No NFL For Vick This Season

Whether he likes it or not, it seems less likely that Michael Vick will begin his second stint in the NFL during the 2009-2010 season.

Vick, who was recently released from federal penitentiary for participating in a dogfighting enterprise, has been under suspension by the NFL since August 24^th, 2007.

The word on the street is NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will suspend the former Atlanta Falcon star at least through the first four games of the regular season.

However, Vick could receive a conditional reinstatement into the league. This would allow him to attend training camp if a team did sign him. This is the only window Vick really has as far as getting a chance to show what he still has.

The best scenario for Vick is to play in the United Football League. Its inaugural season starts in October and finishes Thanksgiving weekend. Once the UFL is over, players are allowed to sign with an NFL team.

Vick has been training with Tom Shaw to try and get himself back into football condition. He has not played a game in two years.

On June 12 the Falcons released Vick and his rights are now with the UFL’s Orlando team. Orlando’s head coach is former Saints coach Jim Haslett. Haslett certainly knows Vick after playing against twice a year in the NFL when both were still in the league.

This could be fate working in Vick’s favor after two years of perhaps, the worst last two years of his life.

But, before Vick can even approach the UFL about playing for them, UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue has not given him permission to sign with the league. It seems Huyghue is waiting to see what Goodell does, and if there are any NFL who are seriously considering signing Vick.

If I were Vick, I would focus on getting an opportunity to play in the UFL. This way he could show the NFL that he has not lost skills, probably get much more playing time sooner rather than later, and become the star he once was.

Vick would be the UFL’s most talked about player. It is almost as if this league was destined to open at the same time his time in prison was up. Right?

The NFL will be their next year and the next year, and so on. He has to be realistic and know that jumping right back into the NFL would not be his best move.

I just hope that he has the right people around him now.