Brian Damage
12-06-2009, 03:47 AM
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d814b55e3&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
The Atlanta Falcons knew this week could be filled with controversy. And man, are they thankful for Tiger Woods.
There is minimal -- minimal -- buzz regarding former franchise quarterback Michael Vick's return to Atlanta on Sunday as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. It wasn't supposed to be like this.
Teams ready to play spoiler When Vick signed with Philadelphia after his release from prison and home confinement, stores couldn't keep Vick's No. 7 Eagles jerseys on the racks in Atlanta. Tickets to this game moved faster than Chris Johnson and talk radio airwaves had their meters move just as they did during the months of divisive uncertainty before Vick finally confessed to his role in federal dog fighting charges in 2007.
The emotions, once again, were polarizing, with Vick's supporters bragging about how he's going to come back and make Atlanta regret turning its back on him. Others were going to don their No. 2 Matt Ryan jerseys and stand steadfast defending the team, its new quarterback and how the franchise overall is better off without that dog killer who never was a "real" quarterback.
Tensions were high. Now, they are pretty much non-existent.
I live in Atlanta and I covered this story as the Falcons beat writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from the front lines before joining NFL.com, so I know the hostility this issue has wrought. I've felt it. I've lived it.
I'm not feeling it now.
Vick's return has been the biggest non-story of the year in Atlanta, a far cry from expectations of projected sidewalk riots and fears of a Georgia Dome uprising. Don't think that those projections a few months ago were far-fetched or idiotic either. Knowing how Vick's fall pulled this city apart, I had some of those same thoughts myself.
The main reason why this story has been minimized is because Vick has been minimized. He's touched the ball 24 times for a total of 71 yards (six passing) for the Eagles. He hasn't elicited the threat of coming back to Atlanta and adding 10 highlights to his lengthy footage of dazzling plays -- during all of which he's wearing a Falcons uniform.
I spoke to two local sports-talk hosts from two different stations this week to ask about Vick traffic. Both told me that there hasn't been any. Tiger Woods and the SEC championship game, which will be played between Florida and Alabama on Saturday at the Georgia Dome, have been the topics of discussion.
Vick actually rated behind the particulars of the game itself: Those being that Atlanta will be without Ryan and Michael Turner, and have to face a quarterback in Donovan McNabb -- not Vick -- who could shred them.
Now, that's not saying that there isn't going to be some emotions and jaw-jacking at the game between fans. Vick's supporters are going to be out in force, as will Falcons fans. But don't expect a ton of action when the Eagles come running out of the tunnel upon introductions. In fact, there might not be that much static when Vick takes the field for the first time -- if he takes the field.
Falcons' fans are the latest arriving fans in the league. The Georgia Dome doesn't get near capacity until late in the first quarter and that goes back to when Vick made attending Falcons games must-see theatre.
The Atlanta Falcons knew this week could be filled with controversy. And man, are they thankful for Tiger Woods.
There is minimal -- minimal -- buzz regarding former franchise quarterback Michael Vick's return to Atlanta on Sunday as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. It wasn't supposed to be like this.
Teams ready to play spoiler When Vick signed with Philadelphia after his release from prison and home confinement, stores couldn't keep Vick's No. 7 Eagles jerseys on the racks in Atlanta. Tickets to this game moved faster than Chris Johnson and talk radio airwaves had their meters move just as they did during the months of divisive uncertainty before Vick finally confessed to his role in federal dog fighting charges in 2007.
The emotions, once again, were polarizing, with Vick's supporters bragging about how he's going to come back and make Atlanta regret turning its back on him. Others were going to don their No. 2 Matt Ryan jerseys and stand steadfast defending the team, its new quarterback and how the franchise overall is better off without that dog killer who never was a "real" quarterback.
Tensions were high. Now, they are pretty much non-existent.
I live in Atlanta and I covered this story as the Falcons beat writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from the front lines before joining NFL.com, so I know the hostility this issue has wrought. I've felt it. I've lived it.
I'm not feeling it now.
Vick's return has been the biggest non-story of the year in Atlanta, a far cry from expectations of projected sidewalk riots and fears of a Georgia Dome uprising. Don't think that those projections a few months ago were far-fetched or idiotic either. Knowing how Vick's fall pulled this city apart, I had some of those same thoughts myself.
The main reason why this story has been minimized is because Vick has been minimized. He's touched the ball 24 times for a total of 71 yards (six passing) for the Eagles. He hasn't elicited the threat of coming back to Atlanta and adding 10 highlights to his lengthy footage of dazzling plays -- during all of which he's wearing a Falcons uniform.
I spoke to two local sports-talk hosts from two different stations this week to ask about Vick traffic. Both told me that there hasn't been any. Tiger Woods and the SEC championship game, which will be played between Florida and Alabama on Saturday at the Georgia Dome, have been the topics of discussion.
Vick actually rated behind the particulars of the game itself: Those being that Atlanta will be without Ryan and Michael Turner, and have to face a quarterback in Donovan McNabb -- not Vick -- who could shred them.
Now, that's not saying that there isn't going to be some emotions and jaw-jacking at the game between fans. Vick's supporters are going to be out in force, as will Falcons fans. But don't expect a ton of action when the Eagles come running out of the tunnel upon introductions. In fact, there might not be that much static when Vick takes the field for the first time -- if he takes the field.
Falcons' fans are the latest arriving fans in the league. The Georgia Dome doesn't get near capacity until late in the first quarter and that goes back to when Vick made attending Falcons games must-see theatre.