of the ones that they let get by, we would probably be calling sunday’s game a typical Mike Vick led game. The only qb who has more drops than Vick has to be hasselback but of course he still gets stats because they pass the ball almost twice as much as Atlanta does. Good job team! Oh, as far as the question, can Mike throw from the pocket? The answer is…………..66 yards short of 3000 passing yards a few years back under Dan Reeves answered that question a long time ago but I guess that question must be from new falcon fans. Cheers!

By Dan

November 7, 2005 05:05 PM | Link to this

Big Belly

I will assume you are simply trying to prompt a response and do not actually believe that anyone who criticizes Mike Vick must have a racial agenda. That would be the same as arguing anyone who believes Jim Mora, Jr., packs a lot of attitude for someone who has been a head coach for all of 1 and 1/2 years obviously has problems with successful Northside Atlanta yuppies.

However, as far as Steve Young rather than Kordell Stewart being the proper comparator for Mike Vick, here are some stats for you:

Career NFL QB rating

Steve Young 96.8 Kordell Stewart 70.7

QB Ratings For Mike Vick

2005 (as of 11/7) 70.8 Career 76

By DIRRTYBIRD

November 7, 2005 05:21 PM | Link to this

Mike,

Way to steal a line from “Meet the Fockers” on the 9th place ribbon idea. So you’re saying that until Vick wins “The Big Show” then he is nothing? That’s ok, as long as you’re holding McNabb,Manning,Roethlesberger,Schaub and every other NFL QB except for Brady to the same standards.

By DIRRTYBIRD

November 7, 2005 05:45 PM | Link to this

Be sure to add Dan Marino to that lists of nobody’s because they didn’t win “The Big Show”. By the way. Does that make you a nobody?

By DIRRTYBIRD

November 7, 2005 05:47 PM | Link to this

Dan,

Why don’t you pull up Steve Youngs passer rating through his first 26 games in the west coast offense and see the comparisons then. Nobody remembers that Steve Young was awful in the WCO for the first 4 years, but was able to make plays with his feet. Say whatver you want, but Football is a bottom line sport and the bottome line is that the Falcons have 6 wins and 2 losses.

By Big bird

November 7, 2005 08:11 PM | Link to this

Vick is great because he does want he wants to and that will get him a ring.

Don’t forget about the other great players on the team that make the Falcons great. Dunn,Brooking,Hall,Smith…

By Buck

November 7, 2005 08:24 PM | Link to this

Yo Peyton Forest….it’s people like you who can’t see past the chip on your shoulder and have to make it about race. Sicko!

Nobody downs Vick because he is black ya dbAS*. You’d think he was the first black QB in the league the way you talk. Vick is great because he is immensely talented. He will be a hall of famer and will win super bowl’s because he is smart and a great athlete. Not because he’s black. Get off this board Bich.

By Big D

November 8, 2005 12:25 AM | Link to this

the problem with football these days is the media, they really have a way of f—cking things up… all they want to do is agitate players to get a good story. they tend to go after certain players in an effort to destroy them and on the otherhand choose to put certain players on a pedestal, this is not good for the game. if you choose to stand up for yourself like vick did after the game, they will get angry and agitate you even more, the fact remains: the media is jealous of Vick just like a lot of you responding to this article…they hate to see a black man making big money$$$$$$

By Johnny C.

November 8, 2005 02:36 PM | Link to this

What a bunch of dumbassed hypocrites. You can’t seem to decide whether it’s “ALL ABOUT VICK” or if it’s a team sport. You call him self-centered when he prefaces everything he says with “ITS ALL ABOUT THE TEAM”, yet all you idiots talk about on here is Vick this and Vick that. Vick can’t do s—t on a football field against 11 other players, but all you jerks talk about is “Vick can’t win a SB”. Well, hell no; he needs the other 10 players on offense doing their jobs to win any damn thing. If they win, it’s “Vick had NOTHING to do with this win; it was all because of the defense”. What a stupid pile of s—t to say. If you people could just get that damn salary out of your mind for a minute and pretend to be objective, you might see some things. I’ve been in Atlanta for 19 years and have suffered through a lot of seasons (of course I don’t make this my reason for getting out of bed each day), but you folks just don’t seem to realize how utterly stupid you sound when you blast one player even when the TEAM wins. Of course Vick needs to improve his game, and I believe he is the first to tell you that. The thing is, he’s not the only one. Nobody has him posing for a bust at Canton yet, but his unpredictablity is kinda exciting to watch (especially after enduring the “Run and Puke” that was here before). You really need to give it a rest. if you hate the guy (for whatever reason) that is your right, but remember that the man whose opinion matters (Arthur Blank) thinks a lot of him and HE WILL PAY VICK ANYWAY!!!. What are you going to say if/when Vick does make it to a SB - “Oh, look at him, he walked on water but he got his ankles wet in the process.”

