As you’ve likely heard by now, Michael Vick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, yesterday. While Vick signing with the Eagles doesn’t really affect the Green Bay Packers, the fact that the Packers didn’t make a play for Vick is interesting.
Read Andrew Brandt’s Q&A about how the Vick to Philly deal went down.
As we’ve detailed, Vick and the Packers were mentioned in the same sentence on a daily basis since Ted Thompson didn’t deny the team was looking at the quarterback.
While I don’t expect Thompson to make an official statement on Vick, it seems clear the Packers thought that the distraction he would bring to camp, and the negative aspects that surround that, would outweigh any potential benefit Vick might provide on the field.
By the amount of media coverage Vick’s signing has received, I would say Thompson’s assessment of the potential media circus is fairly accurate. Still, we won’t have any idea of the upside a Vick signing would have reaped anytime soon.
While I can understand Thompson’s reluctance to pull the trigger on this deal in light of the circus that surrounded Brett Favre’s departure from Green Bay last summer, I still have to question the decision.
Thompson has a history of not making moves for big-name players (Randy Moss, Tony Gonzales, etc.). However, Vick would have cost the Packers nothing in terms of a trade, which those other deals were. Vick was a free agent.
Additionally, the Packers have an established No. 1 quarterback in Aaron Rodgers – something that wasn’t the case during last summer’s Showdown at the TT Corral. There would have been no quarterback controversy if Vick came into camp. The Packers are both hardened and focused, particularly after going through what they did last season, and they know who their leader is.
I can’t imagine any amount of media coverage or PETA protesters would have taken the focus off the goals at hand for this team, which brings me to Vick, himself.
The guy screwed up. He did things that are unthinkable to most of us. There’s no debate about that. But I am a firm believer in second chances, and Vick was going to get one whether the Green Bay Packers gave it to him or not.
If you think 18 months in prison and losing his entire personal fortune didn’t effectively teach Michael Vick a lesson, then you’re delusional.
So, if I’m right about these two aspects of the Green Bay Packers and Michael Vick, that only leaves the potential benefit Vick could have on the field.
Can you imagine the possibilities of inserting Vick into an offense with Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Jermichael Finley, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings? It’s a nightmare for a defensive coordinator.
Let me say that again. A complete nightmare for a defensive coordinator.
Even if Vick only plays three plays during a game, even if he doesn’t even touch the ball, opposing defenses would be forced to spend a substantial amount of time game planning for these possibilities. Advantage, Packers.
I don’t even need to go into the possibility of Rodgers going down with an injury (and our less than top-notch backups) to show Vick’s value.
Of course, none of that matters.
Advantage, Eagles.
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This shit is crazy.
Well said Monty. But I heard Marcus Vick is still available.