Michael Vick Trade (Was it worth it?)
 

2001 Draft, Chargers trade the first overall pick (Vick) for the fifth overall, the 67th, a 2nd round pick in 2002, and Tim Dwight.

Seemed like the falcons traded a ton for (basically) a kordell stewart clone.

Verdict's still out. I doubt we get to the playoffs twice and have a chance at back-to-back winning seasons for the first time ever if we don't make the trade, though.

Tomlinson alone, makes that deal sour for the Falcons.

What Grammaticus said.

But the Falcons would not have drafted Tomlinson...they would have likely picked David Terrell with the #5 pick. Vick > Terrell

I think the verdict is also still out, due to the time it takes QBs to develop vs. the time it takes RBs to develop; however, a very strong case can be made for Tomlinson's health vs. Vick's health.

Yeah, the health issue is a concern, but as VPI pointed out, I doubt we draft LT in the 5-hole anyway, considering Americus Boy's love affair with Jamal, who was coming off of a nice comeback year and was expected to be stronger in '01. VPI's probably right about Terrell. The only good that could have come from that pick is that we probably end up with Peppers and/or Palmer as a result. :p

and remember, a part of that deal is the extra pick, freeing San Diego to take Brees in the 2nd round.

I think for both teams, it was a franchise booster. I have a hard time picturing the Chargers doing as well as they are with Vick at the helm and no LT. And Vick is the franchise (and a marketing gold mine) in Atlanta. The important thing, to me, is that I don't think either franchise would be a succesful as they are today without having made that trade.

Yup.

I would just like to take a moment to recognize Raider's Army for being perhaps the first person in the history of the internet to start this discussion without mistakingly including Drew Brees in the Chargers side of the trade.

My opinion varies daily, but ultimately it was a win/win trade.

JEEZUS CHRISTMAS CAN YOU STOP BEING A VICK APOLOGIST!

this is bordering on lunacy. just stop. STOP. :mad:

And would you stop wanting him to be a clone of a pocket QB.


Do the Falcs win with him in? - Yes.

Do they win with him out? - No.

what kind of stupidity is this?

We hold these truths to be self-evident.

A strange little man, he is.

I would like to apologize on behalf of Michael Vick for having one of the three highest winning percentages among NLF quarterbacks since 2001, going to two pro-bowls in his first four seasons, making the playoffs twice in his first four seasons and taking a ragtag football team to the NFC Championship game.

When comparing the trade, I just look at who got the best player(s). Trying to figure out "what ifs" is all conjecture. Personally, I think the Chargers ended up much better off than the Falcons did.

Also, with Vick...I think comparing his development with a typical QB is wrong. Running QBs tend to have a much shorter career than the typical QB (or they change their ways). A running QB needs to develop and do his thing earlier than your typical QB if he's going to have a major impact IMO. Vick still has a chance to do something, but I feel his window is closing quick for him to live up to the hype when he came out.

Chargers have 'won' the trade, barely. Vick certainly could be one of those guys like Elway or Young who blossoms late in his career, but there's no guarantee of that.

Vick doesn't like the cold.

Atlanta is no different than the Panthers. they're the exact same team: defensive-minded head coach, good defense, strong running games. the only difference is the Panthers were thisclose to wining a Super Bowl and the Falcons haven't been there yet. at this point in time i can't honestly say i'd take Vick over Delhomme - Delhomme hasn't been as injured, is a proven late game QB, and nearly single handedly won a championship. highlight clips mean nothing if you can't win.

Vick is a good running back. if the NFL allows the option then my money is on Atlanta. until then, Vick ain't good.

Chargers got LT and Brees out of the deal, Falcons got a QB who has yet to play a 16 game season and who abandons the play to tuck the ball in so he can make another top 10 play on ESPN.

I think it was a good move for both teams. I don't think either team would have been as successful in the other's shoes. Thomlinson and Schottenheimer are a great fit, and Vick's a great fit for what Atlanta does. It's amazing what Vick has accomplished with no wide receives and retread running backs, and I think Drew Brees owes Thomlinson a commission on his next contract.

The judgement could certainly change over the years. Until one or both of the players can win a title or be consistent in the playoffs, than there really isn't anything to brag about.

The NFL does "allow" the option. It's just that no one runs it.

There you go, Leafs.

I don't sense that Vick is much of a leader out there. He just kind of does his thing. Just a guess from way on the outside looking in though.

The option doesn't work in the NFL. Linebackers are way too fast.

Ask Green Bay how much he likes the cold ;) 1st home playoff loss ever...

Vick’s value to a team is equal to that of a running back. He is a good runner and a poor passer. The fear of his running is what makes passing options appear when they would not otherwise. Once the fear of him running is diminished, he will be an even poorer passer.

