ATLANTA — On Friday, the NFL released its official listing of athlete/celebrity appearances for Super Bowl Week, namely those partaking in autograph sessions.
The list runs heavy with present and former players with Atlanta Falcons and state of Georgia ties, including Devonta Freeman, Hillgrove native Bradley Chubb, Ito Smith, Desmond Trufant, William Moore, Jesse Tuggle and Hall-of-Famer Morten Andersen, to name a few.
However, the carefully crafted wording of one player's promotion stood out among the crowd:
According to the NFL.com release, an autograph session featuring "Philadelphia Eagles legend Michael Vick" will take place from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26.
Philadelphia Eagles legend Michael Vick?
There are three ways to interpret that odd statement from the NFL:
a) The Atlanta Falcons (privately) went out of their way to distance themselves from Vick, even though he's done an admirable job of rehabbing his public image over the last eight years.
(The infamous dogfighting scandal will always be a part of Vick's biography page.)
From our perspective, this reason doesn't make sense.
b) The NFL.com public relations office features a number of under-30 writers with little recall of Vick's first six NFL seasons with the Falcons: 11,505 yards passing, 3,859 rushing yards, 73 touchdowns ... and easily the league's most dynamic talent when running in the open field.
c) The NFL PR wing is chock-full of Eagles fans, who hold Vick's absurd 2010 outing against the Redskins in the highest regard:
Vick's staggering numbers on that November night: 333 yards passing, 80 rushing yards ... and six total touchdowns (four passing).
Final score: Eagles 59, Redskins 28
Whatever the rationale, it was a funny description of Vick's, uh, Philadelphia story.
SUPER BOWL EXPERIENCE AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS
TUESDAY
**Hall of Fame kicker Morten Andersen (5-6 p.m. EST)
WEDNESDAY
**Falcons RB Ito Smith (4-5 p.m. EST)
**Artist Charles Fazzino (5-6 p.m. ... aka 'The Master of Pop 3-D Art')
**Former Falcons safety William Moore (5-6 p.m.)
THURSDAY
**Michael Vick at the New Era cap drop (3-4 p.m. EST)
**Hillgrove native/Broncos DE Bradley Chubb (4-5 p.m. EST)
**Artist Charles Fazzino (5-6 p.m. ... aka 'The Master of Pop 3-D Art')
**Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (5-6 p.m.)
**Film/TV actress Alyssa Milano (5-6 p.m.)
SATURDAY
**Falcons RB Devonta Freeman (10-11 a.m. EST)
**Michael Vick (1-2 p.m. EST)
SUNDAY
**Former Falcons LB Jesse Tuggle (3-4 p.m. EST)
