Now (Re) Introducing.... THE Michael Vick

Michael Vick makes his long awaited return tonight at 7:00pm vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. Usually the third preseason game is where the team gets to really see how they are performing as the starters usually see the bulk of the action, however, tonight will be surrounded by the site of Michael Vick on an NFL field once again. How will he fair? Check the highlights tonight to find out. Should be some exciting stuff.

Welcome back #7.

Word.

Faith...restored.

This structure will return hope and promise to a nation riddled in a recession.

And no, e, there is no word on whether or not the ride ends with you fatally being slammed into a wall.

Tom Glavine's favorite revolutionary is Benedict Arnold.

I can understand it to a degree, I really can. My plea is just that there are always exceptions to the rule. This is a giant exception. The bottom line is this: this should have never happened.

I know that the rules are different when an athlete endorses a company, especially when the athlete plays a team sport. Sometimes the presence of that player's current team will shine through in the ad campaign and other times (seemingly often) the players jersey is nondescript or washed out, like this:

But there are times when washing out the jersey or assuming people viewing the ad won't be able to tell isn't enough. Such is the case of two inappropriate billboards within a mile of Turner Field in Atlanta.

It has been more than six years since Tom Glavine abandoned the Braves for the greener cash of Flushing Meadows, NY and Shea Stadium. It's been fifteen years since Glavine helped spearhead the labor union strike that shook the foundation of men and boys alike around the nation (many of which claim to have not been fans of the game since).

The next chapter of betrayal for the one that they call "Tommy G" is not entirely his fault. Personally, I place blame completely and totally on the marketing people at AirTran Airways, who's hub, I might add is a mere seven mile trek down I-85/75 from Turner Field.

This is the billboard. There a few sligh variations, but all carry the same image. Tom Glavine. In a Mets jersey. Across the street from where the Atlanta Braves play their home games.

Maybe Glavine was bitter for being cut by the team earlier in the year. Maybe he just needed the money. I refuse to believe no one thought about it. People were paid thousands of dollars to design and pitch the ideas for this billboard. Nobody, perhaps one of the hundreds of AirTran employees in the Atlanta area, thought to say, "hey, this could perhaps be a bad move."??

I understand you cant really change the design fo a national ad campaign for one market. This just isn't practical. But Tom Glavine, in a Mets jersey, next to Turner Field should have never happened.

The Never Ending Saga.... Favre is BACK! I think... no he's not. Wait, is he? YES.

Brett Favre has come out of retirement AGAIN.

The story of Brett Favre's lack of decision making does not have an end, yet, another chapter. Favre has signed a 2-year $25 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings. Sorry Sage. Sorry Tavaris. Coach Childress appreciates your hard work, but he really doesn't care. I love Brett Favre, but what strikes my nerves a little bit about this whole ordeal is the fact that, in my opinion, the head coach undermined the entire team. Coach Childress should have come out and said that Brett was his quarterback whenever he decided to return. He didn't. Instead he claimed to "close the door" on the situation three weeks ago when Favre said he would remain retired. Coach Childress, while adding a hall of fame quarterback to his team, might have some making up to do with much of his team. He should have been straight forward with his guys, instead he took a huge risk.

I hope it works out. It's going to be fun watching #4 play on a playoff caliber team one more time. Oh, let's not forget-- he gets to play against Green Bay two times. Exciting stuff.

Vikings = NFC North Champs. Superbowl?

Word.

Vick Signs With Eagles..... Welcome back #7.

Michael Vick has signed a one year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles worth a reported $1.6 million with a team option in 2010 worth $5.2 million. The creditors are smiling. Oh, and so is Michael Vick.

So what happens now? What should we realistically expect out of the guy? Only time will tell, so let's talk in the moment. The signing itself is HUGE. Not only for the Eagles franchise but also for the NFL. A lot of people played an important role in the signing of the former Atlanta Falcon turned Leavenworth inmate. Sports television and radio have been on Michael Vick overload over the past 24 hours since the word of the signing spread. I haven't seen this much chatter since Michael Jackson passed away a couple of months ago. Opinions vary from excitement to outrage. It seems like many people across the nation have become somewhat emotionally involved with this story. Why? Because it involves man's best friend; dogs.

What Michael Vick did was sick, wrong, disgusting, pathetic, idiotic and just plain cruel. HOWEVER, it is time the give the man a chance at redemption. He has made many mistakes in his life and now has been given the chance to try and make something better of himself. It bothers me when people, PETA, attempt to sandbag the guy after the fact. His debt to society has been paid. Some would even argue that he has more than paid that debt (see Donte Stallworth). Moving forward, people and organizations should use this as a channel to teach children lessons, not try to run someone into the ground. Michael Vick seems matured. That sounds like an oxymoron and the ultimate judgment remains TBD. To have a guy like Tony Dungy in his corner and as a mentor definitely means something. Dungy is one of the most respected men in the NFL and possibly the world. Commissionar Goodell has also given the Eagles his blessing which is huge. We will never be able to forget the crimes he committed, but now we need to let actions speak louder than words. Michael Vick has the stage, let's see how it plays out.

Tony Dungy believes in him. So should you.

Welcome back #7. Hope you prove all of the doubters wrong.

Word.