By Kenny P

November 8, 2005 03:05 PM | Link to this

Hi, I have been a Falcon fan for a long time, I work overseas and my co-workers come from all over the States they hate vick because they know he is capable of taking over the game and beats the crap out of their teams. if you don’t like Vick ? become a Carolina panther fan and stay off our net , You play to win the game…..

By uno

November 9, 2005 01:52 AM | Link to this

Alright, let me make this real simple so even an eb or a cp or a dirrtybird can understand it. All you can say is 6-2! 6-2! Guess what? The Falcons haven’t beaten a single team with a winning record! Not one! Besides, I never said the Falcons (even with Vick trying to play QB) can’t win regular season games. What I said is that to win a Super Bowl you have to have a good defense, be a good running team, AND A GOOD PASSING TEAM. You don’t have to be great at all three, but you have to at least be good or you will always be exposed by playoff defenses. So, yes, the Falcons will continue to win regular season games because they’ve got 2 out of 3 - defense and running. (Fortunately for Vick, right? Can you imagine what would happen if the Falcons defense put him behind all the time and he actually had to pass to catch up? It would be ugly! Hide the women and children…) Anyway, maybe just making it to the playoffs is good enough for most of you - if that’s the case you have reasonable expectations. But the Falcons will never win a Super Bowl with Vick behind center because the best you will ever have is 2 out of 3. Vick is simply a bad passer. So keep screaming “6-2 moron!� You know I am right. Congratulations Atlanta. You’re well on your way to having the football equivalent of the Braves: win, win, win…embarrass yourselves in the playoffs. And I know how you all whine about the Braves, so I’m trying to save you all the b*** fest come playoff time for the Falcons. I can hear it now: “Yeah, but, but…we sure looked good against the Dolphins, idiot!� Yes, but so does everyone else. You’re welcome.

By uno

November 9, 2005 02:02 AM | Link to this

Vick is another Ryan Leaf except with speed. Did I see that someone posted his career passer rating is the same as Kordell Stewart’s? Ouch! And Kordell just got released again today. The future’s not looking too rosy when you mortgage the franchise on the second coming of Kordell Stewart, huh? Maybe Vick could be “Slash II”. Afterall, Pittsburgh was always better with Stewart playing his best position - RB/WR.

By dirrtybird

November 9, 2005 10:04 AM | Link to this

Uno. You’re such a clown that you’re posting the same comments in different blogs.

By A-Town's Finest

November 9, 2005 10:05 AM | Link to this

Uno! Please put a big “DON’T” in between the U and the No. BECAUSE, it’s obvious U-DON’T-Know anything about football, with that last statement. Who gives a damn about ratings. Only Haters like you, who could possibly try to find error in a guy who wins 70%, I mean 70% of the games he plays in. Ryan Leaf & Vick in the same sentence! You are a bigger Imbecile than I thought. Please take your ignorant, racially-motivated, plain out ridiculous comments somewhere else.

By DIRRTYBIRD

November 9, 2005 11:18 AM | Link to this

LOL, U-Don’t-NO is your new name. Good one A-town. Any one who spends this much time bashing someone is obviously jealous and afraid of their skills. Do you think he spent this much time posting blogs about Ryan Leaf and Kordell Stewart? Probably not. Then again, they didn’t win 70% of their games. By the way U don’t know. What is Eli Manning’s passser rating? How many road games has he won? How many games has he passed for over 60%? Perhaps he is Kordell Stewart without legs?

