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To pick Vick? That's Chargers' question

Believe it or not, CNN/Sports Illustrated anchors Marc Fein and Jeff Fischel are good friends. But they disagree on just about everything.

This week, they responded to the following:

From Dan Sturgeon in St. Louis, Mo.: Do you think the Chargers will hold on to their first pick in the 2001 NFL draft?

Marc: Dan is referring, of course, to the fact that Michael Vick will be the first pick of the upcoming draft, and if San Diego wants to trade the pick, the Chargers could likely get a lot for the young QB. Rather than guess what San Diego will do, Jeff and I will debate what we think they should do. I say: Trade away! You may have noticed that the starting QBs for the two Super Bowl teams were not exactly Hall of Fame candidates. Trade for the picks and laugh all the way to the playoffs.

Jeff: I realize it will cost Mike Riley his job, but you've got to take Vick. It will take Vick a good three years to learn the job. I understand that is why Riley would want to trade for picks and quality young players. But having a playmaking quarterback is vital in the NFL (Dilfer and Collins notwithstanding). Vick is a supreme playmaker. Keep the pick.

Mailbag

Have a bar argument you need settled? Send the question to Fein and Fischel. Each week the duo will debate a question or topic submitted by a CNNSI.com user. Please use the form below to enter your question and/or topic.

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Marc: You don't even sound like you're convinced yourself. Look, there are 22 players who start each game for an NFL team, and trading Vick could potentially land the Chargers three or four starters, and maybe more. This is already a football team with a lot of potential. I know they lost their first 11 games this year, but their defense is more than respectable, and they just got a great offensive coordinator in Norv Turner. Not to mention, finding a free agent QB this offseason will be easier than finding a beer on Bourbon Street.

Jeff: They got Turner to tutor Vick, just as he tutored Troy Aikman in Dallas. Maybe Ryan Leaf is the next Kerry Collins -- a reclamation project turned good. But it won't happen in San Diego. We've argued in recent weeks about young quarterbacks in the league, and Vick possesses all of the skills of a Donovan McNabb. McNabb single-handedly took the Eagles to the playoffs. Vick can turn into that kind of player.

Marc: I am not questioning Vick's abilities; it's just a question of the importance of the position at this stage of the league's history. Never have the words "defense wins championships" been more true. Look at what Jimmy Johnson did in Dallas with the Hershel Walker trade; the Chargers have the potential to do the same by dealing the pick for Vick. And while this year's Super Bowl teams made it to the big game without a great QB, look at how long it took Elway to win one, or how long Marino went without going to one. It's an easy decision.

Jeff: So let me see if I understand. Trade the pick and build a good team that has no quarterback. Or, draft Vick, and while he grows as a player, build a team with young talent. You can't compare the Herschel trade -- he was a running back who had already put in some tough years. John Elway and Dan Marino made bad teams good, and good teams great. Vick will do some fantastic things a few years down the road. I don't think the Chargers front office wants to be watching with envy.

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