It was the 2001 NFL Draft, and the Atlanta Falcons were on the clock. A polarizing quarterback for the Virginia Tech Hokies by the name of Michael Vick sat and waited at his station, knowing that he could very well be the name announced by the Commish.
By virtue of a trade the day before, the Falcons were picking first instead of the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers were now picking fifth, and they would eventually make great use of that pick.
"And with the first selection in the 2001 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select Michael Vick, Quarterback, Virginia Tech University."
Nothing but smiles all over Vick and his family's faces, as he finally fulfilled his dream of taking his family out of the bad parts of Newport News, Virginia. Vick had defied the odds and was set to lead Arthur Blank's Falcons team to playoff berths and possibly the Super Bowl for years to come.
Sure, Vick had a few character issues, but his talent would supersede any of that. With the fifth pick that year, the Chargers selected LaDainian Tomlinson from TCU.
Vick was a sure-fire star with all of that God-given ability and speed, and one of the safest first picks in a while. He had a rocket arm and the agility of a tennis star, combined with the speed of a cheetah.
Vick was ready to take on the NFL.
And Vick did not disappoint. He immediately made an impact, and in his second season started 15 games and passed for nearly 3,000 yards and 16 TDs, while rushing for 777 yards and eight TDs.
Vick even led his Falcons to the Wild Card playoffs, and defeated Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field 27-7, ending the Pack's undefeated playoff streak at home.
Even though the Falcons would lose to Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round, Vick had made his mark in the NFL. His early success made him the most exciting player to watch in football, and his aggressive, reckless style of play would bite him the following year.
After a Pro Bowl year, Vick fractured his right fibula against the Baltimore Ravens in the preseason, squashing Atlanta's hopes of winning the Super Bowl that year. Vick returned in Week 13, but the damage was done.
Atlanta's season was over, but Vick wasn't done.
He returned to make the Pro Bowl in 2004, rushing for over 900 yards and throwing for close to 3000 yards. In 2006, Vick became the record holder for most rushing yards in a season by a quarterback, rushing for 1039.
Questions were rising about Vick's ability to pass in the pocket, and whether he would ever be as successful as he'd been when he led the Falcons to a playoff victory.
He didn't seem to be able to read defenses consistently, and his career completion percentage hovered around the 50 percent mark, which isn't good enough for an NFL QB.
It was Vick's ability to make plays with his feet that separated him from the rest of the QBs, but would it ever be enough?
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about 1 month ago
Arthur Blank's biggest fear is that when Vick signs with his new team in 2009 that Vick's NEW TEAM will make the playoffs before Matt Ryan does.
Ryan has done some good things in 2008, but can he lead the Falcons to the playoffs? Keep in mind, the Falcons have had a hard time beating Tampa and Carolina in recent years and these two teams are still obstacles in the Falcons' way. If you can't win the majority of the divisional games, the playoffs aren't possible.
Blank may feel he was held hostage, but Vick made a lot of money for Blank in selling out the Georgia Dome from 2001-2006 and taking the Falcons to the playoffs a few times.
Keep in mind Eli Manning had a completion % in the 50's and won a SuperBowl.
Vick made plays and won the majority of the games he started (38-28-1). And at 28, he can still help his new team win games.
about 1 month ago
Vick held Atlanta hostage?? Are you serious?? Yeah right....Jim Mora is the secondary coach for the struggling Seahawks, Greg Knapp just got relieved of play calling duties with the hapless Raiders...and we don't even know where Ed Donatell is.....but it was Vick holding the whole franchise hostage?? No, Blank just sat back with his heels propped up while his walking money machine carried the team, sold 90% of all Falcons merchandise, and got the Falcons primetime slots. Now that there is no Vick, it forced Blank to do what he SHOULD have done from day one...BUILD A TEAM. You must be kidding if you think Vick was the one holding the Falcons back...he was the only thing holding them UP.
from about 1 month ago
Lynn Vick was holding the Falcons back...you people never cease to amaze me when everything always comes down to money...the point of the matter is Vick never made it work after that playoff year when they defeated the Packers...every year Atlanta lead the league in rushing, but couldn't pass the football predominantly because of Vick...the man could not read a defense, and once the league figured that out, his wins and production plummeted..you must be kidding if you think Vick held that franchise up with all of his issues(middle fingers at fans and water bottle ring a bell?) Blank had his hands full with Vick, and truthfully he had maybe 1-2 more years of being the Falcons starter even if he didn't go to jail...here's the Falcons every year with Vick:
2002- 9-6-1 (lost in Div. playoffs)
2003- 5-11 (Vick missed most of season due to injury)
2004- 11-5 (lost in NFC Champ., Vick's most successful season)
2005- 8-8 (missed playoffs)
2006- 7-9 (missed playoffs)
As you see, the Falcons were on the decline and it appeared Vick reached his ceiling. Vick had 71 TD's and 52 INT's, a terrible TD to INT ratio, and had 38 INT's between 2004-2006 and 49 TD's. That won't cut it, Lynn. At the end of the day, Blank was looking for a change, and Vick's ignorance gave it to him. Warrick Dunn was old, Alge Crumpler was on the decline, and Vick didn't know how to get the ball to his wideouts. Look at Michael Jenkins and Roddy White now. Don't be blinded by dollar signs, Lynn. Nuff said.
