Friday Fire: What’s Next For Michael Vick?
I’m gonna send you off to what hopefully will be a nice weekend with Part II of Skip Friday morning. The interview was just too long to slam you with another 8 thousand words just that quick.
With news that Michael Vick could be released as early as May 21st to serve house arrest because of prison overcrowding, it’s time to discuss his future.
He’s paid his debt to society and deserves a second chance whether he’s talented or not just like anyone else on the face of the earth.
You hear all this bull crap about placing him in a wild cat offense or running the rock, returning kicks and punts or lining up at receiver, but squash that.
Michael Vick is a quarterback and if given the proper weapons, will show the world just how much of a bad mf’er he is if he’s given the opportunity. Tim Tebow couldn’t hold his Virginia Tech jock.
I’ll say this now, most Blacks are gonna throw support behind Vick and that’s something the
main stream is gonna have to deal with simply because there are much more important issues to deal with. When Blacks aren’t safe sitting on their own stoop in various neighborhoods across the land, why the hell should they care about dog fighting? Seriously. Crime is crime and I’m definitely not absolving crime, but isn’t one human life more important than every single animal on the planet? This might be an unpopular belief to be critical in this instance (like I care), but there are some folk out there who don’t think so. What’s that about? Kinda crazy right? Let me put it this way, if I had a family dog in my household for years and I had to make a decision whether to save it or a total stranger, I guess I’ll be making a trip to the pet store. Of course I would be sad, but isn’t there a difference? Is this illogical?
I don’t think I’m going out on a limb to say that while some cats like Bernie Maddoff chill in Manhattan condos, Mike was serving time. He was contrite during that very humbling press conference, so it’s time to ease back and let the man live. He killed no one but you would think he ran through Virginia like Nat and slashed folks on outta here. The press coverage was absolutely sickening. Some view dog fighting as a horrible crime, but it never warranted the coverage it received no matter what some of you say.
It’s time to move on.
Yeah, he’s gonna face all kinds of picket signs, dog killer and “you suck” chants, angry ass facial expressions, little kids laughing at and booing him, middle fingers, burnt 7 jerseys or whatever else, but after serving what will be 23 months in Leavenworth, I’m sure the brotha can handle pretty much anything fanatics dole out.
Get somebody to buy your food Mike and don’t eat out bruh. There will be people who will hate your guts with a passion until the day you die.
They can care less you became the first quarterback ever to rush for 1,000 yards or took a less than talented team to the NFC Championship alone.
What’s next for Michael Vick?
I totally agree. Personally, I think Madoff and Stanford n those corrupt fucks should definitely be in jail exponentially longer than Vick. Look, I love dogs- my dog foxie is basically like a daughter to me, no joke – and I felt sickened by what he did, but at the end of the day, dog fighting isn’t that bad compared to some stuff people DONT go to jail for. And he did his time, let the man play. Pacman has done more shit than Vick and got another chance with no boos and no media criticism outside of “he’s a troubled player” and a bunch of oh he’s black and loves strip club jokes. Vick might get assassination attempts. And I don’t mean that I hope he does, in fact I’d be disgusted. But those PETA fanatics value animals higher than humans, and he killed dogs, tortured dogs, bet on them…And if he gets back in, you just know somebody will try something vile. I think it’s totally unfair, and I feel wrong for even saying this, but we all know it’s on our minds. Also, I’m going to temper my next statement by saying that this is a sad truth. Michael Vick set black quarterbacks back to the days when Warren Moon wasn’t given a proper chance. Call me a cynic, but you just KNOW any black quarterback is going to be even more intensely scrutinized than before if he’s not from an extremely suburban predominantly white neighborhood….It’s messed up. I love how white people think racism is over because a black person is president. That’s totally untrue- people need to remember HOW MANY people voted AGAINST Obama simply BECAUSE of his color…But I digress. In short, I think Vick needs another chance, I think that the justice system is still inherently corrupt because the people running it had their opinions molded by a racist generation and a racist culture. PERIOD. PS, as with all race related debates I enter into the foray, I give full disclosure that I am a white adult that lives in the very multicultural dallas area. That being said, form your opinions as you wish.
Come to San Fran Mike PLEASSSSSSEEEEEEEE!
Mike needs to come back. Goodell has to let Mike back. He’s paid his dues. How much is enough?
