Michael Vick Announces Retirement After Not Playing The Entire 2016 Season

In 2001 the Atlanta Falcons selected a Virginia Tech Quarterback by the name Michael Vick. They knew they were getting an explosive playmaker with loads of potential. What they didn’t know was the rollercoaster ride that was going to ensue over the course of Vick’s career. 

Vick recently announced he was retiring from the National Football League after he spent the 2016 season without a contract. How did Vick end up retiring team-less after being someone who should have been a franchise QB?

When Vick played his first full season as the Atlanta Falcons starting QB he threw for almost 3,000 yards and 16 touchdowns. Vick led the Falcons into the playoffs that year, using his superhuman speed. The NFL had seen Quarterbacks scramble and even run a bit before, but nothing like this. Vick rushed for 777 yards that year, (He also wore the number 7, lucky?). 

To put that stat into perspective he finished 28th in rushing yards that year—there are only 32 starting running backs in the NFL. Vick spent 5 years playing for the Atlanta Falcons, and in his final season with Atlanta he ran for over 1,000 yards becoming the first QB to do so. This is the position that is supposed to throw the ball. The Falcons had their guy, a pro bowler and star. The #7 jerseys were flying off shelves and Vick was doing TV spots.

All of this for Vick, and the Atlanta Falcons came to a screeching halt. News broke of Vick’s involvement in a dog fighting ring. This led to his indefinite suspension from the NFL (If only Goodell cared as much about domestic violence as animal violence, right?)  as well as release from the Falcons. Vick pleaded guilty and stated in court, "I'm willing to deal with the consequences and accept responsibility for my actions." He was then sentenced to 23 months in prison. Vick was released after serving only 18 of those months for good behavior. 

If a jail’s purpose is to truly rehabilitate, then consider Mike Vick the poster child. In 2009 he was reinstated and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. The move was not a popular one, as it was met with anger and protest.  Vick was brought in to back up starter Donovan McNabb. What is the old saying time winning heals all wounds? McNabb was traded in 2010, and Vick would now start in Philadelphia. Fans had mixed reactions. Vick led the Eagles to the playoffs twice in his time there, once with coach Andy Reid and then again with coach Chip Kelly.

After his time in Philly he bounced around to the Jets and Steelers as a backup. Vick’s career is ending as the story follows all too often, one where the game chose to leave him instead of him leaving the game. Time after time an explosive, talented all-star makes a splash in the league only to fade out into obscurity. Unfortunately for Vick his legacy will go down in history for all the wrong reasons. We should not forget what Vick did, or discount it because of his football talent, but we should not forget his time served as well and what it took for him to get back to the game he loved.