FanNation - The Republic of Sport

  

The announcement of Michael Vick's signing near halftime of the Eagles first pre-season game, created quite a sideshow in Lincoln Financial Field Thursday night.  The United Football League, which had been courting Vick stood by and helplessly watched its golden egg get swooped up by a savvy Eagle. 

They anticipated Vick becoming a symbol to the UFL  what Steve Young was to the USFL; Jerry West was to the NBA logo and the hoopla David Beckham initially brought MLS. After his reinstatement, People for thet Ethical Treatment of Animals(PETA) released a statement stating they were going to watch Vick like a Hawk, which I assume they have in their employment.  Naturally, Michael Vick saw that as an opportunity to become the lone animal which could escape the watchful eye of a Hawk.

Now that Michael Vick's triumphant return to the NFL now has an address, I figured it would also be an opportune time to resume my blogging career after a hiatus.  See Vick has already been a positive role model to the community.

The Eagles must have been eager to utilize Vick, who was acquired for almost triple the league minimum salary of $620,000 per year, which implies Philadelphia was competing with other suitors for a  player once considered a pariah within the football community.

The rumors of Vick landing in Pittsburgh never had much traction, with Dennis Dixon already supplanted as the young backup to Ben Roethlisberger.  The Carolina Panthers seemed like a viable option.  Vick shredded their defenses twice a year as a Falcon as they met twice a year plus Jake Delhomme's throwing arm loses his foliage and annually wilts around December and January.

San Francisco, which offered the least path of resistance to the starting position are about as stable of an organization as the San Andreas Fault they rest on.  Much like in Atlanta, the cupboard is bare at receiver.  Rookie Michael Crabtree's contract holdout is entering apparent A.C. Green territory. 

Unproven second year pro, Josh Morgan flashed brilliance in the 2008 preseason, and was expected to garner production rivaling his college teammate Eddie Royal's rookie campaign.  36 year old Isaac Bruce's best days are now on the golf course and he is simply available in a Mr. Miyagi mentor capacity.   

Vick would have also felt at home with the Texans, where he would have been holding the clipboard for his ex-backup, Matt Schaub, aka the '06 Matt Cassell.  Schaub hasn't exactly lit the world on fire in 2 seasons away from Vick's shadow.  Schaub has reserved seating on the injury report and has missed 10 games in 2 seasons.  The Texans also have a plethora of offensive weapons in their arsenal including Steve Slaton, Andre Johnson and tight end Owen Daniels. 

In Philly, Vick will have to adjust from solitary confinement, and days in federal prison, to the confines of Lincoln Financial Field, surrounded by the most potential felons per capita in football on any given Sunday.

The major concern for any franchise expressing interest in Vick was whether the fan backlash would undermine the momentum they enter they carried into the 2009 season and beyond.  Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on whether or not you're a Philadelphia Eagle, the fans have aggression encoded in their DNA. 

Generally, Eagles fans spew more hatred towards their own team than PETA can ever hope to organize over Vick's signing.  Their rambunctious attitude accompanies unwavering support.   Donovan McNabb can attest to that after a decade of bipolar fan reception.

The spotlight on Vick, will detract from the incessant griping about Donovan McNabb by under appreciative Eagles fans.  

The dynamic between Vick and McNabb will be an interesting partnership to follow.  Two summers ago, the prospect of Vick and McNabb on the same sideline was only feasible in the Hawaii Pro Bowl.  Today, "Vick and McNabb" represent the most prolific starter/understudy tandem in the football universe since Steve Young, another mobile left handed understudy & Joe Montana pushed each other in San Francisco. 

Questions linger however.  Will they develop a Kobe-Shaq complex or move in together and develop the Tim Duncan-David Robinson cohabitational relationship?  Peter Gammons and his Boston Red Sox also come to mind as well as Tiki and Ronde Barber . Or was it Tiki and his reflection?  I forget how the joke goes.

Andy Reid isn't reciting rhetoric when he speaks about rehabilitation and second chances.  His sons have also gained notoriety for their numerous run-ins with the law.

There has never been a saga in sports quite as unique as an electric, starting NFL quarterback with a $130 million contract serving a 2 year sentence in federal prison for running a dog fighting ring, during the prime of his career.  

Then upon his release, with a 54 year old recently retired coaching legend heading his newly reformed entourage, he signs with a Super Bowl contender backing up a perennial Pro Bowler.

