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NFL Twitter universe is abuzz about the Michael Vick press conference, at which the new Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback met the press, got the full support of coach Andy Reid and mentor Tony Dungy, and got an earful of criticism from Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie.Your questions and comments, and my responses, for our NFL Twitter mailbag are below.
MortChristenson: It always IS about his gratification.
A lot of people picked up on Vick's very first comment at the press conference, in which he said, "First off, I'd like to express my gratification to Jeff Lurie and coach Andy Reid for making me a part of this organization."
In fact, so many people picked up on that opening sentence that the most-searched term on Google Friday afternoon was "Michael Vick press conference," and the second-most-searched term was "gratification." I wouldn't read too much into it, though; I think his media handlers probably told him he should express his gratitude, and he just used the wrong word.
Econbehemoth18: Dude, animals go through way worse at slaughterhouses. As a vegetarian, I gotta say, Michael Vick is no worse than most people.
It's been interesting to me to hear how many vegetarians and people in the animal-rights community think we, as a society, are overreacting to the Vick story while underreacting to animal cruelty that goes on all around us, every day. I confess that animal rights isn't an issue I'm knowledgeable enough about to have a firmly held opinion, but I know you're not alone in saying that.
PJHarrison: There are ex cons that can't get a job at Mc D's & he gets another shot in the NFL. God Bless America!
A fair point, but those ex-cons who can't get a job at McDonald's don't have the skills that Michael Vick has. This isn't about the Eagles giving Vick another chance, it's about the Eagles adding a player they think can help their team.
brent_rogers: They act like he confessed or something. It's all bull to get his job back. What's he gonna do walk dogs at the humane society?
Well, he did confess when he pleaded guilty and acknowledged that he killed dogs and ran a dog fighting ring. But I take your point that he only confessed after he got caught, and even then he spent a few months claiming it was his cousin who was running the dog fighting ring before finally showing some semblance of remorse.
As to the question, he's not going to walk dogs for the Humane Society, but Vick is going to speak out against dog fighting and tell kids why they shouldn't do it. I understand why many people think such work is too little, too late, but Vick is at least going to try to do something positive in all this.
DuvalRyda: I knew I had a Vick hater that I was following. Well not anymore. You and PETA can eat a d**k!
I'm sorry I've lost you as a Twitter follower, but I'm not sure what makes you think I'm a Vick hater. I think Vick has done some terrible things (and I also think he was always overrated as a quarterback), but I don't object to him getting another chance in the NFL.
dazzington: Why is the owner going in on Vick like that?
The most shocking part of the whole press conference, to me, was the way Lurie piled on Vick, calling his actions "despicable" and "horrendous" and "horrific" and saying, "I don't even have words to describe cruelty, torture, and complete disregard for common decency" before adding that he thinks Vick ought to feel "self-hatred" for what he did. I think Lurie wants to make it very clear to animal lovers everywhere that he wrestled with this decision. I think he also wants to make it clear that he's trusting Andy Reid's opinion that Vick can make the Eagles a better football team -- and he'll hold Reid accountable if things don't turn out that way.
WatchKalibRun: Vick is for '10? His deal is $1.6 million in '09 with a $5.2 million option in '10
This was in reply to my tweet saying the signing of Vick was more about 2009 than about 2010. As I look at this from purely a football perspective, I don't think there's much chance of Vick being ready to contribute on the field in 2009. But I think the Eagles gave him a 2009 salary that they can easily fit under the 2009 cap, and that in 2009 they'll just get a feel for whether Vick seems like he still has talent and is ready to handle himself the right way off the field.
If he does seem like he's on the right track, the Eagles will decide whether they think he can be a real contributor in 2010. If he can, they'll keep him around, and in the NFL, a $5.2 million salary isn't really exorbitant. I think he's more likely to help the Eagles win games in 2010 than he is in 2009.
Want to be part of our next NFL Twitter mailbag? Post a question or comment on Twitter.com, and be sure to start it with @MichaelDavSmith.
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