Justin, you make some very good points there, but with Vick the decision from the team that ends up signing him (and I think that the initial post is a blueprint for the PR campaign) is that they see his talent and the ability to win games outweighs the PR nightmare. Whether we agree or not, there will be protests, PETA and the SPCA will be all over the club that pulls the trigger, so I think the team that does sign him will answer “yes” to the question “Will Mike Vick win us the Super Bowl”.
The NFL does hold a grudge, but guys who have done much worse were welcomed back if they could help their club win.
I also agree that Madoff and Stanford need to serve their time as they both absolutely ruined human lives (and I’m sure that before all is said and done on those 2 some DA somewhere will try to get negligent homicide charges to stick on them from a suicide where the person ended it because they lost everything they had), but the difference is that there weren’t any kids in math class saying “I’m gonna’ fudge these numbers just like Bernie Madoff!” whereas there were more than a few who looked up to Vick as a role model (and don’t get me started on that. Parents need to be involved enough in their kids’ lives to BE that role model).
Oh, before I forget, on the Obama issue: there’s a great documentary on HBO right now called “right America Feeling Wronged” about the election. As you’d suspect they found more than a few people like those you mentioned, but the most true statement came from a guy in Mississippi: when asked about whites calling Obama the N-word, he stated “You came all the way to Miss to find a white guy saying “N*****”? You just came to make Miss look bad because it’s not like there’s no one in LA or NY saying that”. By far the truest (and most sad) statement in the movie. The South gets demonized but racism’s ugly head rears up in all states. So ver sad, but (unfortunately) true.
White people love their pets. That’s the only reason Mike went to jail. Say what you want about brothers and their pit bulls, but you ain’t never seen a brother let a dog lick his mouth. White guys do it, though.
Dang, Justin laid it DOWN…..nuff said! but I gotta give my 2 cents because I am still in awe that Michael Vick was actually put in prison and lost 2 years of his life and I swear to y’all I will never ever ever believe it was actually for conspiracy or dogfighting or whatever the plea was. I won’t, I just won’t. I won’t because Mayor Daley said yesterday what I knew already, the feds have NEVER EVER EVER EVER NEVER prosecuted another case of conspiracy involving a dogfighting ring except this ONE. After what Gerald Poindexter said? The questions he raised? Naw, nope, this was bullshit. I don’t give a damn, this was a distraction from something else, something bigger. Mike Vick became public enemy number one because it was the perfect charge at the perfect time with all the main ingredients….Black menacing buck making mega-dollars, harming little Fido…GIVE ME A BREAK. Between the bullshit reporting for ratings, fear of losing the “traditional” QB and PETA/HSUS lunatics who were looking for a good fundraiser, it was the perfect storm- but that prosecution was damn sure not about dogfighting or any element of it…nope…just not buying that.
All that said – the bullshit attempts by the mainstream sports media to try and sell us the “he was never a good QB anyway” line is so pathetic. The crap that “he should play another position” – could they be more transparent? “We dont know what kind of shape he will be in”….yeah ya do. They know…and that scares the hell outta all the Peter Kings and the likes that would rather eat maggots than admit why they REALLY don’t want Mike Vick in the NFL as a QB ever again. Its so freaking pathetic and I get madder everyday as I watch guys like Pat White have to go thru the song and dance with these mofos because they are so incredibly scared of CHANGE.
The last time I checked, Idaho and Wyoming are the only two states in the country where dogfighting is a misdemeanor. Which means if Vick did his business in the mountains of Wyoming somewhere, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Of course, nobody bothered to bring that up. How lazy is MSM? It didn’t take me long to find that out on the ‘Net, but NO reporter could do a little investigating and find the same?
“Michael Vick set black quarterbacks back to the days when Warren Moon wasn’t given a proper chance. Call me a cynic, but you just KNOW any black quarterback is going to be even more intensely scrutinized than before if he’s not from an extremely suburban predominantly white neighborhood.”
Sad but true, Justin.
My bad: Dan LeBatard was the only one who brought up the misdemeanor part, as far as I know. He just didn’t specify what states.
