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Vick wasn't worth the risk
Sunday, August 16, 2009
By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
[url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09228/991034-87.stm"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09228/991034-87.stm[/url]
Right until the end, to the minute that Michael Vick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday night, there was widespread national media speculation that he could be headed to the Steelers. How does this happen? Do that many people not do their homework?
There's a very good reason that the Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette -- who wasn't fooled for one second by the absurdity of Vick potentially signing here -- wrote on these pages Aug. 2 when first addressing the topic: "Dan Rooney may reside in Ireland, but he has not lost his mind."
There was no way the Steelers were going to touch Vick.
Not one person in the organization -- from Rooney, the chairman emeritus, on down -- thought he was worth the risk.
So why the speculation?
The Rooneys deserve part of the blame. They long have had a policy of not discussing any potential players in the media, refusing to confirm or deny anything. They just don't believe it's good business to conduct their matters in public.
Coach Mike Tomlin had no problem falling in line, especially in this case. He and Vick have the same hometown -- Newport News, Va., -- which surely contributed to the speculation of Vick coming here, as did Tomlin's friendship with former NFL coach/Vick mentor Tony Dungy. But Tomlin didn't tap-dance around the Vick questions and consistently say he wouldn't rule out signing anyone because he thought he might want Vick on his team. He did it as a favor to Vick, to not appear as if he was endorsing an NFL-ban of Vick the way a lot of other teams, owners and coaches all but did.
The national media should have been smart enough to pick that up.
Really, doesn't common sense have to trump all?
There never was going to be a place for Vick with the Steelers.
The easiest thing to say is that Vick wouldn't have fit here because the Rooneys just aren't into convicted felons. They always have tried to eliminate distractions for their team, not bring 'em on. It's not as if they can eliminate the distraction caused by the civil lawsuit against Ben Roethlisberger over an alleged sexual assault incident in Nevada. But they sure as heck didn't consider bringing in Vick and alienating a large portion of their fan base, who would look at him and see not a talented athlete but a brutal, heartless dog murderer.
Good luck to the Eagles dealing with that.
But this goes well beyond Rooney morality. For one, the Steelers don't need Vick. For another, there's no guarantee Vick still can play.
The great Roethlisberger is set as their quarterback for years to come. What role would Vick play? The Steelers aren't a gimmick team and aren't likely to go to a wildcat offense any time soon. Even if they did, they have third-string quarterback Dennis Dixon to perform those duties.
Who knows how effective Vick will be after missing the past two seasons while serving prison time for his role in a dog-fighting operation? He wasn't so hot as a quarterback even before he went away. He was a 53.8 percent passer with the Atlanta Falcons and had a 75.7 rating. Roethlisberger's numbers are 62.4 and 89.4 for comparison sake. Vick led his team to two playoffs in his six seasons. I probably don't have to tell you that Roethlisberger led his to two Super Bowl championships in five seasons.
Then, there is the issue of how Vick would be accepted by his new Steelers teammates. I suspect most would welcome him -- at least superficially -- just as most of the Eagles will. Remember, these guys are all card-carrying union brothers. Even the dog lovers on any team will tell you a man deserves a second chance after he pays his debt to society.
But what about the potential impact Vick would have on Big Ben? I'm not talking about the uneasiness that might ensue at the first quarterbacks meeting when Roethlisberger starts talking about buying police dogs for another law enforcement agency. Wouldn't that be priceless to see? No, I'm talking big picture here: How would Roethlisberger like having Vick behind him? Not a lot, I'm guessing.
In Philadelphia, quarterback Donovan McNabb has endorsed the Vick signing but already is starting to hear that this is the beginning of the end of him with the Eagles. We'll see how long he likes having Vick around. Roethlisberger doesn't need that. Not when he has so many other things on his mind these days besides football.
What Vick might bring to the Steelers just wasn't worth what he might do to the team.
The Rooneys and Tomlin knew that all along.
Those who know the Rooneys and Tomlin knew it all along.
Shame on many in the national media for being so obtuse.
