Five Possible Destinations For Vick

Michael Vick was released from federal custody on Monday. Many questions still need to be answered with regards to his life, especially whether NFL commissioner will reinstate Vick. Alan did an excellent job of breaking down what needs to happen in order for Vick to return to the league. Now, it is time to look at the possible landing spots for Vick assuming he does get reinstated. Even if he is suspended for four games, some team is likely to take a chance on him, because in that scenario he would be available to play in the final 12 games of the season.

Before we look at where Vick could land, let’s delve his return in a football sense. He hasn’t played the game of football in over two years, so there will be somewhat of a relearning of the game. He has to re-familiarize himself with the nuances of the game. The biggest aspect of his return will be his conditioning, as he certainly is not in good enough game shape. Over the last few weeks he worked with trainer Tom Shaw, which was a great decision. Vick needs to get in excellent physical condition before he can even think about playing a game in the NFL again. If Commissioner Goodell reinstates Vick and a team signs the QB before training camp, that will also improve Vick’s conditioning.

Another question surrounding Vick’s return is what position he will play. Vick was always more of a playmaker than a QB, and teams may want to use him in more of a wildcat role than in the tradition QB role. Learning an entire offense as a QB is very difficult, and if the team that signs him wants to see a contribution immediately, QB isn’t the best position to get that kind of return. There are many questions and few answers about Vick at the moment, but we’re likely to get some answers soon. For now, let’s look at five potential landing spots for Vick.

1. Oakland Raiders — For starters, owner Al Davis has never been afraid to take a chance on player, criticisms be damned. No matter how bad the players transgressions, Davis has looked the other way and in order to get production on the field. Moreover, Vick has what Davis covets: speed. Davis certainly does not care about the public relations implications of this move, because if that were the case, the Raiders would have looked drastically different in terms of personnel over the last decade. The QB situation in Oakland is far from great, as JaMarcus Russell is the starter going into training camp. Veteran Jeff Garcia has a chance to take the job over with a solid camp and preseason. The Raiders lack playmakers on the outside, and Vick could be the ultimate wildcat player for head coach Tom Cable. Davis did invest a lot of money in Russel, a former No.1 pick, but the chance to improve the team is what has always been most important in Oakland.

2. New England Patriots — Wait, isn’t Tom Brady the QB in New England? Yes, he is, but once again, Vick is a playmaker. Though Vick doesn’t seem to fit the good character mold that head coach Bill Belichick has built in New England, he does fit the profile of the troubled player looking to redeem himself that New England has looked for over the past few seasons (see: Corey Dillon, Randy Moss). Belichick loves to prove people wrong, and making Vick an important contributor with the Patriots would be very impressive — even by Belichick’s standards. The offense in New Engand is already loaded with playmakers in WRs Moss, Wes Welker and Joey Galloway and RB Fred Taylor; a player of Vick’s caliber would make the Pats that much more dangerous. Belichick experienced firsthand how effective the wildcat can be when the Miami Dolphins’ Ronnie Brown scored a total of five touchdowns against the Pats in Week 3. The toughest task would be getting Vick to buy into the Pats’ system, but Belichick didn’t have a problem with that aspect when it came to Dillon and Moss.

3. New Orleans Saints — The Saints, like the Patriots, have a number of weapons offensively. QB Drew Brees is one of the best in the league, WR Marques Colston is very good when healthy, and RB Reggie Bush is a threat in a number of different ways. Playing in the NFC South, the Saints know just how explosive Vick can be. Also, this is a team that doesn’t have the best running game, and Vick would likely improve that when given the opportunity to run the wildcat. Head coach Sean Payton is an offensive guru, and having a player like Vick would only give him more options to work with. Payton loves using Bush all over the field, putting him at running back and sliding him into the slot. Having Vick at his disposal would give Payton a player even more explosive than Bush. Also, the Saints need to return to the playoffs after missing out last season. Expectations are already high for the team heading into 2009, and if the team doesn’t succeed, Payton may be out of a job. Vick could be a player that helps the Saints reach the playoffs.

4. Miami Dolphins — The Dolphins were the team that introduced the league to the wildcat last season. Ronnie Brown ran it wonderfully all season long, and he did throw one touchdown pass out of the formation against New England. But Brown’s arm isn’t great, which limits the team’s options. It almost seems like Vick was born to run the wildcat, and as a result it has to be an intriguing option for team vice president Bill Parcells. Though the team did use its’ second round draft pick on QB Pat White, who is similar to Vick, the Dolphins are still likely to consider making this move. Former NFL head coach Dennis Green said he thinks this is where Vick will end up, and it’s easy to see why. Going 11-5 last season, the Dolphins caught everyone by surprise. No one in their right mind expected Miami to make that kind of turnaround after going 1-15 the season before. This season, they are not going to sneak up on anyone. Signing Vick would be a good move to help try to avoid a 2009 letdown.