Another thing, this whole “he’s gonna be a PR nightmare”….this media manipulation is really unbelievable. There was NEVER more than 20 people protesting out at Flowery Branch when Vick was indicted, and half of those were the children of the 10 women who couldn’t have picked Mike Vick out of a lineup with Eli and Peyton as the other two suspects. There were 50 people at the so-called PETA protest outside of the NFL head office in NYC at the height of this bullshit…50 people protesting in a city of 10 million? The “thousands of emails and phone calls”…that the league and Nike received…I can buy the software over the internet and within the next hour have 500 comments on THIS site, PETA is notorious for that shit. I swear, this whole “PR nightmare” reminds me of the mainstream media hyping up the big protests at the Democratic National Convention..oh remember how the Hillary supporters were gonna disrupt and dismantle and cause havoc in Denver? Yep…its bullshit….its all bullshit. You will not have more than 1/2 of 1/2 percent of any season ticket holder base of any franchise not renewing because they’re so offended by Mike Vick…and you will not have PETA nuts disrupting the Sunday afternoon of drunken NFL tailgaters who are barbequing up chicken, beef AND pork outside of NFL stadiums. This is just crazy to me! We live in the age of information, yet we are so not informed.
Matthew, dont blame white people liking dogs for dogfighting being that felony bullshit. blame PETA- they spend an OUTRAGEOUS amount on making everything against pets illegal, I swear. Go ahead and say white people begrudge black people for hitting a dog then ignoring the fact that serial killers (almost ALWAYS WHITE) always show signs by killing animals, and usually those white kids get off. Then a black guy makes money off of it, and gets fuuuuuucked. But don’t blame it on white folks liking dogs. I like dogs, I’m white, but I don’t think Mike should have been jailed…
Great points everyone.
Justin you spoke the truth man. Glad to see you here.
I agree with your point with Peta but I also agree with Matthew point of animals especially dogs and when it comes to white americans.
But we can agree to disagree on that subject.
Thanks sista Miranda for laying down the truth the last 2 years on this Peta nonsense. You have been reporting facts on how this mess has been going down the last 2 years in the ATL.
I have to say though isn’t it amazing that after Daley Jr lil rant that vick will be able to spend the last few months of his sentence back home.
But as I have been saying the longest brotha Mizzo and the rest of you. I just feel deep down in my heart that the league will still try and blackball the brotha. The league was hoping that he would have gotten a longer sentence so they wouldn’t have to be bothered by him. So since he is getting out earlier then they thought. Punk @ss good ole boy Goodell will just suspend him for 2 years after he gets done with his sentence. So then he will be 31 once his suspension is up and the league can just make it seem like his services aren’t needed because he is too old.
Also don’t forget that the NFLPA is a joke. Shoot Walmart got a better union…..and walmart has no union. So Vick will have no support from the union.
Plus the bigots like fat @ss Peter King will say look he was never a QB and has been away from the game for 4 years.
Same BS they pulled on Vicks cousin Aaron Brooks. You know with that garbage talk about him being a crappy QB. Yet golden boys like Rex Grossman are still in the league. Plus other countless garbage backup white QBs.
This crap is a freaking joke. Thats why I can’t even F with the NFL again. I refuse to spend a dollar on that good ole boy league.
Ain’t nothing changed same sh%$ different color. Oh and don’t forget that them fine canadians in the CFL will try to blackball him too. Plus Adam Jones own punk @ss agent who is the commisioner of the new football league is back tracking his statements of letting vick play. The fool last month came back out with that ignorant talk of vick having to get the vote of the fans online before he is allowed to play in the league. You are going to let some foolish fans decide if the dude can play.
I just can’t believe this mess over some freaking dogs. And some pits ontop of that.
Origin, real talk love the passion and points, but have to clarify something. Fuck Walmart, that shit ruins America in so many ways. I’d list them but we all know TSF readers are intelligent, I’m not gonna preach to the choir when the cats in the pews need talk of something more pertinant
Sorry guys, I gotta jump in here.
I’ve got no problems with Ron Mexico coming back and playing. To be honest, it’s shit like this that makes me like sports so much, but I hope the dude gets his ass handed to him. The dude basically tortured helpless animals for fun. He’s a fucking lunatic and a perfect fit for the Raiders.
PhillyM, no way Vick did that to the dog pictured, and by the way, don’t call a pitbull defenseless, that’s fucking ignorant. You do realize you’re exploiting an obviously hurt dog to your Vick hating propoganda, right? Do you also realize that the douchebags at PETA at one point wanted Vick to be a spokesperson for being humane to dogs after the dogfighting thing…It only didnt work because of public opinion. You do realize the hypocrisy of PETA right? Don’t disgust people for no reason.
