Nine Lives: Could Michael Vick Return as Part of New England's Wildcat Offense?

I originally wasn't going to write about this topic. The rumors of a possible "Michael Vick to the Patriots" signing popped up weeks ago and were summarily quashed by just about everybody.

It seemed like an outlandish rumor started to fuel angry rants on talk radio.

But in the last few days, the topic has gained significant momentum online, in the mainstream media, and on television and radio.

Oh, NFL offseason news. You're a treat sometimes.

I don't understand it. What could the Patriots possibly gain from handing Vick a roster spot other than a gigantic personality in the locker room, a host of media scrutiny, and a huge distraction throughout the season?

But let's not look at the obvious PR implications of the team topping "most hated" lists everywhere signing a guy who is nothing but a walking PETA protest waiting to happen.

(Let's also ignore the phenomenal possibility of PETA hosting a protest in a town that has been embroiled in a bitter controversy over a dog park for the past two years. Got to love small town America!)

Strategically speaking, the signing makes no sense.

Tom Brady is among the top quarterbacks in the league. He has a host of talented, athletic receivers and is playing in an offense he understands and is very, very successful with.

I know everyone has dreams of the Wildcat, but I'm not sold Vick can even run that offense with any sort of success.

If you look at the Dolphins last year, they used the Wildcat to the greatest effect when they were able to surprise teams with it—most notably, the Patriots.

In truth, the Wildcat's greatest asset is the fact that, last season, teams simply weren't ready for it.

The NFL is a constantly changing game. Either innovate and throw a new wrinkle at a team, or you're apt to sink.

This year, teams will be expecting it.

Reading this interview with Al Groh, who says he talked with "Patriots coaches" about their struggles facing the formation last year, it seems the Patriots got a far better bead on the Dolphins and their pet formation the second time around—evidenced by their 48-28 victory at the end of November.

He says the hardest part of coaching in that first game was actually getting the players to calm down, make the plays they could, and attack on defense; that the "demystifying" quality of facing a unique offense can be far more destructive than anything the offense is actually capable of.

Everyone's in love with the Wildcat right now, to be sure, and would like to see their teams run it, but with a roster that already must be significantly pared down by opening day, the Patriots have to make every fringe spot count.

Let's break it down: There are only 45 spots on the active game roster. While teams can designate a third "emergency" quarterback who does not count against this roster, that player can't just sub in and out at will—until the fourth quarter, once he's in, he's in. So his value as a cheap backup is pretty limited if you're trying to keep him as a special weapon.

Also, Vick has never been an accurate quarterback, especially on the deep ball. His best season—his absolute best—he completed 56.4 percent of his pass attempts for just 2,313 yards.

Ah, I know your response, naysayer. You say, "Oh, well, who did Vick ever have to throw to? Alge Crumpler? Laughable."

Except for one Mr. Roddy White, who, before Matt Ryan even came to town, posted a 1,200-yard season catching balls from the illustrious Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich, and Chris Redman.

So even as a third option at QB, it's a questionable decision. You're talking about putting an inaccurate, left-handed, run-first quarterback into a system predicated on accuracy, pocket presence, and the ability to deliver the deep bomb.

Sure, Matt Cassel was a reasonably mobile quarterback, but his inability to consistently hit Randy Moss over the top of the defense was a definite flaw in the Patriots' offense last season.

Even in some sort of Wildcat offensive sub-package, you're asking an offense that has been hugely successful to abandon that proven commodity in pursuit of...what exactly?

The last time Brady had this offense in his hands, he passed the ball for nearly 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns.

Michael Vick, the quarterback, is going to better that simply because teams don't know if he or the running back is going to take the snap?

He simply doesn't mesh with what the Patriots are going to want to do consistently under center.

So, even if they took a flier on him, Vick would have to fill multiple roles. The Patriots aren't going to keep a guy in there whose only use is as a sometimes quarterback/runner who doesn't fit their system.

He'd have to work as an all-around threat as a wide receiver, third-down back, and kick returner. But even as dynamic a player as he is, the Patriots have already amassed considerable depth at their skill offensive positions.

With running backs Fred Taylor, Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis already on the roster (along with Eric Kettani, who is a very long shot to make the active roster), there's just not much room for him unless he displaces one of those guys.

At receiver, the Patriots have already added veteran receivers Joey Galloway (who is reportedly as fast as ever) and Greg Lewis to the roster, and draftees Brandon Tate (recovering from knee surgery last year but a great kick returner) and Julian Edelman (himself a WR/QB prospect) offer just as much versatility, if not quality, and likely with far fewer headaches.

It's obvious that a dynamic, athletic threat like Michael Vick would be an asset to any offense, but the Patriots are hardly in desperate need of an offensive overhaul and really have little need of a player of Vick's talents.

The Patriots have enough tough decisions to make this offseason concerning who on their roster they will have to live without before even considering a move for a guy who has more baggage than perhaps any NFL player ever.

Not going to happen.

Sorry, PETA. Everyone loves a good protest.