It makes sense to try to rid your team of old baggage, but in the case of Michael Vick, is it even really possible?
Apparently Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff would like to try. From an interview posted on NFL.com, Dimitroff has said that " We feel a trade is in the best interest of the Falcons, and it's also in the best interest for Michael." That's true, and it's a good idea to move on.
But two major (obvious) problems stand in Dimitroff's way. One is Vick's contract, which actually isn't as bad as it seemed originally considering Vick signed a 10 year - 130 million dollar contract in 2004, which would only be half over. But in actuality it sounds like most of the contract can be voided since Vick's situation was "detrimental to the team." The Falcons would still probably have to figure out Vick's $37 million in signing bonuses, but that's petty cash compared to the $70-80 million they could have been paying. Still a decent chunk of change though.
The bigger problem is interest. Given his past, you have to think that only the Cowboys and Bengals could be truly interested, as it seems they'll take on the seediest of guys as reclamation projects. But the market right now is starving for QBs, and given that there's a chance Vick would be ready for the upcoming season, you have to wonder if a team like the Bears or Jets or Chiefs would take a flier on Vick. Granted he's probably rusty, and he never completed passes at a decent clip anyways (his lifetime completion percentage is 53.8). But the guy was always a game changer, and maybe he could inject some life into an offense or two. There was originally even talk he could to WR or something, but I don't see him being much more than a poor man's Josh Cribbs if he made that switch.
My guess? He's done. He's too much of a potential headache and too much of a question mark as to what he could still bring. Best to let him saunter off into the sunset as a former NFL player than to kick up old dirt and start some controversy. But then again, as long as Jerry Jones is around in Dallas, anything can happen.
Oh and for the record, Vick is no Seneca Wallace at running.
