Idea of Vick Joining Patriots Is Gaining Steam

At first, the idea of Michael Vick potentially joining the Patriots seemed like a joke.

Now, it's gaining steam, and fans are beginning to believe it could really happen.

On Wednesday, BetsUS.com posted odds
on which NFL team was the most likely to acquire the former Atlanta
quarterback, listing the Patriots as the favorite with 4-1 odds. Now,
USA Today is catching onto the idea, suggesting that the 29-year-old
could find a perfect marriage with Bill Belichick and his Foxborough cohorts.

CBS and NFL Network analyst Solomon Wilcots told the newspaper, "Bill Belichick would cultivate the talents of Michael Vick much the way Bill Walsh did Steve Young, who was thought to be washed up. Who better to show Michael Vick the road back than Bill Belichick?

"Vick and Belichick would be a wonderful tandem. I don't think Tom Brady would feel threatened."

This week, Vick was granted conditional reinstatement by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. He will be permitted to practice immediately but will be suspended for the first six games of the 2009 season.

New England certainly isn't in search of a replacement for their three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback, but Vick could provide some endearing versatility and a sound backup as he gets his feet wet in the league. He has not played in a game since 2006.

"What does Belichick covet most?" Wilcot asked USA Today. "Versatility. Vick would give his team that. Belichick would give Michael that good teacher, disciplinarian. This is the unconventional coach who let Doug Flutie try a drop kick and studied the spread offense of Urban Meyer."

It seems outlandish, but if any team is notorious for ressurecting the images of bona fide NFL bad boys, it's the Patriots. It worked with Corey Dillon. It worked with Randy Moss.

Maybe it could work with Michael Vick, too.