Falcons Trying to Trade Michael Vick

Michael Vick is still in federal prison and under indefinite NFL suspension, and the Atlanta Falcons have no intention of ever welcoming him back. But the Falcons think they can get something out of him in a trade, and they're actively trying to shop him.

In a Q&A at AtlantaFalcons.com, General Manager Thomas Dimitroff says the Falcons want to get rid of Vick and get something for him:

"With regards to Michael Vick, we've decided to seek a trade of his contractual rights to another NFL club. We took a number of steps in the 2008 season, including using our first pick to draft a quarterback. We feel a trade is the best move for the Falcons, and it's also in the best interest of Michael. This has been a really unique situation from a variety of standpoints and because we will actively be involved in a trade situation, I don't envision our organization speaking any more about this subject publicly until it's reached a resolution."

Dimitroff notes in the Q&A that teams are allowed to trade suspended players, so there's nothing stopping the Falcons from pulling off a trade.

But a trade can only happen if the Falcons can find a trading partner, and it's hard to see why a team would give up anything of value for Vick until NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has given some indication that he might be reinstated.

It's also hard to see why any team would want to inherit Vick's contract, which calls for him to make a base salary of $9 million and a bonus of $6.43 million in 2009. Even if Vick gets released from prison before the season (he probably will be) and reinstated by Goodell (he probably won't be), there's no way of knowing whether Vick is prepared either physically or mentally to play.

The Falcons, however, just want to move on. They'd love it if some other team helps them do that.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-13-2009 @ 4:17PM

Jim Jacobs said...

I think Michael Vick should just give in to the mere fact his career is simply finished. No NFL team owner, for any legitimate reasons, or publicity stunts... I don't care who says otherwise...No team owner would not sacrifice his own credibility to take on a very volatile project in Michael Vick. Oh wait. I seem to have forgotten one thing. Do you honestly think Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys would even dare entertain the thought of trading for Michael Vick? He's been known to take several risks with Tank Johnson, PacMan Jones..(yes the debate is still out on the resident mouth: Terrell Owens) Let's hash out the pros and cons. Let's go with the pros here: 1. Vick is very mobile and does have an arm. 2. Romo is the protoypical size for a QB and does have an arm to sling the ball to the likes of Terrell Owens, Jason Witten, Marion Barber, et. al. Now, let's go to the cons: 1. Vick's a felon, and the time away in jail make him rusty with his mechanical/physical/psychological skills (we've seen what happened when Drew Henson walked away from a lucrative career in the NFL to play "guaranteed $" ball in the New York Yankees, well, that flamed out brilliantly, did it not? Jerry Jones tried that with Henson, and of course we all know that didn't pan out, along with his so-called return back to the NFL. But...Henson was never a felon. Keep that in mind. and as for Michael Vick, I hope to goodness the NFL Commish, Roger Goodell sticks to his guns in never ever reinstating him. What To make an analogy of just how sick and perverted of Michael Vick's treatment of the innocent dogs, all you need to do is take a page out of one of history's sordid past with a Dr. Josef Mengele of the NAZI party and his "treatments" with concentration camp prisoners at Auschwitz and other places. We do NOT need a circus atmosphere in the National Football League. I would be willing to sign my name on a petition that would ban Vick for life.

2-14-2009 @ 8:15AM

scrmnegle02 said...

Jim,

I couldn't agree with you more and I too would be willing to sign a petition keeping him from EVER stepping on the field in uniform again. He is so typical of the CANCER we have today in professional sports. I am a Diehard Cowboys fan and I came VERY CLOSE to disowning them over Pac, or should I say CRACKMAN and am VERY glad he is no longer with the team. Now if they can find a diaper big enough to fit TO and get Tony to quit thinking about that wench in Hollywood, they might turn it around. BUT, back to the subject of the puppy killer. His family has such a history of violence to begin with. Has everyone forgotten his brother was thrown OUT of VT for raping a woman? This type of cancer who want more and more money and think of the fans NEVER needs to be taken out of the game forever.

