The Hawks' Michael Vick

Overrated and overpaid. Named to several all-star games/Pro Bowls, but we aren't sure why. When the athlete is compared against the best ever to play and the best of his current generation, he just doesn't measure up. Both have fallen short of major expectations. Both were deemed the franchise and both have taken the franchise nowhere near the level that Atlanta fans hoped they would.
Michael Vick and Joe Johnson. The Face of the Falcons and the Savior of the Hawks. At least they were supposed to be that. Vick as we know is now is prison on dogfighting charges, but even when he was in the black and red of the Dirty Birds, he was still never living up to the potential that he flashed at times early in his career. As far as Joe Johnson, does he know that the playoffs even started? JJ had some success early in his NBA career when he was a fourth banana on the Suns behind Nash, Marion and Amare. But then he turned down good money and a serious shot at a ring to take a MAX deal, franchise money, to come and play on the Hawks. And interestingly enough, HE WASN'T ENOUGH to put the team over the top. NOPE, it took the No.3 overall pick from the 2007 draft as well as a TRUE POINT GUARD (wait, wasn't Joe originally brought to the Hawks as a combo, capable of playing some point? Wha Happen?) for the team to FINALLY make the playoffs two years straight. Did Joe think that the playoffs were over after the Miami series?

I remember being frustrated with MV7 after he failed to adjust his game once the NFL adjusted to his adjustment of their adjustment to his game, if that makes sense. He had the game at his fingertips with his ability and of course the blueprint was printed of how to beat him. Tampa created it. Then MV7 upped the ante before Philly figured it out again. But then instead of upping his game again (something he WAS capable of doing) he decided to sneak a residue in an aquafina bottle through airport security. Then he missed the Congressional breakfast then of course the dogfighting and the lying. He broke my sports heart in a way because I feel he cheated me out of seeing one of the players who would change the game as we know it.

As far as Joe Johnson, if you want to take the money and leave behind a team that was on the cusp of winning a title (and might have won one if YOU hadn't gotten cheap-shotted and injured), to go to be the face of a loser franchise, you had better be ready to be the face. That means you need to have Heart, Joe. you need to be able to lead the team with words AND with actions. That means STEP UP in the crunch time games. Put the team on your back the way Dwyane Wade does. That means yell at the teammates when they aren't working as hard as you are Kobe and LeBron do. That means make the bucket when EVERYONE in the arena knows you are taking the last shot the way Michael always did. But at least have some heart, bro. Oh, you were on an all-star team? How many points did you score? Oh, that's right. ZERO. Maybe the only all-star EVER to not make the score sheet. Why are you making these all-star teams? Why would a coach waste a spot like that? Especially when Mo Williams nearly didn't make it. Ben Gordon, I'd take him over you Joe. He's a fiery leader and he'll take AND MAKE the last second shot. Are the Bulls willing to do a sign-and-trade?

Joe and Vick came to Atlanta on one of those Julius Caesar Chariots. They were expected to usher in great things and turn around Loserville into Titletown. It just never happened. Overpaid and overrated too stuff that a rookie and a sixth man could do better. Atlanta is better off with Matty Ice under center. Let's hope the Hawks version of Matt Ryan gets here soon and this town can turn the page on both of these franchise players. Yeah, and by franchise I mean franchise killers.