Ravens only team to admit interest in Vick; Dolphins, Bengals say no

[CantStop85]

Ravens only team to admit interest in Vick; Dolphins, Bengals say no

July 29, 2009
CBSSports.com wire reports


If any NFL teams are interested in Michael Vick, they're not saying.

A day after the quarterback was conditionally reinstated to the league, only the Baltimore Ravens would directly acknowledge evaluating him.

"We've had long discussions about Michael Vick and we have a feeling about how he would impact our team and not impact our team," coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday.

General manager Ozzie Newsome declined comment. Previously, he has said the Ravens have enough quarterbacks.

Other teams either refused comment or insisted they wouldn't pick up the former Atlanta Falcons star, who served 18 months in federal prison for running a dogfighting ring and was released from home confinement on July 20.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that Vick can immediately take part in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games -- if he can find a team.

Once the season begins, Vick may participate in all team activities except games, and Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6 (Oct. 18-19) at the latest.

Two clubs that might have seemed like a logical destination -- the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals -- said they wouldn't pursue Vick.

Bengals owner Mike Brown refers to himself as "a redeemer" and is known for giving troubled players a second chance, or more. But Cincinnati has a full complement of quarterbacks, and starter Carson Palmer has fully recovered from an elbow injury that sidelined him for 12 games last season.

"When you have a situation like ours, he's a very difficult fit," Brown said. "Quarterbacks are like queen bees -- you can only have one of them before they start stepping on each other. And we have ours. Carson's the guy. That's why it just doesn't fit for here in a football sense."

The Dolphins rejuvenated their offense last season by mixing in the Wildcat, a variation of the single wing. The package featured direct long snaps to running back Ronnie Brown, who usually ran with the ball.

The Wildcat would take advantage of Vick's running ability, but the Dolphins drafted another running quarterback in April: West Virginia's Pat White. They also have 2008 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Chad Pennington returning and promising Chad Henne as the No. 2 quarterback.

"We don't have an interest," general manager Jeff Ireland said in a statement. "We like the players we have on our current roster."

Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said "we're not bringing him in right now," but acknowledged the team is always weighing its options. The Broncos have uncertainty at quarterback after trading the disgruntled Jay Cutler. Kyle Orton is penciled in as the starter.

"We're always going to try to do what's best for the organization -- that could mean it's a player or a situation that we're going to evaluate," McDaniels said. "We're always going to try to make sure that we leave no stone unturned. If it means adding a player, we have looked at every player that we feel out there could help us at this time."

One organization that wants Vick is the upstart UFL. The four-team league plans to kick off a six-game season in October.

"I still think we are the best option for him," UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue said.

Huyghue suggested Vick could prove to NFL teams that he's ready to return -- on and off the field -- during the UFL season.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards figured Vick's conditional status would leave general managers in a bind.

"It's got to be hard to sign him, because where are you going to put him?" he said. "You don't know if he'll be able to play Week 1, and you want him to be your starting quarterback or at least compete for a starting job, (but) you can't essentially do that as a general manager."

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/11998758/rss

[RoethlisBURGHer]

Guess they are sick of the Bengals being the All-Felon team of the division.

[Galax Steeler]

They need to work on getting a receiver not someone like Vick.

[tunes4life]

At first I was really impressed with John Harbaugh. But he is really starting to look like a fool. Between this and the "Oooooh I don't wanna open against the Steeleers at home - WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!". He's looking pretty desperate. I agree Vick is a talent. But being the first NFL team to sign him is going to be accompanied with lots of negative publicity, distractions, and unwanted media. On top of that, just looking at Vick has to shake up Flacco's confidence. I guess maybe Harbaugh just got lucky inheriting a good team. These decisions seem really foolish. That's cool wid me! I'm starting to thing that Harbaugh is on our payroll.

[Steel Head]

Originally Posted by tunes4life

At first I was really impressed with John Harbaugh. But he is really starting to look like a fool. Between this and the "Oooooh I don't wanna open against the Steeleers at home - WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!". He's looking pretty desperate. I agree Vick is a talent. But being the first NFL team to sign him is going to be accompanied with lots of negative publicity, distractions, and unwanted media. On top of that, just looking at Vick has to shake up Flacco's confidence. I guess maybe Harbaugh just got lucky inheriting a good team. These decisions seem really foolish. That's cool wid me! I'm starting to thing that Harbaugh is on our payroll.

good post

I live in the Baltimore/DC area so I get to hear plenty of Harbaugh on the radio. He is a douchebag

[revefsreleets]

I think they want him to play WR...

[Steel Head]

Originally Posted by revefsreleets

I think they want him to play WR...

good for them

too bad he's never played WR before, i doubt he would be good at it

I also heard they are talking about trying Troy Smith at WR. They are so desperate it is pathetic

[Dino 6 Rings]

I agree, there is zero Evidence that Vick would be able to run routes, catch the ball or make the defense really even adjust to him being in the Slot or Spread out.

Maybe Baltimore will just start lining up in the wishbone soon since they have zero receivers worth a crap on their roster.

[revefsreleets]

Bengals probably passed because Vick's crime only hurt animals...the REAL thugs in the locker room would tear him up for being such a profanityfilterprofanityfilterprofanityfilterprofa nityfilterprofanityfilter.

[CantStop85]

Originally Posted by revefsreleets

Bengals probably passed because Vick's crime only hurt animals...the REAL thugs in the locker room would tear him up for being such a profanityfilterprofanityfilterprofanityfilterprofa nityfilterprofanityfilter.

Real thugs? Like who? Chris Henry and the wine coolers he just bought for some 16-year-old girls?