AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > September > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USVick fightens foes and friends
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Finally, after five seasons of mostly silence or denial in public on the matter from those around the Falcons locker room, we have the truth from somebody who knows. The daredevil ways of Michael Vick scare his teammates to death. They have this feeling that their Flying Wallenda of a quarterback is going to expire moments before themselves with an ugly crash to earth.
They actually prefer the Boring Wallenda of a quarterback, just as long as he helps the Falcons win. “The fear is that [Vick] is so explosive, and that he makes so many plays, and that he’s so willing to throw his body around that one of these days he’s not going to get back up,” said Chris Draft, a linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, the Falcons’ foe on Sunday in Charlotte to open the regular season. This is the same Draft who played with the Falcons from 2000 through 2004, and who still lives in Atlanta, where he remains highly civic minded, primarily when it comes to working with the American Lung Association regarding fellow asthma sufferers.
Draft confessed this week that he always thought Vick was on the verge of becoming a victim of his style. He said he cringed on the Falcons sideline with everybody else during Vick’s flips, twists, zips, rolls, tumbles and dives.
Translated: I wasn’t the only one who hadn’t a problem with Vick’s clumsy but wise attempt last season to become more of a pocket guy. Added Draft, his voice rising for emphasis along the way, “I’ve seen him take some, well, shots. And we’re over there watching and saying, like, ‘No, no, no. Get down. Please, Mike, get down.’ Whereas you have the crowd standing up and cheering and yelling and not realizing that he’s about to get killed.”
Oh, the crowd realizes as much. That’s why you have the crowd. Just like the high probability of somebody crashing into something at nearly 180 mph isn’t exactly keeping folks from packing NASCAR grandstands in record numbers.
The thing is, contrary to popular belief, Falcons coach Jim Mora and his offensive coordinator, Greg Knapp, had it about right by trying to make Vick adopt to their version of the West Coast offense instead of letting Vick be Vick. Now, courtesy of Vick’s celebrated struggles in a more structured offense, and given the hollering regarding it all, from the slew of television experts to those in the cheap seats, you just hope the Falcons brain trust doesn’t budge too much this season.
So much for hopes. Said Draft, who regularly is approached by Falcons fans during frequent walks from his condominium in downtown Atlanta, “You always hear people say, ‘You can’t teach Mike to get down. That’s just how he plays.’ Then they come back with, ‘Just let Mike be Mike,’ and I’m like, ‘What?’ I mean, what are these people saying?”
Here’s what many of those people are saying after reading Draft’s comments: Is this just a psych job by the Stanford graduate to get inside the head of an old teammate? Not only do the Panthers reside in the NFC South with the Falcons, but Carolina has a world championship on its mind. As a result, this loaded team is pursuing home-field advantage with every game, and prior to the Panthers’ two-game sweep of the Falcons last season, the Panthers had lost 12 of their previous 14 games in the series, with much help in recent years from Vick.
“Just as I had those fears watching as one of Mike’s teammates, I also have fear as somebody from the other side of the perspective trying to stop him,” Draft said. “What you fear the most is that he can just make something out of nothing. It’s a fear that he might just jump over you out there and score a touchdown on fourth down and win the game for them.”
Even so, Draft said his fear of Vick as an opponent doesn’t cause him to shiver as much as others.
“The advantage I have is that, since I played with him, I know him and I’ve seen him as a man,” Draft said. “Sometimes I think he gets pumped up [by the media] to almost be more than a football player. People swear that he was actually flying through the air, and that makes it like he’s almost more than a man.”
He’s mortal all right. He had that broken leg for nearly a whole season to prove it.
Permalink | Comments (70) | Post your comment | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Terence Moore
Comments
By Vickster
September 5, 2006 07:56 PM | Link to this
I think most of us are less concerned by his almost TOTAL INABILITY to do anything while running to his RIGHT side. It is downright scary how bad his statistics drop when he moves to the right.