5. United Football League — If Vick is suspended by Goodell, this may be the only option. Let’s say, for example, that Goodell suspends Vick for an entire season. It wouldn’t make sense for a team to pay him for 2009 when he won’t be able to play, so the NFL option is gone. Vick lost millions upon millions of dollars as a result of his incarnation and suspension, so he needs to make money as soon possible to repay his debts. Since he likely isn’t capable of doing much else other than football, the United Football League is a great option. Reports have recently stated the UFL is willing to pay Vick around $1 million for one season’s worth of duty. Vick would be able to showcase his ability in the new league and get into great physical shape in the process. For the UFL, this move makes loads of sense. The league starts in October, and signing Vick would generate a lot of buzz. Moreover, having a player of Vick’s caliber would give the league credibility and increase interest. One game per week will be televised nationally on Versus, and displaying Vick would certainly give the games a dramatic ratings boost.

What’s Not To Like If Your Name Happens To Be Mike Shanahan ?

So you’ve been fired by the team that you guided to two successive Superbowl wins. You’re still highly respected amongst your peers. Albeit that in some circles , tv pundits and some of the Denver Broncos’ fans you’re thought of as being past your prime.

Mike Shanahan , now the former coach of the Denver Broncos. Shanahan had a long and distinguished career with the team guiding them to two successive Superbowl (XXXII & XXXIII) wins in 1997 and 1998. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Richard Matthews ...........

Well if your name happens to be Mike Shanahan , then you’ve to be smiling a like a Cheshire cat that’s been given several bowls of milk. Having been fired by Broncos’ owner Pat Bowlen , from a position that’d made you one of the longest tenured coaches in the NFL. You can now can sit back knowing that you’re still owed $14million , for the remaining two years left on your original contract.

Isn’t it funny how the business template is set when it comes to the NFL ? Coaches are given guaranteed contracts but yet the players are basically paid according to incentives. And about the only thing guaranteed for them is their signing bonus . One can only surmise even in failure you’re still rewarded handsomely. Not unlike the corporate executives on Wall St and within many of the large financial institutions that’ve almost brought the country to the brink of an economic disaster. And low and behold , we have the federal goverenment now giving them an assist. Meanwhile , the ordinary citizen will be lucky if he or she actually knows whether or not they’ll be able to make their next mortgage payment on time.

Pat Bowlen the owner of the Denver Broncos. picture appears courtesy of afp/ photo/ Mithchell Hines ..................

For the Denver Broncos the off-season was filled not only with tension but also a great deal of comedic value. Especially in light of the way Shanahan’s succcessor, Josh McDaniels handled his initial foray into coaching with the Broncos. He ran the wrath of the teams’ then quarterback , Jay Cutler . And the aftermath of that encounter left everyone within the Broncos’ organization and outside it completely perplexed by the inanity and infantile behavior of both McDaniels and the young quarterback.

Newly acquired Bears' quarterback Jay Cutler is seen here in attendance in his first formal public announcement that he's now a Chicago Bear. Inset also is Bears' GM Jerry Angelo in the background. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Jim Prisching ..........

With the ensuing inaction by both Cutler and McDaniels, both being unwilling to give ground on what they may well have each believe to be a power struggle for dominance . It was felt that the club’s owner Pat Bowlen would intervene and bring calm to the tension within. Nothing could remain further from the truth , as the owner remained as silent as a docile church mouse. In the end the player’s demands to be traded were met as the relationship between he and the coach were irretrievably broken. Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for Kyle Orton , cumatively for two fist round picks and a third round pick. Non-sensical as this trade seemed on paper, in terms of the Broncos’ perspective on Cutler’s perceived value. Someone got the short end of the stick on this trade. However, both teams seem to have been happy with the end result.

Denver Broncos' head coach is seen here after the formal announcement has been that he's the team's new head coach. picture appears courtesy of reuters/ Nathan W. Armes .....................

With Culter now said to be happy in his new environment and new teammates. It’s viewed that the Bears’ll be a team to be followed as they set out to prove their dominance in the NFC North. As for the Broncos and Kyle Orton , he now has the privilege of trying to beat out Chris Simms for the starter’s job on the team. No that wasn’t a misprint that you read , as it is indeed Chris Simms on the roster of the Denver Broncos.

As for Shanahan, he could have his pick of positions, should one become available. But more likely than not he’ll remain on the sidelines. Perhaps working in the broadcast booth , providing his insight and analysis on NFL games. Much like , Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher , two other coaches who remain seated on the sidelines. They can sit and wait for that call from a team looking to make a change at the top of their coaching ladder. Shanahan’s got fourteeen million reasons why he needn’t really worry at present. But if anything as a lifelong disciplined coach, he yearns for being back on the coaching sidelines. Chances are however , is that he’ll sit out this year and next. But who really knows ?

Broncos' quarterback Kyle Orton is seen here with the team's head coach Josh McDaniels at the Broncos' indoor training facility in Englewood , Colorado. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ David Zabulowski ...........................

With a number of coaches this season said to be in tenuous positions as far as their overall job security is concerned. Shanahan’s number and that of Gruden’s and Cowher’s have got to be on speed-dial of a number of GM’s around the league. The guess is, whose number will be dialed first ?