Vick still on Blank’s mind

Later this month, former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick will move closer to resolving all of his dogfighting charges.

On Nov. 25 at the Sussex County (Va.) Courthouse, Vick will enter his guilty plea on the state charges.

Surry County Commonwealth Attorney Gerald Poindexter recently said he was offering Vick the same deal he gave co-defendant Quanis Phillips —- a three-year suspended prison term and a $2,500 fine that also will be suspended if he pays court costs and maintains good behavior for four years.

When the state case is resolved, Vick’s attorneys, Lawrence Woodward of Virginia Beach, Va., and Billy Martin of Washington, D.C., can apply for the federal program that may allow Vick to spend the remainder of his 23-month sentence in a halfway house to prepare him for transition back into society.

Vick’s scheduled released date is July 20, 2009.

From the time Vick pleaded to guilty to the federal charges, Martin said the goal has been to get him back into the NFL as quickly as possible.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will have the final say on reinstatement because Vick is currently suspended indefinitely.

Goodell suspended Vick in August 2007 after he was ordered to stay away from Falcons training camp in July. In a letter to Vick, the commissioner called his conduct “cruel and reprehensible.”

By the time Vick applies for reinstatement, he will have been suspended for two years.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank gave his thoughts on Vick’s plight and how he’d help him try to return to the NFL, but not to the Falcons.

Second chances

Blank and the Falcons have moved on.

“I believe in second chances, often times third chances,” Blank said. “I think that after some period of time, Michael would have paid his debt to society.”

Vick, who has filed for bankruptcy, likely will not receive the same type of lucrative contract that he had with the Falcons, should a team sign him.

“Obviously, he’s paid a huge price professionally and personally,” Blank said. “In terms of his family and in terms of his own financial situation. I think at some point, I’d like to see him play again in the National Football League.”

Message for youth

Once released, Vick could use the lessons he’s learned to educate kids about the ills of dogfighting, running with the wrong crowd and how it could hamper their futures.

“Certainly he’s gone through a real redemptive process,” Blank said. “It would be a great message for a lot of young folks in these communities where young people are making choices about what to do with their lives and how to conduct themselves, with choices of friends and relationships, things of that nature.”

Vick rarely worked with the community when he was with the Falcons, but Blank hopes that will change.

“I could see Michael going to these communities and saying [to the youths], ‘Let me tell you what happens when you make bad choices,’ ” Blank said. “‘There was a period of two years in my life when I was in the federal penitentiary… .’ So I think that’s a powerful kind of message that young folks need to hear from someone like Michael Vick.”

Market for Vick

Just glance around the NFL and you can figure out that there will be a place for Vick.

Several teams —- including the Falcons —- are experimenting with putting running backs at quarterback to confuse defenses. If Vick still has his speed, he could run that offense full time.

And there are teams that could use him. Detroit, San Francisco, Oakland and Kansas City have quarterback issues. The New York Jets, Tampa Bay, Seattle and St. Louis have aging quarterbacks.

“I wish Michael well,” Blank said. “I’d like to see him get back on his feet. Get his family back on their feet and play again in the NFL at the right time.”

Communication lines open

Blank and Vick have written each other several times since he’s been incarcerated.

“I’ve told him anything that I can do on a personal basis and if I can add real value to that, I’d be happy to do so,” Blank said. “I’ll certainly stand by that.”