Also, MY GOD learn to tuck the ball in…..its just a matter of time before he gives a game away carring the football around like that. Tuck it away man…..PLEASE.
Having said that I hope he’s the MVP of the league this year. Go get um Mike…….for all your faults your the best QB in the NFC south and possibly the league (someday). :-P
By This gets old
September 5, 2006 07:59 PM | Link to this
Look, they’re just some facts about this subject that are constantly overlooked.
If we value him so much why has it taken so long to address the WR corps. Most teams that take a QB with the first pick in the entire draft shortly thereafter are busy trying to pick up A) A potential all-pro on the line to protect the QB and B)Top quality WR’s regardless of their “character” (No I wouldn’t have taken T.O. but what’s the reasoning behind Randy Moss?)
3.Peyton Manning and Drew Brees and Eli Manning are a combined 3-8 with all victories by Peyton. Mike’s 2-2.
It’s simple - when he plays - we win more than we lose. Sorry haters.
By boots
September 5, 2006 08:01 PM | Link to this
Thanks for expressing my feelings completely. Athletically, Vick is without equal; but I fear the hopes of the franchise will be dashed as he runs all over creation and refuses to take the dive before the hit. If Vick is trying to prove something — I’m afraid the only thing he’s going to prove is that he’s not much help to the team on crutches or sitting on the bench wearing a cast. But, who knows. Let’s wait until 9/10 to see how things unfold.
By mountain_jim
September 5, 2006 09:05 PM | Link to this
“Falcons coach Jim Mora and his offensive coordinator, Greg Knapp, had it about right by trying to make Vick adopt to their version of the West Coast offense”
No - as long as their offense emphasizes 3 step drops and quick short passes they have it wrong! Mike’s talents are better utilized in a downfield passing game like Reeves used, if you keep calling the dink and dunk passes and never go long you might as well go ahead and put Schaub in…
I am hoping the offense in preseason has been hiding new plans to open things up from last year, we will see this week.
By L.J.
September 5, 2006 09:18 PM | Link to this
Amazing…four posts and no one has accused T. Moore of being a racist. That has to be a record.
By DecaturTechFan
September 5, 2006 09:38 PM | Link to this
Vick sux….just like all STREETBALL QB’s. And just how many Superbowls have the Streeballers won? BTW, Terence, still think ND has a shot @ the National Championship after a squeek by the Jackets….a perennial 7-5 team?
By carolinabird
September 5, 2006 09:45 PM | Link to this
Terrence go write for the Charlotte paper and stop our misery!
By dirrtybird
September 5, 2006 09:54 PM | Link to this
Chris Draft is not a teammate. He’s a member of a rivalry team now. This is an old interview anyways? Why write this article now? How about interviewing some actual current teammates? You know, do a little research. It’s not a big stretch to write an article saying that Vick’s style of play is a little more dangerous than usual. People, Football is dangerous. QB’s get hurt in the pocket, if not more than when they are scrambling. Ask Carson Palmer, or Daunte Culpepper, or Drew Brees, or Donovan McNabb, or any other QB who has sat out an extended amount of time. Who cares what Chris Draft thinks? Chris Draft better hope that he can make it through a whole season without getting hurt. Wouldn’t that be something? Carolina hasn’t kept a running back healthy in years. Where is the article on that? Stupid and misleading article. Old interview, old news… . .
By BirdsofPrey
September 5, 2006 10:01 PM | Link to this
Does this Terrence guy have reverence for anything Atlantan or Georgian? I think not. He is just another loser attempting fame on the back of a superstar and a super team. Like the bitter Draft or the whinner Carolina D-linemen bemoaning the cut block as an excuse for not being able to locate Vick or the hasbeen-neverwas pundits of mass media, Terrence guy will become a forgotten relic while Mr. Vick and Da Birds thrill us all countless times enroute to a Lombardi Trophy.
By dirrtybird
September 5, 2006 10:17 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe I’m the first to say something, but what is “fightens”? See article title. Is there an editor in the house?
