Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison today, and counting time he's already served, he should be released in October 2009.
That gives us a chance to look at the question: will Michael Vick ever play in the NFL again?
Vick will be 29 when he's released, but there's basically no way he's playing in 2009. What team would take the chance? Basically, you'd have to be a team with championship aspirations that desperately needs a quarterback for several weeks. Considering Vick's reputation and the subsequent PR hit, it would have to be a team with absolutely no scruples. So unless Tom Brady gets hurt in week six of the 2009 season, Vick won't play until 2010, when he'll be 30.
Could Vick be a good thirty-year-old quarterback? Well, he obviously relies more on his physical talent than his ability to read coverages. But assuming he can stay in shape, his physical gifts should not vanish before 2010. He'll still be capable of playing in the NFL.
However, all of this is moot, because he'll have to get past the planet's Most Vindictive Bastard, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, if he wants to play again. So it won't happen. Keep in mind that Goodell is the same man who just fined Broncos coach Mike Shanahan $25,000 for some really tame comments supporting running back Travis Henry's suspension appeal. And remember that this was an appeal Henry actually won. Talk about a sore loser. Considering the punishments Goodell loves dishing out (and be grateful he wasn't your dad the time you stayed out three minutes past curfew), I don't see any way he lets Vick play again.
Comments
I would bet his situation would've been greatly improved had he not been caught smoking weed. Because of that, I bet you're right, I can't see Goodell letting him play again.
I'm also wondering how Vick'll be received even if he would be allowed to play in 2010...is everyone just going to assume he's over the hill? Because the conventional wisdom said he wasn't going to last very long to begin with, considering his reliance on sheer athleticism and his aggressive style of play.
On a side note, I do think they are coming down a little hard on Vick. I mean, I like dogs as much as the next guy, but it's not like he killed anyone like our friend Leonard Little did. He killed someone while driving drunk, and only served 90 days in jail. Then he was caught drunk driving again and didn't serve any additional time at all. Last year Little signed a 3 year contract extension with the Rams. When things are put into perspective, how much more valuable is a human life than a dog's? Why is PETA all over Vick when there's players currently playing who have taken the life of another human being.
I certainly don't condone the choices Vick has made, but I think what he has done has been blown way out of proportion.