MVP - Mike Vick's Planet

I like when people start to criticize and complain. Itcatching him.If you didn't know Mike Vick is a
tells me that the fear of changequarterback, you wouldn't guess it by this
is in the air and that is the way they are compelleddescription of him.Vick is not just a quarterback. He's
to deal with it. It means to mea game breaker. An MVPlaymaker. He's the
that somebody is doing something right. Of course,Experience. He makes it happen. Without him, the
there are those who get paid toFalcons have little chance of even
deliver a disparaging word to keep any due hype inmaking the playoffs, much less contend for a Super
check, especially in sports whereBowl. The Falcons have quality
the business of hype often generates more revenueplayers who can win games, but without Vick they
than the business of the sportjust might be able to beat USC.Regardless, I don't like
itself. American football is the world's most popularwhat I'm hearing about MVPeriod. People who think
sport, so hype is something itthey
doesn't really need. But there is something happeningknow football say he is too one-dimensional. and he
now that the league didn'twill have to learn to pass first
ask for: a major overhaul to the entire look and feelif he is to lead his team to championships. Why does
of the game.Football is a team sport, much moreit matter if he can pick up 40
than any other major sport. That in itselfyards with his legs after line protection breaks
makes this phenomenon even more significant thandown? Or if he is able to scramble for
it otherwise would be. In sports,another 15 yards after he picks up the blitz on 3rd
there are few legendary talents. Athletes whoand 8? But wait. It isn't just
possess intangibles that players ofrunning for positive yards that adds value to this
similar talent do not. Then there are those whoplayer. His legs have the ability to
elevate the status of their sport toavoid defensive pressure and knock out a quick 7
heights never before seen or imagined. But there isyard pass play on 1st or 2nd
one other level of athleticdown. Those are yards created by instincts created
aptitude defined by players who possess so muchby the situation. This is the way
athletic genius that the game canMVPlays it. Other QBs may lose 7 yards on that
no longer contain them. They can't help it, it justsame play or throw an interception.
happens. They don't just play theVick throws picks or gets sacked like every other
game. They change the game.We saw it inQB, but more times than not he
basketball with Michael Jordan. We are witnessing itwill create something out of nothing. That's the
now in golf withMVexPerience. The NFL doesn't
Tiger Woods. Baseball had Babe Ruth. Waynerealize it yet but the days of the 6'5" prototypical
Gretzky did it in hockey. Football candropback QB being a commodity
thank Lawrence Taylor for changing the wayare quickly passing by. That player won't go away
defense is played. Now it can point tocompletely - look at Peyton
MVProdigy as the One who will lift up the standardManning and Tom Brady - but over the next 10
for the future of pro football.Mike Vick is the mostyears, as football produces more
exciting player in football, if not the most excitingand more MVPretenders at QB, NFL teams will need
athlete into adjust their offensive
sports. He has led a perennial loser to elite status inphilosophy to take advantage of these immensely
the National Football League.talented players.The strong winds of change are
His team, the Atlanta Falcons, are a legitimatereshaping the landscape of American football. Some
contender to win the Super Bowl. Heare having a difficult time accepting that superior
is the most feared player in the league. Period. Whileplayers will rule the future, not
in college at Virginia Tech hejust of football, but of all sports. It's not about 300
was touted as 'The Future'. His moves with the ballyard, 2TD afternoons anymore
cause future hall of famebut about the inevitability of the MVPrototype
defensive backs look like they belong in Sundaybecoming the future of the NFL QB.
School. It's appropriate that he's aEventually, the critics will have to sing MVPraises.
Falcon because once he takes off, you're not