Ah, Michael Vick. The troubled young (not so young any more) Quarterback from Southern Virginia, taken with the 1st overall pick of the 2001 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons, once predicted to fully revolutionise the position. Yeah…..that didn’t happen.
The ‘revolutionary’ aspect of Vicks game is that he can run. Really fast. In fact, he is the first and as yet only QB in NFL history to rush for 1000 yards in a season. His escapability in the pocket is second to none, and he has possibly the strongest arm in the NFL. So why did he only just last weekend start his first game in nearly 4 years?
Yeah....
Just before the beginning of the 2007 season, Vick was arrested and jailed for his involvment in the ‘Bad Newz Kennels’ dog-fighting operation. Vick was one of the major financiers of the project, and was also involved physically in putting down injured or underperforming animals.
Following his release in early 2009, Vick was conditionally reinstated by the NFL, allowing him to play in games from Week 3 of the 2009 season. Vick was signed by the Eagles shortly after his release from house arrest, and this is where we pick up the story today.
After a season as the 3rd QB behind Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb, Vick has now got his chance to start for the Eagles, with McNabb traded away to the Redskins and Kolb (now the starter) out with a concussion.
After a solid outing last week, Andy Reid has named Vick the full-time starter for the time being, rather ruining this post. See, what it was going to be about was why Reid should start Vick, but won’t. How very rude of him. So, I’m going to do what any good sports writer does in this situation: Write about what I know.
Today’s Jets/Dolphins game is so even, it’s unreal. Just look at the stats from the first 2 games of the season: Both teams have passed for exactly the same amount of yards, with the Dolphins having rushed for 10 more rushing yards, but the Jets having 1 more TD.
And on the defensive side of the field, the Jets are better at defending the run by 50 yards/game, but the Dolphins are better at defending the pass by the same amount of yards.
Confidence doesn’t come into it either, with both teams on a massive high, the Dolphins for being 2-0, and the Jets for soundly beating the Patriots at home in Mark Sanchez’s best performance as a pro.
Home field advantage? Normally, I’d have to give it to the Dolphins based on this fact, but there are so many Jets fans in Florida that it’s more like a neutral game.
I can’t help feel it’s going to come down to injuries. That one big injury: Darrelle Revis. Now, Cromartie played very well in Revis’s absence last week against the Pats, but this week the Dolphins will have game-planned for him. Also, Cromartie will most likey be matched up against Brandon Marshall, a player he hasn’t had great experiences with in the past. All I know is, it should be a great, very close game. (inb4 40-6 victory)
So, my predictions for tonight’s games:
Tennessee @ New York Giants
Cincinnatti @ Carolina
Pittsburgh @ Tampa Bay
Buffalo @ New England
Cleveland @ Baltimore
San Francisco @ Kansas City
Dallas @ Houston
Detroit @ Minnesota
Atlanta @ New Orleans
Washington @ St. Louis
Philadelphia @ Jacksonville
Indianapolis @ Denver
Oakland @ Arizona
San Diego @ Seattle
New York Jets @ Miami
Green Bay @ Chicago
Right, finished. And with 10 minutes to go. See you all next time. Well, not see you, but…
