March 2008. Inductee #2
Dog Murderer

A feature running back in the NFL is strong, fast, and incredibly agile. What would happen if you put one at quarterback? Then what if you took away their brain and gave them their own illegal dog-fighting ring?

You'd get Michael Vick.

But it's not his on the field play that has landed Vick in the Hall.

Drafted in 2001 as the first overall pick, countless football analysts salivated over the prospect of a dual-threat player like Vick revolutionizing the quarterback position. For a little while, it seemed like he might do it.

In the 2002 playoffs Vick did what no other QB had done in NFL history and - almost single-handedly - beat the Packers at Lambeau Field, 27-7. He was even a legitimate MVP candidate in the regular season. This would be his best season.

However, Vick would never live up to his hype. With a dismal completion percentage of 53.8 for his career, he never dispelled the notions that he was rather one-dimensional, couldn't properly manage his offense, and therefore could never be a true franchise quarterback.

Still, Vick was not quite a bust despite his draft status, and was on pace to have a good NFL career. That changed drastically in 2007.

Vick was imprisoned for running an illegal dog-fighting ring called "Bad Newz" in his hometown of Newport News, Virginia, even brutally killing dogs by his own hands. Also during this time, while free on bail, Vick failed a drug test after smoking marijuana. It is not known if Vick still has a future in football, but with his release from prison expected in late 2009 at the earliest, he'll be approaching 30 by the time he gets out.

So, his fans are left to wonder what could have been, and his critics have been given unlimited ammunition. Vick may get another chance to play in the NFL, but his image and status as one of the NFL's most marketable stars will never be returned.

What a shame.

Other interesting Vick facts:

"In March 2005 a woman named Sonya Elliott filed a civil lawsuit against Vick alleging she contracted genital herpes from Vick, in the autumn of 2002, and that he failed to inform her that he had the disease. Elliot further alleged that Vick had visited clinics under the alias "Ron Mexico" to get treatments and thus he knew of his condition."

"November 26, 2006 - After a Falcons loss to the New Orleans Saints in the Georgia Dome in apparent reaction to fans booing, Vick made an obscene gesture at fans, holding up two middle fingers."

-Wikipedia

How our committee voted (Critera - Worst off the field behavior)

Michael Vick - 11 votes

Pacman Jones - 11 votes (Co-winner, induction coming soon)

Michael Irvin - 2 votes

Warren Moon - 1 vote

Didn't receive votes: Tank Johnson, Ricky Manning Jr., Lawrence Taylor, Chris Henry, Ray Lewis, Nate Newton

Discuss this story on the Redzone Rush forums