Falcons 20-17 in Week 1.
Forget Vick vs. Peppers. Forget Hall vs. Smith.
Koenen vs. Kasay baby!!!
By la
September 5, 2006 10:19 PM | Link to this
Sorry, Coach Mora has a lot of energy and I would love to keep him, but Mr. Blank is so in love with “Mr. score 6 points this preseason Vick”, that Mora loses his job this year after Mike has no one else to blame the season on.
By craig
September 5, 2006 10:31 PM | Link to this
remember people, mr. moore will want to know why if his boy is such a good kid, then why did he get a ‘b’ in calculus? he is paid to be the anti-falcon. the ajc has other writers to tell the fans what they want to hear…this is also the same guy who on espn news before the 2004 season said in an interview that vick was still not healthy and the falcons were doomed. do you remember what followed? consider the source
By Stewart
September 5, 2006 10:54 PM | Link to this
Vick will never be a traditional QB, but he instills confidence in the team. He’s a winner, and a fierce competetor. He’s not injury prone, as some would have you believe. Take a look at some of the shots he takes every Sunday. He’s tough. He’s exciting. He’s a damn good QB.
If the Falcons can stop the run, we will win the division.
By joel
September 5, 2006 11:13 PM | Link to this
Thanks stewart, as he was saying, vick is a tough guy who takes a lot of hits. Vick is not made of glass, he will not break unless a huge defender bends his leg the wrong way and snaps his fibula. Let vick be vick, chris draft is a loser!
By doc
September 5, 2006 11:31 PM | Link to this
t moore, draft got in your head. i imagine this article will get some laughs in the falcon locker room for the lack of authenticity of the one who speaks or writes.
By russ
September 5, 2006 11:44 PM | Link to this
Get ready all you Vick bashers,for an amazing run or runs to the superbowl,this is the year he breaks out in the new system,(see John Elway,Steve Young,Randall cunningham for how long it takes to master a system.)Vick was already headed toward MVP status in 2002 when the new regime changed the system on him. Everybody knows this guy has just as unbelievable an arm as he does legs.(see Michael Jordan on years it took to harness unbelievable athletic talent.)We all Know the truly Great ones win championships when you surround them with the right supporting cast.(See Jordan again and Larry Bird.)We also Know That the true Immortals can make a mediocre team look better than they are and be fun to watch.(see Walter Peyton,Barry Sanders,O.J Simpson and Vick in 2002.)Hate him if you will but true students of the game Know it’s only a matter of time until this (untraditional,black,minority,hip-hop,gifted,otherwordly,speedy,elusive,braid-wearing,fastest and strongest armed of all time)quarterback is known as the greatest of all time!!!
By falconfan84
September 5, 2006 11:45 PM | Link to this
Chris Draft is hardly a reliable source to say what Vick’s current teammates think. I have no use for him personally.
Terence, you want people to believe your Vick-bashing theory? Get current players to say it.
By russ
September 5, 2006 11:45 PM | Link to this
Get ready all you Vick bashers,for an amazing run or runs to the superbowl,this is the year he breaks out in the new system,(see John Elway,Steve Young,Randall cunningham for how long it takes to master a system.)Vick was already headed toward MVP status in 2002 when the new regime changed the system on him. Everybody knows this guy has just as unbelievable an arm as he does legs.(see Michael Jordan on years it took to harness unbelievable athletic talent.)We all Know the truly Great ones win championships when you surround them with the right supporting cast.(See Jordan again and Larry Bird.)We also Know That the true Immortals can make a mediocre team look better than they are and be fun to watch.(see Walter Peyton,Barry Sanders,O.J Simpson and Vick in 2002.)Hate him if you will but true students of the game Know it’s only a matter of time until this (untraditional,black,minority,hip-hop,gifted,otherwordly,speedy,elusive,braid-wearing,fastest and strongest armed of all time)quarterback is known as the greatest of all time!!!
