Friday, June 12, 2009

The top five destinations for Vick

Michael Vick will still be a very productive football player in the NFL even after two years away from the game (he was still playing football in jail), whether it be as a quarterback, running back or receiver. He’ll still be a fast runner and have the same keen sense for the game that he did with the Atlanta Falcons, so long as he is in good shape, and will be able to find a team by the start of the season with a good attitude and the willingness to play other positions besides quarterback. Now that the Falcons have officially released Vick, here are the five teams that I think Vick would succeed with the most. Whether or not a team would be willing to sign Vick is also taken into account for my list:
1) Indianapolis Colts: The Colts could use a scat back, and Vick would be able to get open underneath as a receiver playing alongside Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez. Plus, Tony Dungy (who still has the ability to strongly influence the Colts front office and head coach Jim Caldwell) is a supporter of Vick, and could encourage team president Bill Polian that Vick has changed and deserves a second chance.
2) San Francisco 49ers: Mike Singletary says that Vick deserves a second chance and says that he hasn’t made a decision yet in regards to whether the team should sign Vick or not (though GM Scott McCloughan and team president Jed York do not seem to be as open to the prospect of Vick wearing Red and Gold), and Vick would allow the team to run a mean wildcat with Frank Gore and Alex Smith or Shaun Hill. Vick could also serve as a changeup back to Frank Gore and Michael Robinson, and could also be a productive fourth receiver for a team that already features three threats at the position along with a flat-out boss in tight end Vernon Davis.
3) Jacksonville Jaguars: The team could run a great wildcat with Vick, David Gerrard and Maurice Jones-Drew, and he could be productive as a spell back for Drew and stretch the field as a receiver in an offense that will feature mostly possession receivers this year (note: the Jaguars receivers will be a lot better at catching the football this year with the addition of Torry Holt and rookies Mike Walker and Tiquan Underwood).
4) Baltimore Ravens: Ray Lewis (who had his own legal issues back in the day) would be a great mentor for Vick, and he could potentially see a lot of carries as a running back for the team, as Willis McGahee has had surgery twice this off-season, and John Clayton says that because of that Ray Rice (who had a solid season last year but runs like McGahee) will be the starter. Vick could be a great changeup back to Rice and McGahee, and the team could be dangerous in wildcat plays with Vick, Joe Flacco and McGahee/Rice on the field at the same time.
5) St. Louis Rams: Mark Bulger always misses about four-to-six starts each year, and Vick would be a better quarterback for them when Bulger is out than Kyle Boller or Brock Berlin. Vick could bring some buzz to the team, which desperately needs it after going 2-14 in 2008 and releasing Torry Holt in the off-season. Vick could provide the Rams with the ability to run outside at the running back position, which the Rams currently lack.

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