It’s hard to believe it was a mere 21 months ago that Michael Vick tore apart the Atlanta Falcons franchise when he became the poster boy for the heinous act of dog fighting. He was released this morning from the Kansas prison and will be returning to his Hampton, VA home where he will serve out the final two months of his prison term under home confinement. The sports world is simply aflutter with the possibilities of where Vick will be playing football next. While there are no guarantees the athletic quarterback will be suited up for a team in 09, or if he’ll even still be a quarterback for that matter, it’s safe to say someone will take a chance on tackling this PR disaster. Let’s take a look at who might be bold enough to pull the trigger.

Oakland Raiders – Any discussion of taking on an ex-con has to include the Raiders. This rag tag bunch that look like they just hopped the boat from Alcatraz would welcome the scarred Vick with open arms. We know how much Al Davis loves those pure athletes regardless of whether they can play football or are good for the chemistry of the team. The only issue with Oakland is that they seem to be set at quarterback with the tepid Jamarcus Russell and heir apparent Jeff Garcia. Michael Vick, the running back or wide receiver perhaps?

New England Patriots – Who can forget the team that took a chance on Randy Moss when no one wanted to have anything to do with him? I think Tom Brady and defensive coordinators around the league would say that worked out pretty well. Belichick doesn’t seem to have an issue taking a chance on a guy who may be problematic, knowing the collective character of his locker room can steer the lost soul along the path of the straight and narrow. Factor in that they don’t have a great go-to guy at quarterback now that Matt Cassel is in Kansas City not to mention the fact they had issues dealing with the Wildcat formation last year. Who could be a bigger assault weapon in the Wildcat than Vick?

Seattle Seahawks – Jim Mora was the guy who pinned his career on Michael Vick in Atlanta and stuck by him even as the door was hitting Mora on the ass on the way out. With Hasselbeck showing some durability issues and getting on in years, the Seahawks don’t have a great succession plan in Seneca Wallace. Still you’d hope that Mora learned his lesson with Vick and will let some other team deal with this “coach killer” as papa Mora calls him.

Cincinnati Bengals – Much like the Raiders, you have to include the Bengals when you are discussing a guy with character issues. They seem to issue all their players pinstriped jumpers in training camp because you just never know when they are going to come in handy. The Bengals have no immediate need at quarterback now that Carson Palmer is healthy again, but their anemic performance last year shows what a lackluster team this is without him. Vick could be a solid backup as well as being a versatile threat at running back and punt returner.

Minnesota Vikings – I think it’s a foregone conclusion at this point that Favre will be suiting up in purple this fall to exact his revenge on the Pack, but if the king of indecision decides he doesn’t have the zip on the ball that he once did, Vick could be in play. They don’t have a strong quarterback in either Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson, and this is a team that knows its window to win is closing fast. With Vick at quarterback handing off to Adrian Peterson, this could be the most potent ground attack in the league.

Dallas Cowboys – Tank Johnson, Pacman Jones and TO show that Jerry Jones thinks he has the same locker room as the Patriots that can pacify these bad boys into becoming productive members of society. Now that all these guys are either unemployed or playing outside of Dallas perhaps Jones is rethinking his ability to play parole officer to the league’s convicts. The talent of Vick may have this gambler heading to the craps table again.

San Francisco 49ers – Shaun Hill and Alex Smith. Those are quarterback issues if I’ve ever heard them. Combined with the running talent of Frank Gore, Vick could provide the 49ers with a lot of offensive firepower. Singletary seems to be ruling this team with an iron fist so could keep Vick in line. On paper, this one makes a lot of sense.

Buffalo Bills – About week 5 last season, everyone was heralding Trent Edwards as the next great quarterback of the Buffalo Bills. After inconsistent play plagued him during the later half of the season, there remains a big question mark looming over him. The Bills showed they are operating with a win now mentality going out and getting perpetual headache Terrell Owens. By adding Vick, they could further augment their offense and make them relevant in that tight AFC East division.

St Louis Rams – Ever since Marc Bulger signed for the big money, he’s been a shell of himself at quarterback. To be fair, the protection the offensive line has provided him has amounted to little more than a series of turnstiles. The beating he’s taken has definitely degraded his big play ability. Vick wouldn’t have those problems since he thinks with his feet first.

Atlanta Falcons – You’re kidding right? Just because he’s under contract doesn’t mean he won’t be dropped like a hot potato the first chance they get. There’s no way in hell Arthur Blank lets Vick take a crap in the Georgia Dome much less tarnish the team brand anymore than he already has.

As you can see there is no shortage of teams that have a need for someone of the athletic caliber of Michael Vick, but several big questions remain. After being out of the game for two years, does he still have the mental acumen to play one of sports most challenging positions, or will he transition to becoming a running back or receiver? Just because society says his debt is paid, doesn?t mean that commissioner Roger Goodell is ready to welcome him back into the NFL with open arms. While I?m sure Vick will play in the NFL again, will Goodell slap him with further probation for his lying and gambling activities? Also, what league owner is going to want the circus that Vick will bring with him? The PETA protestors picketing the games, fans dropping season tickets, not to mention carting around the fan?s whipping boy on a tour from city to city around the league. You saw how fast the MLB owners jumped at signing Barry Bonds. Regardless of how all this drama unfolds, it will be a fun spectacle to watch.

It’s been an active offseason for the Atlanta Falcons with high profile guys filtering in and others funneling out. They continued last year’s rebuilding project by pressing onward in their youth movement by letting team cornerstones like 11-year vet Keith Brooking (Cowboys) and key contributors like Michael Boley (Giants) and Lawyer Milloy find their way down the proverbial yellow brick road. Grady Jackson also left the team in free agency to the hapless Lions. While these players had lost a step with age, the most critical loss was Dominique Foxworth who signed with the Ravens after a productive, if short lived, 2008 campaign with the Falcons.

For the most part, things were fairly quiet on the free agent acquisition side. Mike Peterson was picked up from Jacksonville, and has a quantum leap head start spending years operating Mike Smith’s defensive schemes for the Jaguars. He’s amassed 1365 tackles, 19.5 sacks and 15 interceptions in his 10-year career. But what the Falcons free agency may have lacked in size they made up for in sizzle. Their most glaring offensive need hung over the tight end position, and general manager Thomas Dimitroff closed the deal on one of the best tight ends to ever play the game in Kansas City’s Tony Gonzalez (read the full story). Gonzalez may lack the coveted youth the Falcons hold dear, but he’s one of the best with plenty of gas sloshing around in the tank to fuel Matt Ryan’s passing attack for two to four years to come.

Having shored up their offensive deficiencies with Gonzalez, Dimitroff used the 2009 draft to reconstruct the defensive side of the ball. First round pick at 24 was for the defensive tackle out of Ole Miss Peria Jerry. Jerry is definitely a high motor player, leading the SEC in tackles for a loss last year, counting up 6 sacks in the process. He’s the run stopper that Smith has been waiting for. He will be an instant starter week 1 and serve as an upgrade over Jonathan Babineaux. Round two had the Falcons taking William Moore, a safety out of Missouri. Moore could present some serious value here. Had he entered the draft last year, he was slated to be a top 10 selection, bolstered by his 117 tackles and 8 interceptions season. He sled down the charts in 09 due to injuries his senior year.

In the third, the Falcons picked up corner back Christopher Owens out of San Jose State. In the fourth, they selected Richmond’s defensive end Lawrence Sidbury. Sidbury is a quick player for his size, besting all defensive linemen at the Combine running a 4.5 40-yard dash. Some even projected him to be second round talent. Furman’s Corner back William Middleton was secured in the fifth. Middleton didn’t perk up on too many people’s radars not having been given an invite to the NFL Combine, yet he shows promise to be able to compete with Houston, Grimes and Von Hutchins for the job. Offensive tackle Garrett Reynolds and outside linebacker Spencer Adkins were picked in the sixth and defensive tackle out of Georgia Tech Vance Walker was taken in the eighth.

Notable undrafted free agents pickups included Clemson wide receiver Aaron Kelly (projected 5th rounder) and Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson (projected 4-5 round). If the Dimitroff’s keen eye for uncovering talent holds true to form, this defensive class should go a long way to establishing the Falcons as a perennial contender much in the same mold as his former employers — the New England Patriots.