Harry Jaffe: Five reasons Dan Snyder should sign Michael Vick
By: Harry Jaffe
Examinter Columnist
August 2, 2009
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| Owner Dan Snyder of the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) (AP file photo) |
1. Dan’s weakness for name brand players.
Hello — Deion Sanders? From the moment young Dan purchased the Washington Redskins in 1999, he demonstrated a quick trigger for marquee players. He doled out many millions for slightly over ripe stars. Hello — Bruce Smith? Mark Brunell? Vick would bring immediate star power to the Redskins lineup.
2. The Redskins need a quarterback.
I know, I know: Jason Campbell just needs a few more seasons to become a solid captain of the offense. Skins head coach Jim Zorn is a great QB coach, and he believes in the rangy kid from Auburn. Does Dan? Snyder trolled for replacement quarterbacks as soon as the Redskins closed out their last dismal season. He made a run at Denver’s Jay Cutler. Knowing that his patron was looking for a better arm, Jason Campbell became quarterback castratto. Can he recover? If so, can he move faster than a confused high schooler in the pocket?
3. Vick deserves a second chance; Dan is benefitting from one.
Convicted of the execrable crime of harboring dog fighting in his Virginia compound, Vick served his time in jail. In criminal matters, it is the American Way to punish people who make a mistake yet give them a reprieve once they have admitted the crime and served their time.
Dan Snyder knows about second chances. Six Flags, his amusement park company, has done miserably since he wrested control of it in 2005. Its stock value plunged, and Snyder lost millions. In June, Six Flags went belly up and declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This is the American Way of giving businesses a second chance to dust themselves off, stiff arm creditors, and get a second chance.
If Snyder gets one, why not Vick?
4. Snyder has been willing to roll the dice with bad boys.
Players with questionable character but great potential have found a home with the Washington Redskins. DeAngelo Hall qualifies as the latest member. A teammate of Vicks in Atlanta, Hall carried a poster of Vick onto the field just before Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison. The league fined him $10,000. Dan forked over $54 million to sign the Pro-Bowl cornerback.
5. The Redskins are losing fans and need a jolt.
For decades, fans had to join a waiting list to get season tickets; now the Redskins are trying to keep fans and attract more. Snyder’s ownership style of switching coaches and players in a manic race to get a Super Bowl trophy has alienated many fans. FedEx Field can be stark and loud and overrun with drunks.
Snyder made his millions in marketing, and he’s made the Redskins profitable by using the brand name to market stuff — and bombard fans with advertising.
Putting Michael Vick under center could attract fans -- and perhaps get the team back in the Super Bowl running.
Why not just do it?
E-mail Harry Jaffe at
hjaffe@washingtonexaminer.com
