Michael Vick Returns To Atlanta For First Time Since Prison
December 2, 2009 – 3:40 pm by timgunterThis weekend in Atlanta is going to be crazy. This Saturday night they host the SEC Championship game with Alabama taking on Florida and then the next day Michael Vick comes back to town. The Eagles take on the Falcons Sunday which will be the first time Vick has been back in Atlanta since he went to prison on dogfighting charges. It remains to be seen how the Eagles will use him against the Falcons, if at all. But Vick expects a welcome reception from his old fans.
Since signing on with the Philadelphia Eagles he has played sparingly in his backup role and he looks to use this year to learn behind one of the best QB’s in the NFL, Donovan McNabb. Sunday’s game will be tough for Vick and his fans because he won’t get to see much of the field that he once ownedin a stadium he once owned. He will still be wearing his number 7 jersey but it will be a green jersey with another bird on it. As an Atlanta Falcons fan, I was appalled at what he did and how he let the city of Atlanta, the team and his coaches down. There will always be a sour taste in my mouth when I hear his name. I bought his Nike shoes when they first came out, but I haven’t worn them since the whole dogfighting case went public. I don’t hate the man I just wish he would have made better choices and stayed in the film room longer not the strip clubs. On second thought, this was a blessing in disguise. If all of this never happened the Falcons would still have Bobby Petrino as head coach and wouldn’t have Matt Ryan as quarterback.
Michael Vick joined 680 The Fan in Atlanta with Buck, Kincade, and former Falcons Coach Dan Reeves to talk about one or two of his favorite plays when he was playing for the Falcons, on beating the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau in the playoffs for their first home playoff loss, how he has fit in with the Eagles, how much it means to help the Eagles get a win down in Atlanta this weekend, and what he would say to the Falcons fans that felt like he let tem down.
One or two favorite plays when he was playing for the Falcons:
“My favorite two plays that actually happened in the game were my favorite two plays that you used to call. Definitely the run in Minnesota. That is when I ran out of the stadium and I will never forget. That was 585. I will never forget that coach. Another great play that I always liked when you called was the 38 39 Quarterback Crack which I thought at the time was very innovative. You used to get me out over the edge and I picked up a lot of yards and a lot of key first downs. We was very efficient in third down in the redzone running that play. That was my favorite play and the run against Minnesota is the one that I always remember vividly.”
On another play in Minnesota where he forgot to hand the ball off and just followed the running backs:
“That was a great play coach. I almost forgot about that one. I think I actually rushed 170 yards in that game and we was just doing a little bit of everything mixing it up. Yeah Bob (Christensen) kind of got out too fast and I missed the handoff and I was able to just improvise and make a play. That is what we did that year. We had a great time that year and I will never forget as they year went on we progressed and got better and better and we was able to build on our relationship and just make the most of that season.”
On beating the Green BayPackers in Lambeau in the playoffs for their first home playoff loss:
“I will never forget that game because we came out and started fast. You taught us to start out fast and getting out there against the opposition. We came out there and marched right down the field and I will never forget I hit Shawn Jefferson for a touchdown pass. I remember the concept I don’t remember the name of the play but it was just a great game all the way around. We was optimistic going in and we had a chance to win the game but we also knew the prestige of Lambeau Stadium and nobody never going down there and winning in Lambeau Field. That is one that I will never forget and everywhere I go I always hear about that game.”
On how he has fit in with the Eagles:
“The entire team has been receptive from the moment I walked into the building. Donovan has made it very comfortable for me to come in and be very relaxed. I just try to do as much as I can without stepping out of my boundaries and just make sure that I am ready if the opportunity knocks or something happens and I can go in there and kind of play relief pitcher of Donovan. They have made it very comfortable for me being here. I have enjoyed it. I have learned a lot of different terminology but I have been in the West Coast system before but it is kind of a different version here. It has been a great experience and I have enjoyed this year just as much as any other year.”
On how much it means to help the Eagles get a win down in Atlanta this weekend:
“You know it would mean the world to me to go out there and contribute and make some plays. Being in a better environment in a stadium that I once played every home game that I suited up for and now being the opposition on the opposite end it would be great to go out there and have some success and to ultimately win the football game.”
Whether he thinks he has it back yet:
“Yeah I think I have got it back. I just think this offseason I have to train as hard as I ever have before. I never spent a lot of time training but I know how beneficial it is going to be for me and what type of shape I will be in once I do go through a rigorous training workout. You know I am excited because everyday that I come in that is my opportunity to play in the game in practice. I know I got to get better each and everyday. I know I have shaken the cobwebs off. I haven’t had a chance to play as much as I wanted to but my game is in practice and I practice as hard as I can every day. The same type of movements I would make in a game I try each and every day. I try to mock that whenever I am on the practice field and just try to simulate like it is a game.”
On his recent comments that Atlanta is still his town:
“The city of Atlanta was always supportive and I lived there for six years and Coach Reeves drafted me there and it became my home. I fell in love with the city and I fell in love with the people and that is why I always say Atlanta is always going to be my second home away from home. I still feel like that is my city and I can’t wait to come back. So hopefully I will be embraced. You never know. You have to expect the worse and hope for the best but I still love all my fans that I have down there.”
On what he would say to the Falcons fans that felt like he let them down:
“You know I totally understand because not only was it a let down to all my fans and the people in the city of Atlanta it was also a big letdown for myself and that is something that I have to deal with everyday. There is not a day that goes by more so leading up to the game this week that I sit back and say man I was once the man in that stadium. That was my city. My team and I am playing a totally different role right now. I understand the hurt. I understand many people being upset and feeling let down because I feel it myself. You can forgive but you can never forget and that is what I hope the majority of the people feel and that is what they do. The only thing I can say is that I am sorry. I wish I could it a different way. If I would have known better I would have done better. I just look forward to resurrecting myself and turning this whole thing around for the better. I feel like they have got a good quarterback in Matt Ryan. They are doing a good job so you got to just keep believing and keep trusting him.”
Tags: #7, 18 months in prison, Arthur Blank, Atlanta Falcons, Dan Reeves, dogfighting charges, How will Atlanta react towards Vick?, Matt Ryan, Michael Vick, Mike Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, Vick let down the city of Atlanta, Vick returns to Atlanta
