Michael Vick - The Greatest Waste of God Given Talent
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.
July 30th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Michael Vick isn’t even guilty. How can you write something so opinionated before the guy has even had his day in court. Vick is still young and his career is far from over. I believe he’s going to be fine and be suspended but that’s it. He has the money to fight it while the others can’t afford a drawn out court battle.
July 30th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Sorry man, regardless of what happens it is my opinion Michael Vick has played his last game in the NFL. Arthur Banks will release him in a matter of weeks, and any other NFL team would take upon themselves a Public Relations mess if they pick him up.
In addition, he is fighting this case against the US government there is not enough money in the world to get the US goventment to pull thier charges….
July 31st, 2007 at 12:21 am
Michael Vick will still be young when he gets out of the slammer and be a productive NFL player. He has deep pockets and all they want to do is get him to plea anyway. His best bet is to drag it into court and get it to a jury. You never know what will happen. Again, we are all assuming he is guilty which he isn’t yet. Vick wont’ be released until his court hearing. Being who he is they can’t risk having a Tank Johnson happen where it turns out he didn’t really do anything wrong. One thing you are right on is that Vick has a lot of God given talent. It isn’t a waste.
July 31st, 2007 at 11:34 pm
This is a giant catch 22 for Vick. If he fights the charges the government is going to try to make an example of Vick and throw the book at him, much like they did with Martha Stewart.The government will try to find something to get a guilty verdict. However, if he plea bargains it will admit guilt and no NFL team will want to deal with the PETA protestors where ever he goes.
He has no choice but to fight this….but the result will be the same…He will never play in the NFL again.