THE MIKE VICK EXPERIENCE: EVERYBODY’S JUMPING

By sjacobs • July 25, 2007

When the Atlanta Falcons made a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Chargers in 2001 for the rights to the number one pick, in what eventually became Michael Vick, it was a stunning, but sly move. Atlanta was getting the unanimous number one player in the 01 draft, and they were also getting a big time play maker who had championship experience with Virginia Tech, in addition to major marketing potential.

Vick was never all that consistent, but his teams won. In his second year as a starter everyone was hoping onto the Michael Vick Experience, a mega promotion courteous of Nike, and a reach out to a star blossoming before our eyes.

Do you remember all the people who claimed he would change the quarterback position forever? Or how after his brilliant run through virtually the entire Minnesota Vikings squad got him the label, “the most exciting player in sports.”

Electric. Evolutionary. And now his career might just be gone in a flash. Its developments tied to dog fighting, first reported by Sports Illustrated a few months ago. Back then it was all speculation, but now, the FBI is going after him, and all of a sudden, America’s poster boy athlete, Atlanta’s franchise superstar, is facing more than just a career shortened by fraud. He’s facing a potential prison sentence, and a fall from grace as fast as any athlete ever.

Vick used to elude oncoming defensive lineman. Now in his attempt to avoid jail time, he’s going to have to come up with one heck of a case that he had no part in this whole dog fighting epidemic. Now, he’s been told not to show up to training camp. Pretty soon, he’ll probably be told that he can’t play this season at all.

This from the guy who had the potential to be bigger then life. He had the opportunity to make Atlanta a great team for years, to anchor the ship for a whopping $130 million, which made him the second highest paid player in the NFL. Now though, his unique accomplishment of being the first quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards means nothing. His unique style of play. Doesn’t matter. His ability alone affecting how team’s would game plan the Falcons. Rendered meaningless.

PETA wants him gone for the season. People have been showing up in New York City where the NFL offices are, protesting Vick’s actions. It may be innocent until proven guilty, but it sure seems like a lot of people are quickly jumping off the Michael Vick Experience from hell. A guy so many people rooted for, his jerseys sold like hot-cakes, he is now public enemy number one in sports. Even though Barry Bonds is extremely disliked, his actions, his supposed steroid use happened on the field, and in the locker-room. The charges staring Vick in the face are so much more than that.

In fact, Vick is in such hot water, that it may be in his best interest never to play football again. Strong words I know. Never is not a word to throw around lightly, but Vick is really in despicable territory. He has failed to make a single statement since he was charged, and the evidence seems to build against his case more and more every day.

Mr. Electric was an unbelievable player to watch. I got the chance to see him in person once at a preseason Falcons game a few years ago. He played like a video game character, at a different speed, almost as if he was operating under a different law of gravity.

But now, he’s been brought down to earth. His reputation has been shot, and his chances of ever recovering from this, no matter what happens are unbelievably diminished, and even more likely unfathomable.

This from the man who was given the keys to the car that would change the landscape of the quarterback position forever in the National Football League. Now, people can’t even look at him, and he’s not just a sports story, he’s a front page national nightmare.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank who has stood by Vick for a long time now, as these allegations came to light, was ready to suspend him for four games, before the NFL intervened and asked them to wait. Blank sees it, and so does everyone else: it’s one big mess, and its not going away anytime soon.