Five Questions Concerning Michael Vick's Possible Return to the NFL

When Michael Vick was first sentenced to 23 months in prison for his involvement with dog fighting, many wondered whether or not the former pro bowler would ever return to the Atlanta Falcons.

After Matt Ryan was named the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year and led the team to the opening round of the playoffs this past season, it was clear the Falcons had found their new quarterback to build the franchise around.

It has been over a week since Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff announced they will part ways with Vick by attempting to trade his contract rights to a different team. There are numerous questions regarding the status of Vick's return to the NFL that we should all consider as fans of the NFL.  

5. Will Roger Goddell actually reinstate him?

Michael Vick's future in the NFL relies on the decision of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. No matter what decision Goodell makes, there will be a fair share of supporters for his decision to let Vick play again and there will be a fair share of supporters for his decision to not let him play again.

There are a number of factors that will come down to the final decision by Goodell. There is a chance that he understands Vick made a mistake and he deserves a second opportunity at redeeming his career. He has allowed other players, such as Adam "Pacman" Jones, a second chance after off the field issues with the law.

However, the possibility of allowing Vick to return to the NFL could bring a bad image to the league in general, but Goodell himself. When Vick was first questioned about his involvement with dogfighting in April 2007, he lied to Goodell and denied any involvement with the incident. It seemed like Vick only admit to the crime was because the evidence against him was too strong and there was no way to avoid it.

Vick's resume of off-the-field incidents is not one to be proud of. The dogfighting charges were not the first time, he had an incident with the law. In 2007, Vick not only tested positive for marijuana, but he was also pulled aside in an airport after a suspicious substance appeared in a water bottle in his possession. The past may be the past, but the fact is that Vick's history of troubles with the law may place a heavy influence on whether or not Goodell decides to reinstate him back in the league.

4. How will fans react to his return?

When Vick was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Falcons in 2001, he immediately became one of the most popular athletes for fans to follow. His blazing speed gave opposing defenses a headache as they attempted to figure out whether he was going to dump the ball off to one of his receivers or escape defenders on his own by running down the field.

It didn't take Vick long to establish himself as the face of the Falcon's franchise. His No. 7 jersey was always one of the most popular items to buy on the market. Even fans of opposing teams would wear his jersey because they enjoyed watching him play week after week. In January of 2003, Vick helped the Falcons make history as they became the first visiting team to ever win a playoff game against Green Bay at Lambeau Field. In 2005, he led the team to an appearance in the NFC Championship game.

With Vick at quarterback, the fans always had high hopes for the Falcons to reach the promised land each season. Whether it was ticket sales or fan apparel, the fact is people invested money into the Falcons because they loved Vick as a player.

When Vick was suspended for the 2007 season, there were mixed emotions among the fans. All of a sudden, the franchise was left without their star quarterback and were forced to settle with Joey Harrington and Byron Leftwich as replacements. Vick's talent as a quarterback had an influence on fans who purchased both season tickets and individual games (even though there is a good chance the tickets would have been purchased anyway).

The fans and members of the Falcons had high expectations for the 2007 season. There were some fans who supported Vick, claiming we should forgive him and help him learn from his mistakes. However, there were a majority of fans who felt betrayed by the athlete they had looked up to for so many years. 

With Vick, the Falcons were considered playoff contenders after finishing 7-9 the previous season. Instead, the organization and there fans were left with disappointment as Vick's suspension had an impact on the team's disappointing 4-12 record in 2007.

3. How will his new teammates react to his return?

Dimitroff has made it clear that he wants to trade the contract rights of Vick to another franchise since Matt Ryan is the new face of the Falcon's franchise. If a Vick trade actually goes through, this means he will have a fresh start with a new team. With a new team brings new teammates.

The possible reaction of Vick's new teammates is easy to compare with the way fans reacted. There were former teammates who were willing to look past Vick's dogfighting involvement and forgive him. They realized nobody is perfect in this world and that we all make mistakes that we can only learn from.

However, there are former teammates who felt betrayed by Vick and his actions. Vick not only hurt himself as an individual but as a teammate as well. Players in the locker room looked up to Vick since he was the leader of the franchise. In some games, his performance at quarterback had an impact on whether or not the Falcons won the game. There were even players who may have decided to play in Atlanta because they knew the potential with Vick at quarterback.

If Vick is reinstated and ends up with a new team, there is a good chance there will be mixed emotions in the locker room. There will be some teammates that are willing to look past everything he has done and give him a second chance. His talent may have an impact on how successful the team is that season.

Then again, there is a chance that there will be teammates who want nothing to do with Vick. They may feel offended by his involvement with dogfighting and think he doesn't deserve a second chance in the league. Either way, there will be an interesting conflict of emotions throughout the locker room if he ends up playing for a different team next season.

2. Will he be in decent shape to be able to play again?

In order to succeed in the NFL, you have to be in the best shape of your life. Most athletes spend their entire career getting their bodies in shape. They continue to keep their bodies in excellent shape on a regular basis in order to keep playing at the top level.

Two seasons have gone by since Vick was sentenced to serving 23 months in prison. In jail, there are no NFL coaches and trainers to make sure their players are staying in top shape. There is only so much Vick can do during his sentence to stay in shape. He may be playing in a league while he is there, but we all know that league is nowhere near the competition we see in the NFL.

Ricky Williams is a great example of how hard it can be for an athlete to return to a certain playing level in the NFL after taking some time off. When Williams unexpectedly retired a couple of years ago, it was a complete shock to everyone in the league. In only five seasons in the league, he established himself as one of the most dominant running backs in the league.

2008 was Williams first full season in the NFL since his shocking retirement. His numbers this season were decent (659 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns), but they are nothing compared to the Williams we saw at the beginning of his career. If he never retired, there is a good chance he would not be sharing carries with Ronnie Brown. Sitting out the 2006 season cost Williams millions of dollars and was clearly not the same player he once was in the NFL.

The situation is completely different when you compare Ricky Williams and Michael Vick. However, the two of them can relate on the same level when it comes to the shape they are in upon their return. Vick will never play at the same level he once did before his suspension. Williams was lucky enough to still be in decent shape to at least get another shot playing for the Dolphins. Whether or not Vick is reinstated and can get back in decent shape will have a major impact on the length of his return.

1. Which teams are willing to give him a chance to play?

This question will have the most interesting results. After everything that he has gone through the last two seasons, which teams are willing to take a gamble and trade for Michael Vick?

The most important fact to consider is which teams will be facing quarterback issues at the start of next season. The 49ers, Lions, Jets, and Buccaneers were rumored to show interest in Vick since all four teams are unaware of their quarterback situation for next season. However, all teams have recently stated they have no interest in signing Vick.

If these four teams are all in need of a quarterback, does passing up on a possible Vick trade make sense? If you think of it from a financial perspective, it makes perfect sense. Over the next five seasons, Vick's contract has him making around $57 million. Not to mention he will be owed more than $6 million in roster bonuses in 2009.

Trading for Vick's contract makes as much sense as Jessica Simpson's comment regarding chicken being in tuna fish (yes, sadly I watched that episode of Newlyweds). It makes no sense why any general manager would want to spend that much money on an athlete who has not played at a highly competitive level the last two seasons.

What most likely will happen is the Falcons are going to end up cutting Vick when nobody wants to trade for his contract rights. From there, a few teams will most likely be willing to give Vick a chance on their team. For all we know, he could have a major impact wherever he ends up next season.