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."
Their refs? I had no idea they were on their payroll. Someone needs to be fired for this then:
"The Bears stayed in the game because of turnovers and a number of questionable penalties against the Patriots secondary. Quarterback Rex Grossman only completed 15-of-34 passes for 176 yards, but the Pats were hit with 75 yards worth of pass interference penalties"
http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=169255
I also seen at least 2 late hits against Grossman that didnt get called 1 was really obvious! he threw it stood there and the guy took like 3-4 steps then hit him and drove him into the ground with his full body weight.. hmm no flag...
http://www.badjocks.com/archive/2006/marcus_vick_crime_spree_page.htm
Marcus Vick has his own webpage of crime ...
Ryan Leaf, is that you?
If there is any justice he'll never play football for an institution of learning or franchise ever again.
So it had nothing to do with Asante Samuel being Rex Grossman's go to guy?
He is talented but more so overrated. There are plenty of guys much better than Vick.
I agree completely: as a running back, Michael Vick is Hall of Fame material,as a QB, forget about it.
I think his EGO is what has kept him at QB, and it's a real shame.
Vick has been in the league 6 years HE STINKS! And they are STILL making excuases for him... Eli Manning has been in the league for 3 years and they are calling for his head on a stick!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Eli is white, all the difference in the world.
Cade McNown... 12th Pick in the 1st round 1999 draft....
Actually Tim Couch was #1 and some guy named Akili Smith was #3 LOL ;)
I was going to pull the Akili card out too! lol What about Heath Shuler?
Urlacher is lucky he did not hurt himself on that juke Brady put on him.
Do not talk to me about the refs. Without them the Bears do not even score a TD.
And how many yards did your awesome rookie running back have? oh yea 33yards LOL
Indy's rookie had 171 yards and 4TD's
to bad Say-OWW got hurt the poor little guy
Actually Tim Couch was #1 and some guy named Akili Smith was #3 LOL ;)
From the dust bin of AFC history - Jeff George.
for later
I watched most of the Pats-Bears game and saw at least four pass interference calls that was not called. Someone should check the refs bank accounts.
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