Oh look, a Petaphile naming itself PhillyM has graced us with a pic from google images. Cool. Now why don’t you crawl on over to ESPN’s “Outdoors” page and grace us with a couple of nice pics of people grinning from ear to ear as they hold up the head of something with four legs and call it a “sport”.
also, check the hypocrisy of PETA being TOTALLY FOR EUTHANIZING animals. Seriously, check if you don’t believe me. PETAphiles are like old white republicans. They use the bible to decide the laws, then in real life situations says….aw fuck it, it doesn’t fit my situation.
Sorry people. I am against censorship, but that couldn’t fly. You should see the emails.
Off to work.
Be Peace.
Mizzo, I go by the rule of thumb. There is no censorship in journalism, but if it isn’t relevant or of good quality, an editor can refuse to run it. That picture was just disgusting exploitative and pandering to white kids with puppies.
Ok, ok that was a little excessive. As pointed out by Miranda I chose one of the first picks I found, but you guys are saying some stuff that’s way out there. Like, what’s up with hating on people that love their dogs and treat them as equal?
By the way, I could care less that he was a good player. The guy has chosen to torture instead of care for the animals. He`s a schmuck. Fuck him. What does someone need to do before you can call him a ass? Animal cruelty is way passed my limit, what`s yours?
Excuse me but has Mike Vick ever run the Wildcat offense? I didn’t think so but there was Kornheiser big as life and dim as night saying with a smile he’d be perfect for it. No, he’d be perfect for a team with a commitment to win and an offense tailored to his talents rather than bringing him off the bench to run some gimmick that’s already been dissected by D-coordinators league wide.
Vick’s going to have to do his ‘come to Jesus’ act for the media to calm down and show the right amount of contrition for Goodell to let him back in the NFL. I hope the last two and a half years have taught him to just give the jackals what he needs and keep it moving be it media, hangers-on, and family because they’re still out there ready to make a name off of his name.
I wouldn’t mind Vick in Miami at all. Pennington’s impact on the Dolphins is vastly overrated.
“Like, what’s up with hating on people that love their dogs and treat them as equal?”
PhillyM…are you serious? That question answers itself.
What’s next for Michael Vick? Well, I believe there will be a renewed media assault against him by ESPN on whether he should even play football again and a renewed debate questioning Vick’s skills as a QB. The ‘hit parade’ of old school haters such as Mark Schelerth is aggressively pushing the notion that Vick days as a QB are over, but yet he should be used in a wildcat formation exclusively. Schelerth also has had similar criticism of Vince Young and questioning his heart, desire, intelligence and really showing a contempt to him. To him, it’s like how dare these two black QBs with a combined record of 56-39 as starters should be mentioned as viable starting QBs?
Personally, I wonder how Vick’s paternal relatives will react. His relationship with his father is estranged, and his mom said in a Washington Post story that Vick’s father tried to extort money from Michael. And the father’s nephew was Davon Boddie whose arrest help trigger this whole chain of events.
Plus, Vick’s dad has said he would like to write a book..
Vick needs to stay away from negative people including some members of his family.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/23/AR2007082302385_pf.html
I believe San Francisco would be the best option for Michael. They were one of the first teams to openly expressed interest in Vick and didn’t deny it in the press despite some pressure.
If Vick wants success he has to go to an organization that respects his skillset and have a coach/GM won’t cave in to media pressure. Singletary is a man of faith and will speak up when he has to do so in defense of Vick.
Vick will be more focused than ever to get his professional and private life together.
Singletary had said this:
“I think anytime that a team embraces someone like Michael Vick … a team has to decide if they have the infrastructure that is strong enough to bring him in, that can handle it,” Singletary said.
And this as well..
“If I’m not making investments into the lives of players, then I’m not coaching,” Singletary said. “If I’m just teaching them Xs and Os, then I should be doing something else. I think every player that we have, it is vitally important that we give that kid, that young man, something more than just going out and winning football games.”
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2009/02/20/falcons_vick_trade.html
Patrick thanks very much for what you bring to the site. I think San Fran would be a great fit for him as well. I can’t wait until he plays the Falcons
Who cares about black or white in this issue. Basically vick needed this to get his head back on his shoulders. He was screwing up left and right i.e. flipping off paying fans, bringing his weed container to the airport. Either his own mind or other peoples’ corrupted this man. However I believe in second chances, don’t you?
Love,
Mr. Black Whiteman
wait i mean Mr. White blackman
oh wait i really mean Mr. American.
