Michael Vick Signed. This Philly Fan Not Amused.

[ElboRuum]

Fortunately, I was otherwise occupied last night, so I managed to catch only bits and pieces of the Eagles/Patriots game last night. Setting aside what is becoming a David Akers habit of missing crucial kicks, it seemed to be an OK game. But I did miss this little tidbit of info: the Eagles signed a two-year deal with, of all fucking possible people, Michael Vick. You remember this guy, mediocre Atlanta quarterback and animal torturer, you know the one everyone was wondering if anyone would have the immense lack of conscience and supreme stupidity to sign? Wonder no more, dear friends, for the Eagles, whose front office has taken shots with other pariahs and soon-to-be pariahs, such as Ricky "For who? For what?" Watters and Terrell "Where's the camera?" Owens, has decided in its infinite wisdom that the stigma of hiring a convicted animal-torturer and PR nightmare in the form of one Michael Vick is apparently something manageable.

I have been a Philly fan my entire life. I stayed so even when the craven little pissants around me, tired of losing, tired of taking shit, started jumping on the dynastic bandwagons of the Cowboys, Steelers, and the Patriots at the moments these were the "it" teams of the NFL. So you can imagine that I've had a front row seat to a myriad of Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot moments, both of the bizarre and cringeworthy variety, both during games and between seasons.

So, while I have moral issues with the hiring of this animal-torturing lout, I have a sense of impenetrable incredulity at what the people whose pen ink was used to sign this deal were actually thinking. Do they honestly believe that there will be no drama from this decision? Do you think that, in addition to seeing the stands, the field, and the goalposts at the Linc, that somehow principled Eagles fans (sounds oxymoronic, but they do exist) with placards protesting the move won't be a familiar sight as well? Did they not learn from their past mistakes with T.O.? That when you keep a lightning rod close by, it will, in fact, draw lightning?

This move by the Eagles front office has finally convinced me that they do not, in fact, have a clue about the reality of the situation, that whether or not they believe Michael Vick deserves a second chance that will matter in the end (apparently this was an offered rationale), it is whether the fans do. While I may miss my guess on this, I wager most people think Vick got off light for the shit he did. I know I do and just about everyone else I know does as well. I also know that Eagles fans in general are quite sick of not being able to get through a season without some form of drama occurring.

And to top it all off... Michael Vick's been out of football for two years, and he wasn't all that great a QB to begin with. One can only imagine, should he take snaps this season, the impressive level of suckery he's going to bring to the offense.

So it is with a double facepalm that I greet yet another season of Keystone Coppery in the form of Eagles football. E-A-G-L... E... S... *sigh*... aw, fuck it.

[joeybee12]

1. Let's say Vick went to jail for something lesser, and missed two years...

...still makes no sense, because, as you note, he was medicore during his prime...is someone in the front office a relative of his?

[ElboRuum]

4. Not likely...

I think the front office, having Kevin Kolb go down with a sprained knee, is forseeing an injury for McNabb happening sometime this season, not unlikely. My guess is they need a starter at backup... even a was-a-starter-once with quite a lot of baggage.

[Auggie]

2. I had respect for the Eagles organization up until this

[flvegan]

3. B-b-but he said he was sorry.

"got off light" doesn't even begin to describe the tragedy of justice this whole shebang was.

[TZ]

5. If he wins for the team

the fans will accept him. Thats unfortunately how this goes. Me? Just another reason to hate the rival Eagles..(I'm a Skins fan)

[trumad]

6. It makes no sense because they've got the great AJ Feeley backing McNabb up...

[Jack Rabbit]

7. He shouldn't much playing time backing up McNabb

Everybody knows Donovan McNabb can handle a heavy Rush.

[BulletproofLandshark]

8. Let him split return duties with DeSean Jackson.

Lining him up behind center is career suicide for Andy Reid. Vick is rusty, to be sure. But I doubt he's lost too much of that speed and agility to be a nightmare for opposing special-teamers. I'd even consider lining him up as a slot receiver.

[Bluzmann57]

9. To compare T.O. with Vick is ludicrous

Owens may be a royal pain, but he has never been convicted of any crimes. And Owens has also delivered in the clutch.