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April 05, 2008
Vick, Falcons owner keeping in touch
Guess who Atlanta owner Arthur Blank's pen pal is?
Michael Vick.
The former Falcons' quarterback, now in prison after being convicted on dog-fighting charges, has exchanged letters with Blank.
"Michael has written a couple of times," Blank told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I've written him back. We have that kind of relationship. Despite the mixture of frustration, anger and disappointment in him, I believe in second chances and redemption. I would love to see Michael pay his debt to society and come out and play again in the NFL. I think he could also be a big help to speak to people about some of his choices."
Probably not as a Falcon, though.
Asked if he would welcome Vick back, Blank said, "I would not say yes. I would not say no. At this point, Michael is in a federal penitentiary and is suspended from football. We have to move forward. We are moving forward. We have to assume he's not coming back. I do wish him well. I'd love to see him play again. It would be good for the NFL."
And if it doesn't sound like Atlanta is likely, the Panthers are almost certainly out. Carolina is happy with starter Jake Delhomme and the Panthers feel that one of their two backups (Matt Moore, followed by Brett Basanez) is likely to be their QB of the future. Also, owner Jerry Richardson is a big character guy, and dog fighting doesn't fit that mold.
Somebody will give Vick a chance, it just won't happen around here. -- STAN OLSON
Posted by Observer Sports on April 5, 2008 at 01:59 PM | Permalink
Comments
Welcome to Oakland, Mike.
Love,
Al Davis
Posted by: CrazyAlDavis | Apr 5, 2008 2:06:34 PM
Pretty likely, Crazy...
Posted by: stan olson | Apr 5, 2008 2:21:28 PM
Maybe the Bucs ,they don't have there usual 6 pack of washed up qb's yet!
Posted by: rob | Apr 5, 2008 2:55:07 PM
RAR!!!!! (SNARLS!) Dog Language: YOU BASTARD YOUR GONNA GET RAPED IN PRISON! PEOPLE WILL BE THROWING YOUR BALLS! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, SEE HOW U LIKE IT YOU CRUEL BASTARD!
Posted by: Pit Bull | Apr 5, 2008 2:56:38 PM
Wasn't dog-fighting Mainly a British institution? It became huge in Roman arenas where slaves and POW's would be pitted against each other, as well as wild animals. over a thousand years later, it became the mainstay in British royal courts. Ironically, this phenomena exploded during the 17th century, around the same time the slave trade of Aficans and Native Americans began to take off. Now we have a modern day gladiator (NFL player) get arrested for what is recognized as a British institution. You would think African-Americans would have a disdain for their former masters and their royal forms of entertainment. Life is full of irony, isn't it?
Posted by: Ghost of Bad Newz Kennels | Apr 5, 2008 3:08:37 PM
Ookie put butts in the seats. Blank desperately wants Ookie to return to the Falcons; he just won't admit it to the public, YET.
Posted by: Ben | Apr 5, 2008 3:45:30 PM
Stan,
I can't believe you would even entertain the idea of Vick playing for the Panthers.
"And if it doesn't sound like Atlanta is likely, the Panthers are almost certainly out. Carolina is happy with starter Jake Delhomme and the Panthers feel that one of their two backups (Matt Moore, followed by Brett Basanez) is likely to be their QB of the future. Also, owner Jerry Richardson is a big character guy, and dog fighting doesn't fit that mold."
You Think?? You were better of just saying how Blank and Vick exchange letters and left at that.
Posted by: Kevin | Apr 5, 2008 3:51:26 PM
Kevin, let me be clear...
NO WAY does he EVER play for the Panthers...
Posted by: stan olson | Apr 5, 2008 3:56:37 PM
It's funny now people get all crazy about Vick Fighting dogs...but...High five it up with buddies that kill other animals all the time.....What would that many do if you walk into your new girlfriends home to meet her dad for the first time and he shows you his trophy wall of animals he MURDERED! would you be outraged?? No you wouldn't weather your a hunter or not. But because we domesticate Dogs....killing them...is Un heard of! I am a dog Lover I own a dog and wouldn't fight my dog. But I did fight dogs as a kid. (everyone in my neighborhood did) not to the extent that vick and his buddies did) Although I have witnessed that and I could never take it that far to where the animal was getting hurt or killed. I don't agree with the culture but I understand the appeal...it's the same as hunters! it's sport and game. Who ever said vick deserves to get RAPED!! because he killed a dog is out of their mind!! Do you know that Assualt is a misdemeanor! Meaning....I can go to walmart and punch! the walmart greeter lady in the face for no reason and Not see prison........ever! but I if I take my dog accross state lines and fight him I m in federal prison.......just nuts you ask me.
Given I don't want Vick on my team! anyway I don't think he's a very good QB....but I am sure someone will....take him..and I hope it's not in our division because he use to murder us.
Posted by: Cheven | Apr 5, 2008 4:03:46 PM
Stan, regarding "Somebody will give Vick a chance": you're probably right, Stan ... you know a LOT MORE about the NFL than I do. But, with all due respect, I HOPE you're wrong.
When Mr. Blank said "It would be good for the NFL", he's most definitely wrong about that, and I hope he comes to recognize that. It would be a terrible thing for the NFL to let Michael Vick back in.
