Firebirds Owner Seeing ‘Red’ Over Vick Offer

The first rule of business is to always run an idea by the boss before going public with it. This little piece of advice is something the Albany Firebirds marketing department should have known to prevent the in-house fire that erupted yesterday. Looking to stir up a little publicity about the Arena 2 Football Franchise, the Firebirds marketing department constructed what appeared to be an ingenious idea at the time. They would soon find out just how wrong it is to bypass the boss and take an idea straight to the public spotlight.

At the center of the publicity stunt is the very public sports image of Michael Vick. By now everyone knows the story of the 6 season Atlanta Falcons quarterback turned jailhouse player due to involvement in dog fighting. With his impending prison release in the coming months, the sports world is abuzz wondering where Vick will land when he is once again a free man.

Looking to capitalize on this, the Albany Firebirds marketing department constructed an offer to Vick to play for their team next year. On the table was a 1 year contract for $200 a week with an additional $50 per win incentive. In addition to this Vick would have to make a charitable donation of $100,000 to a local humane society chapter. Once the laughable thought of Michael Vick playing for $200 a week subsided, the offer seemed like a good idea for someone looking to get back into the NFL.

There is only one flaw in this marketing plan. No one informed Firebirds owner Walter Robb of the plan first. Had they done so, he would have immediately vetoed the idea and it would have never seen the light of day. Robb was quoted as saying he is a dog lover and has absolutely no interest in doing any work with Michael Vick or making him a part of his organization. GM Garen Szablewski calls the marketing idea a classic case of the right hand not paying attention to what the left hand is doing.

No comments on the situation were made by either Michael Vick’s agent or NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.