The new generation of Atlanta may not remember the Michael Vick glory days as much as some of us, but with the team experiencing a high, their old light in shining armor has stepped up to write a letter to the city that made him.
The very personal letter details a time where Vick was in prison and things were out of his control. He had no freedom, he was away from his family, but most importantly, he was away from the game —and team— that he loved. He could no longer say he was the quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. He lost it all.
He recalls how it felt when he heard news of his grandmother having a stroke, the same day the Falcons drafted Matt Ryan and how it’s all coming full circle now.
Matt Ryan. As in, the quarterback.
Before that moment, I didn’t have much. I didn’t have my money … or my reputation … or, worst of all, my freedom. But I did have one thing. I had those five words: Mike Vick, quarterback, Atlanta Falcons.
And once I heard, Matt Ryan, well … I didn’t have that either.
After that, I knew that everything had changed. I knew there was no going back — not to start for Atlanta, not to play for Atlanta, not even to live in Atlanta. Matt Ryan. After that, I knew it was over.
My grandmother passed away less than a week later, and I filed for bankruptcy a few weeks after that. Not everybody can tell you the specific day that they hit rock bottom, but for me it isn’t hard: April 26, 2008. The day my mom had a birthday and my grandma had a stroke. The day the Falcons drafted Matt Ryan, quarterback out of Boston College.
The day I lost Atlanta.
I told you about my lowest point, but I didn’t tell you what happened after. And what happened after is that, slowly but surely, I made peace. Slowly but surely, I came to understand that, just as I had brought prison on myself … I had also brought the Falcons finding a new quarterback on myself. I mean, how could I not have expected them to move on? How could I blame them? I was the one who had made the mistakes — and because of those mistakes, they just did what they had to do.
And Matt — lucky for the Falcons, and lucky for Atlanta, and honestly, even lucky for me — was a big part of that.
Matt being such a success — that’s been a joy for me. For me, that’s been relief. It’s been peace of mind.
Vick also went to talk about how he felt when he came out in the Georgia Dome for that last hurrah and how in that moment, he felt vindicated and forgiven by the city he had let down.
It was a very touching letter that every football fan should read, especially if you were a fan of Mike. He definitely poured his heart into it. Plus, he has no ill will against the organization, the city or Matt Ryan, who has led the Dirty Birds to the promise land.
OS REWIND: Michael Vick “VICK” [Documentary] *NSFW*
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