Rome Take - 9/22/10

Andy Reid Flip Flops

Andy Reid’s flip-flop on his quarterback may be stunning, but his decision’s not. Stunning, because Reid had reiterated just a day earlier than Kevin Kolb was his starter. Something he shouldn’t have done. His mistake is not giving the ball to Michael Vick now, but rather in continuing to say Kevin Kolb was his starter. He shouldn’t have done that. But, starting Michael Vick over Kolb is the right call.

I’ve never understood this notion that guys can’t lose their job to injury. Why not? You go with the guy who gives you best chance to win, not the guy who was supposed to be the guy and then got his bell rung. Is there anyone anywhere, who doesn’t think Vick, who clearly has gotten his freak back, doesn’t give them a better chance to win than Kolb right now? Vick’s explosiveness has returned, he’s making much better decisions with the ball and beating people with his arm as well as his legs. For the first time ever, the guy looks like a quarterback… a quarterback who can run, as opposed to a runner who can sometimes throw. Credit to Reid for not doing what we all thought he would do, the thing he’s always done. Bad break for Kolb but this is the right call. And no, Reid has not lost Kolb because of the way he handled this.. Sure, he should have handled it better, but Kolb’s not going to Pippen Reid if and when he does come back to him. Kolb’s nice but he has three career starts: its’ not like Reid is jerking around Joe Montana in his prime. Kolb will be ready if and when Reid comes back to him. And if he can’t get beyond this, then they were wrong about him in the first place.

Pretty Good.

Marty Mornhinweg says Michael Vick looks "pretty good" in practice. Might as well slot him into the Pro Bowl right now.

Imagine That

Michael Vick, on returning to the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles:

"I think everybody deserves a second chance, I think as long as you are willing to come back and do it the right way and do the right things and that you’re committed, then I think you deserve it. But you only get one shot at a second chance, and I am conscious of that."

Shocking that the guy who desperately needs a second chance after taking a wrecking ball to his life believes in second chances. So did Vick actually change, or just learn that he's not untouchable? Tony Dungy seems to think he's changed. Does anyone else?

Broke

Remember how Michael Vick had lots of money before going to prison? Not anymore. Is it that hard to find good help?

"And then it all blew up."

Michael Vick is going to plead guilty. Here's Pat Forde on Vick's fall and Len Pasquarelli on the situation the Falcons find themselves in.

Can Vick ever come back from this? Assuming he becomes eligible to play again soon enough to be physically viable, who would want him? Teams always are looking for QBs, but Vick was debated before his legal troubles. It seems pretty unlikely that he'll ever become a good passing QB now. Who would take the risk?

One more thought: does this make Marcus the "good" brother?

"Heavyweight"

According to a confidential source of ESPN, Michael Vick is a "heavyweight" in the dog fighting world. Probably not the kind of thing thing the Falcons and the NFL wanted to hear. Can you imagine what kind of punishment he'll receive if this is all true? Do you hear that ticking? That's the final countdown on Vick's career.