We(USA) need to come together to overcome. No one man(president) can do this, it takes a nation. Do not let the gov’t take away what our fathers fought for.
Michael Vick was a great QB. If or when he comes back, he’ll still be a great QB. The key is putting the right personnel around him, from the coaches to the players (weapons). Playing behind a horrible Offensive line, garbage Wrs and Offensive Coordinators who didn’t know what they were doing hindered HIS growth. When he played under Dan Reeves, he was on the right track because Reeves knew how to groom a QB. When Jim Mora took over and brought in Gregg (Nap) Knapp, they just didn’t know how to use him because neither one of them had never coached a player with his skill set. Add in the fact that he never had the weapons around him (just like Vince Young, Tavaris Jackson, David Garrad, etc.)
Gregg Knapp couldn’t call effective plays if it was pop warner football. His playcalling sucks. The Falcon coaches made the mistake of bringing in the WCO, which did not play to Vick’s strengths. The offensive line had been horrible eversince their post SuperBowl appearance up until THIS year (a 10 year span). People always talk about him running all the time; well, if you played behind that crappy Offensive line, you would run for your life, too. I would love to see Manning or Brady behind that line Vick had. Vick won games almost singlehandly while his teammates (with the exception of Crumpler) played scared.
I’ll be among the first to admit that the QB gets too much credit when the team wins but sometimes he gets too much of the blame when the team fails, so go figure. For whatever reason, people like to overlook the obvious. Look at the the Offensive line Manning has around him. Look at Brady’s offensive line. Look at Brees’ line. The list goes on. Also,look at the WRs these QBs are throwing to. Marvin Harrison & Reggie Wayne; Randy Moss, T.O., Ocho Cinco, Andre Johnson, etc. Is it any surprise that Donovan McNabb had an MVP type season when he was throwing to TO? What about when Culpepper was throwing to Moss? He had MVP type numbers. With the exception of Tom Brady, who I think is the best QB since Montana, neither of these elite QBs have proved that they would have the same type of success without their great WRs or great offensive lines.
Bottom line is this: if teams would put the right weapons around these athletic QBs, they would have success. The issue is that these coaches don’t know how to use them in the NFL. As long as they have average WRs who can’t get separation, run routes, or who can’t hold on to the ball when it hits them in their hands, then they will seem like they’re not playing up to par. People just tend to overlook all the elements around the QB that can either make of break his career.
I have hope that there will come along a great offensive minded Coordinator, who will do just that AND give his athletic QB the weapons he needs to counter defensive containments’. When that happens (and since the NFL is a ‘copy-cat’ league) you can best believe the pocket-passer’ will almost become extinct. With DEs and LBs running a 4.4 and 4.3 respectively, you can best believe the mobile QB is going to be the future of the league. Every position has undergone some form of transformation over the years. The QB position is the last position to go through this change, for various reasons. But it WILL happen as it is only a matter of time.
I think Vick should be allowed to play again. He will have done his time and paid his debt to society AND PETA (they got millions from him). If Danny Heatley can be forgiven for what he did, Vick should be forgiven, too. Yes, he broke the law and he should pay the price (which I think he is doing and will have done). And contrary to popular opinion, I think he IS sorry for what he did. Unfortunately the real shame in all of this is that people can get in an outrage over some dumb animals but show such hatred for a fellow human. The more things change the more they stay the same.
Whatever Vick does, he definitely has to pick better friends. Just ‘cuz a cat walks WITH you doesn’t mean he’s FOR you.
PhillyM…are you serious? That question answers itself.
I guess we just differ on what we consider our equal. No biggie. I just find it weird that people would defend Michael Vick before defending the puppies and the dogs he was abusing. He made a conscious decision to breed and abuse dogs. I just don’t see the point of saying that since what he did isn’t as bad as murder that he needs to be given some slack. Next thing you know, some people will start to defend Chris Brown. He’s not the worst guy around, and I truly hope he comes back and lives a happy life. However, the guy made some dumb decisions and will continue to pay for them the rest of his life. Just like most of us would, only he has to suffer in the public eye.
PhillyM? What does your “name” signify?
The two people you mention have nothing to do with each other. What’s that about?
Miranda -
My statement that Vick will be a PR nightmare wasn’t because I had an issue with him, but because I know what the media will do the second he signs for any team. No matter how many actual bodies show up to protest, the media will blow it up.
