A former teammate’s take on Michael Vick
September 13, 2007 at 11:34 am by Scott Freeman in SportsFormer all-pro John Abraham signed a six-year, $45 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons last year to be the team’s star on the defensive line. He wound up missing eight games, but he’s back and healthy so far this year.
ESPN’s Seth Wickersham has a fascinating piece on Abraham, how he lifted his own life out of an alcoholic spin and how he is trying to help his team deal with the loss of its star quarterback. Abraham and Wickersham provide fascinating insight into the dysfunctional team that was the Falcons last year:
“I don’t want this taken the wrong way,” he says, “but we were 7-9 with Mike last year.”
It’s a frank comment from a man who’s spent the past few years learning to be honest with himself. And it’s hard to argue with the assessment that last season’s Falcons were a team that sorely lacked leadership. During a 30-14 loss to the Lions last November, defensive tackle Rod Coleman screamed obscenities at then-defensive backs coach Brett Maxie, who had the nerve to ask Coleman for more effort. And during at least one game, cornerback DeAngelo Hall listened to his iPod on the sideline, tuning out coaches. The Falcons needed Vick to be the leader he was paid $130 million to be; instead, he was the first to leave the complex after practice.
Abraham’s maturity in the locker room will hopefully be a calming influence for the team this year, and he is optimistic about the Falcons.
Then again, Abraham doesn’t play quarterback.
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