Read more: [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09228/991034-87.stm#ixzz0OPndswBK"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09228/99 ... z0OPndswBK[/url]
Sunday, August 16, 2009
By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
[url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09228/991034-87.stm"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09228/991034-87.stm[/url]
Right until the end, to the minute that Michael Vick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday night, there was widespread national media speculation that he could be headed to the Steelers. How does this happen? Do that many people not do their homework?
There's a very good reason that the Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette -- who wasn't fooled for one second by the absurdity of Vick potentially signing here -- wrote on these pages Aug. 2 when first addressing the topic: "Dan Rooney may reside in Ireland, but he has not lost his mind."
There was no way the Steelers were going to touch Vick.
Not one person in the organization -- from Rooney, the chairman emeritus, on down -- thought he was worth the risk.
So why the speculation?
The Rooneys deserve part of the blame. They long have had a policy of not discussing any potential players in the media, refusing to confirm or deny anything. They just don't believe it's good business to conduct their matters in public.
Coach Mike Tomlin had no problem falling in line, especially in this case. He and Vick have the same hometown -- Newport News, Va., -- which surely contributed to the speculation of Vick coming here, as did Tomlin's friendship with former NFL coach/Vick mentor Tony Dungy. But Tomlin didn't tap-dance around the Vick questions and consistently say he wouldn't rule out signing anyone because he thought he might want Vick on his team. He did it as a favor to Vick, to not appear as if he was endorsing an NFL-ban of Vick the way a lot of other teams, owners and coaches all but did.
The national media should have been smart enough to pick that up.
Really, doesn't common sense have to trump all?
There never was going to be a place for Vick with the Steelers.
The easiest thing to say is that Vick wouldn't have fit here because the Rooneys just aren't into convicted felons. They always have tried to eliminate distractions for their team, not bring 'em on. It's not as if they can eliminate the distraction caused by the civil lawsuit against Ben Roethlisberger over an alleged sexual assault incident in Nevada. But they sure as heck didn't consider bringing in Vick and alienating a large portion of their fan base, who would look at him and see not a talented athlete but a brutal, heartless dog murderer.
Good luck to the Eagles dealing with that.
But this goes well beyond Rooney morality. For one, the Steelers don't need Vick. For another, there's no guarantee Vick still can play.
The great Roethlisberger is set as their quarterback for years to come. What role would Vick play? The Steelers aren't a gimmick team and aren't likely to go to a wildcat offense any time soon. Even if they did, they have third-string quarterback Dennis Dixon to perform those duties.
Who knows how effective Vick will be after missing the past two seasons while serving prison time for his role in a dog-fighting operation? He wasn't so hot as a quarterback even before he went away. He was a 53.8 percent passer with the Atlanta Falcons and had a 75.7 rating. Roethlisberger's numbers are 62.4 and 89.4 for comparison sake. Vick led his team to two playoffs in his six seasons. I probably don't have to tell you that Roethlisberger led his to two Super Bowl championships in five seasons.
Then, there is the issue of how Vick would be accepted by his new Steelers teammates. I suspect most would welcome him -- at least superficially -- just as most of the Eagles will. Remember, these guys are all card-carrying union brothers. Even the dog lovers on any team will tell you a man deserves a second chance after he pays his debt to society.
But what about the potential impact Vick would have on Big Ben? I'm not talking about the uneasiness that might ensue at the first quarterbacks meeting when Roethlisberger starts talking about buying police dogs for another law enforcement agency. Wouldn't that be priceless to see? No, I'm talking big picture here: How would Roethlisberger like having Vick behind him? Not a lot, I'm guessing.
In Philadelphia, quarterback Donovan McNabb has endorsed the Vick signing but already is starting to hear that this is the beginning of the end of him with the Eagles. We'll see how long he likes having Vick around. Roethlisberger doesn't need that. Not when he has so many other things on his mind these days besides football.
What Vick might bring to the Steelers just wasn't worth what he might do to the team.
The Rooneys and Tomlin knew that all along.
Those who know the Rooneys and Tomlin knew it all along.
Shame on many in the national media for being so obtuse.
Read more: [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09228/991034-87.stm#ixzz0OPndswBK"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09228/99 ... z0OPndswBK[/url]
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