FALCONS QUIETLY PISSED AT VICK

[Fritz]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

FALCONS QUIETLY PISSED AT VICK

Despite the public game of booty-smooching that the Atlanta Falcons are playing with quarterback Mike Vick, word around the league is that Falcons owner Arthur Blank is steaming about the quarterback's failure to appear for the team's offseason voluntary strength and conditioning drills.

Likewise, some of the Atlanta players privately are questioning Vick's desire, and they have concerns about the guys with whom Vick spends his time. We hear that several of them are Vick's former teammates at Virginia Tech, who either were dumped from the team or who quit.

Officially, the Falcons are attempting to insulate their MVP-in-the-making from external criticism. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, team officials cautioned a TV crew who recently interviewed Vick against asking questions about his failure to show for offseason work.

Likewise, old school head coach Dan Reeves, who had a very public feud with running back Jamal Anderson four years ago when Anderson stayed away from training camp, has been reminding the media that the workouts are voluntary.

Vick's teammates also are toeing the party line. ''You want the majority of guys here, but Mike is incredibly busy with business, and commercials and so forth, and to point a finger is tough to do because the rest of us have never experienced the pressure he has,'' said defensive end Patrick Kerney.

Yeah, some pressure.

"Sign this contract, Mike, and you make another million or so for plastering your mug on a box of cereal."

"Look into the camera, Mike, and say, 'When I go out with the guys, on a rendezvoose . . . .'"

Also missing the voluntary workouts is running back Warrick Dunn, who traditionally follows his own offseason program.

We've routinely supported a player's right to stay away from so-called "voluntary" drills. What bothers us here, however, is that different standards are being applied -- and the Falcons will never admit it.

As to Vick, the truth is that the team wants him there, but they're afraid of pissing him off, because their prospects for 2003 (and beyond) are squarely on his shoulders. So they're walking on eggshells in the public eye, and they're bristling behind closed doors.

And they're stupid if they think that the duplicity they're now forced to exhibit won't create long-term resentment of Vick by teammates, coaches, and front-office staff.

[ctmason]

I don't see how different standards are being applied here at all.

Jamal Anderson holds out for the majority of training camp.....Michael Vick doesn't attend voluntary workouts so far....

[GrantDawg]

Originally posted by ctmason
I don't see how different standards are being applied here at all.

Jamal Anderson holds out for the majority of training camp.....Michael Vick doesn't attend voluntary workouts so far....

Exactly. Apples and oranges. I could understand if the Falcons were upset with him not coming in considering how low he is on the learning curve, but to say that this is equal to the Anderson hold-out is ridiculuos.