Football - Atlanta Falcons Release Michael Vick

Vick was a great kid with so much promise. He made college scouts salivate, and led Virginia Tech to the 2000 National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) National Football Championship Game. Michael was a number one draft pick, NFL record holder and Atlanta Falcon favorite. Anybody with that much going his way would be crazy to mess up, right?

Michael grew up in a Newport News, Virginia public housing project. Mom and Dad married when Michael was five. He kept Vick as his last name, but Dad, Michael Boddie, was in the picture and recognized Jr. had talent. Dad encouraged and guided him in the right direction. Michael managed to avoid the gangs, bad habits and violence that sometimes exists in low income project housing. He retained a positive attitude and evidently a desire to learn.

Some things you cannot teach. Michael was a natural. Everybody, except maybe the coaches, loves to watch a quarterback that can think quick, run out of the pocket, thread the needle, stop on a dime and beat you passing, throwing and running (it is the running that the coaches hate). Michael Vick had all this and more.

At Virginia Tech, Michael proved to all that he was the real thing. He led his team to the 2000 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana against the powerful 1999 Florida State Seminoles, unbeatened, untied, number one wire to wire, and coached by college legend Bobby Bowden and company. Florida State won the game, but Vick put on a show and almost pulled off an upset. Those of us who attended the game knew FSU had a great team with Chris Weinke, Peter Warrick and Ron Dugans. Michael Vick answered the question, "Can he play?", and the answer was, "Yes he can".

In a trade, San Francisco gave Atlanta their 2001 draft pick, and Michael Vick became the first African-American quarterback selected as number one draft choice. After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the NFL Super Bowl, running back Warrick Dunn left the Bucs ($$ ceiling controls) and joined the Falcons. The two NFL pros made Atlanta football fun to watch. Later, Warrick Dunn returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Vick returned to betting and sponsoring dogfights.

When media conveyors flashed Michael Vick's arrest for participating in "dog fighting", most football fans were in disbelief. He was not only involved but a main promoter and participant. Arrested, convicted, in prison, suspended from the NFL, and released from the Atlanta Falcons, Vick's future remains a question mark. Falcon's manager, Thomas Dimitroff, announced Michael's release from the team effective on June 12, 2009, making the former quarterback a free agent. Attempts failed to trade the VT phenomena, even at bargain basement discounts. Michael Vick continues his suspension from the NFL and remains under house arrest. Does he deserve another chance?

Credits:
Wikipedia-
Michael Vick
Peter Warrick
1999 Florida State Seminoles - Sugar Bowl