Michael Vick on When Falcons Drafted Matt Ryan: 'My Heart Dropped'

ATLANTA, GA -- Days before the Atlanta Falcons play their biggest game in two decades, one of the team's former stars has penned a telling letter to the city. For more on the Falcons, subscribe to the Atlanta Patch. Or find your local Atlanta Patch.

Michael Vick, once the face of the franchise before being imprisoned for abusing dogs, has Atlanta on his mind again. Of course, the Falcons are on the minds of millions of people these days with the Super Bowl set for Sunday and the team on the cusp of NFL glory.

In the Player's Tribune publication, Vick, a former Virginia Tech standout, wrote a moving and earnest love letter to the city, saying that he wanted to get some things off his chest:

"This is something I’ve been meaning to do for a while. As my playing career in the NFL winds down, and as I reflect on the past and really start to contemplate where I go from here … well, one thing that I’ve known I always wanted to do was write a letter. And not just any letter. I wanted to write a letter to the city of Atlanta."

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The fleet-footed athlete was selected by the Falcons as the first pick in the 2001 draft, which included NFL stalwarts LaDanian Tomlinson, Deuce McAllister, Drew Brees and Chad Johnson.

In six electrifying seasons with the Falcons, Vick helped give Atlanta signature wins against the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams. He became the first quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards.

In 2007, he got into big trouble. He was indicted and later convicted for dog fighting and sent to prison, where he served 23 months. The Falcons washed their hands of him.

Vick said that when he was in prison, he hit rock bottom when he heard that the Falcons selected Boston College phenom Matt Ryan as their new signal caller.

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"I know sometimes people will say it’s like they’ve been 'punched in the stomach' when something bad happens … but I’d never really understood the expression, until that moment. Matt Ryan. I just kept repeating his name, in my head, again and again," he was quoted as saying.

"Every time I thought about what it meant, it took the air right out of me — but I couldn’t help it."

But Vick said that he is rooting for the Falcons, like much of the city. Two days before the big game, Gov. Nathan Deal has declared the end of the work week "Falcon Friday," which means you can expect people to be sporting their red and black outfits, just like they were during the Falcons celebration at City Hall a week ago.

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One thing, Vick wants the city to know: He may not be here physically, but he's here in his heart. His heart never left.

Image via Wikimedia / Creative Commons license