| I like when people start to criticize and complain. It | | | | catching him.If you didn't know Mike Vick is a |
| tells me that the fear of change | | | | quarterback, you wouldn't guess it by this |
| is in the air and that is the way they are compelled | | | | description of him.Vick is not just a quarterback. He's |
| to deal with it. It means to me | | | | a 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 to | | | | Falcons have little chance of even |
| deliver a disparaging word to keep any due hype in | | | | making the playoffs, much less contend for a Super |
| check, especially in sports where | | | | Bowl. The Falcons have quality |
| the business of hype often generates more revenue | | | | players who can win games, but without Vick they |
| than the business of the sport | | | | just might be able to beat USC.Regardless, I don't like |
| itself. American football is the world's most popular | | | | what I'm hearing about MVPeriod. People who think |
| sport, so hype is something it | | | | they |
| doesn't really need. But there is something happening | | | | know football say he is too one-dimensional. and he |
| now that the league didn't | | | | will have to learn to pass first |
| ask for: a major overhaul to the entire look and feel | | | | if he is to lead his team to championships. Why does |
| of the game.Football is a team sport, much more | | | | it matter if he can pick up 40 |
| than any other major sport. That in itself | | | | yards with his legs after line protection breaks |
| makes this phenomenon even more significant than | | | | down? 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 who | | | | and 8? But wait. It isn't just |
| possess intangibles that players of | | | | running for positive yards that adds value to this |
| similar talent do not. Then there are those who | | | | player. His legs have the ability to |
| elevate the status of their sport to | | | | avoid defensive pressure and knock out a quick 7 |
| heights never before seen or imagined. But there is | | | | yard pass play on 1st or 2nd |
| one other level of athletic | | | | down. Those are yards created by instincts created |
| aptitude defined by players who possess so much | | | | by the situation. This is the way |
| athletic genius that the game can | | | | MVPlays it. Other QBs may lose 7 yards on that |
| no longer contain them. They can't help it, it just | | | | same play or throw an interception. |
| happens. They don't just play the | | | | Vick throws picks or gets sacked like every other |
| game. They change the game.We saw it in | | | | QB, but more times than not he |
| basketball with Michael Jordan. We are witnessing it | | | | will create something out of nothing. That's the |
| now in golf with | | | | MVexPerience. The NFL doesn't |
| Tiger Woods. Baseball had Babe Ruth. Wayne | | | | realize it yet but the days of the 6'5" prototypical |
| Gretzky did it in hockey. Football can | | | | dropback QB being a commodity |
| thank Lawrence Taylor for changing the way | | | | are quickly passing by. That player won't go away |
| defense is played. Now it can point to | | | | completely - look at Peyton |
| MVProdigy as the One who will lift up the standard | | | | Manning and Tom Brady - but over the next 10 |
| for the future of pro football.Mike Vick is the most | | | | years, as football produces more |
| exciting player in football, if not the most exciting | | | | and more MVPretenders at QB, NFL teams will need |
| athlete in | | | | to adjust their offensive |
| sports. He has led a perennial loser to elite status in | | | | philosophy 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 legitimate | | | | reshaping the landscape of American football. Some |
| contender to win the Super Bowl. He | | | | are having a difficult time accepting that superior |
| is the most feared player in the league. Period. While | | | | players will rule the future, not |
| in college at Virginia Tech he | | | | just of football, but of all sports. It's not about 300 |
| was touted as 'The Future'. His moves with the ball | | | | yard, 2TD afternoons anymore |
| cause future hall of fame | | | | but about the inevitability of the MVPrototype |
| defensive backs look like they belong in Sunday | | | | becoming the future of the NFL QB. |
| School. It's appropriate that he's a | | | | Eventually, the critics will have to sing MVPraises. |
| Falcon because once he takes off, you're not | | | | |