The aspect that is clouding Vick signing is the fact that he still has to serve a five-game suspension. The suspension was handed down by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell when he granted Vick the partial reinstatement. If a team sounds Vick now, they won’t reap any benefit until Week 6 at the earliest.

The other aspect that is clouding the picture is Vick himself. How good is he? Has he stayed in shape? Could he still play quarterback at the NFL level? Those questions are difficult to answer. He’s been away from the game for two years and may not still be the elite athlete he once was.

It’ll take a special circumstance for a team to sign Vick. One thing that may lead to a Vick signing is an injury. If a team suddenly loses quarterback depth during training camp, Vick becomes an interesting option. Another scenario may be that teams will wait into their training camps to so they can judge what they have at quarterback. If they are lacking, then Vick may enter the picture.

Some sources even believe that Vick won’t get signed until some point in the regular season — or maybe next offseason! Stay tuned . . .

Where will Michael Vick sign? (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

When Will Michael Vick Sign with a Team?

New England Patriots
Bill Belichick is one coach who doesn’t have to worry about his job. Also consider that Belichick likes players who can play multiple positions. Could Vick have Randy Moss type success with the Patriots?

San Francisco 49ers
The Niners are arguably the most desperate team in the league when it comes to the quarterback position. If Vick is serious about playing — and playing quickly — the Niners make a lot of sense.

Oakland Raiders
Doesn’t this situation just scream Al Davis. The only reason why Davis might not want Vick is due to the presence of JaMarcus Russell — a current Al Davis favorite.

Minnesota Vikings
Now that the Vikings have officially (well, as official as anything can be with the person at hand) lost their bid to woo Brett Favre out of retirement, Vick’s name will undoubtedly come up in Minnesota.

Michael Vick Destinations (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Michael Vick – Possible NFL Destinations

If Vick is suspended for the first four games of the season, that could really hurt his chances of catching on with a team. He’ll already have trouble finding work as it is. Would a team be willing to invest in Vick even though he still will face a suspension? Perhaps not.

For Vick to land on a team, it will take a unique situation. Not only will the team need a quarter, the team would also need an owner who is willing to take the potential publicity hit.

If Vick can’t get another try in the NFL, the UFL has emerged as a possible destination for Vick. JP Losman, formerly of the Buffalo Bills, has signed on with the league. Some NFL experts believe that the UFL would be the perfect place for Vick to showcase whether or not he’s still an elite quarterback.

Michael Vick 4 game suspension forthcoming? (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Will Michael Vick be Suspended Four Games?

The UFL will have four teams in its first season. Those teams are located in San Francisco, New York, Las Vegas and Orlando. Additionally, the league plans to play games in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Hartford.

Although many people are skeptical about how long the UFL will survive, they have already landed some interesting coaches. The San Francisco team will be coached by Dennis Green, the New York Team will be coached by Ted Cottrell, the Las Vegas team will be coached by Jim Fassel and the Orlando team will be coached by Jim Haslett.

Signing Vick obviously would do wonders for the UFL. Fans would undoubtedly tune in to see Vick play on a football field once again.

That said, Vick playing in the UFL might not make much sense for him if he ever hopes to play in the NFL again. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wants Vick to prove that he’s sorry for what he’s done and it’s unlikely that Vick playing in the NFL will help matters.

Will Michael Vick play in the UFL? (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Michael Vick to the United Football League?

An indefinite suspension for Burress and Vick would likely keep both players from participating in the 2009 NFL season. Although the move by Goodell would be somewhat surprising, it would align with his goal of cleaning up the league’s image.

Vick was recently released from prison but hasn’t yet served a suspension from the NFL. If his indefinite suspension continues, the earliest he would likely see the field against is the 2010 NFL season.

Burress is facing gun charges and has thus far refused to take a plea bargain. The talented wide receiver has a number of teams interested in his services but this latest news makes it sound like he won’t be available for this forthcoming year.

Roger Goodell - NFL Commissioner (Image: Zuma Press)

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Indefinite Suspensions for Burress, Vick?

The Burress situation will be more difficult for Goodell to figure out. Burress is facing gun charges but his trial has been delayed. Will Goodell punish Burress with an NFL suspension even before his case is heard in front of a judge? Most experts believe that Goodell could very well suspend Burress for at least the first couple games of the 2009 NFL season — whether or not his legal case has been concluded.

