Michael Vick Finally Has a Coach Who Wants Him

Ever since Michael Vick headed from prison to house arrest, everyone has been looking for a team, any team, that would admit they are interested in signing him.

We finally have one, but there's only one catch -- it's in a league that has yet to play an actual game.

Jim Haslett, coach of the UFL's Orlando franchise, told ESPN.com's Chris Mortensen that he would like to see Vick suit up for him. And he also spelled out a potential benefit -- Vick would be able to play quarterback for eight games or so, then become a free agent again in November, after fans have already had a chance to get accustomed to seeing him back in shoulder pads and a helmet.

"As a league, we'll let due process take its course but, yes, I'd love to have him and I think he would benefit from playing with us and in our league," Haslett said. "It would be a great way for him to knock off the rust and get in true football playing condition. Obviously, we know his abilities and we'd certainly tailor to his strengths."

So why would Vick play in the UFL instead of the NFL? Well, Mortensen is reporting that there are rumors that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will conditionally reinstate Vick, but hold off until Sept. 1 on a final ruling. In that case, teams would be stuck with the bad news of a Vick signing -- a ton of unwanted publicity and protests -- without an assurance that they would get the good -- Vick playing and performing in the regular season.

That's the biggest argument for Vick playing in the UFL -- teams are going to dread signing Vick and bringing him to training camp. In camp there is all kinds of time to write and discuss Vick. If he played in the UFL first, a late-November signing would still be a big deal, but with the standard stories of the normal NFL game week it would have to share time with everything else. And the NFL would be happy to see the new league carry the public relations hit that will come with being the first team to bring back Vick.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-20-2009 @ 11:29PM

heaty007 said...

If they won't let him play footbal rugby is the fastest growing sport in the US and the Omaha Shamrocks is the best team in the country so he would fit in there.

7-21-2009 @ 5:16AM

gsan201 said...

HE would get killed in rugby!! Rememebr he is not used to getting caught or hit hard and that is with much padding on. I would love to see that because he would be a target.Wouldn't you like to be in a small sport and say you knocked out a star nfl player?

7-21-2009 @ 6:04AM

Melissa said...

Yes put him in the middle of the field with about 25 large PIT BULLS and let them BEAT the SH-- out of him that is what he needs for what he did!!!!!

Whoever takes him back is a FOOL!!! He needs to donate time in the Human society's across the country to repay what he did. He is a LOSER! Can't forgive boys that hurt Dogs, and kids WRONG!!!! No place for them!!!

7-21-2009 @ 6:05AM

Steve said...

Go for it dude,here is the chance to get back into the frame although it being in the UFL its a start all the same.. Eight games then become a free agent, I bet the some NFL teams will be in a que to sign you..Let all the do gooders here see that you still have it after all this time,You served your time paid back to society what they deemed to be the correct punishment so yes go for it..Best Regards Steve Dublin Ireland

7-21-2009 @ 6:15AM

Mike said...

ok, the 25 pitbulls thing is really getting annoying, every site I go to. "throw him with 25 pitbulls, dur dur"

7-21-2009 @ 7:58AM

Sonia H. Vivar said...

Putting excessive amounts of money in the wrong hands, without teaching them about the responsibilities of being a sports role model, is a recipe for disaster. Until the sport teams are held responsible for these thugs, stories like this will only get worse. After all if he had not been a player, he would not have been able to afford an elaborate disregard for life. Too many athletes have turned into criminals or have displayed criminal activities. As parents it’s hard to keep track of who’s going to be bad for our children, but coaches know who there bad seed are, and they say nothing.

7-21-2009 @ 11:56AM

Pops said...

I AM A PARENT ALSO, AND IF A FOOTBALL PLAYER IS THE PERSON THAT MY BOYS DECIDE TO MODEL THEMSELVES AFTER, THEN I DID NOT DO MY JOB AS A PARENT ANYWAY. WE SHOULD TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE GAME AND NOT A PLAYERS PERSONAL LIFE. WE ALL HAVE SKELETONS, BUT SOMETIMES IT TAKES SOME HARSH PENALTIES FOR US TO SEE CLEARER. THEY LET CHILD MOLESTERS AND BANK ROBBERS AND MURDERERS OUT AND THEY GET TO MOVE ON, AND NO ONE IS TELLING THEM TO GET INTO AN ARENA FULL OF PITBULLS.

7-21-2009 @ 9:34AM

Penny said...