By cc
September 5, 2006 11:54 PM | Link to this
The Panthers lost to the Saints last year in there opening game. Now they are opening against the Falcons, let’s face it, they have to be shaking in their shoes. These guys are frantic of Vick, and it’s solely based on history. Vick is the Panther killer. Last season they got to push our porous defense around and we were still competitive until Smith scored on Hall. The second game we simply didn’t come to play and Vick has already called the team out this season by admitting that he didn’t play up to his capabilities. Psychology people, it works, well at least I get it.
The Falcons are flying so low under the radar. If we can win our first 4 games and continue to gel, we will be the team to beat in December. Folks believe me, this team will be exciting, explosive, lethal, fun, and worth the price of admission! Now let’s kick some NFC SOUTH a$$ Sunday Falcons!!!
By Old school bird
September 6, 2006 01:23 AM | Link to this
For all you Vick haters, the only thing that I can say is,”GET YOUR POPCORN READY” !!!
By bullony
September 6, 2006 05:18 AM | Link to this
Terrance, please go away. Your constant pessimistic attitude is a waste of space in the Atlanta news scene.
By Shady
September 6, 2006 06:13 AM | Link to this
Another piece of crap from Terence Moore, thank you for wasting my time.
By Pigskin Pete
September 6, 2006 07:09 AM | Link to this
Vick is a passing halfback, not a running quarterback. Put shockley in at Q, and have Vick as the lone tailback. That is the only way to get to the playoffs.
Prediction: Vick will get injured like all sandlot style players do. The #2 Q will stink, and Shockley will be our Q by the second half of the season.
I know all. I see all. I am Pigskin Pete!
By mike
September 6, 2006 07:44 AM | Link to this
Last season sucked. The games were boring to watch. Vick can’t pass. He needs to play the game the way he plays the game. If we want somebody to pass, put in Shaub. I think/hope Mora and Knapp learned something last year. If not, bye-bye Mora. Build the franchise around Vick’s talents; don’t try to change him.
By bucko
September 6, 2006 07:53 AM | Link to this
You know everyone says we need to stop the run and rightly so but don’t forget we are weak at one corner. How many times have we seen third down completion ten yards down the field with the receiver wide open. A good Q.B. will make big plays and kill us on the weak corner. I can’t believe we have not address this position.
By justin
September 6, 2006 08:01 AM | Link to this
chris draft is a bum. he always has been. he was bashing us last at the beginning of last year. please don’t use him to write falcons stories ever again.
By mart
September 6, 2006 08:22 AM | Link to this
Vick’s fine but he’s no Bartkowski. Peachtree Bart continues to rule!
By BirdofPrey
September 6, 2006 08:29 AM | Link to this
Draft, like Boldin now with Tampa, is just bitter and lashing out because the most exciting team on the planet chose to send him packing. As for this Terrence dude, one would think that a “Journalist” would at least validate his premise by speaking to some actual “Foes and Friends” of Vick. Lastly, “Fightens” in the title: a Freudian slip? When we get that Lombardi Trophy sad little Terrence will not be invited to the party. GO BIRDS! DESTROY CAROLINA!
By Darrin
September 6, 2006 08:29 AM | Link to this
Hey Terence, is it your job to nit-pick everything negative you can think of when you write articles or what? This is all you do (that and race-baiting). I’ll be glad when your bum @#$% retires! You’ll pull anything out of your butt trying to rain on any parade here in the ATL like you just did with quotes from that girl Chrissy Draft. What makes you think we care what he thinks lugnut? Do us all a favor and move to South Dakota.
By bugger
September 6, 2006 08:35 AM | Link to this
What scares me to death is that one day he won’t be able to be a daredevil and God help the Falcons then. If the team has to count on his passing to win, it won’t happen. He’s just not a good passer.
By Honest Abe
September 6, 2006 08:39 AM | Link to this
Did the Falcons make the playoffs last year? Some of you losers are talking about winning the Superbowl? Remember, being blinded by loyolty is called stupidity. The falcons go 9-7 and only because they are in a weak division.
