No Boo Birds

ESPN.com | December 3, 2009

What kind of reaction will Michael Vick get Sunday in Atlanta?

PRISCO: I bet it's a good one. We are a society that forgives. Vick was beloved in Atlanta. When you go to games there, you still see plenty of red and black Vick jerseys. They embraced him. So I expect they will give him a cheer. Atlanta fans aren't the nastiest in the league -- that's you, Eagles fans -- so it won't be as bad as it might have been in another city. Plus, Vick is nothing more than a gimmick in Philly. If he were the starter for the Eagles, it might be different. So my guess is the reaction is far better than expected. Forgive and forget. Vick has paid a big price for what he did, and I think he's turning his life around. Falcons fans also have to know he isn't going to be the reason they lose if the game, if they do.

JUDGE: A loud and warm reception. Vick is still remembered as a hero by Falcons fans, some of whom conveniently block out why their team had to let him go. Fine. Whatever. Atlanta fans cared about Vick then, and they care about him now -- and I think they will show him not only that he is missed but that they support him in his new life. Of course, the bigger question is: When do they catch a glimpse of the guy? Vick is used about as much as an umbrella in San Diego. The Eagles employ him for only a handful of snaps, almost always on third downs, and never keep him in the huddle for a complete series. Falcons fans looking for the magic Vick brought to the field years ago will be disappointed. There is none this season. In fact, there is not much of anything with Vick. But this is not about this season; this is about Atlanta's chance to celebrate one of the city's most popular and electrifying pro athletes. The Falcons may have forgotten Vick, but their fans haven't.

JUDGE: The Giants. They don't excel at one phase of the game anymore. For all the talk about Eli Manning's foot, it's not Manning that's the problem; it's a defense that leaks like the S.S. Minnow. The front four can't find the quarterback; the linebackers are slow and overwhelmed; and the secondary is dead-flat ordinary. Then there's the running game. Uh, what running game? That's in the jar, too, and maybe now you know why coach Tom Coughlin should be suffering a stress reaction, too. I look at the rest of the Giants schedule, and I'll be honest: I don't know how they make it over .500. In fact, they may be fortunate to win more than one game. If they can't beat Dallas on Sunday, they're doomed, and here's why: Everything this weekend is in their favor. They had a long week to prepare, the Cowboys stink in December, the Giants have already beaten Dallas and they're home. Only one problem: Tell me one area where they outman Dallas. Yep, that's why they're dead.

Who gets your MVP vote at this point?

PRISCO: Let me first say this: I was wrong about Brett Favre. I didn't think he could play this well. But my choice is Peyton Manning. Let's start with the records. Manning is 11-0. The Vikings are 10-1. Advantage Manning. Let's look at the numbers. Both have 24 touchdown passes. Even. Manning's completion percentage of 70.4 is slightly better than Favre's 69.3. Manning has more yards, but Favre has a better passer rating. It's close based on the numbers. But here's why I go with Manning. He has played without Anthony Gonzalez, one of his starting receivers, since the opener. That has forced him to do it with two unproven receivers in Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie, who is a rookie. Favre has an all-star cast. He also has Adrian Peterson in the backfield and a better offensive line. Manning makes more with less. That's why he's my MVP. Drew Brees is in the conversation as well, but I still go with Manning.

JUDGE: Peyton Manning because he's doing more with less. I don't care that he has more interceptions than Drew Brees or Brett Favre, or that his passer rating isn't as high. Manning continues to win again and again with a changing cast that features running backs and wide receivers who aren't as adept as what Brees and Favre have around them. That is not a knock on those two; it's a salute to Manning, who is having one of his best seasons ever. I like guys who excel in the clutch, and all three of these QBs do. But Manning completes 76.5 percent of his passes in the fourth period and has led the Colts to five consecutive fourth-quarter, come-from-behind victories. People talk about how Brees dissected New England, and they should. He was magnificent. But watch Manning's fourth quarter against the Patriots. He was magnificent, too. The man keeps winning MVP awards for a reason: He's the most important player on one of the league's most successful teams.