Tell Michael Vick to call Paul Brown (Cinti Bengal) he might fit with Henry and the gang

7-21-2009 @ 12:04PM

cantstopdrinkin said...

Ha Vick has been practicing basketball in prison this whole time. He could have chosen basketball instead of football comin out of high school he was so good. He would fit in perfect in the NBA, even more perfect with the Lakers. During the game if any fan talks trash about what he did him and Ron can go beat the hell out of some people paying their paychecks for them and then after the game Kobe can use his rape stand at the hotel. God the Lakers character status right now is just pitiful....

7-21-2009 @ 1:32PM

jerseyxstyle said...

Vick is a waste of life. He doesnt deserve anything but having the sh*t kicked out of him.

7-21-2009 @ 1:37PM

BIGREG50 said...

Melissa you are a assho?? i guess you feel he shouldn't be allowed to provide for his family. You need to wake up and get out of your prissy little world. As a matter of fact what the hell do you know about sports. SHUT UP!

7-22-2009 @ 10:10AM

LA26 said...

PETA advocates gential mutilation and yet Mike Vick is still the criminal.It would be the company that's done the most damage to pets that comes to attack Mike Vick.

Old news.Let him play.He's better than every backup in the league currently.Nuff said...Thank you.

7-22-2009 @ 8:34AM

LM said...

I think he deserves the chance to play if he still has the ability to play the sport. Bush bad decisions caused allot of innocent people to die and you gave him another shot at the presidency. So Why not allow Vick another chance at playing football. STOP!! Ask yourself which position is more important, the game of football or being the president>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

7-21-2009 @ 2:51PM

CAROL ANN said...

THIS PERSON SHOULD NO LONGER PLAY FOOTBALL ANYWHERE..I'D LIKE TO HOOK HIM UP TOO A TREE AND SHOVE A BROOM STICK UP HIS ASS.IF HE LIKES TO DESTROY DOGS LIKE HE DID,LETS SEE HOW HE LIKES IT!!!!!!!!!

7-21-2009 @ 3:55PM

I have always been a Vick fan and i find myself battling myself when trying to decide if it would be truely ok to give him another chance at a high profile life with a huge salary. Im sorry but everyone of you that are using the word "mistake" either dont know what he did or didnt sit and think about it before you wrote that word. A mistake is something done out of pour judgement that instant or usually a bad decision made at a hard time . Vick did this repeatedly for years and years so its not a mistake. Remember im a fan of his so im on his side but you have to look at logic. The deciding factor that it comes down to for me is that he did it for so long and that you have to ask - would he have stopped then and been so sorry like he is saying if he was never caught?? The very very very liekly answer is no...

7-21-2009 @ 11:00PM

DEBORA said...

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY.FOR OVER AYEAR PEOPLE'S HAVE BEEN JUDGING THIS MAN FOR HIS PART OF THIS CRIME,I WORK IN AN ER,WHERE I SEEN KIDS BROUGHT IN BEATING,BURNED.MOLESTED& BABIES MALNOURISHED WHEN PEOPLE READ THEIR STORIES,THE FIRST WORDS THAT COME OUT OF SOME PEOPLE MOUTH HOW COULD SOMEONE DO THAT TO A CHILD,END OF THE STORY. NO ONE PROTESTANT, NO FOLLOW UP STORY AFTER THE FACT'S WHO CARES WHAT HAPPEN TO THESE KIDS,NOT SOCIETY WE TO BUSY FOCUSING ON DOGS AND THEIR RIGHT'S. IM NOT AN ANIMAL HATER BUT I LOVE HUMAN LIFE MORER.AND I HOPE ONE DAY YOU WILL NOT BE JUDGE FOR YOUR CRIME OR SINS,CAUSE WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING WE ARE ASHAME OF,BIG OR SMALL THAT WE LIVE WITH EVERYDAY,AND MICHAEL VICK HAVE TO DO THE SAME,AS LONG AS HE LIVE. WE NEED TO LET IT GO.AND FOCUS.ON MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES.IN THIS WORLD. GOD BLESS! PS: KEEP IN MIND HE'S NOT THE FIRST MAN TO EVER FOUGHT OR DESTROYED A DOG HE IS THE FIRST HIGH PROFILE PERSON THAT SOCIETY MADE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF.TO(MICHAEL) STAY STRONG MY BRO.AND I PRAY ONE DAY I WILL SEE YOUR WINNING SMILE ON APOSTIVE NOTE AGAIN.