Could Vick want out of Atlanta? Wow!!!

bobbyinlondon · February 24, 2006, 01:45:06 AM

Imagine the heat on Mora AND Blank if this is true!! I have read Adam Schefter's article on the Falcons wanting to restructure Vick's contract after only two years of giving him that huge 27M in guaranteed bonuses.

POSTED 1:00 a.m. EST, February 24, 2006

RUMORS SWIRL OF VICKLESS FALCONS

One of the biggest rumors making the rounds in Indianapolis on the first day of the scouting combine is that quarterback Mike Vick wants out of Atlanta.

Though there's no specific information to prompt a conclusion that Vick has taken steps to engineer an exit from the team, his repeated criticism of the coaching staff since the end of the 2005 season has fueled speculation that a divorce could be coming.

Most recently, Vick took aim at Falcons offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, saying that Knapp "needs to know exactly what type of talent he's working with. . . . You've got to be creative. There's no reason I should be passing for only 2,300 yards for the season. My passing attempts per game are not even that high. I hope it's not that they don't believe in me, because I believe in me." (Knapp, by the way, attempted to downplay Vick's comments.)

Earlier this month, Vick said that he's "a little lost" in the Falcons' version of the West Coast offense. "We're not dinking and dunking the way it's supposed to be done" he said. "It may be hurting me. It may be hurting the offense."

The talk in Indy is that Vick might refuse to restructure his contract, in the hopes that the team will trade him. Adam Schefter of The NFL Network reports that talks aimed at reducing Vick's 2006 cap number have occurred.

The root of the problem appears to be Vick's relationship with coach Jim Mora. The perception in some circles is that Vick "hates" Mora.

Indeed, we raised the question of whether Mora and Vick can coexist on December 26, based on their respective comments following a Falcons' loss to the Bucs on Christmas Eve after a chip-shot field goal was blocked in overtime.

Said Vick of the blown opportunity to win the game: "It kind of put everything in perspective, like maybe this just ain't our year."

Said Mora when asked whether the blocked field goal made him conclude that "it just wasn't meant to be": "That's a loser's attitude, and I would like to think we don't have a whole lot of losers in the locker room . . . . People like that don't accomplish much in life."

Apart from the huge cap hit that the Falcons would take by moving Vick now, they'd have trouble finding someone to give up significant value for him. As we hear it, a lot of teams regard him as a pain in the ass -- and as a guy who will only be successful if an offense is specifically designed to enhance his strengths, and to conceal his weaknesses

General_Failure · February 24, 2006, 03:14:32 AM

Mora's got two years left to live up to his post NFCCG promise.

Feva · February 24, 2006, 06:01:43 AM

QuoteMost recently, Vick took aim at Falcons offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, saying that Knapp "needs to know exactly what type of talent he's working with. . . . You've got to be creative. There's no reason I should be passing for only 2,300 yards for the season. My passing attempts per game are not even that high. I hope it's not that they don't believe in me, because I believe in me." (Knapp, by the way, attempted to downplay Vick's comments.)

I was listening to this on the local radio on the way home from work yesterday... and the happy stiffy this story was giving me made it really hard to steer.

While I don't thiink there's much to the talk of Vick leaving Atlanta at this point... it certainly can't help the relationships between Vick and Mora/Knapp... and it'll be delightful to hear how the "Vick is God" crowd around here will try to spin these comments.

Geowhizzer · February 24, 2006, 06:14:43 AM

QuoteMost recently, Vick took aim at Falcons offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, saying that Knapp "needs to know exactly what type of talent he's working with. . . . You've got to be creative. There's no reason I should be passing for only 2,300 yards for the season. My passing attempts per game are not even that high. I hope it's not that they don't believe in me, because I believe in me." (Knapp, by the way, attempted to downplay Vick's comments.)

You mean like Vick's incredibly inaccurate throws?

PhillyPhanInDC · February 24, 2006, 07:31:13 AM

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The Vick experiment has failed. And that makes me happy. Never liked the guy, and I would bet a pile of money had they started Schaub last year for 16 games, they would have had a much better record. Remember how he dominated the Patriots? Made those "below-average" receivers look pretty farging average. farg Vick!

SD_Eagle5 · February 24, 2006, 08:08:03 AM

QuoteMost recently, Vick took aim at Falcons offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, saying that Knapp "needs to know exactly what type of talent he's working with. . . . You've got to be creative

Looks like TO was right all along.

Zanshin · February 24, 2006, 08:16:00 AM

I was never, ever in the Vick camp. He was ridiculously overrated from the start. But there doesen't seem to be much in the way of a gray area when it comes to the guy-- people either love him or hate him. Personally, I think he's that classic potential guy that's just a coach killer.

It cracked me up at the time, and it's even more of a laugher now, about how the Chargers got fleeced in the trade of the top pick that year. I mean, they got players and picks....and walked out of that draft with LaDanian Tomlinson and Drew Brees...two pro bowlers. And Vick has done next to nothing with any consistancy....yet people still hang on the guy's herpeed-up nuts.

PhillyPhreak54 · February 24, 2006, 08:19:59 AM

Me neither, Zan. I actively root against that guy because of the hype he gets. It is nice to see those iceholes dealing with that. And I hope it blows up in thier faces so Arthur Blank and his 70's porn star 'stache look dumb for giving him that unearned money.

MadMarchHare · February 24, 2006, 08:43:55 AM

While he might be a fan-draw kinda guy, to give him the money they did was beyond stupid. He ain't no Manning (other than, you know, the inability to win in big games).

Diomedes · February 24, 2006, 10:24:03 PM

Yeah, I can't think of any other quarterbacks who suffer an inability to win in big games...

Feva · February 25, 2006, 03:41:38 PM

Yeah, both those Manning boys are chokers.

General_Failure · February 25, 2006, 04:48:16 PM

Anyone not named Brady or Rothelinger right now.

Feva · February 25, 2006, 05:25:18 PM

Or even Roethlisberger.

General_Failure · February 25, 2006, 07:08:14 PM

Who?

Larry · February 25, 2006, 07:31:47 PM

We need a punt returner.

Could Vick want out of Atlanta? Wow!!!

SD_Eagle5