2-19-2009 @ 3:29PM

darin said...

why should he not play ball again,look what we accept in this world today for instance kobe bryant rape charge was okay to the public,mike tyson still boxed what a joke,you people acted like vick killed a human being and hes career should be over u are real h-a-t-e-r-s get a life.

2-13-2009 @ 4:42PM

readn2much said...

Micheal Vick gon go to the Detroit Lions and kick ass!

2-13-2009 @ 4:51PM

prggy said...

SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT IS WHERE HE NEEDS TO GO!!!

2-14-2009 @ 12:48AM

Redskins0492 said...

I wouldn't mind having him in washington. Anyone would be better than jason Campbell

2-14-2009 @ 2:59AM

Sam said...

oh don't thimk that al davis wouldn't love michael vick. fits his outlaw persona perfectly. it would put the raiders back into the headlines, and they would give up nothing for him

2-14-2009 @ 8:51AM

slumlord0013 said...

I do not get it. Mr. Vick was never a good quarterback;yes he can run,but quarterback no. He has a hard time reading defeences and his accuractcy was sub-par at beast.

2-14-2009 @ 10:03AM

bamatom92 said...

I believe that Michael Vick is a fine young man and should be given a 2nd chance, Ive met him several times and he was very nice and graceful,He just wanted to have a liitle fun at the expense of some dogs..While i dont believe in dog fighting,there are lots of worse things he could have done,A mans life should not be ruiend because of some dog, Give this african american a 2nd chance by God

2-15-2009 @ 4:33PM

liam said...

a few dogs... this thug not only was involved in felony dog fighting and gambling but he would send his possie (or were the pussies) out to steal family pets from local neighborhoods to be used as bait dogs. "vicskstor" admitted to this at his Virginia trial. Any team that touches this creep will face protests, picketing and boycots. Any sponsor of any team or televised game with this creep will face the same.

2-16-2009 @ 7:17AM

Michael said...

"Give this african american a 2nd chance by God"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So that's it? He deserves a second chance only because he's African American? Since when does being Black entitle you to a mulligan when it comes to the law of the land AND the laws of human decency?
Just because you "met him several times" does NOT make him a nice guy. I'm sure many people thought Ted Bundy was a GREAT person. Vick's true self was revealed through his actions, and those actions landed him in jail where he should be.
A second chance because he's Black? Give me a break....how many Blacks would LOVE to have the first chance that Vick had and blew? You're handed the world on a silver platter....you blow it and that's your tough luck.

2-14-2009 @ 2:08PM

waterlillies10 said...

why don't they trade him to the stealers he should fit right in with crooked organization

2-21-2009 @ 9:41AM

Marques Foxx said...

I believe that they shouldn't trade Michael Vick, He paid his debt to society. It's not like he's a threat on the field. A lot of people just don't want to see him succeed, Everyone deserves a second chance. Who are we to deny him a second chance. That's whats wrong with our society now someone mess up once it's like they messed up for life. He's been an Atlanta Falcon since 2001 he is the face of the Falcons. Don't trade Michael Vick!!!

2-26-2009 @ 7:26PM

MWa2211 said...

Bottom-line, he did the crime when to court, was convicted and did his time. Enough already!

Whatever he did to those dogs pale in comparison to what's happened to his money, fame and career. If a team picks him up, they should indicate the same!

Based on Brad Johnson's performance in Romo's absence, I'd love to have him p[icked up by the Boy's! Yep, they can handle drama...

Back off, haters...if he can play and a team wants him, he should be able to play.

I don't see anybody giving those race horse owners grief when they have to put down a horse cause he can no longer run! Stop the hate!

3-01-2009 @ 10:53PM

liljoker703 said...

I like the way people talk shit on mike vick about the whole dog fighting B.S..but does anyone remeber what ray lewis did a little while back by shooting and killing someone threw his limo window?? and he got away with it and hes still playing..noo but lets talk shit on mike vick.