After prison, Mr. Vick must move on with his life, but just not in any way that maintains him as a "public figure". Better he should be asking his customers if they want fries with their order.
Posted by: rod | Apr 5, 2008 4:57:27 PM
I'll put $10 on The Bengals picking up Ron Mexico the day Goodell lifts the suspension.
Posted by: Guido | Apr 5, 2008 5:25:08 PM
Vick lands in Tampa when he gets reinstated. Mark Daquan's words.
Posted by: Daquan | Apr 5, 2008 5:59:07 PM
Dog fighting is a Panther no-no, but it's all right to pull a gun on a stripper? That shows great character as well.
Posted by: Vickfan | Apr 5, 2008 6:48:18 PM
If Vick does make it back in the NFL it will not be as a QB. Write that down!
He had a pretty horrible arm before he went to prison and I seriously doubt he's able to throw very much in that little 10 by 10 cell.
I think he'll make it back as a kick returner. What does everyone else think he'd play if he made it back?
Posted by: Matt West | Apr 5, 2008 7:45:14 PM
Vickfan- Have you never pulled a gun on a stripper?
Posted by: carpants | Apr 5, 2008 7:56:51 PM
I agree Matt, I always thought it was a stupid Idea to have him at QB. It was always a run first pass second kind of deal. He will deffinately if returned to the NFL will be a kick returner and nothing else but it is possible to go to a runniing back, with the type of speed he has he could be used on HB passing plays such as the steelers with their WR reverse pass. Well, Go Panthers!
Posted by: Cameron | Apr 5, 2008 8:01:59 PM
If Vick returns to football, I will after being a diehard football fan since the early 60s will give up on watching the NFL for yhe rest of my lifetime.
Posted by: go jump | Apr 5, 2008 9:18:18 PM
CHEVEN...
All I read was two sentances of your post. I mean, you almost sound like one of those people that would shoot a person in the head to save a cat. Than again, you are condoling prize fighting. A walking/talking oxymoron. Go figure. How you can compare hunting to prized dog-fighting is beyond me, but let me give you a quick second grade lesson here while you sit back and enjoy your Big Mac. Sacraficing beasts of the earth to gain sustanance is no where near animal cruelty. Packing "domesticated" livestock into mathmatically spaced confinements where they live out the remainder of their lives, injecting them with chemicals and slaughtering them in a assembly line in an unsanitary fashion is animal cruelty. BTW, how does that Bic Mac taste? Oh, don't worry. It only contains 8% "real meat." BTW, McDonalds destorys rainforests and micro-civilations to gain cheep grazing fields. Now then, back to why hunting was so horrible. Hmmmm, I seem to have forgotten what your point was.
Posted by: SYRPIS | Apr 5, 2008 9:30:53 PM
@CHEVEN
Moreover, how can you compare honing your survival skills and enjoying some fresh "organic" meat as a reward to breading dogs to kill each other so the disgustingly well-to-do can get their jollies!?! You must be blinded by some kind of bias... in your defense.
Posted by: SYRPIS | Apr 5, 2008 9:33:11 PM
Just in case you missed it, all of you should read this...
Wasn't dog-fighting Mainly a British institution? It became huge in Roman arenas where slaves and POW's would be pitted against each other, as well as wild animals. over a thousand years later, it became the mainstay in British royal courts. Ironically, this phenomena exploded during the 17th century, around the same time the slave trade of Aficans and Native Americans began to take off. Now we have a modern day gladiator (NFL player) get arrested for what is recognized as a British institution. You would think African-Americans would have a disdain for their former masters and their royal forms of entertainment. Life is full of irony, isn't it?
Posted by: Ghost of Bad Newz Kennels | Apr 5, 2008 12:08:37 PM
If you research it, you will find it is historically accurate. And people defending this kind of madness sums up the current state of society's mentality and morlity. tsk, tsk.
Posted by: SYRPIS | Apr 5, 2008 9:35:54 PM
Inside the PANTHERS
Inside the PANTHERS
Inside the PANTHERS
See a trend there? You know damn well Vick will never be a Panther, there must be better things to write about than this crap.
Posted by: WTF? | Apr 5, 2008 10:51:49 PM
Who cares? Vick is worthless.
Posted by: Steve | Apr 5, 2008 11:30:23 PM
Cameron,
I don't think Vick would make a very good HB. While he is a good runner, he wouldn't be nearly as effective as a RB because teams wouldn't have to worry about whether he was running or passing (at least not on a regular basis). Also, I don't think he has the durability to hold up at RB.
Posted by: Jerad | Apr 6, 2008 2:31:36 AM
if he is picked up by ANY team, that franchise should lose all sponsorship from any organization connected to animals. If someone wants to give Michael a chance they certainly can make that decision. They better be ready for the reprecussions. I personally hope he does not play in the NFL again. But he will still make a very good living working for a network, or in local media.
Posted by: mark | Apr 6, 2008 8:48:11 AM
Cheven, you deserve to be kicked in the nuts. Downplaying the severity of dog fighting and how bad it is...you are a piece of garbage. I see you post on here from time to time and it's always crap. This just further justifies my opinion that you are an idiot.
Posted by: Gary | Apr 6, 2008 9:19:13 AM
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