“A friend of mine works at the Buffalo airport. He just saw Michael Vick walking through the terminal.”
The text message came from a friend who had a friend that swore they saw Michael Vick land in Buffalo the night before the Bills took the practice fields in Buffalo, one of countless internet rumors saying that Vick was going to be a Buffalo Bill. It wasn’t true.
Still, from everything I’ve heard, Buffalo did consider bringing Vick to Buffalo this summer (Buddy Nix will tell you that 80% of that is wrong), but for one reason or another, it never happened.
Now those rumors are once again gaining momentum, and it’s a move that makes some sense for the Bills, especially with Chan Gailey calling the shots in Buffalo. Gailey was the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh when Kordell “Slash” Stewart threw for 21 touchdowns and 3,000 yards, taking the Steelers to the AFC Championship game. So we know he can work with mobile quarterbacks, and when he was in his prime, Vick was indeed an upgrade from Stewart.
As to whether Vick can still play at his pre-jail level, there’s really no way to know. In the little time that he saw this year with the Eagles, Vick’s numbers were average at the very best. Six of thirteen passes completed for 86 yards and a touchdown. Yawn. Even for the Bills who in the past have not always shied away from a quarterback with a less-than-proven resume (Rob Johnson, please raise your hand). Vick’s numbers don’t even add up to a solid four quarters. Unless you’re Ryan Fitzpatrick.
I do think #7 could come to Buffalo in exchange for a late round draft pick and compete for a job with the current crop of Bills quarterbacks. So could Mike Catalana. If Buddy Nix does decide to go the veteran quarterback route, Vick may be the most proven QB available, if the Eagles are being honest when they say they’re keeping Donavan McNabb.
Even if the Bills do decide to take a Jimmy Clausen or Dan LeFevour, one former NFL player told me that they’d struggle in Buffalo from the start. Vick as a stopgap might not be a bad idea.
And now, for the elephant in the room. We all know what Michael Vick did in Virginia. It was incredibly wrong. Unthinkable, even, but he served his time. Several people that I’ve come across have told me that the day Michael Vick comes to Buffalo is last day they’ll ever cheer for the Bills. I respect that, but I’m a believer in second chances, and a fresh start.
Will it actually happen? Only Buddy Nix knows. Vick had a good run once, but it’s just memories now, clouded in the minds of many by a dark period in his life. Kind of like the Bills if you think about it.