What the club and Vick will need to do is come out and mention that Mike is merely going back to his job, plain and simple. If Vick worked in any other industry, do you think that there would be protests at all? PETA and the SPCA will protest Vick merely to increase their own donations.
Sad but true.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that the gentleman from Miss who made the comment in the film was black, which I thought made it even more true. For me, anyway.
And onward…
My name is Phil and I used the username PhillyM when I was young and I’ve kept it for consistency. Nothing important.
I just used Chris Brown as a topical reference. I’m just trying to say that Michael Vick may not be the worst guy around, but there are better people to defend. Much like if someone defended a woman beater by saying that its not as bad as murder. Different scale of abuse, of course, but the same concept.
By the way Mizzo, I don’t know if you do the interviews or not, but those are some of the best I’ve read. Great work.
[...] sports world is dividing into opposing camps on what his future should be. Some, like this guy, figure nothing you do to a dog really matters, and he needs a second chance: Crime is crime and [...]
[...] sports world is dividing into opposing camps on what his future should be. Some, like this guy, figure nothing you do to a dog really matters, and he needs a second chance: Crime is crime and [...]
….”The larger story here is the continued irrelevance of one Mr. Vince Young, who will be entering his fourth year in the NFL and seems to have no hope of playing any time soon….”
Along with Michael Vick, Vince Young’s career is also at a crossroads. Vince has internally had discussions with Coach Fisher about his status, but Fisher has already boldly gone on record and said he wants Kerry Collins as his starter. AT SOME POINT, VINCE HAS TO PUT HIS FOOT DOWN AND DEMAND A TRADE and the GM has backed up Fisher: Titans GM Mike Reinfeldt said in a statement. “He has veteran leadership, tons of game experience and we expect him to continue to play at a high level for us.”
http://blogs.usatoday.com/thehuddle/2009/02/titans-agree-to.html
Vince has to more vocal in his desire to play and he may have to go public and express to his agent that he may be willing to re-negotiate his contract to get out Tennessee. Vince is getting paid, but Fisher is killing his career and is ultimately daring Vince to go to the media. Vince should call his bluff.
Vince is already a proven NFL starter with his 18-11 record, but if the coach and organization who first hired Norm Chow in 2006 is trying to make people think its all on Vince, but I disagree with this notion. Chow’s hiring was a slap in the face of Young, but he overcame that to win Rookie of the Year. Chow was Matt Leinart’s coordinator/QB coach at USC and to me this tells me the mixed message ideology Fisher has.
And further more, Fisher provides more ‘coach speak’ : Asked what Young needs to do to get himself on track to regain the starting role, Fisher replied, “Come in there and work to improve his fundamentals and do what every other player does, come in here and try to improve on the field, in the weight room and in the classroom.”
Fisher has continued to ‘dis’ Young in much the same way old school commentators have since he came into the league. Keep in mind Vince saved Fisher’s job after Kerry Collins’ 0-4 2006 start.
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=66255
For Vince to be more vocal is a risk, but it is NECESSARY. The media will be on Fisher’s side, but its a risk he has to take…Many other athletes have taken principled stands across the sports spectrum from Allen Iverson to Manny Ramirez to Corey Dillion…
Just to add a little more..
Even though Vick and VY’s situations have some similarities in regards to constant attacks on their style of play, mental acumen and fitness to be a NFL starter, both are at a crossroads in their career. Both former Pro Bowl QBs were forcibly taken off the field in unprecedented manner. Both had big contracts, both had taken their teams to the playoffs and had achieved a certain level of success and popularity.
As for Donovan McNabb, he has two years remaining on his contract and he has not forgotten what Andy Reid did to him when he abruptly took him off the field during the Ravens-Eagles game in favor of Kevin Kolb.
McNabb is among the best QBs in the league, but as he had said in a HBO interview that African-Americans have to do a ‘little extra’ in comparison to his white counterparts. A three game winless streak for Favre isn’t seen as the end of the world, more like a 48-hour flu. As for McNabb, a three game winless streak is seen as a more debilitating disease that isn’t curable and requires drastic action–such as a benching.
McNabb is in a more stronger position than Vince and Vick, but McNabb is a 1-3 or 2-4 start from being benched again by Andy Reid in 2009. And I believe McNabb has come to the realization that he may be benched if Reid feels threatened about his job status.
McNabb has good years left, but he won’t be conned into signing an extension. McNabb wants a power RB, a veteran WR or two and if his demands aren’t met, he won’t sign the extension..
