Atlanta Falcons Avoid Costly Injuries, Vick Out for Denver

They say football is a game of inches.

It's also a game of injuries. In the NFL, one injury to a key player can cause upheaval to a team's depth chart and ultimately its won-loss record.

Falcons fans know this all too well. In 2003, a  broken leg kept Michael Vick out for 11 games. Once he returned, Atlanta was on their way to a disappointing 5-11 season.

Finding themselves on the right side of the injury bug is one of the reasons for the Falcons' success this year.

They currently have three players on the injured reserve list: third-string, rookie running back Thomas Brown, tackle Pat McCoy, and free-agent signee corner back Von Hutchins.

Of the three, Hutchins is the only player expected to have a significant impact at the start of the season (but with the Week 11 release of return man Adam Jennings, one can't help but believe Brown would have been a help on special teams). Signed as a free-agent, Hutchins was expected to compete for the starting corner back spot, opposite Chris Houston.

His injury at the first practice of training camp led to Brent Grimes' insertion into the starting lineup and the eventual trade with the Denver Broncos for talented corner back Domonique Foxworth.

Grimes has missed the last two games, but that's created an opportunity for Foxworth and rookie Chevis Jackson, both of whom had good games against New Orleans last Sunday.

Starting rookie left tackle Sam Baker has missed a few games after back surgery and is not expected to play against the Broncos. The Falcons are thin along the offensive line but have played well of late. However, another injury here and quarterback Matt Ryan may find himself looking at a lot more grass.

The Cincinnati Bengals currently have eight players on IR. Thus, the injury-won/loss correlation is complete: The Bengals are 1-8 on the season.

Kicker Jason Elam, Grimes, and defensive tackle Grady Jackson are listed as questionable for Sunday's game. Baker is still out and backup defensive tackle Kindal Moorehead is doubtful.

Oddly enough, Vick is still listed on the injury report. His status for this week? You guessed it: Out.

Speaking of Vick...

The one-time highest paid player in the NFL, still serving a 23-month prison sentence, not only wants to return to the NFL, but "expects" to.

A statement, filed by Vick's attorneys before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Norfolk, VA, stated that Vick "has every reason to believe that upon his release, he will be reinstated into the NFL, resume his career and be able to earn a substantial living."

If, and that's a big if, Vick is reinstated into the league and finds a team willing to take on the quarterback and his baggage, I'll venture to guess that the salary he earns will be substantial by my terms, but not the terms Vick once knew.

The statement outlines expected NFL earnings and potential signing bonuses that would enable the former Falcons quarterback to pay back the $20.4 million in financial liabilities.

Needless to say, the hill Vick must climb to return to living a normal, every day life is steep. Not only is he serving his federal sentence, he still must face two state felony counts. Once that's in his rear view mirror and assuming Commissioner Goodell allows him to return to the NFL, a team must step to the plate to take the Vick-risk.

Once all that happens, the former face of the NFL must hope he has not left all his skills in Leavenworth, KS.