Michael Vick in Silver & Black?

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 3, 2008 9:32 AM PST Comment 22 comments

As mikesd1981 so duly reported, Steve Corkran painted an interesting, if somewhat far-fetched, picture of the future of the Raiders in his column yesterday.

Says Corkan:

JaMarcus Russell is in the shotgun formation, barking out the signals. To his right stands second-year running back Darren McFadden. To his left is a man who once roamed the NFL landscape, someone who accomplished things no other has done in the history of the game.

Could it be? No, it can't be. Russell shakes his head, blinks his eyes, does a double-take. Are you kidding me? In a Raiders uniform? Yes, it's possible.

In the good old days, Al Davis had the Midas touch when it came to reclamation projects, but this is clearly a different era for Raider football, and Vick is surely more than just a proud player considered washed-up by his previous employer.

While his former teammates that now call Oakland home appear to be all for having Vick on their side again, are Raider fans so desperate for a winner to give Vick a new leash, er, lease on life? Wackos like "Kick 'em in the Head Ted" and the "Tooz" are one thing, but sponsoring a dog-fighting operation is an entirely different beast.

I, for one, am a firm believer in second chances. But this is not so cut-and-dry. My concern is what is it exactly we are teaching our youth if Vick can commit such a heinous crime and be back playing football- and earning an enormous salary, to boot- in the time equivalent to a slap on the wrist?

On the other hand, the football fan in me- correction, the Raider fan in me- salivates at the prospect of a rejuvenated (and hopefully remorseful) Vick doing his thing for a team that begs for imagination and change on offense.

What are your thoughts?

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Comments

Wow

I just posted this on a fanposts myself.

I think it could be good cuz we need something. But I don’t think it will help the Raider’s image.

Win, Lose, or Tie, Raiders til I die!

by mikesd1981 on Nov 3, 2008 9:34 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks mikesd1981

I edited my post to credit you for your report.

The Raiders would truly have to not care about their image to make this work. And in the past- when it worked- not only did they not care about image, they embraced whatever was being said about them. Emphasis on “when it worked”.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 3, 2008 9:39 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

They don't

care about their image. Well the man in charge doesn’t any way. Did you see the dirty laundry he laid out w/ Kiffin in that conference? But it shouldn’t be more than a 2 year deal. Russell can be the answer if he’s taught right. If we’re to keep Russell as a starter, we’ll need a veteran QB to teach him.

Win, Lose, or Tie, Raiders til I die!

by mikesd1981 on Nov 3, 2008 9:41 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Right.

But in the old days (I am getting tired of typing that) the image thing didn’t hurt because the team won. Now it has the opposite effect. Still, taking a chance on Vick may be the jolt this team- and Russell- needs. It’s kind of why I had hoped we would have kept Culpepper in some capacity.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Nov 3, 2008 9:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't like

Culpepper. Some reason I think he’s another Favre. I’d be happy if we even signed Chris Simms who’s been beaten down by a team and may have something to prove. Or, and most people won’t agree with me, I liked McCown. But still, let’s look around out there. Even if we sign a vet to NOT play, but to teach Russell. Cable won’t be retained as HC after this year, but something went seriously wrong w/ our O-line after last year. Ryan’s probably gonna be here next year (ugh) as DC, possibly, maybe, HC (no no no). I’ve written this year off already, though I still cheer for the team, I don’t expect playoffs or anything. We need work at the QB position badly. Even if a teacher. We need consistency @ the coaching levels…all of them. We Al Davis to step down. Some people call for his death…I don’t know about that. But the game has passed him by. If you stop and look. We’re not really that far off. It’s not the players ruining the team. It’s the front office. Oh and PUT MARIO IN INSTEAD OF HARRIS GOD DAMMIT!!

Okay, sorry, I think my rant is done…off to work now.

Win, Lose, or Tie, Raiders til I die!

by mikesd1981 on Nov 3, 2008 9:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Now that I think about

it. Davis has destroyed our image w/ that news conference already. We’re already the laughing stock of the league. Why not take Vick for a year or 2 to mentor Russell?

Win, Lose, or Tie, Raiders til I die!

by mikesd1981 on Nov 3, 2008 9:39 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Vick is very athletic

we can either slot him into a mentor role for JaMarcus or convert him to wide receiver to give him a great target for our young arm.

I believe Vick can find redemption in the Raiders. Hopefully prison has took away a lot of his self-righteous ego, because the thought of Vick in a Silver and Black uni after all his prison workouts is scary!

Play more Conan!

by oaklandSMASH on Nov 3, 2008 10:14 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

His ego might change

But just don’t put the hopes of your entire franchise on him. Vick is a fantastic athlete, a huge draw for fans and a playmaker, but you cannot build a Super Bowl team on his back. If you do get him, though, he’s paid his debt to society. I’d wish you both good luck.

by Dave the Falconer on Nov 3, 2008 11:23 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't think Vick would turn us around

however, if there is a team who he is made for now it is the Raiders. Vick would be great as the back up qb/second wideout.

Play more Conan!

by oaklandSMASH on Nov 3, 2008 8:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope he'd be humble enough

To accept a role like that. If so, he could really be an asset.

by Dave the Falconer on Nov 3, 2008 8:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That is the real X-Factor

Play more Conan!

by oaklandSMASH on Nov 4, 2008 12:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds Cool

But Jamarcus is still my dream QB. I ain’t given up yet.