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3929063
Some Philly columnists don’t like the prospect of McNabb ‘running things’ or the perception that he is running things… (How dare Donovan? –who he think he is –President of the United States..?)
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20090227_Gonzo___McNabb_s_brilliant_play.html
McNabb, I believe has earned that right to make DEMANDS. Other great QBs such as Marino, Elway, Peyton, and of course Favre are seen as ‘more deserving’ of having that type of clout, but McNabb is treated like a red-headed stepchild..However, McNabb isn’t that red-headed stepchild, he is the winningest QB in Philly history with a 82-45 record as a starter and a Hall of Fame QB (right now)..
Jeremiah Trotter, Lito Sheppard and T.O. had problems with Philly management and were let go, but McNabb is really daring Philly management to make a decision about whether they truly respect him… Vince Young and Vick didn’t have that type of leverage, but McNabb at 32 knows he has some good years left and has taken a calculated risk (as Vince and Vick will have to take–eventually) in demanding to be treated with respect .
Check this column for even more proof of how nasty it’s getting in Philly for McNabb in some quarters:
http://delcotimes.com/articles/2009/02/26/sports/doc49a618a673a96013757344.txt
Here were my comments to the above when I read it on PE.com
Wow, just freakin’ wow. So for ten years McNabb has just been a high-priced luxury the Eagles could have done without and still accomplished what they have? An ultimate failure at QB? Wow, just freakin’ wow. I would get upset normally about something like this but McCaffery just completely blew me away with what he put into this article by its sheer stupidity that I need a beverage.
Wow, just freakin’ wow.
Brotha Harvey thats was the dumbest hit piece article I have ever read. McCaffery is a fool.
Dunb @ss idiot the eagles every year have some of the most money under the cap and refuse to spend. Ignoring positions such as WR, KR, RB, FB and etc.
I swear the life of a black QB. Man I feel sorry for those dudes. If I had a son I wouldn’t even want him to become an NFL QB (as well as a NFL player period).
Man I just pray that Mcnabb gets out of there.
Yo he’s gotta see this through fellas. I’m not just saying this because I’m an Eagles fan.
He cannot quit.
I wrote on this board during the season after McNabb had re-established himself as the starter after the BMore game that if my favorite QB is one thing it is stubborn. He’s not going make the Eagles, sports writers, and fans in Philly consider him the best player in the franchise’s history. They may never love him but they will respect him. Hit pieces like McCaffery’s are what drives this guy IMO and to meekly leave his team without a fight is not in him because he’s still playing with house money like Gonzales in the piece Patrick posted alluded too because any move the Eagles make this offseason even remaining as status quo has been checkmated by him not signing an extension yet. Don’t give him his money and they’re cheap, just stay status quo especially in the light of BDawk leaving and they’re cheap, don’t improve with more offensive weapons and they’re cheap. The Eagles were playing checkers while McNabb and Co. were playing chess because every move benefits Triple Soul Five.
He’s not gonna quit and just like Ric Flair, whether his detractors like or don’t like it, they better learn to love it because when he introduced at Lincoln Financial Field for the rest of his career, custom-made from head to foot, because it’s the best thing going in Philadelphia Eagles’ football history. Woooh!!!
….”Where does McNabb summon the cheek — publicly, or slyly through a leaked report — to demand that the Eagles custom-fit him with more talented players? And what part of this does he not understand — that he was the luxury piece expected to make the rest of the players glitter? He was the one earning the $112 million. The Eagles did invest in talent — and it was in him. And apparently, they were willing to invest more in him, only to be insulted by the implication that they are not doing enough to help him succeed….”
…”Trouble is, McNabb — like too many other pro athletes — never understood that he was paid to be the surround-er, not the surround-ee….”
Jack McCaffery is a joke, and his columns are crap..
McCaffery’s columns do speak to a ‘mainstream’ point of view and McNabb understands the contempt and venom that come from these Rush Limbaugh-type sports columnists.
“There’s not that many African-American quarterbacks, so we have to do a little bit extra,” McNabb tells HBO. “Because the percentage of us playing this position, which people didn’t want us to play … is low, so we do a little extra.”
“Every year I’m part of some criticism,” McNabb tells HBO. “But every day that we go through life, you’re faced with a lot of adversity. Now the answer is how do you handle the adversity. How do you respond?