As for Vick, Goodell will take more time. Vick, who recently got out of prison after being found guilty of dog-fighting related charges, will likely garner quite a bit of attention around the league once he’s reinstated. Experts in this case are split on what Goodell might do. Some think Goodell will allow Vick to play right away and consider his prison sentence as time served, while other think that Goodell could suspend Vick for up to another year.

Roger Goodell - NFL Commissioner (Image: Zuma Press)

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Goodell to Consider Burress and Vick

Donte Stallworth - DUI Manslaughter (Image: Newscom)

In the state of Florida, the legal blood-alcohol limit is .08. According to multiple reports, Stallworth’s tested at .13. In addition to the DUI manslaughter, Stallworth has been charged with DUI.

With a warrant out for his arrest, Stallworth is expected to surrender to police on Thursday. He’s also expected to be released after posting a six-figure bail.

Prior to last season, Stallworth signed a deal worth $35 million over seven years. On the football field, he was very disappointing in his first season with the Browns. In 11 games, Stallworth was only able to finish with 17 receptions and 170 yards.

While the Browns and NFL haven’t yet punished Stallworth, there’s no doubt that he would face severe punishment – with a suspension all but a given. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has made it a priority to cut down on negative conduct from players.

The charge of DUI manslaughter has a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.

Post from: EveryJoe

Stallworth Charged with DUI Manslaughter

Usually, when you’re talking about evidence supporting a videotape claim, said evidence is—wait for it—the videotape itself. Not eight other videotapes of signals involving other teams and other games. Somehow Walsh, who turned over those irrelevant-the-Rams-issue tapes, must subscribe to the logic “If X=Y and Z=Y, then A=B because, well, because I said so.”

Or something like that.

Michael Levy, Walsh’s lawyer, added yet another “WTF?” to the mix by stating (per ESPN) that

“Mr. Walsh has never claimed to have a tape of the walk-through . . . Mr. Walsh has never been the source of any of the media speculation about such a tape. Mr. Walsh was not the source for the Feb. 2 Boston Herald article.”

So let’s get this straight: Walsh (and two others) videotaped for the Patriots during the timeframe in question. Walsh gave up tapes. But he didn’t turn over evidence of the high-profile allegation linking his name to the Rams case. (Google ”Matt Walsh” and “St. Louis Rams.” We garnered 44,200 hits. Now go re-read Levy’s comments).

This makes less sense than the fact that Paris Hilton pulled down $150K for partying at a London nightclub.

Oh, and given that the eight tapes are consistent with what the Pats already ‘fessed up to, there’s no news here. Somebody–Walsh, his lawyer, the Boston Herald, the Patriots, the NFL–has some ’splainin’ to do about this mess.

What’s more idiotic: Matt Walsh not providing a Pats-Rams Super Bowl tape or the realization that someone paid Paris Hilton $150K to show up at a London nightclub?

Image: Used courtesy of www.splashnewsonline.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Lawyer for Ex-Pats Videotaper Matt Walsh: He Never Claimed to Have a Rams Tape

The backstabbing ingrate with an ax to grind former assistant to the New England Patriots will have a sit-down with NFL Commissioner and likely-can’t-wait-till-his-tenure-is-over Roger Goodell on May 13.

Matt Walsh, on the Pats’ staff from 199-2003, was once upon a time the “unnamed source” who busted open the story about the Patriots taping the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. Walsh claims to have evidence about the ho-hum-scandal-that-isn’t-really-a-scandal.(Oh, except that it involves Bill Belichick and the Patriots. Notice that the rumblings about the Denver Broncos taping the San Diego Chargers was swept under the run in a hurry—by everyone).

Get ready for the dirty laundry.

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Matt Walsh to Take Down Belichick and the Patriots

Did the Denver Broncos videotape the San Diego Chargers practicing?

The report came out on Yahoo!—without any cited sources—and is recapped here on the San Diego Tribune. Seems Chargers GM A.J. Smith kicked up security a notch or 12 when he took the helm in 2003. Why? Smith “won’t go down those roads” but the Yahoo story does, alleging that ”Denver spies” inspired the change in tactics.

As to the videotaping:

“The NFL had been aware of it for several years (at least one NFL official had seen one of the tapes), but didn’t step in because it was considered a team issue.”

What did the Denver Broncos have to say about the report? Nada. What did the San Diego Chargers offer for comment? None.

Make of that what you will.

Our take? Roger Goodell has only reached the tip of the iceberg, and Belichick, if he’s guilty, is in good company.

Post from: EveryJoe

Spygate II: Denver Broncos?