Most of the teams that have commented publicly on whether they have an interest in quarterback Mike Vick have indicated that, well, they don’t.
Pats coach Bill Belichick has tried to be vague, but the ensuing storm of rumors putting Mike Vick in Foxborough required the team to close the door.
The latest coach to suggest that Vick could be a member of the team is John Fox of the Panthers.
“I think we’re always having an interest in anybody who
makes us better,” Fox said Sunday, according to Steve Reed of CarolinaGrowl.com. “I don’t know, right now we’re pretty set at
quarterback, we like the guys we have, and I wouldn’t want to rule in
or rule out anything. I tell you guys that all the time. We’re always
looking to upgrade. At this point, we feel comfortable where we are.”
On the surface, it looks like the man with a history involving dogs could play with a team named for large cats, especially with Jake Delhomme being back up by Josh McCown (yuck) and Matt Moore (double yuck).
But, as Reed points out, Fox would provide that same response as to any available player.
We generally agree with the approach; why disclose any plans as to any players unless and until it’s absolutely necessary to do so?
With Vick, however, it could soon become absolutely necessary to do so, if Monday brings a rash of rumors that Vick was spotted in Charlotte or Spartanburg or somewhere in between.
Well, there’s only one way for the Panthers to guarantee he won’t beat them like he did with the Falcons.
Josh Mccown Yuck? He’s a decent back up qb.
He has a better winning % @ Arizona than Kurt Warner does in Arizona.
Sad but true.
As soon as one team shows their balls by making public that they are legitimately interested in Vick, another one or two teams will step forward with interest as well. Every team is concerned about being the trailblazer in pursuing him.
The arm strength of Jake Delhomme has been pretty good since he had that Tommy Gun surgery 2 years ago. So good he completed 6 passes………. to the opposition……….. in his most recent game. But the head geniuses over there give him a 5 year extension, $20 million of it guaranteed, at the age of 34 (!), as a reward. (clap, clap, clap,………………….)
“The arm strength of Jake Delhomme has been pretty good since he had that Tommy Gun surgery 2 years ago. ”
Not to mention the Apollo Creed surgery that he had on his back. I’m not even going to the Clubber Lang ankle scope…
There’s a better chance Philadelphia trades for TO and Jeff Garcia and then makes them roomates at training camp.
This just means Coach Fox doesn’t make personnel decisions, and won’t commit the front office one way or another.
BTW, what’s up with crapping all over the Panthers’ backup QBs?
The league has plenty of “yuck” backups who did pretty well once they had a chance to start: Tom Brady, Kurt Warner, Matt Cassel, David Garrard, Jeff Garcia, Marc Bulger, Shaun Hill, Matt Hasselbeck, Matt Schaub…..
Why PFT is so intent on creating a market for Mike Vick when there isn’t one is a mystery.
Here’s the #1 knock on Panther back up QB’s. There not good enough to beat out Jake Delhomme.
JMClarkent says:
August 2, 2009 11:12 PM
“The arm strength of Jake Delhomme has been pretty good since he had that Tommy Gun surgery 2 years ago. ”
Not to mention the Apollo Creed surgery that he had on his back. I’m not even going to the Clubber Lang ankle scope…
I just wanted to point out the “Ivan Drago” Lobotomy he had after the Five INT’s!
Matt Moore actually showed some promise. No, he’s probably not as good as some Carolina fans want to make it out to be, but he’s a solid backup. Josh McCown is fine as a backup. Those two guys fit their roles fine. Hunter Cantwell is a fine 4th QB to have that can probably be stashed away on the Practice Squad.
Lost amidst the whole Vick story is whether or not Vick will actually fit the offense he’s going to, outside of a gimmick role. Look, I know he could probably run the wildcat, but I highly doubt any team is going to roll the dice on him purely as a wildcat. I think the team that gambles on him will have to legitimately believe in him as a QB, and not as a gimmick. I just think it’s too big a gamble for most teams.
From what I know of the blocking schemes and style of Jeff Davidson, could Vick work? Probably, but I’m not sure Vick is the mold of QB they are looking for. You never know when a GM/coach are potentially on the hot seat, so it’s a possibility, but my hunch is that they will go with Delhomme/Moore and feel alright with it.
SaintsBucsPanthersSUKK, You are brilliant ! Yes,
Delhomme had a horrible game against AZ. Except, It was five interceptions instead of six and Delhomme’s extension was to create salary cap room. The Panther’s front office apparently doesn’t have to function at genius level to win the
NFC South.
The Falcon’s greatest claim to fame is Mike Vick and that’s one mistake the Panthers will never make………. Oh yeah, and hiring Bobby SooEeee
Patrino.
Good luck with that GREAT defense this year.
