Associated Press
ASHBURN, Va. ó Add the Washington Redskins to the growing list of NFL teams that say they aren’t interested in Michael Vick.
Asked about Vick on Wednesday, Redskins coach Jim Zorn ruled out signing the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback “at this juncture.”
Vick was conditionally reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday. The player served 18 months in for running a dogfighting ring and was released from federal custody July 20.
“Well, I think Michael’s on his journey. … I want to wish the best for him. I think there’s a way that he and Roger Goodell have created to find his way back into the league,” Zorn said, a day before Washington’s first practice of training camp. “I would just say it won’t be with us, at least at this juncture.”
More than a dozen other NFL teams have said publicly they won’t pursue Vick, including the New York Giants, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins.
The Redskins are among the teams that some have thought might consider bringing in Vick, a No. 1 overall draft pick and three-time Pro Bowl selection who led the Falcons to the 2005 NFC championship game. He was the first NFL quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season; he also never threw for more than 3,000 yards or 20 touchdowns in any season, and his career completion percentage is below 55.
The Redskins have Jason Campbell as their starting quarterback, but they already made efforts this offseason to find a new QB: They tried to trade for Jay Cutler and looked into moving up in April’s draft to be able to select Southern Cal’s Mark Sanchez.
Plus, Redskins owner Dan Snyder generally loves to make a splash with big-name acquisitions.
Because of his use of the phrase, “at this juncture,” Zorn was asked whether he thinks Washington ever would seek to add Vick down the road.
“I don’t know that,” the coach said. “It depends on how many years he’s going to be in the league.”
Under the terms of his reinstatement, Vick is allowed to take part in preseason practices, workouts and meetings, and he can play in the final two preseason games. Once the regular season starts, Vick may participate in all team activities except games, and Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6 (Oct. 18-19) at the latest.
That is all under the assumption that Vick finds a team.
“It’ll just be interesting to see how he enters back in,” Zorn said. “I’m sure he will.”