By derrick
September 6, 2006 08:41 AM | Link to this
will all the real falcons fans stand up.i mean the smith brother’s didn’t like football,and all the falcons did was lose.we get arthur blanks,and now we have a chance,to me getting vick has made the falcons owner atleast show he is trying to put a exciting and product winning on the field. yes it is time for vick to be vick. i mean we or football fans should have known what type of qb we were getting. i mean as we seen in college he ran alot,and the coaches used his talent the way he has played his whole life. now all of a sudden he suppose to become this pocket passer. yeah right , got dl,lb,and de’s running in the low 4. 5’s and you want him to stand and get killed. atlanta needs linmen who fits his style, or let him play his style. he can win with his style. he just needs to get out of bounds quick,or get down quicker. also we need wide-outs who command respect. we vick is running wild on defenses everybody is all smiles and when we is not people are crying. we should have gotton randy moss. i mean atleast the man wants to win,and you can see it. everybody knows if our wide-outs step up,we will win the superbowl. go falcons, i am with you all the way!
By Matt Yoder
September 6, 2006 08:41 AM | Link to this
I kinda like pigskin petes idea….Shockley and Vick in at the same time would rattle some defences BIGTIME!!! But seriously,I think if the coaching staff allows Vick to run all he wants I think Carolina is in for a THRASHING this weekend!!!! They might have been able to stop Vick last year when he was making a feeble attempt to being a pocket QB but this year they can FORGET ABOUT IT !!! Chris Draft and the his fellow defenders are the ones that should be worried,after all Vick is not a small guy! GO DIRTYBIRDS!!!
By Mark Thomason
September 6, 2006 08:49 AM | Link to this
I agree with Draft. Vick needs to be smarter and get down before the big hits. On the other side of the issue, if we wanted a pocket passer then we have one in Matt. I don’t think that Matt will sell out the Dome by standing in the pocket and throwing to our average wide recivers.
By isproab
September 6, 2006 08:58 AM | Link to this
Bottom line, Vick is the man on this Falcons team. He is a constant concern and focus of every defensive coordinator he faces b/c of the plays he can make happen with his feet. Mike plays hard, he lets it all hang out on the field and I appreciate that. If every time he gets out the pocket he thinks he needs to give his body up for the team then so be it. Let the man play with style that got him to this point vs. playing to not get hurt, we all know what happens when you do that. Vick will take every precaution to protect himself but I doubt he will choose protecting himself over a critical first down/touchdown.
Vicks main goal is a championship. If he wins one and only plays three more years in the league I think this city, the organization and Vick himself will be happy. You play to win it all and be on top when then dust settles. You don’t play to stick around for 15 years and have a handful of highlights.
By bucko
September 6, 2006 09:03 AM | Link to this
Honest Abe you do not know anything about football do you. If you think Atlanta is in a weak division. How far from the truth. We have nothing to loose with our Q.B. sitiuation Vick will kill them with his style of play and if he gets hurt Schawb will come with his style of play and do the same so what is all the fuss about
By Grance
September 6, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this
The thing is, THIS IS FOOTBALL. People are going to get hurt no matter what postition or what style they play that postition with. No one tells a RB not to run too much, you might get hurn. “Well Vick’s a QB, he’s too valuable to the team.” Wouldn’t the Chargers be in the same spot if they lost LT. When did staying in the pocket become safe, it is as dangerous as any other part of the field, just ask Carson Palmer.
By Jason Peters
September 6, 2006 09:15 AM | Link to this
MIKE VICK WILL BE RUNNING SCARED FROM JULIUS PEPPERS THIS SUNDAY. VICK WILL HAVE A HORRIBLE GAME THROWING AT LEAST 2 INTERCEPTIONS! HE WILL BE SACKED 6 TIMES. IN ADDITION DEANGELO HALL WILL BE WATCHING NOT ONLY STEVE SMITH BUT ALSO KEYSHAWN JOHNSON RUNNING HIM SILLY. PANTHERS 31 FALCONS 10
By mo
September 6, 2006 09:21 AM | Link to this
Chris Draft is just doing a little Jedi Mind-trick on you. Don’t worry about it.
