Top Five Reasons the Jaguars Won't Sign Michael Vick

I've sat back for a couple of weeks now to let all of the talks about Michael Vick's situation and where he will end up come to a boil on the collective pot.

Now, it's time to clear this up once and for all—Michael Vick will not be signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Vick had one of the strongest arms in the NFL, had dazzling 4.3 speed and attracted any array of fans before the dogfighting incident. He would probably still sell seats, which Jacksonville desperately needs right now but he won't be a Jaguar.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind seeing him in a teal and black uniform with the number seven and the name Vick etched on the back, but it won't happen.

Let's dive into my five reasons why.

5. Gene Smith's Philosophy

The newly appointed GM of the Jacksonville Jaguars implemented a very strict and direct tone when he was moved up in the organization—a zero tolerance policy for bad character players.

This ultimately lead to the demise of linebacker Mike Peterson and receivers Jerry Porter, Reggie Williams, and Matt Jones.

Gene Smith made it clear that the Jags would not draft or sign any players that bring along baggage which is why players such as Plaxico Burress, Brandon Marshall, and Michael Vick, who have all been rumored at some point to be linked up with Jacksonville, have not be signed or traded for up to this point.

Smith stuck to his philosophy with the draft and he has stuck to it so far with the free agency period in the offseason. So after all of these smart decisions why would he cave in for Michael Vick?

4. Garrard Is the Future of the Franchise

David Garrard, the starting quarterback of the Jacksonville Jaguars, has taken command over this team over the past two seasons.

The Jags made a huge and surprising move two years ago when they released their starter Byron Leftwich in favor of Garrard. Why would the Jaguars give up on Garrard after just two seasons?

Garrard posted very good numbers in the 2007-2008 season in which he threw for 2,509 yards with 18 touchdowns and only three interceptions, an NFL record.

In the 2008-2009 season he had a tough time dealing with various season-ending injuries to the offensive line and lead the Jags to a disappointing 5-11 record throwing for 3,620 yards with 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, a big difference from the year prior.

The team has large expectations for him this year with a newly reconstructed offense which features new wide receivers and a rebuilt offensive line. Why would they sign Vick?

The Jaguars also gave Garrard a contract extension back in April of 2008, worth $60 million spanning over six years.

After investing this much in a guy, does it make sense to sign Vick, to create any sort of QB controversy, whether Vick is a potential starter or a backup?

3. Negative Publicity

It's a virtual certainty that whoever chooses to sign Vick will have a public relations nightmare on their hands. Trust me, I have a degree in PR.

Humane Societies all over the United States are watching the television just like we sports fans are, just waiting to see who signs Vick. The team who signs him will surely receive plenty of protests and negative publicity.

Some teams believe that PR, good or bad, helps a team but in this case I don't see how much it helps. Vick will surely help ticket sales with a respective team but he could also just as easily hurt ticket sales for a team.

Do you really want countless animal cruelty protesters at your stadium and near your practice fields when you are trying to prepare for your next opponent?

2. Suspension

Not only did Michael Vick have an indefinite suspension from the NFL and served a 23 month federal prison term, but now he faces at the very least a four game regular season suspension with the possibility of playing by week six. How does that really help a team?

NFL fans know and understand the importance of the quarterback position so coming in near the mid-point doesn't help much, especially for someone who hasn't played in over a year.

How would Vick gel with his teammates? What could the Jaguars or any team for that matter, expect Vick to bring to the table that would keep them winning consistently?

1. What Kind of Player Is Vick Now?

The player that took the league by storm with his blazing speed and rocket arm is most likely long gone. What are teams expecting to get when they sign Vick?

The Jaguars have surely thought long and hard about this and know that this could be a risky gamble. Risk losing a fan base that you are struggling to put together for a guy that hasn't proven that he is even a shell of his former self? I don't think so.

Vick was in prison for 23 months and has been out of the league even longer, not to mention he tested positive for marijuana while he was out on bail in 2007.

The Jaguars have too much riding on what they've put together to this point to fathom risking it by signing Michael Vick. The Jags have a franchise quarterback and his name is David Garrard.

So let's finally put this argument to rest guys. Vick won't be in Jacksonville anytime soon.