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| Where does Mike Vick fit? A look at how he'd mesh with all 32 NFL teams It's been 2½ weeks since the Falcons officially cut the cord with QB Michael Vick, enabling the former face of the Atlanta franchise to sign anywhere he wants -- yes, Vick is eligible to pursue NFL employment even though he remains under indefinite league suspension for his involvement with dogfighting. So where is Vick likely to land, assuming the top pick of the 2001 draft and three-time Pro Bowler is eventually reinstated -- and several reports Monday indicate that's hardly a given -- and provided a second chance to showcase his unique skill set on an NFL gridiron? We thought we'd assess his compatibility with each NFL team. And, yes, we know several clubs have gone on the record saying they have no interest in Vick. But let's be honest, NFL personnel men have been known to reverse field in the past, especially when uber-talents are available for a song and especially when their jobs are on shaky ground. Here's how Vick clicks with each of the 32 franchises ... and we've made our assessments injury-report style for easy reading: PROBABLE A player on the injury report listed as probable is a virtual certainty to play. Sorry, nothing is close to certain about Vick's future. (We will say it seems a virtual certainty that the start-up UFL would embrace Vick if the NFL shuts him out for another season or more. Vick would likely provide the buzz and talent the new league seems likely to be largely devoid of.) QUESTIONABLE Basically a 50-50 shot to play on the injury report. We're going to skirt the coin flip thing here as it seems likely more than two clubs will pursue Vick ... -- 49ers: Mike Singletary sure has seem intrigued, hasn't he? And he wants to run the ball, doesn't he? And he still can't make himself give Shaun Hill a vote of confidence, though it would seem he's earned it, right? -- Bills: Buffalo, Terrell Owens' new employer, seems to be in a playoffs-or-bust mentality. Why not? Trent Edwards has hardly established himself as the answer under center. -- Cowboys: Like Jerry Jones has ever run from a public relations challenge. It's also easy to see Vick's talents incorporated into an offense that lacks proven receivers and would rely on Jon Kitna if Tony Romo goes down again. -- Dolphins: Former NFL coach Dennis Green seems to think this is a strong possibility. And Vick's brother, Marcus Vick, did have a cup of coffee in Miami a few years back. But the Dolphins already have a veteran (Chad Pennington), a youngster-in-waiting (Chad Henne) and a seeming "Wildcat" weapon in rookie Pat White. -- Jaguars: His lucrative 2008 contract extension aside, does everyone believe David Garrard is 100% secure here? Given the Jags' propensity to run in recent seasons, Vick would seem like a natural running mate for Maurice Jones-Drew. And for a team that suffers from a low Q rating ... well, "They" say there's no such thing as bad publicity ... -- Panthers: Jake Delhomme just signed an extension, but the intrigue remains. Vick knows the division, could supplement an already deadly running game, Delhomme can be inconsistent, and the team tanked when he went down in 2007. -- Patriots: Neither RB Corey Dillon nor WR Randy Moss, both former malcontents, were the P.R. nightmare Vick will be when he joins a new team. But New England has been known to take risks on players with character issues if they deem them fit to help the team and worthy of joining the locker room. Vick would certainly give the Pats the ultimate Wildcat combo if teamed with Tom Brady. -- Raiders: Yes, we were tempted to put them in the "Probable" category. After all, Vick fits the team's bad boy image while possessing the blazing speed and howitzer arm that Al Davis historically covets -- at least Vick had those attributes prior to his incarceration anyway. If JaMarcus Russell flames out? Vick + Darren McFadden = titillating Plan B (sorry, Jeff Garcia). -- Rams: Is Marc Bulger really the guy? If not, who is? (Kyle Boller? Come on.) Does this franchise need a shot in the arm and more tickets sold? Yes, to the latter two questions. -- Redskins: They say they're not interested. But wouldn't this be a nice redemption story for a guy who's virtually a local? Especially in the shadow of the Humane Society's headquarters? More importantly, what's the succession plan if QB Jason Campbell flops in the final year of his contract? Let's just say Todd Collins is not the long-term answer. -- Seahawks: Jim Mora has tried to take the possibility off the table. But he and offensive coordinator Greg Knapp understand Vick's abilities from their days together in Atlanta. This seems like a natural landing spot -- familiar faces for Vick in the NFL's most remote outpost -- especially if QB Matt Hasselbeck's 2008 injury woes resurface. DOUBTFUL Slim odds Vick would play with any of these clubs, but you never know if the stars align. -- Bears: They got their man in Jay Cutler. Besides, things never panned out when the team employed running QB Bobby Douglass. Fool me once, shame on me ... though we will say the depth behind Cutler is basically non-existent (like you've ever heard of Caleb Hanie or Brett Basanez). -- Bengals: The questions about Vick's character probably wouldn't dissuade Cincinnati. But Carson Palmer's return likely precludes Vick's acquisition. -- Buccaneers: They do like to collect quarterbacks in Tampa -- Vick would make a half-dozen on the roster. But the Bucs are better off devoting their time to the development of rookie Josh Freeman. -- Cardinals: Kurt Warner could certainly provide a steadying influence on and off the field. But the Cards seem set at the offensive skill positions, and Matt Leinart has been marinating behind Warner for three years now. -- Eagles: Andy Reid knew how to deploy Donovan McNabb back when he ran and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn while passing. And RB Brian Westbrook could easily reprise Warrick Dunn's role as Vick's backfield sidekick. But this only seems like a practical marriage if McNabb goes down and Kevin Kolb and A.J. Feeley are stinking up the Linc. -- Packers: Similar to the Bears, the only QB issue they seem to have is depth. And this is probably too big a sideshow to manage in such a small hamlet. -- Ravens: Joe Flacco is the man now. But a scenario where LB Ray Lewis draws on his own experiences to lure Vick and help rehabilitate his image seems hardly far-fetched. -- Texans: Their public image is maintained rather well. And Gary Kubiak's offense probably wouldn't suit Vick very well anyway. OUT Forget it, Mike. -- Broncos: Josh McDaniels has enough problems. -- Browns: Go elsewhere for the inevitable Dawg Pound joke. Let's just say Vick and Eric Mangini don't seem like bedfellows. And Cleveland has had enough bad press to cope with in Donte' Stallworth's wake. -- Chargers: They already passed on Vick once (2001 draft). And he just doesn't seem like a good fit in Norv's offense. -- Chiefs: Todd Haley will probably want to throw the ball down the field like he did in Arizona. And his time would seem better served molding his offense around incoming Matt Cassel. -- Colts: The guess here is they'd be far more comfortable turning the keys to the offense over to Jim Sorgi than Vick if Peyton Manning went down. -- Falcons: The divorce papers are still warm. -- Giants: Unless Vick can do a dead ringer for Plaxico Burress, hard to envision this working. -- Jets: Mark Sanchez has enough to do deal with. No reason to have Vick looking over his shoulder. -- Lions: Like Sanchez, Matthew Stafford already has enough pressure from without. No reason to import more from within. -- Saints: Vick is no Saint. And he hardly seems ideal for the offense if Drew Brees was suddenly unavailable. -- Steelers: Virtually impossible to foresee this buttoned-down organization inviting the circus even though Vick and head coach Mike Tomlin both hail from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. -- Titans: If the Pacman Jones debacle wasn't enough, the fact that QB Vince Young -- fairly close to a Vick facsimile on the field -- is on the roster probably precludes this scenario. -- Vikings: They're already dating an unemployed quarterback. Where does Mike Vick fit? A look at how he'd mesh with all 32 NFL teams - The Huddle - USATODAY.com |
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