Filed under: American Football | Tags: American Football, Andy Reid, Michael Vick, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles
The tough city of Philadelphia may just have gotten what could be seen as the winning lottery ticket to the Powerball mega millions jackpot or they could have invested it all with Bernie Madoff. While the pre-season games have just gotten underway for the National Football League and the pressure and expectations of the season have not quite set in, Andy Reid has done what many thought no organization would dare do; sign Michael Vick. Now, with the partial re-instatement by Commissioner Roger Goodell, Tony Dungy as an advisor, and an apologetic and reflective 60-minutes interview set for Sunday, the stage has been set for Vick to be either a huge hit or a public relations nightmare for both the Philadelphia Eagles as well as continuing to be for the NFL.
Worth the risk?
The upside is clear; Vick has only recently turned 29. The former number one draft pick out of Virginia Tech is a mobile Quarterback who plays very similarly to Eagles starting Quarterback Donovan McNabb but faster, younger and with a less strong arm. Continue reading
Filed under: American Football | Tags: American Football, Donte Stallworth, Football, Marshawn Lynch, Michael Vick, NFL, Plaxico Burress, Steve McNair
Burress: not helping the image of the NFL
Yesterday’s news that former New York Giants’ Wide Receiver Plaxico Burress has been indicted on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment was another reminder of a summer to forget for the National Football league. While the case was originally rumored to be heard in September, the new indictments have brought on new rumors that the case will be pushed back possibly until March. The longer the case drags on, the worse for all involved. Although this is not a case where Burress will be made an example of necessarily (a la Michael Vick), the impending jail sentence and delaying of that jail sentence continues to provide bad publicity for the NFL.
In continuing with the theme of court cases that keep on giving (albeit negatively for public relations), former Atlanta Falcons’ Quarterback Michael Vick was released from prison this off-season after twenty three months in jail (dodging three more years due to good behavior). His conditional reinstatement and bankruptcy filings have reopened some PR wounds for the NFL and continue to keep them open. If anyone signs him, which I hope SOMEONE does, (after all the man has just turned 29 and has been keeping sharp in prison yard football games being the Quarterback for both teams), then maybe, just maybe, his performance on the field will help to ease his dog fighting out of the headlines. Until then, the Vick cases, will continue to cast a shadow over the Not Friendly (to animals) League and provide shows like Family Guy material like this. Continue reading
The 30-second timeout 