Channeling My Inner Vick

I think everyone has an inner Michael Vick, I know I do.

Something happened last spring that caused me to re-evaluate my thoughts about second chances. 

I needed one.

I made a terrible decision.  A series of them.  The repercussions of these poor choices can be felt still in my life today.  I have no excuses for the choices that I made.  There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.  The only option I had was to stand in the harsh light of judgment and take my lumps.  And boy did I ever. 

I couldn't talk my way out.  There was no money that could right the wrongs.  Just time. 

Time served. 

Michael Vick served 21 months in Federal Prison after pleading guilty to felony charges of illegal dog fighting. 

He lost his fame, he lost his money, he lost his endorsement deals and he lost his job as the quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons.

He was given a second chance by the Philadelphia Eagles in week three of the 2009 season.  He quietly attended meetings, practices and was eventually activated to the team  roster but only to play light duty as a backup for the Eagles standout quarterback Donovan McNabb.   

It was without much fanfare that Vick was awarded the 2009 Ed Block Courage Award.  He was selected unanimously by his teammates who saw firsthand the change that had occurred in this young man.

Michael Vick was no Boy Scout prior to his prison stay.  Before he was in the proverbial "Dog House,” he had a rap sheet as long as your arm with offenses ranging from mildly disappointing to downright despicable. 

He was accused of such gems as knowingly spreading venereal diseases and making obscene gestures to fans for which he paid massive fines.   Throughout his tenure as an NFL player prior to his forced hiatus Vick was a bit big for his britches. 

Upon his return the bad boy bravado is gone and in its place is a seasoned, stable and solid player.  Comfortable in his #7 skin, Vick now calmly stays in the pocket, controlling his passes, seeking out the secondary receivers when the primary is covered. 

The new version of Vick is even better able to rely on his instincts.  Dating as far back as his first collegiate game against James Madison, Vick scored 3 rushing TD's during little more than one quarter of play.  He knows when to run, and run he does, rushing this past Monday for 80 yards with a total of 341 to date.  Obviously during his time away from the league Vick honed his craft. 

 

Sometimes we need to fall from grace to see what beauty we were missing at the top. 

Slowly, steadily, methodically I built up my relationship with the people that I had injured.  I now spend more time in my proverbial pocket.  Since my contract renewal I have a higher pass completion rate.  I seek the best  receivers and I have learned that sometimes you have to wait for the secondary.  This is how I have come out on the other side.  Humble, grateful, more controlled.

I for one am happy to congratulate Michael Vick on the early indicators that he could be the league MVP. 

But I am always a sucker for a good comeback story.