AJC > Blog > Archives > 2006 > December > 02 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThin-Skinned, and Thin ‘Skins
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just when the Vick-vivisectioning seemed to have subsided following Sunday’s infamous bird-flipping incident, the Falcons’ embattled No. 7 is getting some belated love during perhaps the most difficult stretch of his NFL career.
Not long after one online loudmouth suggested that Vick’s best bet is to be tailback, a contrarian voice from the same outlet strongly took Vick’s side, pointing the figure of blame entirely at the brass:
“The bashing of Vick has become gratuitous, too easy, like fart jokes or mocking Pamela Anderson.”
“He has never played with a great wide receiver.”
“He is currently playing for an offensive coordinator who is about as creative as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”
“Perhaps no great player in the recent history of professional football has been so ill-served by a coaching staff and personnel department as Vick has by the Falcons organization.”
Sentiments some of you have battered about here on these blogs and elsewhere, no doubt. And rather tame, to boot.
Yet some of you take all this too seriously, wouldn’t you agree?”
“NFL Grants Vick Permission to Flip Off Atlanta Fans, Press”
Reminder folks — it’s fake news, totally, including the Photoshopped pic.
For those of you wishing for a more high-minded discussion of the subject, an early NFL pioneer — “the Michael Vick of his day” — offers some unsolicited advice the at the behest of a columnist who oozes with empathy for Vick.
Because that link’s behind a paid firewall, here are few highlights worth noting:
“The first thing I will tell him is, ‘Mike, you care, and as long as you care, you are going to be fodder for criticism,’ When you get to the point where you don’t care, you will not be any good to yourself, to the football team. You are the present-day Jackie Robinson, Paul Robeson, Ray Robinson — all of these people were people who really cared about what was going on. And they put themselves in harm’s way, just to make sure that people like me would be inspired to do the very best that we could be. And that’s all you can do.’ ”
Conclusion by the scribe: “Michael Vick’s problem is that he’s ahead of his time.”
Maybe so, but this is just a bit too much hyperbole for Enemy Watch to digest on an empty stomach.
Sunday’s opponent, the Washington Redskins, is trying to recapture a glimmer of faded glory under Joe Gibbs, doing his second tour of duty in Old D.C.
But these are hardly the Redskins of Enemy Watch’s 20-something years, domiciling in Das Kapital and watching neighbors taking to pots, pans and kazoos in a makeshift band after Doug Williams orchestrated a memorable Super Bowl win.
This was the same Super Bowl, when, during Media Day, a credentialed journalist asked Williams how long he’d been a black quarterback. It was a more simple, yet daunting issue at the time, something that could not have anticipated the Vick phenomenon now.
No, these Redskins have long since abandoned the raucous, odorous RFK for the suburbs and the soulless, spit-shine corporate confines of FedEx Field, which some loyalists fear is being infected with artificial crowd noise.
Nothing should be allowed to compete with the passion stirred by the team’s famous marching band clanging out “Hail to the Redskins,” a real treat when Enemy Watch sat nearby in the bouncy field level section at RFK.
Curse you, Dan Snyder.
In their non-illustrious history, the Falcons have one win in 11 tries in Washington. But that’s not why this prognosticator is going with Redskins at -2.
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Comments
By paddyatl
December 2, 2006 03:56 PM | Link to this
Wow, a blog by the so-called “Enemy Watch” in which the writer spends half of the article reminiscing about being a Redskins fan. Classic. I should expect as much from the AJC.
By long time falcon
December 2, 2006 06:00 PM | Link to this
” michael vick’s problem is that he is ahead of his time”. HAHAHAHA! Does that mean all QB’s in the future will be dumb, unable to read a defense, and complete about 50% of their passes.
By Lynne
December 2, 2006 07:10 PM | Link to this
No “long time falcon”, it means a QB like Vick will not have to endure the ignorance and stupidity of someone like you.
By bucko
December 2, 2006 07:11 PM | Link to this
I love long time falcon I could have not said it any better. What a joke for a Q.B. we have for our Q.B.
By mlr710
December 2, 2006 08:43 PM | Link to this
Oh bucko, I see you’re as delusional as the so called long time falcon. If you had even a tenth of Vick’s talent you wouldn’t be on a blog bonding with a fellow couch coach.
By Mike G
December 2, 2006 08:54 PM | Link to this
This is got to be one of the worst Posts Ive ever read. And it didnt even come from Shultz. AJC idiots. How does the editor put up with this Horsesh*t.
By WallStBro
December 2, 2006 09:10 PM | Link to this
Lynne, you’re the bomb. Good job pointing out “Long Time’s” ignorance.
By Slinky
December 2, 2006 10:56 PM | Link to this
Jesus Christ, now Vick gets a pass because he is equal to Jackie Robinson?
I am sure Williams, Moon, Cunningham, etc, etc, etc, feel real good.
It is 2006 and Vick simply lacks as a QB. I can’t wait for next years excuses when people are calling for Shockley over Vick……Nevermind, the nuthuggers will chalk it up to UGA homers.
By Slinky
December 2, 2006 11:01 PM | Link to this
Nevermind my post. I see that the Robinson cmparison came from Rhoden at the NY Times. Much like our Moore, no one is fooled by his agenda.
By Mike in Woodstock
December 2, 2006 11:18 PM | Link to this
T’was two weeks before Christmas and all through the Dome Not a Falcon was scoring On the road or at home
The draft picks had been chosen By Rich Mckay with care In hopes that a wildcard In January would be there
The fans with their money bought tickets in June Visions of a championship which certainly would come soon.
