JHTJ
02-25-2006, 04:38 AM
RUMORS FLY OF VICKLESS FALCONS
One of the biggest rumors making the rounds in Indianapolis on the first day of the scouting combine is that quarterback Mike Vick wants out of Atlanta.
Though there's no specific information to prompt a conclusion that Vick has taken steps to engineer an exit from the team, his repeated criticism of the coaching staff since the end of the 2005 season has fueled speculation that a divorce could be coming.
Most recently, Vick took aim at Falcons offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, saying that Knapp "needs to know exactly what type of talent he's working with. . . . You've got to be creative. There's no reason I should be passing for only 2,300 yards for the season. My passing attempts per game are not even that high. I hope it's not that they don't believe in me, because I believe in me." (Knapp, by the way, attempted to downplay Vick's comments.)
Earlier this month, Vick said that he's "a little lost" in the Falcons' version of the West Coast offense. "We're not dinking and dunking the way it's supposed to be done" he said. "It may be hurting me. It may be hurting the offense."
The talk in Indy is that Vick might refuse to restructure his contract, in the hopes that the team will trade him. Adam Schefter of The NFL Network reports that talks aimed at reducing Vick's 2006 cap number have occurred.
The root of the problem appears to be Vick's relationship with coach Jim Mora. The perception in some circles is that Vick "hates" Mora.
Indeed, we raised the question of whether Mora and Vick can coexist on December 26, based on their respective comments following a Falcons' loss to the Bucs on Christmas Eve after a chip-shot field goal was blocked in overtime.
Said Vick of the blown opportunity to win the game: "It kind of put everything in perspective, like maybe this just ain't our year."
Said Mora when asked whether the blocked field goal made him conclude that "it just wasn't meant to be": "That's a loser's attitude, and I would like to think we don't have a whole lot of losers in the locker room . . . . People like that don't accomplish much in life."
Apart from the huge cap hit that the Falcons would take by moving Vick now, they'd have trouble finding someone to give up significant value for him. As we hear it, a lot of teams regard him as a pain in the *** -- and as a guy who will only be successful if an offense is specifically designed to enhance his strengths, and to conceal his weaknesses
Didn't see this coming.......
One of the biggest rumors making the rounds in Indianapolis on the first day of the scouting combine is that quarterback Mike Vick wants out of Atlanta.
Though there's no specific information to prompt a conclusion that Vick has taken steps to engineer an exit from the team, his repeated criticism of the coaching staff since the end of the 2005 season has fueled speculation that a divorce could be coming.
Most recently, Vick took aim at Falcons offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, saying that Knapp "needs to know exactly what type of talent he's working with. . . . You've got to be creative. There's no reason I should be passing for only 2,300 yards for the season. My passing attempts per game are not even that high. I hope it's not that they don't believe in me, because I believe in me." (Knapp, by the way, attempted to downplay Vick's comments.)
Earlier this month, Vick said that he's "a little lost" in the Falcons' version of the West Coast offense. "We're not dinking and dunking the way it's supposed to be done" he said. "It may be hurting me. It may be hurting the offense."
The talk in Indy is that Vick might refuse to restructure his contract, in the hopes that the team will trade him. Adam Schefter of The NFL Network reports that talks aimed at reducing Vick's 2006 cap number have occurred.
The root of the problem appears to be Vick's relationship with coach Jim Mora. The perception in some circles is that Vick "hates" Mora.
Indeed, we raised the question of whether Mora and Vick can coexist on December 26, based on their respective comments following a Falcons' loss to the Bucs on Christmas Eve after a chip-shot field goal was blocked in overtime.
Said Vick of the blown opportunity to win the game: "It kind of put everything in perspective, like maybe this just ain't our year."
Said Mora when asked whether the blocked field goal made him conclude that "it just wasn't meant to be": "That's a loser's attitude, and I would like to think we don't have a whole lot of losers in the locker room . . . . People like that don't accomplish much in life."
Apart from the huge cap hit that the Falcons would take by moving Vick now, they'd have trouble finding someone to give up significant value for him. As we hear it, a lot of teams regard him as a pain in the *** -- and as a guy who will only be successful if an offense is specifically designed to enhance his strengths, and to conceal his weaknesses
Didn't see this coming.......