Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
In an absolutely shocking development, the Falcons were unable to find a trading partner when it came to dumping Michael Vick. Imagine that: a player just released to house arrest who could inspire protests outside of each one of your home games and hasn't even been reinstated to the league wasn't the hottest thing on the NFL trade market.
AF.COM: What caused you to decide to relinquish Vick’s rights today?
THOMAS DIMITROFF: "We spent a significant amount of time this off-season trying to trade him to another NFL club, and we had some conversations with a few teams, but nothing materialized. At this point, we feel releasing Michael is best for him and best for us. Our entire organization sincerely hopes that Michael will continue to focus his efforts on making positive changes in his life, and we wish him well in that regard."
Kudos to the interviewer from AtlantaFalcons.com for omitting the part of the interview where Dimitroff looked at him slack-jawed for asking "What caused you to decide to relinquish Vick's rights today?" I can only assume that was followed by "Are you #$(*ing kidding me? Dogfighting! It was the dogfighting! Also, we prefer Matt Ryan's pocket-passing style to Vick's on-the-move game."
Vick becomes a free agent, and I'm sure teams are just lining up to sign him. Provided, of course, he's ever allowed to set foot on a field again. There's always the UFL!
(H/T Pro Football Talk)
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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Most teams won’t come anywhere near him for awhile, and that’s a shame. When he is finally allowed to play in the NFL, he will have paid his debt to society for what he did, and he would have paid whatever additional penalty the NFL decides to impose in terms of additional time before he is reinstated. It will take an owner who doesn’t care as much about public reaction as he does to making a move that he sees as being in the best interest of his team, and that list is short. In fact, I only see two owners in that category—Jerry Jones in Dallas and Al Davis in Oakland. And I’m not sure that what Vick brings to the table athletically fits with the Cowboys’ needs, but he might with the Raiders.
by leeparks on Jun 12, 2009 11:38 AM EDT reply actions
man, i don’t see one team wanting a feet-happy qb, esp. not the raiders! the old man wants his ‘vertical’ passing game back- vick does not fit in with those plans.
by timpani25 on Jun 13, 2009 12:13 AM EDT reply actions
I guess that the one good thing that Vick’s legal troubles gave him is that people have forgotten that he was a failure as a quarterback.
by pollister on Jun 13, 2009 11:53 AM EDT reply actions
he’ll go to the raiders eventually
by Brownsound on Jun 13, 2009 1:20 PM EDT reply actions
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