“I try to handle myself with class. I try to handle myself with dignity. I think sometimes people look to players to act out, speak loudly, pretty much be an idiot. But that’s not me.”
McNabb has acquiesced his style of play over the years, but McNabb isn’t going to acquiesce anymore to the Eagles organization after giving them ten years.
Reid’s ‘stunt’ of pulling McNabb off the field hurt McNabb more deeply than he is currently willing to publicly admit.
McNabb’s stance, in my opinion, is if you don’t respect me enough to surround me with better players, then we can’t ‘extend’ this relationship..
Two face how do you read that shit? I live in Delco. The Repeat after me column? That was after his piece of a similar name.
Miz,
I don’t make it a habit of reading McCaffery in particular but when I go on PE.com I read columns that may interest me. This one I already knew what to expect when I read the title but this guy got me because I didn’t expect him to go all revisionist history on me. This article was plain and simple a hit piece because I thought I was reading something from a poster on the messageboard than a so-called journalist.
This is just like why we watch PTI or Around the Horn because sometimes we just like to let the junk in and let the blood pressure rise.
That’s ridiculous…..interesting the position this writer has with Donovan, but earlier I was reading how the Broncos need to basically beg Jay Cutler’s forgiveness for ever entertaining the idea of trading for Matt Cassell…so interesting.
Oh Brad, I did know what you meant…and I absolutely agree…the media will blow it up regardless.
Miranda:
Jay Cutler is a prima donna, a Ryan Leaf-type. He has some talent, but he played at Vanderbilt and set a few TEAM records, but NEVER led his team to even a bowl game in college.
To me he is over-rated with an attitude.
This is from wikipedia: …”Still, other experts such as ESPN’s Chris Mortensen and Ron Jaworski tabbed him as the best quarterback available in the draft. Many scouts believed he had better arm strength than Young and Leinart, and compared him to Brett Favre for his arm, play style and gunslinger attitude…”
Let’s compare:
Cutler’s record as a starter: 17-20…but he throws ‘pretty’ passes and acts like Brett ..oh yeah, NO PLAYOFFS!
Matt Leinart’s record as a starter: 7-9… but throws ‘pretty’ passes and he is 6’5 and looks like Montana..oh yeah, NO PLAYOFFS–even with Anquan, Fitz and Edge..
Vince Young’s record as a starter: 18-11… criticized constantly, mismatched with VY hater Norm Chow, has no WRs but still managed to win Rookie of the Year and take his team to the playoffs
Well, Cutler definitely has an attitude and after three years, he hasn’t led the Broncos to the playoffs…yet he isn’t on the ‘hot seat’..
Last season, he had made some Broncos’ fans mad when he said the following:
“I have a stronger arm than John Elway, hands down. I’ll bet on it against anybody’s in the league. Brett Favre’s got a cannon. But on game days, there’s nobody in the league who’s going to throw it harder than I am at all.”
Now ‘Angry’ Jay doesn’t want to talk to Denver management. IF THIS WAS VICK, VINCE,TARVARIS, DUANTE, or ANY BLACK QB, THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE SPORTS STORIES…
But its ‘Jay being Jay’ and no big deal–just letting off steam..
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3944555&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines
So true Patrick so true.
………….but isn’t one human life more important than every single animal on the planet ?
Let me get this straight. One life is more important than EVERY single animal on the planet ??? Think about the numbers. There’s plenty of animal lovers who would not sacrifice their beloved family pet for any old thug or gangsta on the street.
I’m not sure how I stumbled upon this blog, but you MUST be black and enjoy backing thugs and scumbags. I guess you thought OJ was innocent too, ha ! ha !
Michael Vick is a P.O.S. who happens to have a skill. It’s pretty typical of what’s perpetuated in the sports industry here in the US.
Myself and plenty of others would have no qualms about putting a baseball bat to the head of anyone that would hang or drown a dog; Michael Vick or not……..
vick is a subhuman piece of garbage. Even the most inferior of ‘animals’ has more braincells than his trashy inbred ghetto ass. lmao @ the imbeciles defending this stupid pseudo-babboon (and I’m being quite generous by comparing michelle vick to apes) over ANY animal, this goes to prove how humankind is in fact, inferior. While every other species in the world would strive for its betterment, humans are the ONLY ones who would defend some retarded specimen among their own. Trash like vick goes disposed of, I’m sick of your ‘second chances’ bullshit for expendable scum.