Can Vick Still Play QB In The NFL?

Michael Vick is back in the news — again — and now we’re left to wonder what his future holds as an NFL player. Is there a team out there that could use his talents, and what’s he going to have to sacrifice to get back in the league? Today, I’ll discuss Vick the football player and offer my opinions.

The Dilemma

This morning, our own Michael Lombardi did an excellent job writing about Vick and the “humble” attitude he has to show as his life and career move forward this week when he’s released from federal prison. I want to take it a step forward when it comes to the football field.

Because we don’t know what Commissioner Roger Goodell will decided regarding any disciplinary action. My hope is that Vick gets treated like any other player in this league when it comes to discipline and serves a suspension of some sort, but we still have to try and see past that — because he’s going to play football again.

But is he “humble” enough to do that? As I see it today, for Michael Vick to get back in the NFL and be successful, he’s going to have to work his way up the ladder. There will be no special treatment, no superstar status and no handouts for the former Falcons starting quarterback.

Vick sacrificed all of that when he went away to prison, and now he has to start over again.

But can he do it at quarterback, or is there another position for him out there?

What Vick Offers

From a football standpoint, I don’t see Vick returning as a quarterback.

Why? Well, would you hand over the keys to your offense to a guy who’s been away at prison? I wouldn’t. In fact, if Vick were playing for me, I’d use his talents elsewhere.

In my view, it’s pretty simple: For Vick to play in the NFL again, he’s going to have to get his feet wet as a “gadget guy” on offense. Yes, I understand the offensive circus that the wildcat has created in NFL meeting rooms, and that’s fine, but to tell me that Vick can run an offense under center any time soon is just not feasible.

Think of a guy like Josh Cribbs of the Browns or Devin Hester (before the Bears made him their No. 1 wide receiver). That’s what I envision for Vick -- eight to 10 touches a game on offense in special packages that can get him the ball in the open field, plus some work on special teams.

Sure, we can mention the San Francisco 49ers — who are desperate for a QB — but even then, would you really take a guy who’s been away from the game and hand him the ball and the playbook?

This morning, I made my list of franchise quarterbacks, plus the guys who are on the cusp of making the jump to that elite status. Could you find a spot for Vick on that list, a spot that would enable your team to compete with NFL defenses every Sunday? I can’t.

Playing the quarterback position in the NFL is tough, even tougher when you’ve been away from the game. Timing, arm strength, accuracy and command of the pocket carry major importance. Can we really believe that Vick still posses all of these today? I’m having a hard time believing that.

Maybe I’m wrong, and maybe the Niners or some other team will give him an opportunity to get back in the league as quarterback.

But can Vick handle the possibility that he won’t be the star when he walks into the locker room? Can he handle starting over, almost like a rookie?

Let’s examine that aspect, which I think will be the deciding factor for any hopes he has to make a return to the NFL.

Starting Over

Imagine you were the “guy” in Atlanta like Vick before his career — and his life — fell apart in front of a national audience.

Could you come back to football — at the back of the line?

In the world of NFL football, that means playing within a system and waiting for your opportunity. Yes, the former all-everything athlete is going to have to compete with other players and try to get on the field.

That superstar status that Vick once enjoyed is gone — maybe forever. If Goodell reinstates him, he’s just another guy trying to win a roster spot in the NFL.

Yes, that’s a huge fall from the top, and yes, this whole ordeal about coming back to the NFL will tell us how Vick promises to change his lifestyle or how “remorseful” he is.

I want to see it on the field, in the locker room and especially on payday — because those big checks he was making in Atlanta are gone, too. It’s just the reality of the situation, folks.

If Vick is serious about football, he will have to start over, he will have to compete to get on the field (in any capacity) and he will have to show that he can make it in this league — without special treatment.

Can he do it?

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