Oakland Raiders and Michael Vick a match?

The Oakland Raiders, with their reputation for signing wayward players, would seem to be the logical destination for Michael Vick when he leaves prison in July, 2009.

Three Raiders players, DeAngelo Hall, Ashley Lelie and Justin Griffith, said Sunday they'd even be willing to part with some of their money if it would help Al Davis sign Vick, provided the NFL reinstates the former Atlanta quarterback.

Their comments might be taken as a vote of no confidence in quarterback JaMarcus Russell, but the story in today's Contra Costa Times suggests Vick would come back in another offensive role.

-- Randy Harvey

Top photo: JaMarcus Russell is hit after throwing the ball against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Credit: Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images

Inset: Michael Vick in July 2007. Credit: Haraz N. Ghanbari / Associated Press

Comments

[SALOCO]

What The Heck!! Let's Do It!!! Give Vick a chance. He's a damn good quarterback and he'll be a valuable item for the Raiders. He's paying his debt to society and sure he'll be reformed. If given the opportunity, he might be able to bring some motivation to the team. Russel seems to lack motivation. He's got the arm but what good is it if he doesn't have the spirit for the team.

[miguel]

i don't think we should sign him he's not going to be the same Vick before he got into prison he will a better receiver or running back we already have an arm his name is jamarcus Russell he need time people!!! he cant be the next manning in one day just give it time did u forget we also don't have a coach!!!! sign Vick but NOT as a QB!!!

[Larkins]

Hell yeah. Sign him. that would be the best thing the raiders ever done. Time to make a Black Number 7 jersey

[brandon]

well i dont care what any of yaw say michael vick is the best NFL player in the league he does need his second chance and i hope the oakland raiders make the right decision by signing him up.

[brandon]

well i dont care what any of yaw say michael vick is the best NFL player in the league he does need his second chance and i hope the oakland raiders make the right decision by signing him up.

[Randolph]

Do not sign this FOOL! The Raiders have already have too many players with character issues. As an owner of 2 pit bulls, I rubuke him as a Raider and as a human beaing. This punk has shown that he is subhuman has NOT shown any remorse for his actions. Do not sully the name of the Oakland Raiders by signing him to any contract. Give Jamarcus Russell a chance to play with a REAL offensive line and better receivers and a healthy Darren McFadden.

[Mike]

Mike Vick's a damn good quarterback? What Mike Vick were you watching? The one who couldn't average 200 passing yards a game?

Those who ever thought he made it as an NFL QB, even before jail, know little about football. Running back Quarterbacks don't work in this league. His only real chance in the NFL will be at Wide Receiver...

[nomoreraiders]

lol....why not...We need more losers on the Raiders While at it..are there any other dysfunctional or untalented players that can be signed. Get real folks. 80% of the team should not even be playing in the NFL. The other 20% of the team that has talent wish they could be traded to a reputable team.

[Jon]

I would forever lose respect for the raiders. Long live r8er h8ters. It would be fitting for Oakland though. The armpit of America

[jp]

I think we should give Russell ah chance but hes playing with no confidence and thats whats really hurting us!! I think signing Vick would be ah bad idea we already have to much crap going on in Oakland right now, more BS is not what we need!!!Besides who knows if Vick is even gonna be able to play..I dont know anymore all i know is im one Depressed Raider fan!!!

[RON BENNETT]

I LIVE IN WEST TENNESSEE, AND I HAVE BEN AN OAKLAND RAIDER FAN SINCE 1972. I HAVE SEEN THE GOOD TIMES AND THE BAD TIMES FOR MY RAIDER TEAM, AS HAVE MANY RAIDER FANS. WE ARE "BEYOND FRUSTRATION" WITH THE TEAMS LOSSES, AND BEING THE "LAUGHING STOCK", OF THE N.F.L. MY WIFE AND I DRIVE 2-1/2 HOURS TO NASHVILLE, WHEN THE RAIDERS ARE PLAYING THE TITANS, AND WE ARE TIRED OF RETURNING HOME AS LOSERS. WE WANT THE RAIDERS TO SIGN MICHAEL VIC, IF HE CAN HELP THE RAIDERS WIN. AL DAVIS NEEDS TO REMEMBER THAT IT'S THE FANS THAT PAY THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY FOR SEASON TICKETS, AND JERSIES.SIGN MICHAEL VIC!RAIDER FANS WANT TO SEE THE REAL, RETURN OF "COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE". GO RAIDERS!

