As NFL camp is on the horizon (football is almost here!!!), there are plenty of stories around the league worth noting.  Two more interesting events happening are surrounding two quarterbacks, with great talent, going in opposite directions.  One is on his way out.  The other is trying to make his way back in.  If you haven’t guessed by now, we’re talking about Brett Favre and Michael Vick.  Two quarterbacks that were at one point both icons in the league for the skill sets they brought to the game.  Now they find themselves making headlines for the wrong reasons (Vick obviously moreso than Favre).  The common question around those two is, should either play in the NFL this season?

Is it just getting sad now for Favre?

Favre has gone through his usual offseason of flip flopping between retirement and playing and each year he seems more and more convinced he’s going to retire, then at the last minute he decides to play again.  The problem stemming from that is, each year he doesn’t retire and decides to play, his age becomes more and more prominent.  Last year showed clearly why he cannot rely on his athleticism (hardly) to make plays.  Already having not so great throwing technique, by midseason, his body has worn and his production falls off. 

This was evident last year when the Jets seemed to fade away at the end of the year (and officially sent packing by the quarterback they dumped for Favre, Chad Pennington).  Bottom line is, if he decides to play for the Vikings this year, the Vikings will have growing pains in September, hit stride in October, and then fade away in November and December due to Favre’s inability to make plays.  It won’t seem as bad because Adrian Peterson is a monster and will pick up the slack for Favre, but still, I don’t forsee the Vikings making the playoffs this year. Showing Favre is definitely on the way out.

Is Vick Ready for a Return?

For those of you living under a rock the last two years, Michael Vick was arrested and plead guilty for financing dog fights, and served two years in Jail (well the end of it was on House Arrest).  Anyways, he has just been released from jail and is in a position that no athlete ever wants to be in; needing to find a team that will sign him, and resurrect his career and image.  At one point, Vick seemed like the future of NFL QBs.  He had the biggest contract in NFL history, his Jersey was the highest selling Jersey in the NFL, he was an icon and a role model to underpriviledged kids who had dreams of being in the NFL, and in addition to all that, he was a pretty good QB.  That image crashed and burned when the dog fighting scandal emerged. 

Now that he has served his time, and served a punishment (decided by officials we elect) dictated was the proper punishment for the crime he committed, is he ready to return to playing in the NFL?  Will a team risk the PETA rallies that will surround their stadium every day if they sign him? Can a GM sign a guy that has not played any football in the last 2 years (thank you ESPN for producing a story confirming that Vick was not playing football in Jail.  Otherwise I couldn’t have made that last statement with confidence)?  These are all questions that are yet to be answered.  My take is that Vick should probably serve a one year suspension but be reinstated to the NFL so he can sign with a team and get back to at least practicing football.

One Now and One Later

In conclusion, one player will play this year, but the other will play next year.  Brett Favre will play this year, but this is the year it backfires on him.  He is really getting too old.  Unlike last year, he does have substantial run game support, but it won’t be enough, he still will fade at the end of the year and this will be his last year playing in the NFL.

Vick, on the other hand, will sit out a year.  The UFL talk is just speculation, he will more likely work out in anticipation of signing with a new team by the start of next year.  He will never completely recover his image, but he will return to being a playmaker, and make one franchise very happy they took a chance on him.

Related posts:

1. The Mike Vick Experience v 2.0
2. NFL, Arrests, and Justice
3. Is it October yet?
4. Adrian “All Day” Peterson = MURDERER
5. NFL Preview: NFC West (because it’s never too late)