But Mora and his clipboard and Mr. Blank with his cash Were entrusting the Offense To a sap named Gregg Knapp
Then on a Monday in New Orleans Came a clatter We all scratched our heads Wondering what was the matter
Atop the division they started November 5 and 2 was a record we could rarely remember But four brutal losses and we’d long for September
The Lions and Browns so puny and sick How could two lowly teams ever pressure Mike Vick? But just as years past, the losses they came. The Ravens they beat us, the Saints did the same The fans were dejected, was Mora to blame?
Dropped passes, No blocking, Poor Offensive scheme Beat the Steelers and Bengals Was this the same team?
Now Jenkins, Now Roddy, Now Ashley Leleigh Catch one touchdown pass, it’s all we ask of thee
Onto Washington, Onto Tampa, then Dallas at home Will our beloved Falcons ever find the end-zone? The Panthers The Eagles we close the year out Two of them losses, Mora’s future in doubt?
“Another year” Furman and Bradley they’ll write You could’ve had Lovey Hire Cowher tonight!
By Who's Your Daddy
December 3, 2006 08:09 AM | Link to this
Who cares? This season is over.
By Larry
December 3, 2006 09:12 AM | Link to this
This could possibly be the most elementary and boring bolg I’ve ever read!
Vick is the best running QB in NFL history, and, Vick is the worst passing QB in NFL history. To argue differently one is deservedly awarded the title of—-STUPID.
By RZM
December 3, 2006 10:07 AM | Link to this
Speaking of stupid, this is Vick’s second worst passing season in his career and he is not even the worst passer in the NFL this year - much less all time.
By curly
December 3, 2006 10:13 AM | Link to this
oh larry, you are a buffoon.
By Famuan
December 3, 2006 11:15 AM | Link to this
Yeah Larry, out of all the QBs that have played in NFL history, Vick is the worst……..Thank you for once again showing the world how completely ignorant you haters really are.
By redddawg
December 3, 2006 11:21 AM | Link to this
I am sick of hearing how Vick “donated” $5000 to a family in need ……… he is a loser just like his brother. The NFL forced him to “donate”. He did “donate” an unacceptable gesture to a crowd laced with women and children. Please, send this classless act back to ghetto. Look around Vick. See the young man sitting on the bench waiting on a chance to show his ability…….. that is Mr. Shockley. He may be 3rd team, but he is something you will never be …. a man.
By Lynne
December 3, 2006 11:57 AM | Link to this
Sorry reddawg, the “classless act” is here to stay, all $37 million in guaranteed money of him……so why don’t you go back to your trailer park, with jimbo and paw paw and your ma-sister and stop being such a raving hypocrite.
By jerry
December 3, 2006 12:19 PM | Link to this
Terry Bradshaw on Fox NFL Sunday just stated that Schaub would be the better guy to run the West Coast offense for the Falcons. Let’s see who can be the first dickhead to refute this four time Superbowl winner and NFL Hall of Famer.
By TTCO
December 3, 2006 12:26 PM | Link to this
Without a doubt the most stupid blog article I have ever read on the AJC website. It even surpasses some of Terrance Moore,s buffon laced racist BS! Mike Vick is the bigest 140 million dollar MISTAKE ever made! We love you Arthur but you blew that one big time! I would say Oh by about 135 million.
By Talons of Fire
December 3, 2006 12:28 PM | Link to this
It’s laughable how the likes of “long Time Falcon”, “reddawg” and “Bucko” feel it is their inherent right to call Vick dumb. Here are a couple of people ( and I use that word loosely) blogging on an AJC website calling some one who makes Millions dumb. Yet their ascribed superior intelligence can’t make that kind of money for them. How is it that individuals with such “obvious” superior intelligence can’t put themselves in a position to make the kind of money Vick is making. You can demonize and vilify all you want, the fact remains that “dumb azz” Vick has done much better with his so called inferior intelligence than you two and all of his detractor can EVER dream of. By calling Vick dumb, you guys have proven without any help who the REAL dummies are. LMAO at you fools!
By Talons of Fire
December 3, 2006 12:33 PM | Link to this
The “dickhead” is the one who believes that some one’s opinion should be excepted as universal truth! You guys get crazier by the seconds! LMAO!
By jerry
December 3, 2006 12:56 PM | Link to this
Congratulations Talons: Or should I call you DICKHEAD?
By 10th Screet crackhead
December 3, 2006 01:01 PM | Link to this
Michael Vick is so stupid he thought herpes was a vegetable.
By midniterider
December 3, 2006 01:27 PM | Link to this
falcons will get blowen out today what a joke of a football team
By midniterider
December 3, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this
14 to 0 going to be an ugly day for the falcons wish atlanta had a pro football team
By Lynne
December 3, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this
Talons of Fire……………THANK YOU.
By Joey
December 3, 2006 01:49 PM | Link to this
WR $2 million RB $6 millino QB $10 million Football Team that can play priceless
By Get yer life on the corner
December 3, 2006 02:06 PM | Link to this
You call can buy one for a nickel or so.
By dirtie birdie
December 3, 2006 02:15 PM | Link to this
jerry, bradshaw is an idiot
By buzz532
December 3, 2006 02:47 PM | Link to this
GO FALCONS!!! 17-14 I am loving the game!!