First up, every time we are about to play the Panthers, Chris Draft somehow gets in the AJC, saying one thing or another.
Second, the Panthers knew last season that Vick was hampered a little by injury, so he wasn’t worried about Vick
Third, what he was worried about, though, was our defense… so he went on a little rant about how the Falcons got rid of our core players.
Fourth, and the most important about Chris Draft and everything that comes out of his mouth before games between the Panthers and Falcons… what he talks about is what he is the most worried about. See, he knows that Vick isn’t hurt. He knows it’s his first game. He knows that the Falcons will be amped about playing the Panthers, especially since most of the experts have basically given the Panthers the NFC South Championship before one down has been played in the regular season.
Also, Chris Draft knows that because they are the favorite to win, that they have a big bullseye on their backs, but there isn’t a team out there that will really compete with them except the Buccaneers.
But I believe also that the Buccaneers cannot beat the Panthers this year due to matchup problems. The only real obstacle perceived by the Panthers may be a team in which they do not know what to expect- and many experts believe that the most unpredictable team in the league is the Falcons.
In short, you gotta like Chris Draft. He’s a true psychology major…
By Grance
September 6, 2006 09:23 AM | Link to this
The thing is, THIS IS FOOTBALL. People are going to get hurt no matter what postition or what style they play that postition with. No one tells a RB not to run too much, you might get hurn. “Well Vick’s a QB, he’s too valuable to the team.” Wouldn’t the Chargers be in the same spot if they lost LT. When did staying in the pocket become safe, it is as dangerous as any other part of the field, just ask Carson Palmer.
By chris
September 6, 2006 09:28 AM | Link to this
You can’t play football scared. You play football and give 100%. If giving 100% means running, passing, catching, then thats what Vick has to do.
I would rather see Vick run and take a hit then to get blind sided by J. Peppers because of poor blocking.
By Melisa Cogins
September 6, 2006 09:35 AM | Link to this
Well i think Carolina Panthers are the team to beat this year. Remember last year they beat us with a combine 50+ in two games. They know how to contain Vick. We are going to lose to them again this year on both games. Vick is the most over-rates player in the NFL. If it wasn’t for the fans vote, Vick would have never gotten into the Pro-Bowl. I think i going to say that my hometeam Falcons will be 7-9 and Panthers will be 11-5
By vicktimize
September 6, 2006 09:44 AM | Link to this
terrance moore probally feels stupid when he reads what he writes but he is a prick sucker they will do anything for money. HE is an uncle tom and masta cracks whip on his back and says write something that makes no sense. he says but masta its stupid and everyone knows it…. masta says terrance its the AJC no one buys it anyway maybe they will respond to ur online articles
By vicktimize
September 6, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this
Melissa You cant even spell ur name right…..A falcon fan? Panthers are overrated take what u think u know and realize ur a female and u know nothing….about football…lol go stuff a tampon in
By chris
September 6, 2006 09:56 AM | Link to this
HAHAHAHAHA Victimize. thats was funny.
By Darrin
September 6, 2006 10:07 AM | Link to this
I’m thinking of starting a new website:
“www.pleasefireterencemoorehesucksazz.com”
I’ll let you in on the details later.
By chris
September 6, 2006 10:25 AM | Link to this
How can you call yourself a fan and you think that a team within your division is going to beat you before game # 1 of the season is played. the falcons are just as good as the Panthers on paper when compairing the defenses and the Falcons have a better running game.
I have never seen so many unsupportive fans.
By ROCKBUSTER
September 6, 2006 10:33 AM | Link to this
CAN’T WAIT FOR SUNDAY TO GET HEAR. GO FALCONS.
By ROCKBUSTER
September 6, 2006 10:34 AM | Link to this
CAN’T WAIT FOR SUNDAY TO GET HEAR. GO FALCONS.
