Bob Rostao/Sports Illustrated

The electric Vick, seemingly on his way to becoming the best runner-passer in NFL history, spurred the Falcons to sell out all their home games before the season started for the first time since 1981. But the fans who had gone to watch their hero and Vick's coaches were left wondering, Why was he scrambling in a meaningless game? That was what bugged coach Dan Reeves on Sunday. "In the preseason you've got to learn that you don't run," he said. "You throw it away. But Mike is so competitive. We hadn't gotten anything done offensively, and he just took off."

--From "Tough Break" by Peter King, Sports Illustrated, Aug. 25, 2003