Classy. The security guard's face says it all.
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."
I went to one Broncos game and was repulsed by the fans treatment of the Raiders. There is a point where you're not a fan but a hater.
I'll cheer my team and jeer dirty play. But I won't get personal with the athletes, they all want to win. BTW, I work in sports; you take a different view of things when you do.
Uh...ticket revenue hardly pays for salaries.
League sharing revenue perhaps, but not ticket sales. The stands could be empty and he'd still get his money.
I forget, how many rings does Peyton have?
From the Chicago sports pages:
"RECEIVERS: C
According to Fox analyst Troy Aikman, the best thing this group did was draw phantom penalties. "
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/150730,CST-SPT-grades27.article
I looked and looked and could not find one other party in the Chicago press whining about missed pass interference calls. Quite the oposite. Perhaps you should read these articles.
I don't follow the Falcons,or Vick,but he doesn't look over rated when he's running for 30...40...50 yards.
What's the point of responding to this stuff if you are not interested?
Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
The Bears got the benefit of some really horid pass interference calls. Overall the refs for that game sucked, blowing calls in both directions, the only people that performed worse than the refs at that game was both QBs.
"...Ever see Carl Lewis or Ben Johnson? Maybe you have seen Gayle Sayres, Payton or Sanders..."
How about a guy named Emmitt Smith? He did pretty good for his teams and hisself.
Troy Aikman = THREE Super Bowl Rings and a SB MVP title.
Peytom Manning = Still waiting.
100% agreement.
Vick can always blame it on his herpes acting up.
Classy. The security guard's face says it all.
Looks like he is wearing something similar to a fez.
It's not that the NFL doesn't know how to consistently maximize the talents of scramblers. It's that it can't. They do fine for a while, then get hurt. Then they are forced to become pocket passers. If Vick can make the switch (as did McNabb), then he'll be successful. If not, then he's fun to watch but it won't last.
I thought Vick was just trying to say "We're Number One!"
He's the best throwing Running Back in the History of the NFL.
By the way............... are you a dentist?
Culpepper, McNabb, Vick....these guys never delivered. Injuries, team problems, inability to connect with receivers, call it what you will; but they are not survivors and they can't get their squads to the next level.
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