By Eric
September 6, 2006 10:40 AM | Link to this
Hey Jason Peters I hope you have a home somewhere near tired boring Charlotte. I theink that here in Atlanta we have the worst fans in the world. If you can call them fans at all. The Birds will be fine this year. Vick will be Vick and if the Falcons can find a way to stop the run we should end up in the NFC championship game. I used to live in New York and believe me ,you guys dont know the impact of John Abraham on that defensive line. If the safeties play like they have on their former teams and the big guys can clog the middle 12-4
By laved11
September 6, 2006 11:03 AM | Link to this
The fear coming from Michael Vick haters is racial to an extent. The question: “How many scrambling QBs have won a title?” is screwed because blacks have not played the position but for the last 20 years or so. And QB like Steve Young and John Elway aren’t called runners.
Defenders are much faster now and Vick wins a Super Bowl, more teams will look for athletic players at the position and make simple pocket-passers obsolete regardless of their color.
By Marcus
September 6, 2006 11:06 AM | Link to this
This is coming from a FORMER Falcon/CURRENT ENEMY** of the Falcons and we’re suppose to take this seriously? I think not! SOunds Mr. Draft is either bitter that he’s no longer with us or he’s trying to plant seeds of doubt in the fans’ minds. Either way, it won’t work!
By VickBeliever
September 6, 2006 11:36 AM | Link to this
Chris Draft is a wanna be and he wishes he had Vick status. Draft is one of the reasons we did not win the Philly game in the NFC Championship because he could not stop the run thus the release. So drop the hate Draft and get ready for the Vick show. I know you are jealous because his teammates respect him as well as the 1,000 of fans he has that you wish you had. Good athlete don’t have to down others to make themselves look good…
By Grance
September 6, 2006 11:43 AM | Link to this
I agree with Marcus about the sourgrapes. I remember Chis Chandler saying the same thing about Vick the year after he left Atlanta.
By bobby
September 6, 2006 12:09 PM | Link to this
Draft’s comments are just mind games like last year. Prior to the first Panthers game, Draft stated that he had seen no improvement in Vick’s passing game and pretty much said in so many words that Vick will never be a good QB. I think Vick took it as a challenge to prove he can win passing and it worked - for Carolina. I am not scared when Vick plays and how he plays as long as he makes it happen. The only “shots” that Vick has taken has been in the pocket and the first Eagles playoff game. He does play football right?
By chris
September 6, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this
I can’t wait until Sunday. I will be up at 8AM Sunday Morning putting on mu Jersey ready for some action.
If the Falcons destroy the Panthers all you bandwagon riders, Vick haters, do all of the real fans a favor and find a new team.
By RA
September 6, 2006 03:03 PM | Link to this
Well, to be honest,Vick does take a lot of chances with his body, but be honest, how great would Randall Cunningham have been if he’d played it safe in the pocket? How great would Steve Young have been if he’d never scrambled??? They were both mobile Quarterbacks and they both had very long careers. (Now, Young’s would have been longer if he had taken less blows to the head, but very long careers nonetheless.) Vick is something new. If you put Jeff George’s arm onto a body that has Barry Sander’s legs, you get something close to the athleticism of Michael Vick. Now, there’s no question in my mind that Vick was hurt last year, and that’s why you didn’t see him take over games. But when he’s healthy, you’ve got to let him play the way that he does naturally. That’s what’s made him one of the most winning quarterbacks in Falcon’s history. Of course, he may end up on a gurney at some point or another, but you can’t take the good without the bad.
By T-Dawg
September 6, 2006 03:34 PM | Link to this
Terrence, why don’t you move to some other city. You’re a bum. And that’s coming from a brother. Who cares what Chris Draft thinks anyway. What do you expect from someone who’s been discarded? Roses. Stop wasting our time with this mess. Let that lame play his game and let Mike play his. Like I said before, the reason most of you dislike Vick has NOTHING to do with football.
