Earned Relevance

5 Reasons Michael Vick Would Fit Redskins in Washington, DC

Last week the Atlanta Falcons followed through with their plan to officially sever ties with former quarterback Michael Vick. Good for them. They did what we all knew they’d do.

All should not be considered lost for Mr. Vick. Whether quietly or not-so-quietly, certain team front office executives are conoodling about how they can make adding him to their rosters work. Trust me on that. A few teams have denied the rumors.

Seattle Seahawk’s head coach Jim Mora, who coached Vick in Atlanta, has already stated –in an open-ended way –that he did not plan to add another quarterback to his roster. The Dallas Cowboys, which always has an appetite for attempting to save seemingly lost souls that could possibly add to the teams revenue down the road, has also denied considering a roster spot for Vick.

There is one team and one city, I think, that would be the best fit for Vick. Washington Redskins and Washington, D.C.

Here are five reasons why Mr. Vick should come to Washington:

1. Dan Snyder is a god. (in his own mind) – Danny-boy has proven that he believes he can make any situation work for the good of his profitable franchise. That includes throwing any amount of money at a given situation or cutting against the grain of conventional wisdom in some fashion. Since the day Snyder took ownership of the team, he’s worked tirelessly (often to the team’s detriment) to prove that he’s more than just a jock sniffer who could afford to play professional team owner. He’s taken the team on odd twists and turns on his journey to becoming a decent owner who’s not afraid of taking risks; risks that are more calculated these days. Snyder could just be the guy to make signing Vick work.

2.Washington, D.C. Doesn’t care about Vick. – To understand why D.C. would be a good fit, is to understand its residents. The residents of Washington, D.C. and its surrounding Maryland and Northern Virginia communities (known as the DMV) would not be impressed by Vick’s status as a professional athlete, nor would they be overly judgmental about his conviction. DMV residents simply don’t care enough about his exploits to make him being there a distraction. DMV residents are largely impressed by their own goings on, which makes getting caught up in the dealings of another “extra” to them.

Also, D.C.’s streets perpetually bubble with well known and seemingly important people. Barack is there for goodness sake. Vick would be an after thought if he came. Here are a few examples of well known athletes that came through Washington in the recent past and were dismissed without a care, in large part because they did not win: Michael Jordan. Yeah, that one. Juwan Howard & Chris Webber (the Fab Five guys). Mr. Prime Time Deion Sanders.

D.C. only cares about you if you win. If Vick came and helped the Skins to win, he’d be a good fit. If not, no one would care. Welcome to D.C.

3. Skins fans – As stated in #2, Skins fans only care about winning. Nothing else. Case in point: The controversial issue with the Redskins name. The franchise has been involved in an ongoing battle with advocacy groups representing Native Americans who say the moniker is an offensive slur against Native Americans. While groups on both sides of the name issue could argue points, die-hard Skins fans couldn’t give two cents even if they thought the name was offensive to some. To them, the only questions is, “Is the name associated with winning?” Skins fans would petition to have Jeffrey Dahmer added to the team if they thought he could eat away at the Cowboys’ defense. Vick’s problems would be of no concern.

4. Vick wouldn’t be in a fishbowl in D.C. – Though D.C.’s K Street political scene is often characterized as a fishbowl, as a whole, the city isn’t as much of a fishbowl as are other cities in which Vick might land. There exists a progressive, open-minded young professional population in D.C. that would open its arms to him being among them. Congruently there are large pockets of suburban moms and families that are as equally open-minded and forgiving. Vick could walk among DMV residents and not have to worry about being anything more to the city’s population than what he is. That might not be the case in other cities. Who knows how Midwest St. Louis or comparatively small town Cincinnati would do with him living and working there. The DMV has already proven its mettle in that arena.

5. Bigger Sinners in D.C. – The United States Congress convenes in D.C. It’s perceived by some to be home of many of the world’s greatest criminals. The democratic process provides them with a chance to go to work again after they’ve been caught doing wrong. Vick deserves his shot at working again in a profession that he’s good at, and what better place to experience democracy than in the city where laws are made, Washington, D.C.