What are the 49ers up to? They have expressed an interest in Dan Reeves, and Hue Jackson for the position of offensive coordinator. They have also expressed a general interest in Mike Johnson, who coached quarterbacks in Baltimore. You may ask why this is news worthy and why is Johnson writing about this. My question to you is what player, who is expected to become a free agent; do all of these candidates for Mike Singletary’s new staff have in common? The answer is Michael “The Human Highlight Film” Vick.
Adam Schefter of NFL.com and other sources have reported over the past few days that all of the above mentioned coaching candidates have been speaking to the 49ers about jobs. Anyone with knowledge of the San Francisco quarterback situation knows that a rusty Vick would be a major upgrade over Shaun Hill and J.T. O'Sullivan, but will the public accept him? I contend that if the 49ers put together a marketing plan in conjunction with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) with Vick as the focal point, he donates a percentage of his future earnings, Michael stays out of trouble, and, most importantly. wins people will indeed give Vick a second chance. He can no longer have any Ron Mexico incidents. Vick cannot expect to get the benefit of doubt from fans or law enforcement when he has a water bottle with a false compartment and it smell like marijuana. He has to be on the straight and narrow; he must become a role model.
America loves a comeback story, and Michael Vick is set up for one. He, his creditors and the 49ers are all hoping that his story will end successfully, and with the advent of the wildcat formation in the NFL, I am willing to bet that it will. I am also willing to bet that a league which allows sex offenders (multiple), Gangsters (Pac-Man) and murders (Leonard Little) on the field each Sunday, will allow a man who was convicted of dog fighting back on the field if it deems him marketable (if they can make money off of him). Am I off base with this thought? What do you think, but before you respond, think about who we are talking about the NFL or the Not For Long league if you do not make them money.
Johnson is a contributor to The Sports Information Hub and can be contacted at johnsonthesportsguy@gmail.com
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First of all, there is no way that the public accepts Vick back. I am not defending the public idea that dog fighting is worse than similar attacks on humans, or drug usage, etc, but public perception is that harming a defenseless animal is one of the highest offenses. Everybody knows him for this. My wife who hates football knows him for this. If he teamed up with PETA (which they would never allow), that would make it worse. PETA would be selling out, and nobody would believe Vick believes it.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, there is no way Vick would be able to come back. Do you think his diet and training while in the slammer is 1/10 of what a normal football players is? He will be out of shape, and not up to date with the league. Do you think that after 2 years, he waltzes right back into the most difficult position in pro-sports? Are NFL teams sending him playbooks to study?
Vick's intrigue was never his arm, it was his speed. If he still had some of that left (which is doubtful after this long prison sentence), don't you think he would be better suited for a wildcat formation? maybe not set up as a QB, but as a throwback Kordell/Slash position?
The public will never forgive him though. there just isn't room in the league for him anymore, especially with the crop of QBs in the next couple of years. Vick, and his delinquent little brother, had the world handed to him, and he screwed up big time.
I think Vick will be fine if he makes a comeback to the NFL. The fans always will forgive, if there aren't any further issues. Do we even remember what happened to Kobe in Colorado? That's ancient history, almost like it never happened. The main issue will be football conditioning and accuracy. I doubt either of those improved in prison.
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