The nearest precedent is Kobe Bryant MVP-worthy 2004 regular season in the midst of the drama surrounding his criminal rape trial and the court's mandatory court hearings.   

Tony Dungy's new role as Michael Vick's new alibi has been a surprising revelation.  This "Coach a Criminal" program could catch on though.  Pac-Man Jones would have benefited from at least a Denny Green, and Rick Pitino was a decade late for Rae Carruth. 

In fact Dungy, stole the show to a degree. Tuning in late, I almost got the impression this was also Dungy's introduction as Any Reid's head-coach-in-waiting. 

It's not out of the realm of possibility that Vick's signing is a red herring.  Don't be surprised if Tony Dungy commits a coup by October. 

Perhaps it is a veiled ploy to gain leverage in future McNabb contract negotiations?  McNabb made his intentions of receiving a contract extension clear in the off-season. 

However, his durability has been a concern and at 33, how much longer can his body withstand a grueling schedule and play at an All-Pro level?  Instead Eagles brass placated McNabb with an unofficial pension for his years in Philly by granting him a raise on the final two years of his contract.  At 29, Vick might be 2 years older, but he is also had two years of injury-free civilian life.

Both Vick and McNabb have contracts set to expire after the 2011 season, which may set up an interesting stalemate if Vick still possesses a live arm and quick feet and the Eagles pick up the option on the 2^nd year of Vick's contract.    

Sadly, Andy Reid will be severely restrained by federal guidelines in his usage of Vick.   As a condition of his probation relating to his involvement in the now infamous Ba Newz dogfighting ring, Vick cannot run any variation of the wildly en vogue, Wildcat offense or come within 100 yards of any playbook containing blueprints for it.

The Eagles off-season of improvement on offense signifies that they acknowledge Brian Westbrook, the oft-injured NFL all-purpose yardage leader cannot carry the entire offense to a Super Bowl on his shoulders.

Philadelphia's trade for Bills All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters along with the selection of receiver Jeremy Maclin to pair with DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy to spell Westbrook has given the Eagles a potentially high octane, well rounded finesse offense.

Negative reactions have ranged from the pall it casts over the state of Pennsylvania to  PETA self righteously admonishing the NFL for allowing Vick back into the league.

If you don't want to support Vick, then boo your heart out, cancel your season tickets and design creative signs written in glitter with catchy phrases such as "Watch Your Beagle Here Comes an Eagle" for your protests.

Embrace Vick as the villain, but if you're allegiance to a football team rests on the content of their character, then you're missing the point:  Sports is a business for owners, entertainment for fans, and a profession for players and coaches; not a social movement. 

Tourists aren't lining up outside Capitol Hill to purchase seats for Congressional Ethics Committee Hearings there was only one tackler on a grassy knoll when Bo Jackson's  career ending on a routine run against the Cincinatti Bengals.

Take Andy Roddick for instance.  Roddick is such a ****head, if he swallowed Viagra he'd probably grow taller. However, that didn't stop me from watching all 4 hours of the longest Final in Wimbledon history, which he lost in dramatic fashion to Roger Federer. 

Despite their extremely positive public images, Martin Luther King Jr., and Barack Obama probably wouldn't receive an invite to play for he Lakers summer league roster.  In this day and age Ghandi just wouldn't cut it as a supermodel despite his unofficial role in history  as the patriarch of the dark world of high priced Hanes underwear modeling. 

Conversely, the next time I pick teams for basketball, I'm not going to request a complete background check for each of my teammates. 

Michael Vick is not an accountant or CEO convicted of money laundering.  99% of Michael Vick's critics wouldn't even bat an eye at Vick returning to work if his salary was set at minimum wage.  It's only an issue if he returns to a life of fame and fortune.  The other 1 percent are just inconsolable Falcon fans. Pray for them.

Listen, dogs are great pets.  They're loveable, furry and apparently allow the blind to see. In the irony of all ironies as I wrapped up this article, my dog gave birth to three puppies.

However, the moral equivalence to humans by society's standards makes about as much sense as extending the moral equivalency to other mammals incapable of human speech including deer, moose, buffalo and Emmitt Smith.    

When was the last time, you tagged along with your best friend and escorted his mother to the emergency room for a routine euthanasia?   Unless of course your best friend "is man's best friend". In that case you are exempt from answering the question... My condolences.    

--D.J. Dunson Jr.