Most running backs production severely drops off after the age of 30 and many do not even make it that long. I know there are some notable exceptions, but the vast majority of runners are no longer worth the value after 30 (about a 7 or 8 year career). A decent quarterbacks shelf life is more like 15 years, with about 3 being lower production developmental years.

Based on this logic, Vick’s shelf life is that of a running back and not a quarterback. Unless he reinvents himself as a passer, he may have 5 years left. Although his injury record shows that he is not even a particularly durable runner.

Sure, the verdict is still out on Vick, but why engage in such a risky investment, when there are so many better options available. The Falcons are draining their resources into Vick, which is holding the team back. Yeah, they had some moderate success, but they had better success with Dan Reeves and Jamal Anderson.

It is a tough call to cut the cord on an investment that you have put so much into, but you have to make the call at some point. It’s even tougher when everyone is hyping the guy beyond the second coming. My guess is, you’ll still be awaiting that coming in 5 years.

I liked the trade then, and I love it now. I wasn't sold on Vick, but I liked LT coming in. That draft sure helped me forget about Leaf.

I thought the trade made alot of sense for both teams before it even happened. And I think both teams got what they wanted out of it. I do think the Chargers set themselves up better long term with Tomlinson and Brees tho.

Both teams had pretty good drafts in 2001 (Atlanta's 2nd was Crumpler), and I think you have to say it was a win-win for both teams. Put where both of these teams are today in the context of the teams that picked 2nd and 3rd in that draft, Arizona and Cleveland, and it's tough to say that either was a big loser. It's kind of hard to make a call on this as well because if I remember correctly Vick wasn't going to sign with the Chargers anyway ala Eli, so they had to make a deal, it wasn't that they somehow saw LT as a more valuable player and made a move accordingly. Vick may not be everything you want in a QB but I'd be very surprised if he didn't win a ring or two before he's done. Put a good team around him and one of these years he'll string some of that magic together for a couple games in the playoffs.

I can't watch a falcons game without thinking the team would be better off with Vick lined up as FL, and Schaub as the starting QB.

The Falcons already can't get the ball to their WR's or protect their mobile QB. Enter Schaub unmobile QB, who can't even complete 50% of his passes either. Bad idea..

4-12 isn't better than having a chance at the postseason.

Problem with that logic is that Vick is not good at getting the ball to the WRs on the run.

Vick seems to get the ball fine to Crumpler on the run because Crumpler actually gets seperation. Jenkins and White are young, but can't get open. Teams like Carolina and the Bears play man on the outside, put a safety deep and 8 in the box with someone to watch Crumpler and the Falcons can move the ball without big runs. Its tough to throw the ball without a reciever who can get open which is why the Falcons try every year to find a guy that can. (Price(FA), Jenkins(1st), White(1st))

Dude, but Michael Vick sucks. Didn't you get the memo?

Good point, and I agree.

However, on just ability alone, I think Vick is way overhyped. He's a great athlete, but he is no where close to being an elite QB.

As a representative of the Dolphins we are willing to give up Frerotte and Rosensfels (on fire lately) for Vick.. Let us know..

How about that trade?

This is a good post.

I beg to differ with the first statement. They MAYBE win with him in. The Vick years: 7-9,8-8,11-5,5-11,9-6-1

I mean c'mon, are you people so blind as to look at the hard numbers? A career 53.8 comp %, a 75 QB rating. Is this "winning"?

Those likely may be his final career numbers. Unless you can add future AFL numbers.

If you're gonna base your argument on stats, you lose some credit when you intentionally leave out certain stats that make him look better.

Not that I'm a Vick fan (anymore), or that it changes the answer to the above question.

To be fair, they use the 2nd round pick to get a QB rather than using the 1st rounder so not being able to take Vick forced their hand. So, from the Chargers perspective, the trade was basically what everyone says. It's just not from that perspective if you say Chargers v Falcons.

Chargers got Tomlinson, Brees, Tay Cody, Reche Caldwell, and Tim Dwight
Or Chargets get Vick, early 2nd round pick

SI

Vick is the most overrated player in the NFL

I bet Vick would've been a better QB if he didn't wear out his arm slamming injured dogs against the pavement.

Sick fuck.

I don't see how anyone but Falcons fans, VTech fans and Vick aplogists could call this anything like a close to good trade for Atlanta. It might go down as one of the worst trades ever made.

And don't use the reasoning, "Well, the Falcons wouldn't have drafted LT and Brees, blah, blah..." The Falcons should get all the blame for being a poorly run franchise to that point of time in their history (fluke '98 year excepted).