In the Dog House

Today marks the release of Michael Vick from federal custody. I am of the mindset that this is only the beginning of the Barnum and Bailey act. There seems to be much speculation as to his fate and future in the NFL and pro football in general. We’ll finish with the NFL but first…

I have to say I’m shocked that no one has brought up the CFL in conjunction with M-Dot-Vick’s name and future. Wider field, more open spaces, different rules – I think that could be a great stepping stone for him. He might could get the chance to show if he can in fact play quarterback at the professional level again.

His name has been tossed around as to the fledgling league down south. That might seem to be a great fit for him because he’ll be below the Mason Dixon line where he should be able to get support from his contemporaries. Plus, being such a small league it will for the most part fly under the radar.

I’m sure it’ll be the BnB show at first (see: Ramirez, Manny) but as time goes no one will pay attention to the PETA presence. Then they’ll hopefully disappear forever. Okay, maybe I’m just being too optimistic. The drawback to the new league is their pay structure. They have a set scale and Vick won’t get paid anywhere near what he was getting. If memory serves, he has a shitload of debt to repay. Another reason the CFL could be the better option.

Lastly is the NFL. That situation has the chance to redefine the term shitshow. Damn near everyone watches the NFL, and Vick will be under major scrutiny from many angles. The off the field stuff is certain to get silly. And the whole thing could be compounded if he sucks on it.

Speaking of on the field, I’m shocked consensus seems to be he can’t play again in the NFL. Hell, you had Ronnie brown lining up in shotgun for the Dolphins last year. Why can’t Vick run the Wildcat and be successful? The logical argument is how much of a step he has lost. If he comes back like Papi.09, he’ll never play again successfully.

But let’s say he comes back merely ‘very rusty’. He’s almost assured to need a year to put everything together. Get back to speed, get used to being hit, get used to making reads – who am I kidding he never got used to making reads in the first place. If he can pass that ‘probationary period’ – what, too soon? – he can be a moderately successful quarterback for a couple years.

The flip side is what I mentioned briefly before. He’s shot. He’s done. He got too yoked in prison then converted to Islam. He’ll come out and ask to be called Qyntel bin Al-Abaam and PETA will be the least of his problems, as all the white god-fearing citizens of Rock Ridge will hate him.

Granted all of the last 4 paragraphs are moot if Roger Goodell doesn’t let him back in the league already. Which I think could be a shame. If he shows up to his meeting with Goodell like Pacman – say he goes to the Meadowlands dog track the night before, then mysteriously 7 dogs are missing, 2 presumed dead – then I say fuck him, he deserves what he gets.

But if he goes in and says, ‘Commish, I’m sorry – this ish won’t happen again. I’m not keeping pace with those people anymore. I’m a family man now who wants to put his life back together to show my kids how to be a man.’ How could you keep him out? Why would you? America loves a redemption story. ‘Michael Vick – COME ON DOWN! You’re our next contestant on the Price is Your Life’. We’ll be right back on the Sports Reporters…