Box Score Beat

The Eagles Have Landed Vick, Press Keeps Their Eye on the Football

Posted on 15. Aug, 2009 by John De Petro in NFL, Sports Journalism

The ankle bracelet is off and it’s time to put the shoulder pads back on. Michael Vick officially returned to the bright lights and bigger camera lenses of the NFL when the Philadelphia Eagles signed the former All-Pro to a one year deal with an option for a second.

Vick is big news. He always has been. And for better of worse, he forever will be. If Vick finds success in his pro football rebirth, he will undoubtedly find himself on the back pages of newspaper tabloids across the country. However, if Vick’s re-entry into the America’s most popular sport goes awry, the nation’s media will pounce.

But for now, the focus returns to the questions surrounding Vick on the field rather than off. At Sports Illustrated.com’s homepage on Friday, above a large photo of Vick from his Falcons days read the banner headline “Eagles Making a Big Mistake.”

Writer Ross Tucker keeps the focus of his piece on how Vick’s presence affects the on-field performance of the Eagles and the off field problems the Vick signing could have on incumbent Eagle QB Donovan McNabb. There’s no mention of dog fighting or prison sentences. Just football.

Sports Illustrated columnist Peter King disagreex with Tucker and says the Vick/Eagle marriage is one which makes sense for both parties involved. “Vick wanted to play in a stable environment with smart coaches teaching a scheme that was successful in today’s football,” writes King. ”And he didn’t care about playing time, at least not immediately. Getting back into a locker room with a solid core of players was more important.” King continued, “That’s why the signing of Vick by the Eagles Thursday night makes more sense than Vick to almost anywhere else.”

FOX NFL insider Jay Glazer appeared on Dan Patrick’s syndicated sports-talk radio show the morning after the Vick signing was announced to share his thoughts. “Brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” Glazer said. “I would have signed the guy the day Roger Goodell said he was allowed to play.”

The immediate reaction isn’t all positive. The Philadelphia Daily News made no effort to hide their editorial feelings with their front page headline “In Bombshell, Birds Sign Michael Vick. Hide Your Dogs!“ If the News’ opinion of Vick was made unclear, the paper’s “What Were they Thinking” back page hammers home the point.

The Vick saga will continue as Vick makes his first appearance at Eagles practice, enters his first NFL pre-season game and the first time Vick sets foot into his first regular season game. With every pass he throws and every time he tucks the ball under his arm to take off using those amazing legs of his, the Vick story will grow.

Vick’s next test is a sit down interview on 60 Minutes with correspondent James Brown. It had been hypothesized by several experts in the media that NFL teams would wait until after the interview and gauge the reaction of viewers before moving forward on Vick.

Those experts got it wrong.

Vick will still have the chance to clear his name in the court of public opinion. But athletic talent and a guaranteed contract won’t help him on that one.

Tags: 60 Minutes, Dan Patrick, Donovan McNabb, FOX NFL Insider, Jay Glazer, Michael Vick, Peter King, Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Eagles, Ross Tucker, sports illustrated