Will Michael Vick sign with an NFL team and play in the 2009 NFL season? Based on comments and positions of almost all the NFL teams, the answer is absolutely No!

But what happens in late October and early November? You know as well as I, that the NFL season can be tough on a QB. Injuries, ineffectiveness and/or lack of surrounding talent can mean the worst for any QB. Do you expect the 2009 NFL season to be any different?

The only question in my mind is when will Michael Vick be signed. Will it be by the end of the major league baseball regular season? By Halloween? How about Thanksgiving? Either way, Michael Vick will be signed and will play in the NFL in 2009 for a football team headed to the NFL playoffs.

When Vick does sign, expect that NFL owner to say all the right things; to spin the Michael Vick saga as “the comeback story of the decade”. That NFL organization will say that Michael has served his debt to society and that he deserves a second chance.

Of course, this will all be hypocrisy – done only to gain an advantage; to help them win football games.

And you can bet there will be many who protest the signing. But who are they to judge?

GAME INFO:

Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals
Game Date/Time:  Sat, Jan 3, 2009 4:30 pm EST : University of Phoenix Stadium, Arizona
TV: NBC

THE TEAMS AGAINST THE SPREAD
The Falcons are 8-8 ATS overall, 5-3 ATS away, 1-0 as the favorite and 0-0 as the away favorite

The Cardinals are 9-7 ATS overall, 5-3 ATS at home, 7-3 as the underdog and 3-0 as a home underdog

THE LINE (subject to change)
Atlanta is the favorite by 2 points. The Over/Under is 51 1/2 points

THE PREVIEW
The Falcons played well down the stretch winning 3 of their last 4, but the one negative was Matt Ryan throwing 5 interceptions in his final 4 games. He had just 6 in his first 12 games. The Cardinals do not have a good pass defense and he is forecasted for a strong game with 250 passing yards and a rating of 91 in simulations. However, there is a 52 percent chance he throws 1 or more interceptions and the Falcons win just 35 percent of these simulations. If Ryan throws no interceptions the Falcons have a 58 percent chance of winning. Michael Turner was phenomenal at home this year averaging 129 yards on over 5 ypc, but on the road he averaged just 83 yards on 3.9 ypc. He is forecasted for a good, but not great game with nearly 90 yards. If Turner can dominate on the road like he were at home and have 100+ rushing yards the Falcons have a 68 percent chance of winning. The Cardinals are getting a great 300+ yard, 2 TD performance form Kurt Warner. Both Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are averaging over 90 receiving yards in simulations and there is a 42 percent chance that both have at least 75 yards.

The Arizona Cardinals 5-5 in their last 10 games – losing to playoff teams.  In that stretch they have only beaten the Seahawks and Rams twice and San Francisco once. They lost to New England, Philadelphia and Carolina on the road and to the Giants and Vikings at home.  The Falcons are 7-3 in their last 10 games but have beaten teams like Carolina, San Diego and Minnesota. 

THE PREDICTION
Arizona Cardinals 28  Atlanta Falcons Falcons 24

Expect Kurt Warner to have the game of his life. And the Cardinals will prevail to an overperforming Atlanta Falcons team. Remember, the Cardinals are 7-3 as ATS underdogs and 3-0 ATS as underdog at home during the 2008 regular season.
The Atlanta Falcons are 0-8 ATS after two or more consecutive wins over the last three years.

Take the Cardinals and the 2 points – and take the over in the parlay bet

Brett Favre will always be known as one of the most resilient quarterbacks in NFL history. He is the “iron man” of professional football. He played QB in 273 consecutive NFL football games (not including post-season games) from 1991 to 2008.

Brett Favre played college football at Southern Mississippi. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round, and 33rd pick, of the 1991 NFL Football Draft.  He played for the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 2007 and then played for the New York Jets in 2008.

But throughout his career Favre was known for a less impressive statistic – throwing too many interceptions.  In fact, he has thrown more interceptions than any other QB in history. While throwing 464 regular season TDs, he also has thrown 310 Interceptions in the regular season. And in his final three games of the 2008 season as a New York Jet, he threw 2 TD passes and 9 interceptions.

NFL football sportscasters should coin the phrase “throwing up a Favre” anytime a QB throws up a pass for anyone to grab.  “The Favre” can be defined as throwing a desperation pass, anytime during a game, where the defense has a better chance to catch it then his receivers.  The interesting thing about “the Favre” it is not only thrown in the waning minutes of a football game.  Time after time, Brett Favre has thrown his lollipop pass in every imaginable situation – in the first quarter, when the team is winning and when the down.

So the next time you see a Pee Wee Football, High School, College and NFL quarterback” throw one up for grabs”, yell out – “Oh no, not a Favre”.  Get ready! You might even have a chance to catch it in the stands!