Vick’s return

October 12, 2009  
Filed under Sports

It has been an interesting offseason for the entire NFL. Dante Stallworth killed a man while driving drunk and high; and received just a 30 day jail sentence, but was then suspended for an entire year by the league. Steve McNair, who was married and had children, was shot in the head twice by his girlfriend in a tragic murder/suicide. Plaxico Burress received 2 years in prison for shooting himself with a concealed weapon, a charge on which most people walk. Marvin Harrison, one of the NFL’s leading receivers, is connected to two separate shooting incidents over the offseason, leading every NFL team to pass on one of the greatest receivers of his generation this offseason. By comparison, Michal Vick has been one of the quieter stories this summer.

When he was released from prison, it first seemed that he would not be picked up by any teams before the beginning of the season. Then seemingly out of nowhere, he was signed by the Eagles, a team that already had Donavan McNabb, a Pro-Bowl quarterback. The odd fit seemed even odder when McNabb spoke to the press after the signing, saying that he was the one who pushed for the Eagles to sign Vick.

The signing was not without controversy. Vick had trouble finding an animal shelter or animal rights group that was willing to have him work with them to do his community service. Then he was photographed drinking at an airport bar, which was initially thought to violate his parole, that called for no excessive use of alcohol.

His preseason debut for the Eagles was no less controversial. He was substituted in for McNabb in the middle of drives, and used in a variety of positions on the field. He lined up as a quarterback, running back and wide receiver but failed to be truly effective in any of those roles. Eagles head coach Andy Reid was criticized by football experts for creating a distraction and undermining the authority of his starting quarterback, McNabb.

Michal Vick’s next preseason games went smother, he showed an understanding of the offence and flashes of the athletic ability that had made him one of the top quarterbacks in the game. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been impressed by the way Vick has handled his return to both the NFL and life outside of prison. He has agreed to reinstate Vick into the league three weeks sooner than expected. With his fantastic football ability and an injury to McNabb in Week 1, we could see the return of Michal Vick to the football field and the highlight reel very soon.

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Schuyler Foulke

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