Posted on 11/27/2006 2:00:56 AM PST by mcg2000
ATLANTA -- Michael Vick apologized for making an obscene gesture toward Atlanta fans as he walked off the field after the Falcons' fourth straight loss Sunday.
Vick used both hands to deliver the gesture and flashed an angry look toward the handful of fans remaining in the Georgia Dome. Those who hung around booed the home team loudly after its dismal 31-13 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
"First and foremost, I would like to apologize for my inappropriate actions with fans today," the quarterback said in a statement released by the Falcons. "I was frustrated and upset at how the game was going for my team, and that frustration came out the wrong way."
Vick was the Falcons' main offensive threat with 166 yards rushing, just 7 off his NFL record for a quarterback. He had another rough day passing, completing nine of 24 for 84 yards, but that wasn't entirely his fault.
The Atlanta receivers dropped at least five passes, and the offensive line didn't provide much protection. Vick was sacked three times and hit a dozen more behind the line of scrimmage after throwing passes.
Leaving the field, he let his frustration get the best of him.
"That's not what I'm about. That's not what the Atlanta Falcons are about," Vick said in his statement. "I simply lost my cool in the heat of the moment. I apologize and look forward to putting this incident behind me."
Vick did not address his actions at a postgame news conference.
Reporters were not aware that he made the obscene gesture until afterward, when replays of him leaving the field began airing on television.
"I can't explain how I'm feeling right now," Vick said during the news conference. "Losing the game says it all. It is not a good feeling when you lose four games in a row, and when you lose a game that you had a shot at winning."
Vick said he did his best to keep the Falcons (5-6) from losing again. This is the first time since 2003 that Atlanta has been below .500, and the team appears headed for another second-half collapse.
Last season, coming off a trip to the NFC championship game, the Falcons won six of their first eight games. But they went 2-6 the rest of the way, missed the playoffs and failed to break the franchise's ignominious streak of never having back-to-back winning seasons.
With the next two games on the road, Atlanta seems headed for another disappointing season.
"I was just out there fighting for this team, for pride and for this organization," Vick said. "We have to keep fighting. We have to show some resolve."
he is a returner/slot reciever/3rd & long reciever.
GO BUCKEYES!
Yeah, but it's great being a Dallas Cowboy fan these days!
I'll take our undrafted QB from Eastern Illinois over either the Coach Killer or the Baby Brother.
its going to be fun to watch you guys lose in the first round of the playoffs. LOL
you said it!
But, but... wasn't he just saying "we're number one?"
Vick may actually be gone next season. I hear Al Davis is hiring.
Other way around. He's a running back with a somewhat-manifested ability to throw the ball in a not-too-accurate manner.
Michael gets it honest.
You are going to compare Vick to Eli Manning? I agree that Vick is over rated but Eli is a bust. I would rather have Vick than Eli especially after last night
Trade Vick for the RAID-AHS first round pick, and let Shaub take over next year.
Guys like him never seem to want to consider changing position once they've been the team's quarterback. They consider it a regression, and I suppose as long as he's getting paid 100 mil he'll continue to do it.
I suspect the elder Jim Mora may be right.
I don't think Vick's worth a first-rounder, but Al will definitely be interested. And if Schaub thought he was leaving Atlanta for a job with, say, Minnesota... not anymore!
What's the point of posting this stuff?
Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
Maroney had a TD, 95 yards on kick off returns and 45 receiving also, but whatever.
Making fun of injuries is juvenile by the way, but not surprising giving the level of whining over some alleged missed calls.
LOL! Chill. He flipped the bird to screaming, booing fans. So what?
Wonder if this apology meets RevAl's standards, or if Vick should open up his checkbook?
The name of the game in football is entertainment. Vick is FUN to watch!
That being said, he needs a better coach and needs a change. Methinks that Denver will be his next team.
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