NFL Commissioner Goodell Reinstates Professional Dog-Torturer Michael Vick, Provisionally

But will any team owners want him?

First, he'll need an owner who'll tolerate protestors showing up at training camp and regular-season games, plus one willing to take any accompanying public relations hit, as small as that might be two years after Vick was committed.

Second, he'll need a creative offensive coaching staff willing to find ways to use him. Chances are, he won't start at quarterback this season, but his undeniable physical gifts and the fact he'll take a valuable roster spot means that the team that signs him must find an innovative way to use a player who always has been a quarterback.

That last part is key. Teams tend to build an offense around their QB's strengths. Michael Vick has an uncommon set of strengths. Namely, he's a runner who happens to pass the ball sometimes. It's hard to imagine a team making the full commitment to make Vick their starter -- at least for a while -- so he'll be stuck in an offense built around a more conventional QB.

At some point, though, he'll be back. Bottom-dwelling teams can put aside a lot of PR concerns to appease their fans' demands for some victories.

So... Detroit?

Food for Thought: I don't know whether I buy this article or not -- mostly not, I think. But it is interesting, and I do wonder why it is that it's somehow impossible for any NFL team to run anything but pro-set offense (and its minor variants).

posted by Ace at 07:09 PM

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