I know it sounds a bit petty using the old cliche "I told ya so," but reading the latest entry by Yahoo! Sports' Brad Evans to the Roto Arcade blog I just can't help myself. There's just nothing else to do when it all comes down to it considering how much I despise the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Michael Vick.
So, here goes. I told ya so.
As I predicted back on Sept. 4 in an article you can read here, Vick is finding it impossible to back up the boast he made prior to the season that was quoted in an article by Yahoo! Sports' Michael Silver. That boast? Well, Vick said, "You can't design a defense to stop me."
Apparently you can, and a number of teams around the NFL, including the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, and Arizona Cardinals did just that. In fact, in Vick's latest outing against the Cardinals, he turned in some pretty pathetic numbers, going 16-of-34 for 128 yards (47.1 completion percentage), while throwing two interceptions and being sacked twice. That adds up to a QB rating of 32.5.
I'm guessing Vick isn't going to repeat that boast to anyone playing defense for Arizona; not when he's at the top of the list of the "All-Turkey Team." Of course, he's been on mine and a number of other people's All-Turkey Team for a few years.
Although I've laid off this whole issue for quite a while (feeling it was unnecessary to pour salt into the open wound that was the Eagles' season), I think most of my readers know where I stand regarding Vick, and why I felt it was a monumental mistake for Philadelphia to sign him to a $100 million contract as they did. If it were up to me (as I wrote in an article you can read here), Vick wouldn't even be playing in the NFL because of the heinous things he did to the dogs involved in his dog-fighting case that sent him to prison.
I've said over and over I felt it was a mistake for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to ever re-instate the man, and that Vick should have been banned from professional football for life. However, it wasn't up to me, and my personal views had no bearing on Goodell's decision. Yet, it's rather pleasing to see justice sometimes finds a way to be done even when many are working to avoid its outcome.
I'm not speaking of Vick's current injuries, either. As I said in an earlier article, and have maintained throughout all of my pieces about Vick, I don't wish physical injury on the man. However, watching him play poorly all year, and the Eagles' visions of a "Dream" season implode because of it has put a smile on my face.
More importantly, the thousands who--as Evans put it in his piece--crazily took Vick No. 1 in their fantasy leagues are probably regretting that decision quite a bit.
Vick's popularity is the key to his ever even getting that contract with the Eagles, and if that popularity wanes, I can only hope he eventually fades away and becomes more than just a 2011 Fantasy Football bust. There's no hope Goodell will ever ban him from the NFL (that ship has sailed), but there is a good chance that if he keeps playing as poorly as he has once he returns to the starting lineup, his days in professional football will nevertheless be numbered.
To me, and the millions of dog lovers around the nation who will never forgive Vick for his heinous crimes, that's a really good thing to think about. We can only hope his topping the "All-Turkey Team" is just a harbinger of things to come for his career.
Hut, hut, hike!
More from Yahoo! Contributor Network:
Exploring the Miami Dolphins Bubble That's About to Burst
There's Simply No Explaining How Tebow and Broncos Are Winning
Playoffs? Don't Talk About Playoffs! You Kidding Me?
Criticism of Tebow's Game and His Religious Displays Are Separate Issues
Miami Dolphins Should Still Immediately Fire Head Coach Tony Sparano
All stats and information taken from personal notes and verified at Pro-Football-Reference.com, NFL.com, and Yahoo! Sports.
Read more by Daniel Barber aka Hotnuke at TFS Sports.
*Daniel Barber has been a fan of all Miami teams since he was a child or since their inception having been born right above Miami.
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