“…..being back up by Josh McCown (yuck) and Matt Moore (double yuck). ”
Matt Moore showed great potential every time he took the field especially for a rookie so, what’s the jab for?
Oh, I get it. If he’s all they got , they suck because they are the Panthers.
Agreed.
Hey, look. If the freakin’ NFL commish and their own TV network can’t sell Vick with all those hours of media time, why not let’s just point that out and find Vick a home with the Toledo Bullfrogs? That’s AFL II. Are they folding along with the AFL? How about the IFL? Is Quincy Carter still a fugitive? He was as of yesterday.
Hey, it’s pro football. And it ain’t all about one caninacidal freak from Virginia.
Vick’s off-field failings are largely and directly attributable to his entire life before being selected for and entering the NFL. That aspects of his attitudes and behavior are repugnant to many very good, decent, clear-thinking people is unfortunate; unfortunate, but irrelevant.
There will be a place for MV to play football because he is nothing short of a game-changing, electrifying football player. The process by which he has been instructed to “display remorse” is a useless exercise to keep the league in the best light possible… knowing that a healthy MV rolling out left (unless he’s picked up ambidexterousness in the hoosegow he still won’t be breaking out right anytime soon) will do wonders for certain southern franchises that could use a boost in attendance and ratings…
…one that will turn into a PR wildcard at playoff time. MV playing for the Dolphins in NE or Seattle in late season high-visibility games or even the playoffs, facing the PETA stormtroopers with their chanting and screeding. Personally, I can’t wait. Connoisseurs of this special treat will hearken to the pre-game to take stock of a dimension rarely displayed in the relative homogeneity of an NFL telecast. MV will speak. And he will say that which is anathema to some, probably out of ignorance, as other than killing house pets he doesn’t really seem to be a bad sort. There were peccadilloes of course, but who hasn’t adopted an alias here and there while seeking out-of-country treatment for one or another STD?
Ron Mexico indeed–it is to jape. It appears now that similar derelictions can leave one’s Govenership somehow viable–so really a quarterbacking gig needs to be seen from that perspective. That uniquely Virginian perspective where somehow it’s all just what we go through, and we come out wiser and more focused on what we’re here to do.
We the sports-consuming public are waiting and will not be denied our spectacle of a humiliated MV suiting up and waiting his time, enduring the catcalls, and shaking off the rust. The talent is there, and the talent is the drama. The criminal acts and the need for redemption, the rust ensuing from the time removed paying back society, and now at last the return.
To say it is delicious is metaphorically accurate but a little bit uncomfotable. To say it is exciting, interesting, fascinating, et al is to engage in understatement. Successful or not, MV’s return to the NFL will be the biggest, most interesting thing to happen in it’s hallowed history since… well, gosh-darnit I can’t even say. I’m sure someone out there can suggest a scenario more laden with dramatic portent, but it escapes me…
…still pretty much sucks for the dogs and kids though, which is why I would happily forego the whole spectacle than try to explain word one of it to my five-year-old son.
Florio FYI…. McCown > Pat White
The Panthers never come out and say yes or no about players in the public. You just need something to write about. Richardson would never sign off on this.
even your fans can’t be hard up enough to want this loser. given the troubles with his brother, thought he was the smart one and he was. he fooled me, but you know what they say “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me”
Delhomme had Tommy John surgery, and there is no way the panthers would pick up Vick. Not only is he not the kind of player they would sign, but they can’t afford to even bolster the depth on the O-line or WRs. Steve Smith’s occassional ass-beatings aside, the panthers don’t go for players with character issues.
until 2009, mccown outplayed warner in az. he is very mobile.
and carolina beat the crap out of the falcons a bunch when vick was there. 2nd half of 05/06 are instructive…
testing one, two, three:
D.J. Shockley > Matt Moore
2 + 3 = 5
2
I’m starting to think that Vick isn’t going to be picked by anyone until either a QB goes down or it gets near his six week regular season game probation. If he isn’t on a team by the end of the week that will be his only way back in this season.
Carolina makes sense – I’ll bet there’s a lot of the fan base that have been to a dog fight once or twice.
You really think an organization that bans late game beer sales and forbids rude signs and lack of shirts would sign Vick? Vick is no way going to be a Panther! Fox, would say the same thing about his Mother if asked; that is just the way Fox speaks. Even if Fox was interested (which I doubt) No way does the owner Jerry Richardson sign off on that deal.
Shockley has won
Well first of all, if you think Matt moore and Josh McCown are anywhere near good, you must not know anything about the Panthers. Matt Moore caused us to loose 2 preseason games and gave us a loosing record in 2007. i dont even want to talk about Josh. I think that Vick would be a perfect fit for the panthers. we’re a running team, and a QB that can scramble is exactly what we need. it would be a new experience for Carolina.