Thanks for commenting.
about 1 month ago
So it wasn't a defense that never ranked above #15 in the league....it wasn't the two starting receivers who, by their OWN admission (or do you think they're lying about THEMSELVES), didn't really progress until they made a conscious effort too - LAST SEASON, it wasn't an offensive line that clearly was horrible...by the way, where IS the offensive line coach the Falcons had during the Mora era?? It wasn't the power back that wasn't so powerful (love you Dunn...but no). Oh...and it surely couldn't have been the GM Rich McKay, nope it wasn't him. I know! Remember when the Falcons won those games when the back-up Matt Schaub started?? Oh wait....they never won a game when Matt Schaub started. Then in typical "is we sick massa" fashion, you trumpet the same tired lies of "the man could not read a defense"...because when the offense doesn't allow you to audible, that proves you can't read a defense...right?? I guess in Bizarro world it might...but the one time, and the only time, that Vick decided to say screw that, and changed the play, it resulted in what? a touchdown......wow, that sure proves he can't read defenses doesn't it? Yep, the Redskins said that too...oh wait...no they didn't. What was it that those Ravens defenders said about Vick?? Something like "glad he's not in our division"...what was it Denny Green said - one of a few living coaches who won 100 games in 10 years - the "Vick rules"? What's that about? Rules for a man that can't read defenses? Oh...what does he know. Surely you know more. Well, maybe not. You clearly think the only thing different about the Falcons now is one person....not anything else....interesting.
Then you actually have the audacity to say "Blank was looking for a change"....from what? Is that why Petrino was hired? To get rid of Mike Vick? Is that why on Dec 10th, Blank sat up on the MNF stage and proclaimed Bobby Petrino to be the MAN?? Because he was looking for "change"? Blank wasn't looking to change anything but once his golden goose got locked up, he had no choice but to do things as they should have been done all along.....BUILD A TEAM instead of just letting one person carry the load of the whole darn franchise. It never ceases to amaze me how blatant the bias can be.....and I read Third and a Mile....but still, it never ceases to amaze me.
about 1 month ago
You clearly have a bias toward Michael Vick and you are contriving all types of information, Lynn...I don't even deem it necessary to keep responding to you...Vick is not and never was or never will be an elite NFL QB bar none...every franchise has problems and has to overcome them...you are blaming everyone but Michael Vick for his ineptitude as an NFL QB and his character issues that divided the locker room...screw Petrino, that was late in Vick's Atlanta tenure...the point is I'm not trying to say that Vick wasn't a exciting talent if you READ the article...what I said is that the franchise was stuck in the mud and had to make a change and Vick had something to do with it, so if you want to act as if Vick is a football God and didn't have a hand in the fleecing of that franchise, go ahead, but we all know the truth. Get your facts straight, come off of the Vick high-horse and look at things from an even perspective...Vick was a cash-cow and that was it...once again and for the last time:
THANKS FOR COMMENTING
about 1 month ago
Oh please....so now you're offended that someone calls out YOUR blatant bias?? You blamed Vick solely in your dumbentary and when its pointed out how incredibly illogical that is, you retreat to a place where facts are irrelevant. You didn't respond to my FACTS because you can't...it would mess up your head to actually THINK. You are just a product of disney-bitch ESPN...where Every Suspect Probably Negro. Mantan would be so proud.
from about 1 month ago
You're ignorant...I won't waste any more time talking to you..please refrain from commenting on my articles. Thank you.
about 1 month ago
Wow… interesting comments. I really liked the article. I used to marvel at Vick’s ability to run those 3rd and long first downs. The fact is you can really see the how much better Ryan throws the football hitting the receivers in stride rather then when Vick threw the ball (the receivers had to run and stop for the catch).
Vick never put in the hours required of a starting NFL quarterback, studying film and the game plan. He was never going to improve relying on his legs more then knowledge of the game. I am sorry he ruined career in Atlanta, but you have to wonder how someone with a 100 million reasons to stay clean would get involved with gambling which the NFL has a record of kicking you out.
Your article is right on the money, we have a much better quarterback now and had Vick been clean……. Well, Mattie Ice would be someone else’s prized rookie.
from about 1 month ago
No, you're a punk....and you've been called out on your ill-informed tirade. William Rhoden's job is saffe, you're damn sure not a threat.
about 1 month ago
People who wished to be enlightened, read Third and a Mile and become informed.
about 1 month ago
Lynn Vick was nothing more but a running QB. He was never a pocket QB. And you know these days only pocket QB's like Ryan win Superbowls!
Sam your right Vick was in the decline and we now know why he was on the decline he was concentrating more on his dog fights gambling ring then playing NFL Football. Boy what he gave up $MILLIONS$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!! What a idiot!!!!!! In my opinion he should just give up the notion of playing NFL football. I just have one word to say about Vick "STUPID"!
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