When in the World Is Michael Vick Going To San Diego?

Just briefly, silence the outrage.

Clear the mind and be open, it's one of the great human virtues.

Ready?

Consider Michael Vick in a San Diego Chargers uniform.

Slow down now—just talking football.

Think of him sprinting downfield and outrunning defenses on a deep route. Imagine him taking a pitch from Philip Rivers on a sweep. See him get the ball on a reverse and loft a pass downfield to any receiver—take your pick.

But while we're dreaming, how about LT who snuck out of the backfield?

And lest we forget the obvious: picture Vick with Bolts flashing from his hardhat, taking the direct snap and options unfolding at the line of scrimmage as part of the Wildcat.

Why not a pass to Rivers, who shifted to flanker? The guy's gotta get credit for at least one career reception on the back of his trading card, doesn't he?

It's all there. One of the NFL's most entertaining offensive franchises could add one of the sport's most entertaining offensive players.

Do the Chargers need him? Probably not.

Could they use him? Sure, who doesn't want to add more firepower? And for a team that is looking for ways to increase its number of plays, Vick would provide plenty of options.

Forget, too, what you've thought of Vick as a player in the past. His days as a quarterback are gone, as distant as his clean criminal record.

Even when he was leading the Falcons to the NFC Championship in 2005, Vick was equal parts flashy and frustrating as coordinators and their linemen could never be certain if he'd follow the play or freelance, whether he'd be in the pocket or on the other side of the field.

No, when Vick returns to the NFL, his position will be listed simply as ATH.

And that is really the way it should be.

Anyone who has had the pleasure of seeing Mike Vick play ball are well aware there have been few players that have been as fun to watch. He is the type of player for whom the game of football is really intended and not the 11 on 11, highly-specialized version that is seen on Sundays.

Vick is the embodiment of pure, down-and-out to the station wagon, slant to the tree, button-hook at the manhole cover, go-long-and-I'll-hit-you football.

But in these days of the highly-scripted game plan, that style of player leads to a multitude of problems if he is also the signal caller.

Make him one of the options, and he is an offensive weapon of immeasurable versatility and a veritable nightmare for the defense and its coordinator.

He would be a morph of Kordell Stewart and Antwaan Randle El but infinitely better. Chargers fans might recall hybrid types like Ronnie Harmon or Gary Anderson or Eric Metcalf. None would be in Vick's class.

Again, setting aside the outrage and also the variable of whether the Chargers would pursue Vick at all (they likely will not) the two main issues confronting the 29-year-old are conditioning and eligibility.

First, it's important to consider his age. He's 29, not 35, so there are plenty of football years left in that body. This isn't Brett Favre trying to see if he can coax another pass from a soon-to-be 40-year-old arm.

Has he been enduring the rigors of NFL-caliber training while serving 23-months in jail? No. But in the 60 days (which ended Monday) that he spent in home confinement to complete the sentence, Vick reportedly has worked out with a performance trainer.

The guy has been playing the game his entire life and just two years ago, was still one of football's most athletic players. He'll be able to get in shape.

But the bigger issue will be whether or not he'll be cleared for employment, and that decision is left solely to the discretion of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Multiple sources have reported that Goodell is considering a four-game suspension. Vick has already been released by the Falcons, so upon reinstatement, Vick would be an available free agent.

Goodell has stated he is looking for remorse from Vick, and an evidence of change from the man who was sent to prison on a dogfighting conviction.

Not only for his professional career, but for his own inner peace, Vick should demonstrate genuine remorse for such a horrible and brutal activity.

Recent reports that Vick engaged in dogfighting possibly as young as eight years old, and visited a strip club this week as soon as his ankle monitor was removed, don't help. Though the strip club visit has since been denied by Vick.

But if Goodell is truly convinced, Vick will be reinstated, and he should be. The man paid his debt to society both physically and financially. It is time to let him move on.

Some don't want him on the field at all, but the league has allowed worse transgressors.

There will also be plenty of critics that will say Vick has been out of game-speed action too long, and NFL playbooks are too complicated.

I don't buy it.

The guy has plenty left in the tank and will contribute mightily to the team with just a modicum of imagination.

Think Bill Belichick couldn't find a spot for him?

Whaddya say, Norv?

Let the outrage begin.