[tony]

Maybe kiffin was right. JaMarcus looks scared running and throwing. Kiffin knew something and Al Davis didnt want to listen.Bring on Vick.Somebody needs to lead the team.

[Alex]

I dont think Vick will not be the same as he was a couple of years ago. Vick is known for his speed and scrambling. Jamarcus is a good QB he just still need a little more time to blossom. Vick is good but he might have lost his athelticismn during his time in prison. Ive seen Jamarcus breaking out of a sack he has alot of potential and I belive he can be the Raiders QB of the future. Signing Vick is a big risk of money. Instead Raiders should work on getting an offensive line.

[wesley]

I run a business with local salesreps that buy Raider tickets for the entertainment of my clients. If the Raiders sign Vick, I will disallow that practice for as long as Vick and whoever signs him are part of that team. This is not the start of a public boycott or anything like that but if I promise you that I will not allow a single penny of money I control to be spent on the Raiders as long as Vick is part of that team. No debate. That's it.

[Ray Frieson]

Everyone has a lot to say about Vick. Yall need to look at yourselves first. Everyone one has made mistakes in there lives and needed a second chance. When Vick was in the league he was the best QB at making things happen. So shut up talking all hard and allow this man to have another chance.

[Dave]

Listen. Michael Vick was an amazing quarterback. people have different opinions on what a good QB OR a bad QB is... but michael vick did infact make things happen and i will state that he is or was and will be again, one of the most athletic players in the NFL. Oakland Raiders, we should infact sign Michael Vick. Give him another chance! the NFL Fans in this country want to see excitement for the raiders and so does the Raiders Team themselves!. do all of us a favor and sign Vick!

[ryan heskett]

forget about vick for now, we need to worry about dethroaning all davis,
this team will go no where while he is running it, everyone knows when you get that old,stuff starts to fall apart, he probally has a hard time writing a check. and jamarcus russel has got talent, give him untill july of next year (the same time vick gets out of prison) to prove something. we need recievers and o line,

[Falcons all day]

Vick was and I believe will be a very affective QB. Just before vick was prosacuted for his actions he was working on improving his arm and if the raiders work with him om this he could have one of the best arms in the nfl along with the best scrambling game. Raiders, sign that boy up!

[JEROME]

WELL WELL
THERE SO MANY HATERS ON MR VICK; WELL WHILE YOU GUYS KEEP ON HATING VICK FOR WHAT HE'S DONE, LOOK INTO YOUR PAST AND I'M PRETTY SURE ITS NOT THE MUST RESPECTED? BUT BACK TO FOOTBALL YOUR AVG IN THE POCKET QB IS NOT WHAT THE GAME NEEDS WHEN TEAMS DON'T HAVE THE BEST OF LINEBLOCKER: YOU NEED BLOCKERS!! FLOKS LOOK AT IT THIS WAY WHEN VICKS ON THE FIELD YOU WATCH AND WAITING TO SEE WHAT HE DOES NEXT ON THE FIELD?? (NOW YOU CAN JUGDE HIM OFF THE FIELD, BUT ON THE FIELD HE'S THE MOST RESPECTED!!) CAUSE DEEP INSIDE YOUR HEAD "THE ONE READING THIS EMAIL" EVERY TEAM DEFENSE HAS TO FEAR ON WHAT HE'S ABOUT TO DO TO YOUR DEFENSE NEXT???? ALSO JUST TO LET YOU KNOW WE HAVE OUR FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT:) SO THE CAHNGE FOR THE RADIERS ARE NEEDED, AND TO LET ALL THE READERS KNOW I'M NOT EVEN A RADIER FAN I'M JUST A FAN OF THE GAME CALLED FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dixon]

Jerome you are a horrible typist

[Dino]

"Those who ever thought he made it as an NFL QB, even before jail, know little about football. Running back Quarterbacks don't work in this league."

