I firmly believe what is fueling all this talk is the perception that from a rehabilitation standpoint only this is certainly the best place for Vick to land. Even Rodney said so. The veteran atmosphere, the coaching, the winning. It's probably the best place in the league for any genuinely talented athlete to land for that matter, even if he isn't remarkably troubled, with few exceptions for strict scheme fit. The only problem is Vick doesn't provide anything that substantially benefits this team in return, on or off the field. He's not remotely a fit for this offensive scheme, he is it's anthesis, and that fit is not a skillset you can teach or coach. You're either born with capacity (which they can of course nurture and develop to it's fullest) or you aren't. Bill admires ultra talented athletes, but he excels at making the most out of intuative, disciplined, driven and reasonably talented football players to whom winning matters. Bob Kraft is a compassionate and caring and business savvy owner from whom Vick could learn a lot. He is also in the process of establishing a football themed retail mall in an out of the way location in a down economy, as Tom Curren attempted to note in the midst of the fray yesterday. The last thing he needs is a pariah on the payroll.
And that's another problem, priorities. Vicks revolve around re-establishing himself financially via an NFL career after already losing upwards of a quarter of a billion in contract and endorsements. Even as his league appointed guardian's seem to revolve around re-establishing himself with his family. While players all want to win on some level, for the vast majority their money and security come first. In that respect Vick is just another Joe looking to ink an 8 figure per year QB deal that will span a decade. He tells his bankruptcy judge that every time he sees him...he's expecting to play another 10 years in a $10M a year position. Per his bankruptcy proceedings, on the morning of the day he surrendered to begin his sentence he went on a shopping spree that totaled over $200K. The largest ticket item was a $99K Mercedes added to his existing stable of several luxury vehicles. His excuse for tapping into his posse's retirement fund, something also uncovered as a result of his bankruptcy filing, even after being told it was illegal to, was he needed money. Anyone who honestly believes this clown is sorry for anything other than the mess he made of his own situation probably also believes the UFL has an icebergs chance in hell of succeeding.
So on a football or a business level Vick makes no sense here. And he makes little sense elsewhere in the NFL. His return is being driven by 360 degree sports media spin. The same media who said he'd never be indicted. Then said he'd never do a day in prison. Then said after reading the littany of crimes he pled guilty to and the sentence he received as a result, he was finished in the league as anything beyond a novelty. The same media who always care more about the story than it's implications. They drove the Vick train back because it provides them with a compelling story. Michael Vick is good for the media. Doesn't matter that he's no good for the NFL to the point they need to attempt to drive the Vick train into Foxboro to sell the idea that BB will fix that and make him good for all mankind...
