Michael Vick is a Commodity the NFL Should Protect
Michael Vick is a commodity in the National Football League. Between jersey sales and television ratings, Michael Vick is a business all by himself. Why then, would the NFL and its officials be so foolish to not protect their investment?
Michael Vick had some choice comments for the NFL's officials after yesterday's awful loss to the New York Giants. On the very play that Michael Vick was knocked out of the game, he appeared to be hit late, yet no flag was thrown and no penalty called. This is nothing new to Michael Vick though.
“Everybody saw the game. I’m on the ground constantly. All the time. Every time I throw the ball, in all my highlights, just watching film in general, every time I throw the ball, I’m on the ground, getting hit in the head. I don’t know why I don’t get the 15-yard flags like everybody else does. But I’m not going to complain about it. I’m just going to make everybody aware of it and hopefully somebody will take notice.” Vick said after the game yesterday.
Of course you could say that by Michael Vick questioning why he doesn't get the flags that he was, in fact, complaining, but can you really blame him?
Since Michael Vick became the starting quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, the Eagles have played 7 games on prime time television, either the late game on Sunday or Monday Night Football. They are scheduled to play 4 more this season. As lucrative as football is during the day, it is much more of a money maker in prime time, where networks can charge more for advertising spots. Prime time is usually reserved for big name players. Players like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and... Michael Vick.
In addition to the money Michael Vick brings in because of the ratings he generates, there is also the merchandise revenue that he also generates. Michael Vick, according to NBCSports, is #6 in jersey sales in the NFL. Simply put, Michael Vick is selling a lot of jerseys.
Michael Vick is an amazing athlete. When he is healthy and at his best, he is a lot of fun to watch. And because Vick is such a divisive figure, fans tune in to support, and to root against him. To me, it's a no-brainer that the NFL should want to keep him healthy and at the top of his game for as long as they possibly can. So far, that's not the case.
In the first 3 weeks of the NFL season, Michael Vick has sustained 2 injuries. He has been hit 26 times, more times by far than any other quarterback in league. He has not gotten the calls that most other elite quarterbacks are afforded for protection. For all of the meddling that Roger Goodell allegedly did in getting Vick to sign with the Eagles, he has clearly not been smart enough to huddle his officials together and give them the company line on what Michael Vick means to the NFL.
Perhaps when Michael Vick can't play anymore, because officials have stood by and swallowed their whistles and eaten their flags, they will realize they should have protected their investment.