By Buck

November 9, 2005 11:56 AM | Link to this

Vick Rules! Check the winning percentage! You moron’s out there want to bash the guy, but who cares what his passing stats are as long as he wins. The guy will develop, give him time in the offense and he will show all that he is truly a great talent.

As far as you haters go; bug off! But also, YOU PEOPLE that have to inject race into everything you do and every comment you make; bug off! We don’t need your racist comments on these boards. You want to defend Vick by saying those who bash him are racially motivated are pathetic. See A-Town’s finest and the Forest dude. I think you are really the “haters”. You don’t hear McNabb’s fans saying that about people that level criticism at him. Why don’t you come up with something besides playing your pathetic race card all the time? Losers.

The Birds are 6-2 and everyone knows Vick is a winner, regardless of how he gets it done. But I think even Vick would cringe at hearing so called fans using the race thing to defend him. Give it up and let’s hear objective football talk. Losers.

By uno

November 9, 2005 02:47 PM | Link to this

Dirrtybird, anyone who feels the need to attempt to deny all of my fact-based arguments is obviously afraid of the truth. Okay, you’re just being silly now about Eli Manning, who is in his first full year as a starter and his team is leading the league in scoring offense. Anyone who knows anything about football will tell you the Giants have a very good passing game and running game. Weak argument. One other thing…It’s a bit disturbing to see how many times you use the word “fantasy” while responding to my posts. Are you fantasizing about me, you dirrty, dirrtybird? You want to know who my team is? Okay, let’s say it’s the Colts - I’m taking my own advice and disavowing the Falcons. (Please save yourself the time and don’t try to come up with ways in which the Colts aren’t a complete team or why they aren’t going to win the SuperBowl. Everyone knows they are. You’ll just make yourself look stupid…again.) But that’s it, dirrtybird, I’m not going to tell you what I’m wearing or whether or not I enjoy long walks on the beach. I’m going to leave you all alone now so you can go on with your silly little dillusional fan worship of a below average RB playing QB with declining passing skills (which were never very good in the first place). Keep the faith Falcons fans and keep on denying what you are seeing with your own eyes. I will be back after your playoff embarrassment so you all can apologize to me and tell me that I was right afterall. In the meantime, you all should be especially proud about your win over 1-7 Green Bay this week. I know how you love to pat yourselves on the back for beating those teams that everyone else beats. Maybe Vick will even complete half his passes again and tell the media how he has “almost thrown for 1000 yds now this season! And all you people who think 1000 yds after 9 games isn’t good, you can just…just…well…I mean, I am good! Shut up!” Keep on winning and whining, Atlanta!

By DIRRTYBIRD

November 9, 2005 03:12 PM | Link to this

Uno,

Please go away and come back during the playoffs. Colts are a good team, but the last time I checked, Vick has led his team further in the playoffs than Manning has. So if you’re argument about choking in the playoffs holds true, then you’re bashing your own team. Your argument just got flushed down the toilet, talking about how great QB’s win the big one and win playoff games. What a joke. Peyton Manning got embarrassed last year by an injured Pat’s secondary in the playoffs and you want to talk about Vick choking. LOL. I’ll give you some credit, because the Colts just beat the Pats. But guess what? The Falcons just beat the Eagles too. So I would say that squares things up. See you in the playoffs.

By DIRRTYBIRD

November 9, 2005 03:15 PM | Link to this

My question about Eli Manning was “How many games has he passed for over 60%? and what is his passer rating” and you want to switch the argument to leading the league in scoring offense. Guess what? The falcons are leading the league in rushing offense. You didn’t answer my questions, and you’re still a clown.

