NFL news - Michael Vick winning back fans; Ben Roethlisberger winning games
NFL fans are a forgiving bunch. Animal rights activists might still be holding a grudge against Michael Vick, but not the fans. Apparently, Vick is now a changed man. It really does not matter if Vick has turned the page on his
dog-fighting days, what is important is that Kevin Kolb’s backup played so well that Vick became the starter and Kolb got bumped down.
Vick played 12 games, missing three due to a rib injury. In those 12 games, he threw 21 touchdowns against six interceptions in the regular season. He also scored nine rushing touchdowns and lost just three fumbled balls. Philadelphia
Eagles fans fell in love with Vick as he led them to the AFC East title.
As far as the fans are concerned, Vick’s 2007 conviction never happened. Two years after his release, Vick has taken back the fans he lost and signed his first endorsement deal. The quarterback got into a two-year contract with
Unequal Technologies. Vick wore football pads made by Unequal Technologies through most of the season.
CEO of Unequal Technologies, Rob Vito said that they were excited about the deal. “Michael is good people. He paid his dues,” Vito said. “He deserves an opportunity. This is what makes America so great. He's moved forward. He's
a whole other person.” The details of the contract were not disclosed but Vito said that it was a ‘sizeable’ contract. Vito said that in his opinion it was good investment because Vick could shed light on their technology and prove to be a valuable corporate
spokesperson.
Vick started using shock-blocking pads made by Unequal Technologies after he suffered the rib injury in the regular season. “The Unequal Technology is a part of my game now and I won't play without my Unequal,” Vick statement for
the company will read. “Unequal's protective power gives me a whole new level of confidence in my game. It makes me feel invincible.”
Invincible or not, it must feel good to be a marketable commodity once again. Before Vick’s arrest and convictions, he was one of NFL’s highest paid players and endorsed a range of products. Now, he is building his reputation up
from nothing and taking back everything he lost.
Vick would become a free agent in the offseason and the Eagles are expected to keep him on as the starting quarterback. However, before the next season begins, Vick has one more game to play in Hawaii. Vick has been named to the
pro bowl and he will be leading the best of the NFC against the best of the AFC at Aloha Stadium.
While Vick prepares for the pro bowl, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has his eyes set on the his third Super Bowl win. The quarterback led the Steelers to victory over the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets
in the past two weeks to win the AFC Championship and earn a ticket to Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. As an athlete, he is everything the fans want. However, Ben’s fans demand more from him as a person.
Both Vick and Big Ben have a dark past. Vick had his dog-fighting ring while Roethlisberger has had several sexual assaults. Vick confessed to his crimes and served his time.
Meanwhile, Ben’s amazing football season is proving to be an ineffective tool for redemption. Roethlisberger has changed. He has dropped the holier-than-thou attitude and his teammates are falling in love with him all over again.
On the other hand, the fans are a very different story. They have not forgotten that Ben missed the first four games of the regular season because of sexual misconduct. He was never charged, but the league slapped him with a six
game ban, which was reduced to four games later on.
The fans have not forgiven Roethlisberger yet and advertisers do not want to touch him with a 10 feet pole. Roethlisberger has been silent about the accusations of sexual assault and his silence has only made his image worse. Another
Super Bowl win will not be redemption, but it would make his dark history less noticeable.
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