Michael Vick: Eagles Star QB Completes Redemption with Start in Atlanta

Michael Vick has had a long road back to this moment.

He will be making his first start in the Georgia Dome since Christmas Eve in 2006.

It was not a good night for the QB; he only completed 9-of-20 passing and threw two interceptions in the Falcons' 10-3 loss to the Panthers.

It was pretty much the end of his season and, after a loss in Philadelphia in Week 17, it seemed like possibly the last game he would ever start in the NFL.

That offseason, Vick was found to be a part of an illegal dogfighting ring and sentenced to almost two years in prison.

He went bankrupt and it seemed he would never have a chance to redeem himself or play in the NFL again. The problems looked insurmountable for the once electric QB, who signed a record 10-year, $130 million contract in his prime.

But Michael Vick persevered.

He teamed up with a wonderful mentor in Tony Dungy and began to work towards putting himself back on an NFL field after prison.

The Eagles decided to take a chance on Vick and offered him an un-guaranteed one-year contract. He saw some action and it seemed like a feel-goody enough ending to his story.

But in 2010, Vick became the starter and had the best season of his career. He earned a six-year, $100 million deal with $40 million guaranteed—which should more than fix his bankruptcy problems.

Now he is going back to the Georgia Dome for the first time as a starter since that ill-fated Christmas Eve game back when he was a completely different person.

Vick is attempting to be nonchalant about the affair, but it has to be a big deal to the reformed man.

“It’s just another business trip,” Vick told 97.5 The Fanatic on Tuesday. “It’s not like I’m going to go out there and be emotional. The last game I played for Atlanta was 2006. It’s been five years and a lot has changed in my life.”

Vick also made sure to give a shout out to the City of Brotherly Love as well as his supporters in Atlanta for all they have done for him, by saying,

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I’ll always have love for the fans and appreciation for what they’ve done and what we were able to build together. But I’m a Philadelphia Eagle now. That’s what matters most. It’s about pleasing our fans and making sure that we somehow get out of there with a win.

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It’s going to be a very emotional start for Vick and I expect him to play like a man with a clear outlook on life and a full heart should.

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