By uno

November 9, 2005 04:08 PM | Link to this

You’re making my point for me. The Falcons lead the league in rushing offense because they play a RB at QB. I said you’ve got 2 out of 3 (running and defense.) And wait, you’re telling me rushing yards are more important than points, stat boy? Okay. Just look at Eli Manning’s TDs - he’s already got about 2 seasons worth for Vick after 8 games. Last I checked you win games by scoring touchdowns, which the Falcons won’t be able to do in the playoffs. It’s not that Vick chokes in the big game, it’s that he’s not capable of winning the big game because he’s not capable of passing the ball against a defense good enough to take away the run. Everyone knows the Colts haven’t lost because of Manning…they lost because they had the worst defense in the league and not much of a running game. They were a one-dimensional team like the Falcons will always be with Vick. The Colts have been good in the past SOLELY BECAUSE of Manning. The Falcons are good IN SPITE OF Vick. Of course the QB who has the record for the best season in NFL history is capable of winning SuperBowls, and he will beginning this year now that the Colts have a balanced team. Count on it. You’ve confused me again though…the Colts beat the Patriots and the Falcons lost to the Patriots (go ahead and say it: they lost because Vick tries to play RB and got hurt again), but beating the 4-4 Eagles, who won’t even make the playoffs this year, proves how good the Falcons are? There’s that dillusional Falcon logic…Always good for a laugh. Like I said, you’re making yourself look stupid again. Don’t do that. Okay, I’ve answered all your questions and done all the teaching I can do. If you’re not willing to learn, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Now stop “fantasizing” about me.

By DIRRTYBIRD

November 9, 2005 05:05 PM | Link to this

Dillusional logic? You’re bashing the 4-4 Eagles, but praising the 4-4 Patriots? First of all, Vick didn’t play in the game against the patriots. What planet are you on? Second of all, The Colts scored 3 points against the Pats last year in the playoffs. 3 POINTS!!! What does that have to do with defense? By blaming Vick for the loss to NE, when he didn’t even play and blaming the Colts defense for only scoring 3 points against the banged up Pats in the playoffs, you have shown your true colors for all to see.

“The Falcons are good IN SPITE OF Vick”???? Check the Falcons record in games where Vick doesn’t play. Nuff said.

Once again U DON’T KNOW, you truly don’t know.

By russ Blum

November 12, 2005 05:15 AM | Link to this

Dear Falcon fans (especially Mr. Bradley, who writes that Vick has now proved his passer cred). Granted, I grew up a 49er fan so my perspective on quality QB work is a bit skewed and spoiled but c’mon! I never would have believed it if someone would have told me that passing for a “season high!!!!!!!!wow!!!!” 220 yards is proving that Vick is a great NFL QB! Two-hundred-twenty yards!!!! Not 3-twenty, but 2-twenty! Season high? Your guy was exposed in last year’s playoffs and will continue to be against playoff caliber competition as a great “running back”-that’s it. Just as his little brother was exposed last week against a topflight college defense.Listen guys, I know wherof I speak. I had to endure all of those “Vick-style” Steve Young years. IDENTICAL to Vick, he was a run-first, pass-second QB and never won the big ones-NEVER. Good D’s can bottle up the pocket and force a QB to do do something that most NFL QB’s CAN do-PASS the ball. It wasn’t until Young’s 5th yr as a Niner, and 10th as a pro, that he finally wised up and decided that passing the ball to the real playmakers, like Jerry Rice, etc., IS the QB’s PRIMARY job. Joe Montana always said. “I’m the mailman. That’s what my job is-I deliver the mail and the Jerry’s, Dwights and Roger Craigs of my team , THEY carry the rock into the endzone. I just have to get it into their capable hands.” On the other hand, what does Joe Montana know about QB’ing, much less winning as one? So, uh, hey there, Mr. Bradley & Falcon fans, time for a party, your starting, #1 NFL QB “finally” threw for mega-yardage-220 yards. In only ONE game? Most great QB’s must spread out that wealth of yardage over several games. When Montana and even the latter day Young, threw for under THREE HUNDRED yards, they had FAILED that game. Now you are celebrating 220? The Vicks are two of a kind-me!ME!ME!!!!!! They have no concept of team, and feel that they alone are meant to hog the rock, score points, run for big gains, etc. The other 10 guys? Hell, who cares who they are? The Vicks sure don’t. So, don’t believe me if you so choose, but I have ridden down this exact same road with Steve Young, so perhaps you ought to listen a little, eh? BTW, Mr. Bradley, do you also celebrate when Dunn “breaks” the 53 yard-per-game mark? Must be too much humidity down there in Atlanta, I guess. 220 “a season HIGH”! yards…OMG!