Could The Big Game Have Saved Vick In Atlanta?

By now we all know, Michael Vick has become a convicted felon who likely won’t play in the National Football League again until at least 2009, however, because of salary cap considerations the Falcons top brass cannot reasonably cut Vick from the roster because of salary cap considerations…yet. But make no mistake, by this time in 2008, Vick’s salary will be undoubtedly dumped by the Atlanta Falcons.

However, what if circumstances were different and fortunes were reversed with say Peyton Manning or Tom Brady? No, this is not an in-depth personal commentary on the role of race in Vick’s legal trouble but rather a shallow analysis of talent and it’s affect on public perception.

It’s been well documented and I think we can all agree that Vick’s biggest mistake was fighting cute, cuddly animals like dogs so near and dear dear to the hearts of millions of Americans. The public, to say the least, has understandably responded in a vitriolic manner to detailed accounts of Vick’s transgressions.

However, the backlash against Michael Vick began long before his criminal activity came to light. This was just the last straw. For a franchise which has never earned two consecutive trips to the playoffs, the fan base had understandably grown intensely testy and irritable. Vick was already on the proverbial hot seat, this just gave them good reason to give him the [electric]chair.

The firing of Jim Mora, coupled with the hiring of Bobby Petrino signaled a call to arms for Vick. Coach Petrino’s mea culpa for Vick consisted of a 65% completion percentage, career high passing yards, consistent pocket passing as well as nothing less than a deep playoff push. Now with 2007 scrapped and 2008 unlikely, Vick’s make or break season will never happen and the remaining fans can only wonder what could have been.

In what if any way has the Michael Vick (on-field) experience had on the perception of scrambling quarterbacks in the NFL? Vick's on and off brilliance as a passer may have been the by-product of mediocre receivers but has still supplied ample ammunition to critics. How will his negative imprint impress on teams scouting similar college quarterbacks such as Pat White and Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor in the future? Will any NFL coach ever allow his quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards because of it's implied disruption to the passing game?

This is why Vick will never be accepted back as a quarterback in Atlanta by Athur Blank, Bobby Petrino(if he’s still here). The option quarterback experiment failed, the hypothesis, wrong, and the conclusion—inconclusive.

However, knowing all this would Falcons fans accept Vick more readily with open arms in 2009, if he had a Super Bowl victory as a Falcon on his resume?

If Peyton Manning or Tom Brady pled guilty next week to “conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activates and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture” would the backlash be as overwhelmingly negative. Would diehard Colts or Patriots fans actually consider abandoning their MVP, (multiple)Super Bowl winning, Hall of Fame, all-time great quarterbacks or simply wait out the prison term and resume their journey to the Super Bowl upon their return with little hesitation?

You don't just throw away two or three trips to the Super Bowl for your franchise just because your quarterback spends 18 months holed up with a 6-8, 290 pound giant named Hank and spends a little extra time in a federal prison weight room. If anything Manning or Brady would probably comes back with stronger throwing arms and equipped with the new friendship of Hank, a suprisingly polished left tackle who's been defending your blindside successfully (i hope) since the first shower time. But I digress...

However, Falcons followers won't wait two years for the return of a quarterback who may not be the key to their Super Bowl success when he does return. Think about it, a Super Bowl victory means a trip to the White House, meet the president, develop a friendship and voila! 7 months later he's giving you a presidential pardon!

One has to wonder, though that if Vick was a 27 year old Super Bowl winning MVP quarterback on his way to the Hall of Fame, would Arthur Blank still feel the same way regarding his future with the team in 2009 as a 29 year old quarterback? Just look at how the Los Angeles Lakers handled Kobe ordeal in 2003. Do you honestly think they would have shown the same patience if the same circumstances had occurred to a player that was not the cornerstone in their dynasty? The chances are slim.

Granted Bryant was slighty younger than Vick is that season, Vick is no septuagenarian himself. All I'm saying is that people are more accepting of winners because champions are endearing forever. Arthur Blank is a businessman first and a fan second, and as we've heard a million times before, winning cures all malcontentment. Unfortunately Michael Vick will not get the opportunity to test out that theory.