Is there a team willing to take a chance on #7?
According to Don Banks of SI.com, Michael Vick and Roger Goodell had a sit-down chat today in New Jersey to talk about his future with the NFL.
Now according to ESPN and PFT.com, Goodell has tentatively decided that Vick will be conditionally reinstated, then suspended for the first four games of the 2009 season.
A conditional reinstatement is what we saw with Pacman Jones last offseason. He was allowed to attend training camp and go to practice, but wasn't guaranteed that he wouldn't be suspended for a few games.
While Jones did not get further suspension, Vick will not be so lucky.
According to the reports, Goodell has decided to suspend Vick for the first month of the 2009 NFL season. Really, that's about the best that Vick could have hoped for.
Considering the fact that Vick lied about what he was doing, was caught doing it, then spent nearly two years in a federal prison because of it, four games may be light. Especially considering the iron fist that Goodell has pounded into the NFL and its players several times before.
Will Vick find a new team? That has yet to be seen as no team has stepped up and said, "Yes, we have interest in Michael Vick." Well, no NFL team anyway.
The Orlando franchise of the UFL currently holds his rights were he to give up on the NFL (or more likely, have the NFL give up on him) and come play for the UFL.
The UFL doesn't seem to have much of a chance at Vick any longer considering that their contract lasts until November 28, long after Vick's NFL suspension would be up. Also, on top of all that, the UFL would only be able to pay a fraction of what Vick would be making in the NFL.
While this is obviously not set in stone, this appears to be the most probable course of action for the league at this point.
When this is finalized, Vick will be able to sign with any team willing to take a chance on him. The only question is, does such a team exist?
While I hate Vick for what he did since I'm a dog lover, and animal lover, he deserves a second chance. If Leonard Little is allowed to still play, then Vick deserves another chance. If Stallworth is allowed to play, then so should Vick. My opinions about Michael Vick as a quarterback is that he is a terrible signal caller, he's so inaccurate and just not a good QB...he is (was?) a phenomenal athlete. If I was an NFL team owner though, I wouldn't sign him.
I feel the same way about him on a personal level, but think a little more highly of him as a player than you do.
I hit a rabbit today in my car and was distraught. It's the first time I've ever hit anything... I have no idea how he could do what he did.