By recovering
September 6, 2006 03:44 PM | Link to this
The only thing, I got from that, was Chris Draft is still BITTER. He has been trash talking us all over the place. If the Falcons offered him to come back, he would be back in a sec. Chris Draft and Terence Moore are perfect, bitter OLD men.
By VickBeliever
September 6, 2006 04:22 PM | Link to this
I just figured it out Chris Draft is mad he has no shoe line, no ESPN Highlights, no fame, so he is pouring out the hatorade. When he was here he was all on Vick’s @#@$%.
By 2 legit
September 6, 2006 05:24 PM | Link to this
T.Moore you are a genious!!!! You sure know how to stir it up. You remind me of wrestlers who just say stupid stuff to get a reaction and you do a good job of it. Vick just do your thing and when it is all said and done the trophies will speak for themselves!!!!
By Justin
September 6, 2006 06:09 PM | Link to this
Vick doesn’t run because he can. He runs to keep from getting killed. His O line blocks for the first second but then they want to turn their back and watch the Micheal Vick Show that they forget what “they” are out there for. If he could get someone up there that knew how to block then he would become a pocket passer a lot quicker.
By Justin
September 6, 2006 06:10 PM | Link to this
Vick doesn’t run because he can. He runs to keep from getting killed. His O line blocks for the first second but then they want to turn their back and watch the Micheal Vick Show that they forget what “they” are out there for. If he could get someone up there that knew how to block then he would become a pocket passer a lot quicker.
By Justin
September 6, 2006 06:11 PM | Link to this
Vick doesn’t run because he can. He runs to keep from getting killed. His O line blocks for the first second but then they want to turn their back and watch the Micheal Vick Show that they forget what “they” are out there for. If he could get someone up there that knew how to block then he would become a pocket passer a lot quicker.
By Mean D
September 6, 2006 06:25 PM | Link to this
Vick stinks. He is the most over-rated player in NFL history. There are college QBs that throw more accurately than he does. The hype should have died 5 years ago. But this is Atlanta, baby! Beat that dead horse into the ground! The Bucs and the Panthers will hand the Falcons 4 losses this year just as they did last year.
By DJISTHEGREATESTQBEVERTOPLAYINTHEHISTORYOFFOOTBALL
September 6, 2006 07:43 PM | Link to this
Could be a blessing. Don’t wish injury on anyone. But maybe the Falcons will come to their senses and play Shaub. Vick can’t throw the ball in the ocean from the end of a pier.
By sugarlee
September 6, 2006 09:54 PM | Link to this
Say what you wanna. Dan Reeves left Jim Mora with a NFC Championship team and they lost it against Philly. It’s been down hill every since. And it ain’t about Vick. Dan took us to the superbowl, and left a team here that was one game shy of going again. Yall better wake up a smell the footballs. It ain’t Vick. It’s higher up. Oh but the truth will set em’ all free this year baby. I like Mora. I also like Reeves. The only difference. I know what Reeves will do with a team like the one Mora has right now. I just hope Mora can do it. He has more guns than Reeves every had with this team. If he misses. Don’t look at Vick. And thats all I have to say bout dat…
By W WILSON
September 6, 2006 10:04 PM | Link to this
TO ALL THAT HATE VIC, YOU ARE WRONG BECAUSE YOU KNOW VICS THE BEST THING OUT THERE. SO STOP HATING ON HIM . AND YA WE GOT A GOOD BACK UP QB BUT HE IS NOT VIC SORRY.
By midniterider
September 6, 2006 10:20 PM | Link to this
Vick will get hurt not a matter of if just when
By p
September 7, 2006 02:54 AM | Link to this
we’ll see if the defense can’t win a few games. the offense has peaked at about 17 points per game.
every team in the division stopped vick last year, and as he slows down each year, it’s going to get easier to stop him. at least we have some WRs so now vick fans have only the OL, that has lead the NFC in rushing the past few seasons, to blame.