Yes, Michael Vick's Reinstated, But Will The NFL Blackball Him?

No matter which side of the Michael Vick fence you've stood on, his return to the NFL seemed inevitable. Even before he served his time in prison, the sports world's talking heads were debating his return to the league.

Now, with Commissioner Roger Goodell officially allowing him back with his unusual "conditional reinstatement," all signs seem to point to Vick stepping onto a NFL sidelines at some point during the 2009 season.

Yet even though he's back, no team has come calling for his services. Is it possible that no team ever will?

Despite his reinstatement, could the cabal of NFL owners "suspend" him for another year by blackballing him from the league?

Considering Barry Bonds for a moment. Bonds, since ending his time as a member of the San Francisco Giants, had stated he was seeking a new contract with another team. Yet no team ever asked for his services. Not even the Yankees, which always seem willing to bring in people like him.

Even with the allegations of steroid usage and the federal perjury case against him, Bonds could still be on the field, especially in the role of DH in the American League.  Other known steroid users—A-Rod, Tejada, Giambi, etc.—are still playing today.  Why not the all-time HR king?

But no team's inquired about his services. I believe the MLB owners collectively decided to keep Bonds out of baseball. Effectively blackballing him from the sport.

Considering the MLB's history of collusion—which has been proven in the courts—the idea of blackballing Bonds isn't shocking.

Could the NFL owners do the same in the case of Michael Vick? Surely, the owners have the power to do so, along with the plausible deniability to boot. Any owner could say, "Vick has the talent to play, sure. But it's the character issues that prevented us from signing him."

Some fans might boo a stated position such as that, but others would applaud it.

So while everything thinks Vick is back, until he's signed a contract, he's actually not. The Falcons released him prior to going to prison, making him effectively a free agent for nearly two years. 

No team has asked for his services. None called while he was under house arrest.  None have called since he's regained his freedom. Who is to say for certain any team will come calling at all this season?

Goodell's ruling may very well open the lines of communication between Vick and some suitors, since now teams know what they can expect from Michael Vick in terms of service time. But while reports say his agent has been burning up the phone lines on Vick's behalf, no team has sounded overly interested in signing him.

If no team offers Vick a contract this season, is it due to some sort of collusion or league blackballing? Or would it be because his physical ability has declined over the past two years spent in prison?  Or would it be the "character issues" tied to Vick?

Perhaps a season's suspension may still happen, albeit in a very different form.