What started with a midfield embrace between Vick and Falcons QB Matt Ryan, ended with Vick leaving the field reeling from the effects of a concussion suffered during the third quarter of the game.
The Falcons eventually took the win, beating Eagles in a 35-31 loss Sunday night. [Sidebar: special shout out to Mr. Murray and his LUCKY? Falcons suit!]
According to ESPN, Vick wasn’t hospitalized and was cleared to travel with his team back to Philadelphia, but will have to undergo concussion-specific testing before he can be cleared to return to practice or play in a game.
Many Falcons fans, including myself, were torn last night.
I was asked a gazillion times (by mostly White men) why I chose to wear Vick’s jersey… the answer was simple: because I still want Vick to succeed and wish him well, while cheering for the home team.
It’s sad how Vick’s road to redemption is still being questioned when the man has dayum near lost EVERYTHING while serving time for his crime.? Yet… y’all continue to hate on him for his successes.
But what if Mike Vick were White?
ESPN asked the question we all have asked many, many times and even created the imagery above for effect.
Race is an undeniable and complex element of Vick’s story, both because of his style as well as the rarity of black QBs in the NFL. A decade after he became the first black QB to be drafted No. 1 overall, about one in five of the league’s passers is African-American, compared with two-thirds of all players.
But after his arrest for dogfighting, so many people asked: Would a white football player have gotten nearly two years in prison for what Vick did to dogs?
Read the full “If Mike Vick Were White” store HERE.
If Mike were the same complexion as say… Matt Ryan, or Tom Brady, would people still be so quick to hold his past against him?