Atlanta Falcons Cut Michael Vick

The Atlanta Falcons will release Michael Vick Friday, officially bringing to an end the suspended quarterback's tenure with the franchise.

Although the Falcons have previously stated their intention to trade Vick, general manager Thomas Dimitroff said on the team's web site that the club made the decision to release him outright:

"We spent a significant amount of time this off-season trying to trade him to another NFL club, and we had some conversations with a few teams, but nothing materialized. At this point, we feel releasing Michael is best for him and best for us. Our entire organization sincerely hopes that Michael will continue to focus his efforts on making positive changes in his life, and we wish him well in that regard."

Dimitroff added that he personally spoke to Vick and told him the Falcons were releasing him, and that the Falcons will absorb the remainder of Vick's prorated signing bonus on this year's salary cap.

The move makes Vick an unrestricted free agent, although he is still serving an indefinite suspension, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said there is no timeframe for reinstating Vick.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)

6-12-2009 @ 10:02AM

bkind7x said...

I think a more matured Vick will translate to a better football player. Can't wait to see who wants to sign him !!

6-14-2009 @ 8:38PM

PeopleSmoks said...

The Raiders!!!

6-15-2009 @ 2:59AM

Lauran said...

nobody...they can't trade him to anyone. no team can afford the negative publicity that comes with vick right now. no matter if he was better than his former self any team that takes him risks negative publicity and fans leaving which equals losing money and no team owner would wanna risk that...whoever does is desperate. maybe detroit??

6-12-2009 @ 10:27AM

DrThunder said...

I think a older Vick will translate into a worse QB since he was a scrambler and he's been out of Football for 2 years. Not to mention he wasn't exactly picking offenses apart to begin with. Vick may have served his debt to society but he doesn't deserve the PRIVILEGE of a second chance in the NFL.

6-13-2009 @ 12:39PM

DAN said...

he never played against offences you goof

6-14-2009 @ 11:31PM

jeldhb00 said...

hahahaha!!! some people should just keep their comments to themselves.

6-15-2009 @ 1:08AM

Tony said...

You don't know defense from offense and they you say Vick doesn't deserve a second chance? What do you know? Everyone makes mistakes in life and everyone deserves a second chance after making a mistake. If people weren't given a second chance, what kind of world would we be living in? There would definitly be a bunch of ticked off people walking around because they couldn't get a second chance.

6-15-2009 @ 2:21AM

Nelson Lum said...

You are right. Why should he be given another chance to earn millions? He had the everything handed to him and did not appreciate his fortune. If he was a cop and did what he did, after serving time in jail, will there be any talk of enhiring him as a cop?

6-15-2009 @ 8:33AM

I didn't say he should be in prison for life, I said he doesn't deserve another crack at playing in the NFL. Dog fighting is disgusting, it takes a sick person to watch that and a sicker one to orchestrate it. I'll lose respect for any franchise who gambles on a person like that.

6-12-2009 @ 10:35AM

thesarge0321 said...

Honestly, this guy should be able to play, he served his sentence and if he still has the ability to play at a professional level there should be no reason he cant play. His crimes were terrible, but it doesnt chage the fact of the nfl has had criminals forever, and me personally, if they let wife beaters and murderers back into the leauge why not vick?

6-14-2009 @ 10:53PM

wijgt said...

I've murdered a beer and beat my wife at chess but I aint never hurt a dog outside of a baseball stadium.

6-15-2009 @ 1:41AM

billy said...

Vick should drop dead like the dogs he was fighting

6-12-2009 @ 11:03AM

Vick is younger than McNabb and was faster - losing a step of speed (which won't happen until age 32 anyway) would only make him as slow as McNabb (still a triple threat). Vick has an accurate arm, only needing concentration improvement - I think that develops with maturity - which no doubt maturity has happened ! Equalling - Improved Quarterback.

6-12-2009 @ 11:16AM

ManChildX73 said...

Vick definitely does not have an accurate arm. His lifetime completion percentage is very low. He's also at the age where, historically, runningbacks begin to decline. Being off the field for two years may have kept him slightly fresher, but I don't think it will translate into him lasting longer. He will start to decline very soon in the running department. McNabb is good because he's an accurate passer as well as a runner. True, Vick is a better athlete, but he's definitely not a good quarterback.

6-12-2009 @ 11:48AM

ivo610 said...

wont happen until 32? where did you get this from? Yeah not sure how that works. guess you must be some sort of expert. You dont think spending 2 years in a cell will affect his speed?

6-12-2009 @ 11:29AM

Debatable - lot's of variables - Coach micromanagement (Vick not aloud to call variable's in last 2 seasons when he saw a defense lined up to defend the play called); rookie receiver's not running the route's and dropping balls; poor offensive line .... I think Vick has an accurate arm, but did not always throw well under pressure, the receiver's were not in their route's many a time, the receiver's were known for dropping balls at the highest level of drops in the league, and the coach's micromanagement added pressure as well as the poor offensive line. However, in the midst of all of that Vick did not throw many interceptions; which helped Trent Dilfer and the Ravens win a super bowl.

6-12-2009 @ 11:52AM

Measure Michael Vick's passer rating with his Tight End - Algae Crumpler - with this receiver Vick would be crowned as an accurate passer. (in my other comment his coach did not allow him to call 'audibles' not 'variables'.) Vick did not have Marvin Harrison, Deion Branch, Terry Glenn, Steve Smith, Terrel Owens, Randy Moss, Keyshawn Johnson, Michael Irvin .... All these receiver's had a name before they had a good quarterback - Michael Vick helped to make Algae Crumpler (TE) a big NFL name, the other receiver's name helped to make their quarterback's a big name (although Algae helped Vick - his name emerged with Vick).

6-12-2009 @ 12:02PM

Jan said...

Why are you people talking positive about Vick? Thank you to the Atlanta Falcons who had the decency to let Vick go away. There is speculation that Vick might be signed by a UFL team (former NFL coach Jim Haslett is behind this) but wherever he goes, he will be followed by a stream of people still so offended by his prior actions of animal abuse, that it tests the sensibilities of decent people. Vick is nothing more than a thug gangster who does not deserve to walk among us. If any of you still think he has a chance to distain another uniform, than you will be sadly informed. I have seen the dogs that belonged to Vick and it made me and everybody else sick. People come from all over the world to see these dogs at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. This sub-human Vick is loathed by anybody who has a conscience and we all hope he will never see a football field again. Vick is evil.

6-12-2009 @ 12:43PM

ttranquility2001 said...

I totally agree, But I think evil is too kind of a word to describe him

6-12-2009 @ 3:58PM

Sieben said...

what a asinine comment,"he doesn't deserve to walk among us" If that's true where should bush,cheney & rumsfield BELONG??????? they only assisted in get 4k+ humans killed and 22k+ injured or doesn't that count???????????????