Revisiting the Michael Vick to Cincinnati Bengals Chatter
By Chris Roling
Nov 17, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) along the sidelines during the third quarter against the Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Redskins 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
The Michael Vick to Cincinnati Bengals connection is not going to disappear until the polarizing quarterback finds a new home.
Such is life. Vick is currently a free agent in search of a new team despite his injury-riddled past and the fact he could not keep the starting job in Philadelphia last year.
The most recent nugget to connect Vick to the Bengals in some fashion comes from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, who quotes a “league source” as saying the “Bengals have no interest in Vick.”
No kidding.
For the uninitiated to this whole fiasco, Vick continues to see his name in the spotlight with the Bengals because it was a strong possibility back in 2011 when he got out of prison. While Andy Dalton was still a rookie, the Bengals were one possible destination for Vick — and he even preferred Cincinnati and Buffalo to Philadelphia, according to AJ Daulerio of Deadspin.
Fans know the rest. Vick joined the Eagles, fizzled out due to inaccuracy and an inability to stay on the field and is back on the market. Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com was the most recent name to suggest the Bengals and Vick were a good fit.
They most certainly are not, but this one will not die until Vick does find a home.
For what it is worth, Vick may be near that point. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who appeared on the Ross Tucker Podcast recently, the New York Jets will have a strong interest in Vick (h/t Rotoworld):
"“I don’t expect Michael Vick to be back in Philadelphia,” said Schefter. “…And then he’s gonna have to decide what’s the best circumstance for him moving forward. I think the Jets will be in play. … I definitely think the Jets will have some level of interest in Michael Vick. Definitely."
Without getting too in-depth about the dysfunctional circus that is the Jets, Vick wants to go somewhere he can compete for a starting gig. Believe it or not, Rex Ryan and the Jets might just provide that opportunity.
Cincinnati would not. The Bengals are focused on bringing back their own and there is nothing to suggest with Jay Gruden gone that the team wants to have another backup like Josh Johnson who can run a read-option attack. If that was for some reason a want, the team can do much better than a 34-year-old quarterback who has not played a full season since 2006.
As an organization that recently underwent a brief modernization period, the Bengals are seemingly past the point of taking inane risks such as Vick. The story will continue to get pushed in the media, just don’t succumb to the silliness.