| Michael Vick was once one of the most electrifying | | | | we've discussed, and I doubt that would happen." |
| athletes ever to play the game of football. His speed | | | | New York Jets coach Rex Ryan also expressed no |
| and agility made him almost impossible for pass | | | | interest in Michael Vick, despite losing Brett Favre to |
| rushers to sack and he remained a constant figure on | | | | retirement and Chad Pennington in a trade with the |
| sports highlight shows every Monday morning during | | | | Dolphins in 2008. "I haven't thought about Michael Vick," |
| the National Football League season. | | | | he said. "We're worried about the three quarterbacks |
| Then suddenly Vick was gone. His career was placed | | | | we already have on the roster right now." An option |
| in jeopardy after being convicted of dog fighting in | | | | could be with the upstart United Football League. |
| 2007. With his release from federal prison imminent, will | | | | Nevertheless, it is certain that Vick is worried about his |
| there be any interest in Michael Vick from NFL teams, | | | | football and financial future after a bankruptcy judge in |
| and if so, will the former Atlanta Falcon be able to | | | | Virginia denied his financial plan to emerge from |
| recover from the financial ruin that he currently finds | | | | bankruptcy. Recently, Vick agreed to pay the Falcons |
| himself in? | | | | $6.5 million as an element of his bankruptcy case, |
| During the 2008 season, the Falcons were looking for | | | | which would also make him a free agent if he is |
| a fresh start after the Vick controversy the prior year. | | | | reinstated into the NFL. |
| They decided to select former Boston College | | | | However, on April 3, Judge Frank Santoro of Virginia, |
| quarterback Matt Ryan in the first round of last year's | | | | denied approval of Vick's elaborate financial scheme |
| NFL Draft. Ryan was an immediate success at the | | | | to recover from bankruptcy, stating that he believed |
| Georgia Dome leading the Falcons into the playoffs, | | | | the plan was unfeasible because Vick would need $1 |
| and ensuring that the Falcons would no longer have | | | | million by May 1 to make the plan work and would only |
| any interest in Michael Vick. | | | | have $210,000 by that date. Nevertheless, Santoro |
| Furthermore, in 2008 teams like the Miami Dolphins | | | | gave Vick one last chance to come up with a plan to |
| introduced offenses such as the Wildcat that would | | | | emerge from financial catastrophe. |
| seem ideal for a quarterback with Vick's speed. | | | | The former Falcon said that he would make $600,000 |
| However, no teams have openly expressed any | | | | from a documentary TV deal and that he has plans to |
| interest in giving the much-maligned former star a | | | | be reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell |
| chance at redemption. | | | | once he is released from prison. However, the judge |
| "We have three terrific quarterbacks on our roster and | | | | said that there is no guarantee he will be reinstated |
| I'm not really interested in going after Michael," said | | | | and no guarantee there will be interest in Michael Vick |
| Dolphin general manager Jeff Ireland. | | | | if he returns. |
| Another team that would seem to be a decent fit for | | | | To make matters worse, the U.S. Department of |
| the former Virginia Tech standout would be the San | | | | Labor filed a complaint on March 25, claiming Vick |
| Francisco 49ers. Coach Michael Singletary has the | | | | illegally spent approximately $1.3 million in pension plan |
| strong personality needed to be a disciplinarian for high | | | | benefits from his celebrity marketing company MV2 on |
| maintenance players such as tight end Vernon Davis | | | | his own his expenses, including paying restitution in the |
| and plans to be a run-oriented team, but 49ers staff | | | | dog fighting case. |
| have also expressed no interest in Michael Vick. | | | | Despite the uphill battle, Vick will one day get a chance |
| "It's up to (Singletary and general manager Scot | | | | to redeem himself on the gridiron and off. The question |
| McCloughan) to show that somebody who's had | | | | is will the interest in Michael Vick and his talent level |
| issues in the past can be a part of this team," said | | | | ever outshine the controversy he has created for |
| 49ers president Jed York. "But that's not something | | | | himself? |