VickI was going to start this rant by listing the troubles of Michael Vick and commenting on them one by one, but it occurred to me that anyone who has any interest in the NFL, at all, already knows about the things Mr. Vick has been into. By now I think it is safe to say that Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons is a thug. He has always been a thug and unless there is serious divine intervention he will always be a thug and a $100+ Million contract doesn’t help.

At last month’s NFL Draft in New York, Vick was interviewed by ESPN’s Suzy Kolber where he apologized for his actions and he took full responsibility for everything going on in his life and then he said…” it’s time to grow up.” …You think?? You’re 26 years old, you have kids, and you’re the face of an NFL franchise, not to mention an entire city. Are you kidding me?? It was time to grow up when you left Virginia Tech to make money playing a game for a living.

FalconsI find it incredible that it’s time to grow up now. I can’t imagine that it has anything to do with the commissioner of the NFL coming down hard on players with off field problems or the police in Virginia uncovering a dog fighting operation on his property. Apparently, he didn’t feel it was “time to grow up” when he was caught smoking pot on the internet or when he had the incident with the water bottle in the airport in Florida, or even when missing a meeting on Capitol Hill to discuss funding for after school programs for inner city children.

All this, coming after the Falcons backup quarterback Matt Schaub was traded to the Texans, so Michael wouldn’t have to look over his shoulder. I’m guessing new head coach Bobby Petrino and Falcon’s ownership might be re-thinking that decision.

In my opinion, this is just another case of an athlete who has the belief that the crime is that he got caught, not the crime itself. I hope for your sake, Michael, and the sake of a zillion kids wearing #7 jerseys that you do grow up and you grow up fast.