What makes you the king of football knowledge? If QB's that run don't work in this league, I guess that means Fran Tarkenton, Steve Young, Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, and Daunte Culpepper are all busts, right? Just because Michael Vick isn't a traditional pocket passer doesn't mean he isn't an effective QB. Maybe you should look at him as more of a weapon than as a pure QB. You're probably in the group of fans that would call Reggie Bush a bust because he isn't an every down back. Having someone as multi-talented as Bush increases your chances of scoring through the air and on special teams.

What's the main goal? TO WIN THE GAME. It doesn't matter whether he throws for 150 yds or 400. If he runs for another 130 to go with that 150 through the air, you have a better chance of winning the game. The way the Raiders receivers look right now, it wouldn't hurt having Vick running all over the field.

[Dino]

And what's all this talk about how he can't come back as a QB after TWO years off? If average QB's like Steve DeBerg and Chris Miller can come back after MULTIPLE years out of the league. DeBerg retired after the '93 season and came back in '98 with the Falcons. Miller was concussion-prone and retired in '95, then decided to come back in '99 with the Broncos, before suffering another concussion and retiring again. Another thing to note was their age at the time of their comebacks. DeBerg was 44 and Miller was 34. When training camp rolls around next year, Vick will only be 29.

[Rich]

When I was growing up in Brooklyn, NY all my friends were either Dallas Cowboys or LA Rams fans. I was a die heart Oakland Raiders fan. Let me tell you I've seen way too many lack luster games. After watching the Raiders /Dolphins game last week, I realized the Raiders were playing flat footed and like they wish the season was over. There is no heart on this team. I give Jamarcus Russell credit for trying, but he needs more offensive weapons. This team plays with no confidence and no leadership. Leadership starts in the front office, down to the coaches then the players. It's time Al Davis realizes it's time to step down and turn control over to someone with football knowledge (similar to what George Steinbrenner did with the Yankees). I will always be a Raiders fan and proudly wear my jersey on football Sundays, but as a loyal fan enough is enough. Al it’s time to spend some money on a winning head coach and let him run the team. As much as I feel the Raiders would benefit from signing a Michael Vick, I believe Jamarcus Russell deserves the time to develop into a quality QB. Then if Russell falters have Vick step in. It is time for AL Davis to prove his so called “Commitment to Excellence”.

[Tonia]

I have been an Oakland/LA/Oakland fan for years now. Oakland has had more downs than ups in this time and Oakland has def had way too many players with legal, character, attitude issues as it is. They DO NOT need to have Michael Vick on their side. As a pit bull lover I don't feel that Vick has paid enough for what he's done, I don't believe that the NFL should reinstate him fresh outta prison much less - MY TEAM sign him!!!! How can society possibly think this is okay knowing what he's done and that maybe someday your child may look up to this loser? Murder is murder and this is blatantly what he's accomplished in his life. He's shown no remorse for anything. He was in solitary confinement so he wouldn't get "hurt" by anyone in prison - what about all the pit bulls he killed, maimed and hurt. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!!!!

With that being said - Vick gets signed - Raiders will lose this fan FOR SURE!!!

[David Newton]

Michael Vick would be a perfect QB for the Raiders, because the Raiders have very good RB's, but no WR's, and no offensive line. Vick could help the Raiders' offense by getting short 3rd down conversions with his legs and ware down and confuse the opposing deffense. This would allow WR's to get open more and also would allow RB's to break bigger runs, because more of the deffensive attention would be on keeping Vick from breaking loose on a QB run; from DB's to LB's and Deffensive Linemen, all of them would be distracted by Vick's running ability.
I think that the Raiders should NOT SIGN Michael Vick. He has serious legal and personal problems, just like several other players that the Raiders have signed before, and it has cost the Raiders' organization financially and emotionally. For Example; Randy Moss, Warren Sapp, and last but not least, Jamarcus Russel. Vick seems like a perfect fit for the Raiders, with a little attitude adjustment, which is excactly why they should not sign him. EVERY YEAR, Raider Nation says, "If we could just sign _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, then we would be the best team in the NFL. PLEASE! This is just another desperate attempt for Raiders fans accross the world to dream of a having the same Tough and Mean team they did when they won the Superbowl in 1981. No team will ever be like the 81 Raiders. Michael Vick is no Kenny Stabler.