Wack To Mack With The General and The Back. (J-Mac and D-Mac)

by Rayder K on Nov 3, 2008 5:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Come On!

We are not the team who takes on the ex-cons anymore. We haven’t been those Raiders for over a decade. That title now goes to the Dallas Cowboys, who’s owner is Al Davis re-incarnate………………Learn it!

"RIP: UserID: 553"

by Masaryk on Nov 4, 2008 1:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Vick is a good idea.

Signing Michael Vick is a good idea. Vick is one of those players that is very dynamic on the field.

Trade Russell because there is too much bad history with him holding out for a contract. Besides if Vick gets signed, it is his offense to lead which would create an awkward situation with Russell. Let alone all the money Russell gets paid. Spend that money elsewhere.

by Brimstone on Nov 4, 2008 1:59 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

So this is what Raider nation is hoping for? Vick to be a Raider as a wide out?

by Joe_D on Nov 4, 2008 5:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Well with

Hall being released and Walker…I don’t know now.

Win, Lose, or Tie, Raiders til I die!

by mikesd1981 on Nov 4, 2008 8:58 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

DO.NOT.WANT

I would rather see the Raiders save their money to draft and sign Michael Oher and put him in at left tackle as soon as he puts on the Silver and Black.

"However, at Elias, I think they keep track of the amount of sunflower seeds spit in a dugout each night." - Brad Ziegler, 8/7/08

by doctorK on Nov 4, 2008 9:59 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

From a Falcon's perspective...

Vick is a horribly inconsistent passer, who requires a tempo to develop for the passing game.

You’d have a fantastic ground assault with Vick and McFadden, but who’s going to pass the ball? McFadden can probably do the same things Vick did just as well, but without taking a WR or blocker out of the scheme.

I mean, don’t get me wrong, we’d be more than happy to take some draft picks off your hands (um… again…) but Vick never was a worthwhile passer. Some games he was hot, some games he wasn’t. In the end, the idea was that you had to build your entire team around him. And that hurt the franchise in the end.

We’ve heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.

by iRonin on Nov 6, 2008 11:37 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Mike's Inconsistancy

Mike’s inconsistancy came as a result of the smallest Oline in the league being inconsistant with protection as even they used to complain to their staff about their weight and size. When Mike got protection he was throwing 6 touchdown passes(2 called back because of holding calls on the Oline) against the Cowboy’s defense the same defense the same year in which Payton Manning struggled to score two in 06’. Give him the chance to compete against any qb you pick up next season and I promise you he’ll blow them away with his talents “EASILY”.

by Barbary 1 on Nov 6, 2008 2:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I have to disagree...

I feel that’s just not true.

Having watched the games, he’s almost completely incapable of putting touch on the ball, and no amount of offensive line protection makes a fastball more catchable. More to the point, that’s the very definition of the word “inconsistency.” You can argue up and down that it was the OLine was the source of his inconsistency, but regardless he couldn’t put up passing numbers regularly ever.

And in the end, this is the ultimate source of the paradox for Mike Vick. I don’t care. I have no dog in the Raider’s franchise fight (ha, so to speak anyways), but this is what you get with Mike Vick. Flashes of brilliance shrouded in mediocrity, and always someone else to blame. We heard all the excuses in Atlanta too: Coaching staff can’t utilize his talents properly, the offensive line is bad, the WR’s couldn’t catch, blah blah blah.

We heard it all. Three head coaches. Two OL schemes. Two first-day WRs. Nothing.
Now, an OL comprised of almost the same personnel (Blaylock and Dahl are the only newcomers) seems to provide plenty of time for Ryan. The first season Vick was gone, Roddy White turned into a superstar. Now, with Ryan, we’re winning. More than that, we feel something we NEVER felt with Vick: hope. Vick’s legs couldn’t make a 2-minute drill happen for a game-winning drive. Most of the time in Atlanta we felt like once we got behind, it was over for us, no matter what quarter. That’s the essence of the Mike Vick Experience.

But tell yourself whatever you’d like. Personally, I wouldn’t trade Matt Ryan for Mike Vick no matter how much more “talented” he is because with Vick, it’s always potential and never execution.

We’ve heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.

by iRonin on Nov 6, 2008 8:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Michael Vick in silver and black

Believe me fella’s, if Mike Vick comes to the Raiders with an at least “average size offensive line in the league”(when playing for the Falcons he was playing behind the smallest offensive line in the league and taking them to the playoffs) at age 28 going on 29 (still young), he will, “I PROMISE YOU!!!!!………”, get the Raiders to the playoffs next season. He will have your defense so hiped up “THREE AND OUT” will become a chant in Oakland. Believe me, one dimensional pocket passers could not play behind the small protection that Vick got in Atlanta. If the Raiders are lucky enough to claim Vick by next season “GET READY TO ROCK!!!!!!!”

by Barbary 1 on Nov 6, 2008 2:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Won't happen

I hope. BUT, he may be the one player that WON’T MIND coming to Oakland. He’ll fit right in.

There’s bigger needs in Oakland right now. I would like to see a Veteran QB to mentor Russell and get him up to speed quicker. I wouldn’t even mind bringing McCown back (yup, I’m McCown fan). Or sign Simms.

Win, Lose, or Tie, Raiders til I die!

by mikesd1981 on Nov 7, 2008 12:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs