The Michael Vick free agency saga continues. The quarterback has had one of the more interesting careers in the NFL to date and his recent free agency chapter is only adding to the drama. The quarterback is set on getting another starting role in the league, while many teams merely view him as a backup. While Vick may hope to land with a team that offers him a chance to be under center Week 1, he will likely be forced to settle on whatever is offered.
Peter King of Sports Illustrated reports that the latest team to supposedly be interested in Vick is the San Francisco 49ers. Clearly, this would be as a backup quarterback since the team is very committed to Colin Kaepernick. King reports the 49ers are looking for a veteran that could help mentor the young star over the next few years while also be a solid third-string insurance policy. For a quarterback that is about to turn 34, this might be the best offer available. Vick would certainly not appreciate the term "third string" but going to the 49ers would at least give him a chance to be in contention for a Super Bowl.
The 49ers are certainly a dark horse for Vick. The Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars are also out of the picture. Both teams made signings over the weekend with Matt Cassel and Chad Henne, locking down their veteran starters/backups for the upcoming season. That leaves few options for Vick if he wants the chance to start.
King believes the best options could come with either the Oakland Raiders or the New York Jets. The Raiders are continuing their quarterback carousel and while Matt Flynn left a bad taste in their mouths as far as veteran backups go, Vick stands a chance at playing. The team will likely release Terrelle Pryor and draft a rookie in a later round. Putting Vick into the mix at least puts together realistic competition at the position.
The Jets have no clue who is starting for the team in 2014 and who will even be on the roster. Geno Smith will return, but might not start. Matt Simms signed a new contract, but has no shot at playing. Mark Sanchez might be released or he could stay on as a backup. There is certainly an opportunity for Vick to play Week 1, but with the Jets, nothing is guaranteed.
The Atlanta Falcons could also be a dark horse for the quarterback and an extreme one at that. The Falcons do need a solid backup option to Matt Ryan, but given Vick's history with the team, a reunion is not likely to happen. At this point, Vick must be willing to lower his expectations for what the 2014 season holds.