It began as all things begin: with doubt. When the Falcons selected Virginia Tech's Michael Vick with the first overall pick of the 2001 NFL Draft they were adding a slight question-mark to their roster; a baller with freakish speed and the ability to break open games with his intangibles. His passing, however, left one wanting: In his short tenure at Virginia Tech he just barely accumulated more passing touchdowns than rushing (21 to 17, respectively) a stat perhaps hidden by the unique brand of football they play down in Blacksburg. Indeed, his style of play seemed a match for the philosophy employed by his alma mater's head coach Frank Beamer, him of Beamer-ball notoriety. The uncertainty lay in his ability to morph from an electrifying college athlete into a proficient professional passer.
It's well-known that the defensive backs in the NFL are a different kind of football player than those stared down by NCAA quarterbacks playing in pro-systems. They possess another level of speed, not to mention a kind of savvy, a saltiness not quite yet obtained by their on-campus counterparts. The same goes for pro linebackers, whose intelligence, size, and quickness can make a young passer's transition difficult.
Perhaps, during his first stint in the NFL, Vick was able to prove doubters right. While his agility and elusiveness proved helpful when dealing with an oncoming rush, he seemed gun shy dropping back in the pocket or too trigger happy to tuck the ball under his arm and run. Who would have known that Roddy White, then a recipient of passes from Michael Vick, was the Pro-Bowl caliber receiver he is today while running routes for Matt Ryan?
This is not to deny the fact that he was a phenomenal talent and a hell of a lot of fun to watch. He did lead his former team to the NFC Championship. He does hold several single-game and -season records, including most rushing yards by a quarterback in a game (173) and in a season (1, 039.) He was also, allegedly, the highest paid player in the NFL with a reported one-time annual salary (including endorsements) of $25.4 million.
What happens next is well-documented in the annals of NFL history. The dogfighting charges in 2007 and the way Michael Vick was run out of the game, disgraced and, eventually, imprisoned; the face of a franchise relegated to a cautionary tale and jail cell. There were large amounts of doubt surrounding his return, and speculation regarding wether or not he would ever be able to dazzle crowds on the gridiron again.
Watching Vick on Monday Night, however, all doubt has been erased. He didn't only make plays with is feet, but stood tall in the pocket, poised as he went through his checkdowns. His arm - that arm!- looked strong and accurate, tossing an 88-yard touchdown with a flick of his wrist on the first play from scrimmage. When the pocket collapsed he would flush to one side or the other, eyes downfield and, taking what the defense was giving him, would allow a play to develop through his ability to extend. It is worth noting that during this performance he surpassed Steve Young for second all-time rushing yards by a quarterback, given that it seemed Young himself was playing in green and white. The former Forty-Niner and current Hall-of-Famer later admitted that he couldn't come up with any ideas on how to slow down Number 7 for Philadelphia.
Which leads us to this: Is it safe to say that Michael Vick is back?
No doubt a tricky question, one posed by a writer who previously lambasted Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh faithful for a standing ovation after a return from suspension for (alleged) sexual assault. Just how much of a connection is there between the mental maturation we've seen from Michael Vick on the field and the growth of the person off the field? A philandering golf legend demonstrated to the public that idyllic appearances can be just that, and speculation can prove dangerous. Not enough time has passed to absolve Vick of what he did just yet. The crimes were heinous and inhumane, and only history will really be able to tell us then what we want to know now, which is: Is Michael Vick really the Second Coming of Steve Young, clamoring with his teammates in a huddle, asking them to get this monkey off his back? Or is he held down by a more serious thing, one with claws and teeth that have sunk into his skin and caught hold of him? After watching his historic performance Monday Night one hopes it's the former, and that one day we can spell redemption V-I-C-K, standing in the bleachers and shouting it down to the field. Today, however, it's important to bite our tongues and wait until he proves us wrong, all the while enjoying the show he's putting on for us.
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