A move they’re sure to regret

I have long thought that it was the foolish teams that took risk players. At the moment I’m having a hard time thinking of a team that took a chance on a player with behaviour and maturity problems, and didn’t go on to regret it.

Vick, who participated in a three-day mini-camp with the Dolphins earlier this month, completed 177 of 289 passes for 2,393 yards with 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, leading Virginia Tech to an 11-2 record and berth in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game in 2005.

But his career with the Hokies included many transgressions. He made an obscene gesture to fans during a game at West Virginia, and stomped on Louisville player Elvis Dumervil’s leg during the Gator Bowl.

Vick was suspended by Virginia Tech for the 2004 season because of legal problems, then was eventually dismissed from the team after being stopped for speeding and driving with a revoked or suspended license.

All this to say, I virtually guarantee that in a week, a month, maybe in a year or two the Dolphins are going to regret taking this chance with Marcus Vick. He’s going to do something, and they’ll be forced to release him. Some other team will see athletic potential, and they’ll take a chance on him. They too will regret it.

It’s not just about athletic ability. If it was, Joe Montana wouldn’t have been that great. He had a good enough arm, but his maturity, his leadership, and his poise were what made him good. It wasn’t just about how hard he could throw the deep out.