As a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, I had the privilege to be on the same field as Michael Vick during the NFC Championship game January 2005. During that game I was able to witness in awe the most gifted athlete the NFL has ever seen. Possessing a unique combination of speed, quickness, and sheer athletic ability you could not help yourself wondering, “What act of superhuman ability will he exhibit to single handily take this game over and win it?” Though that moment never came to pass there where instances where only inches separated him from breaking off game changing plays.

To think that I, an NFL player, could still look at him as almost supernatural and godlike in his football abilities, I cannot imagine at what magnitude the millions kids around the country idolize him.   One thing is for certain they look up to him, just like my generation looked up to another famous Michael…Michael Jordan.

Based upon Vick’s incredible athletic ability and the influence he makes upon young athletes he is in my mind the biggest waste of god given talent to ever have played in professional sports. This statement can be attributed to one thing… his decision to be influenced and perhaps pressured in participating in illegal activities.

Up until now we only know that Michael has participated in some form of illegal dog fighting, and drug possession. I believe this is only the tip of the ice burg. We as the public only see what illegal activities Vick has participated in because he has been caught in the act. But it is a high likelihood there is much more below the surface. Many NFL experts and insiders believe Vick will never play another down in the NFL, even if he is found not guilty in the dog fighting scandal. 

It is a shame, that I as a fan and a former player does not have another opportunity to ever witness Vick play another down in the NFL. Though he may possess some of the greatest athletic ability the NFL has ever seen and he may be an icon as big as Michael Jordan, there is only one person to blame for any of us ever seeing him perform again on the football field and that is Michael Vick himself.