Vick would be intriguing quarterback option for San Francisco

By Jeff Dickinson  |   Monday, February 23, 2009  |  Comments( 9 )

San Francisco 49ers
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Everyone by now knows the sad story of Michael Vick, the former star quarterback for Atlanta who fell from grace because of dog-fighting and gambling and ended up in prison. Vick, who used to be one of the most marketable players in the NFL, is now living in a halfway house under close supervision.

Suspended from the league since August of 2007, Vick has made recent headlines because he will be up for reinstatement this July. The Falcons, to whom Vick is still under contract, have made it known recently that they want to trade his rights.

What remains to be seen is whether the Falcons will actually be able to trade Vick or simply have to release him.

Rumor has it that the San Francisco 49ers and the Minnesota Vikings are interested in pursuing Vick once he is reinstated. Commissioner Roger Goodell is likely to reinstate Vick, who has been a model citizen during his incarceration -- which certainly won’t hurt his chances. Goodell will obviously put Vick on some sort of probationary period, but he should be available for the 2009 season.

The 49ers have two quarterbacks who have been starters in Shaun Hill and Alex Smith. Thus, why would they be interested in signing or acquiring Vick and all of his baggage?

Because he can be an offensive sparkplug.

In each of his final three seasons with Atlanta (2004-06), the Falcons had the No.1-ranked rushing offense in the NFL. During that time, Vick rushed for more than 1,600 yards and scored a total of eight ground touchdowns for the Falcons in '05 and '06. In '06, Vick threw for 20 TDs and gained 1,039 rushing yards (with two more scores).

The Atlanta teams led by Vick also finished 12th in the NFL in total offense his final two years there. The 49ers haven't finished higher than 23rd in that category in four seasons.

An offense that is in need of life support might benefit from taking a chance on a player like Vick. The Falcons want to unload him and the 49ers would not have to pay an exorbitant price to get him.

If Vick shows his past flashes of brilliance and wins the starting quarterback job with the 49ers, signing him will be a coup. If he doesn’t, then San Francisco won’t have lost too much in trying.
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About Jeff Dickinson

I have been writing and editing professionally for 18 years. I spent the first three years of my career as a sportswriter for a daily newspaper in Alabama and got to cover sports and get paid for it! It was great until I got married and then it wasn't too much fun being away from my wife every...
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