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Vick's the pick Remember, top draft choice will be a Charger
I really hope Michael Vick is a star in the NFL. I spent three hours with him last week at the Hampton Roads Boys and Girls Club in Newport News, Va. I have never been more impressed with a young man. Ten days before he'll likely see his net worth grow from about $250 to roughly $14 million, Vick spent his day patiently dealing with a horde of media nerds like me asking things like, "Are you sure you can handle the pressure of being the No. 1 pick?" No wonder he almost chuckled when he answered. You see, Vick grew up surrounded by drugs and gangs, and pressures we can't even dream about. There is no doubt in my mind Vick can handle the pressure -- the pressure Ryan Leaf failed so miserably in. But that doesn't mean Vick will be great in the NFL. Consider the following: Vick started a grand total of 20 some games. That's games in college, where defensive linemen run five-second 40s. Jevon Kearse runs a 4.4, and the moves that allowed Vick to escape in college will not work in the NFL. Vick will need to beat people by sitting in the pocket, reading the defense, progressing through his reads, then delivering a strike -- all in about two seconds. Vick even admitted to me that he needs to work on his pocket presence: the fundamentals, the mechanics, how he holds the ball, etc. No. 1 pick? How about the situation in San Diego? Are you convinced the Chargers really want to draft Vick? I mean we all know that they have to. But do they really want to invest another $15 million bonus in a guy who, let's face it, has more questions than Leaf had when he left Washington State? Why are both head coach Mike Riley and general manager John Butler spending so much time singing the praises of Vick? I mean, that is a no-no for negotiations. Tell a guy how great he is, then try to explain why you don't want to pay him, because of all his questions. I submit the Chargers would love for someone -- like the Falcons -- to offer a blockbuster trade. How about Riley? Don't forget he did about everything he could to get out of San Diego to be the head coach of USC. I wonder how committed he is to the development of Vick? Doug Flutie is there. What a great mentor for a young QB like Vick, right? Excuse me, but didn't Buffalo have to choose between Rob Johnson and Flutie, because they couldn't get along? I love Flutie; he is a competitor. But if you think he is in San Diego to develop Vick, you're crazy. He wants to be the man. Oh, and have you checked the roster of the Chargers? Great defense, but I can't name one skill position player. Vick probably had better talent at Virginia Tech in Andre Davis and Lee Suggs than he will in San Diego. The point is this: Michael Vick is a phenomenal athlete. He is no Ryan Leaf. He can handle the pressure. But does that mean he will be a star? Remember, he will have a lighting bolt on his helmet. Trev Alberts is a college football analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated and appears each Saturday on CNN's College Football Preview.
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