Hard not to talk about Mike as Eagles prepare to land in Atlanta
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Almost three years ago, Michael Vick played his last game in a Falcons uniform in Philadelphia.
It was an ugly game to cap off an ugly second half of the 2006 season, a game where Vick injured his ankle in the third quarter and missed the remainder of the contest. After starting the 2006 season 5-2, the Falcons lost seven of their last nine and ended with a 24-17 loss to Philadelphia.
At the time, and as the face of the Falcons franchise, Vick didn't realize that game in Philadelphia would be his last as a member of the organization.
What followed became a top story nationwide: Vick was caught financing and running an illegal interstate dog fighting ring, dubbed Bad Newz Kennels in Virginia. After denying the charges, Vick eventually admitted to them and pleaded guilty.
Vick then spent 19 months in prison with the whole ordeal keeping him away from football for two seasons.
When his sentence ended, Vick eventually signed a deal to take snaps again in the last city he played an NFL game in.
On Sunday, 11 games into this season, Vick returns to where his professional career began and where many fans still support him.
But a lot of people aren't willing to forgive just yet.
"I let a lot of people down," Vick said.
It's unclear how Vick will be welcomed when he steps inside the Georgia Dome. Many fans still don No. 7 jerseys during games. Other fans couldn't be happier without him.
Vick, who proclaimed Atlanta is "still my city" after Philadelphia's win over Washington last week, said he'd appreciate a warm welcome.
"I believe he'll get a standing ovation," Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb said. "For five, six years he was the face of that franchise. He led them to the NFC Championship [Game] and those are things you don't forget."
'How can I be mad at the guy?'
Vick said he still communicates with his former Atlanta teammates, but didn't give any names to Philadelphia reporters.
One of those former teammates is Falcons receiver Roddy White, who said he's talked with Vick via text message this season, just to catch up every now and then.
"We text back and forth, mostly about life, what's going on, things like that, nothing too football related," White said. "I texted him, 'I look forward to seeing you on Sunday,' and he told me, 'Good luck. Get out there and do your thing.' But I should text him today and ask him for the game plan."
For White, it was hard to cut off his friendship with Vick after he learned about Vick's dog fighting ring. White said Vick helped him adjust to the NFL from Day 1, which was hard for White to ignore.
"Everybody has their own opinion about people," White said. "If you guys go out there, get drunk and get stopped by the police and then it's told that this reporter got arrested, everybody thinks you're a bad guy. But I know you guys. You guys are in the locker room every day. You're great people."
During Atlanta's 3-13 season in 2007, White designed a homemade shirt that read "Free Mike Vick" and wore it during a Monday night loss to the Saints. After catching a 33-yard touchdown pass from Chris Redman in the first quarter, then-teammate Joe Horn helped White lift up his jersey to show the shirt, which he wore underneath.
White was fined $10,000 for the shirt, which he said was the only regret of the situation.
"That's my boy, I was very supportive of him," White said. "The whole time he was here, he welcomed me and took me under his wing and got me the ball. How can I be mad at the guy?"
Then and now
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| Roddy White showed his support for former teammate Michael Vick after scoring a touchdown in 2007. (Getty Images) |
"It's not a topic of conversation among the players here because we're focused on winning the last five games and offensively, getting ready for the Philadelphia defense," said fullback Ovie Mughelli, who practiced two weeks with Vick after signing with Atlanta in 2007.
"Mike coming back, that's a great thing and I wish him the best as always. But that's not something we're concentrating on."
Atlanta wide receiver Michael Jenkins played with Vick for three seasons, but said the quarterback's return to Atlanta shouldn't deter much from what the Falcons are trying to accomplish this weekend.
"It won't be any different. It's still Philly against Atlanta," Jenkins said. "I'm happy Mike is back in the league and in a good situation, but ultimately it's about Atlanta vs. Philly this weekend."
With Vick dismissed from Atlanta and the dismal 2007 season that followed, no one was giving the Falcons franchise much hope to rebound any time soon.
But Atlanta hired a new coach in Mike Smith and drafted what became the new face of the franchise in quarterback Matt Ryan.
Since then, the Falcons have made the playoffs with an 11-5 record in 2008 and are still in the NFC wild-card hunt this year, sitting at 6-5.
"During that '07 season no one thought we'd be where we are now," center Todd McClure, Atlanta's longest tenured player, said.
For Vick, the realization he's not who he used to be has come. In Atlanta he was a prominent figure who had signed a 10-year, $130 million contract. After his legal woes and a landfill of debt to creditors, he's taken quite the pay cut, earning $1.6 million this year with the option to earn up to $5.2 million in 2010 -- that is, if the Eagles decide to keep him on board.
"Obviously, when you have been the face of the organization in Atlanta, everybody loved you and everything rolled through Michael Vick," McNabb said. "The success they had early on was due to Michael Vick. Things are different now. Times have changed a little bit. Matt Ryan has made a name for himself and he understands that. His attitude is to do whatever it takes in order to win the game."
Homecoming dance
After the Eagles defeated Washington, the attention turned to Vick's homecoming in Atlanta, with Vick answering questions as if he's expecting to be embraced.
On Tuesday, Vick was asked the same question and gave almost the same response.
"Believe me, if it's a warm reception it will be appreciated," Vick said. "But no matter what, I have to stay focused."
Even though the Falcons and the Eagles are in the middle of a playoff race, there's a certain buzz given that it's Vick's return to his former home.
"Of course it's going to be a big topic with all the history he has here," Jenkins said.
White figures Vick will receive a mixed greeting on Sunday.
"There will probably be some boos and probably some cheers," White said. "You never know with things like that. ... But I'm just happy he's doing his thing and hopefully he'll get a warm reception when he gets back."
Vick's future in Philadelphia is uncertain. Vick won't become the Eagles' starting quarterback anytime soon and becoming a career backup is probably not something he plans to do.
But Vick isn't ready to divulge any potential career choices, yet.
"I can't look that far down the road," Vick said. "Right now, I'm just trying to help this team win a Super Bowl and the future will take care of itself."
Said White: "It's probably tough on him right now. It might not have been the best situation going there with Donovan McNabb in there."
When Vick steps into the Georgia Dome on Sunday, White said he won't wear an undershirt that reads, "Welcome back Mike Vick." White also added Vick will have to wait until the end of the game to receive a greeting.
"Nah, I'm going to be getting ready for the game," White said when asked if he would find Vick before kickoff. "I have to be focused and I got to be locked in. This is a big game for us."
Kevin Noonan contributed to the column.
