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Michael Vick: Former No. 1 overall pick retires

By The Sports Xchange
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Michael Vick (2) steps back to pass in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on October 1, 2015. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI
1 of 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Michael Vick (2) steps back to pass in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on October 1, 2015. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick declared Friday that he is officially retired, approximately 48 hours before his former team plays in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots.

Vick was the No. 1 overall pick in 2001 whose tenure in Atlanta ended in disgrace when he was arrested for running a dogfighting operation and spent 21 months in federal prison.

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He didn't play at all in 2016 and that helped Vick see it was time to move on.

"In this moment right now, I'm willing to say yeah, I'm officially retired," the 36-year-old Vick said during an ESPN interview. "I think it's time. I think going through the 2016 season without playing and being able to be a spectator and watch the game and enjoy it from afar and root for a lot of the players and coaches I once played for, I think kind of summed it all up for me.

"So now I think I'm officially ready, I'm ready to move on to different things in my life and different facets of my life."

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Vick passed for 22,464 yards and 133 touchdowns against 88 interceptions during 13 NFL seasons. He added 6,109 yards and 36 scores on the ground.

The Falcons moved into position to draft Vick in 2001 by acquiring the No. 1 overall pick from the San Diego Chargers -- a deal which enabled the Chargers to draft running back LaDainian Tomlinson with the fifth selection.

Vick spent six seasons with the Falcons and displayed superb running ability with a strong but often erratic arm. He threw for 71 touchdowns and rushed for 21 more and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection prior to the dogfighting situation.

Vick was out of football two years and Atlanta moved on without him. Vick was walking around in a jail cell on the day of the 2008 NFL draft when another inmate told him the Falcons had drafted Matt Ryan.

It took a while for Vick to lose his bitterness over the situation. But he now is a big supporter of Ryan, the starting quarterback in Sunday's Super Bowl and possible league MVP.

"It hurt when the Falcons drafted Matt," Vick wrote in The Players' Tribune earlier this week. "And for a while there, for sure, I was envious of Matt's position.

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"But Matt being such a success -- that's been a joy for me. For me, that's been relief. It's been peace of mind."

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Vick in 2009 in a controversial decision. He again was a Pro Bowler in 2010 as well as NFL Comeback Player of the Year when he passed for 3,018 yards and a career-best 21 touchdowns. He passed for a career-high 3,303 yards in 2011.

His performance declined over the next two seasons with the Eagles. He started three games for the New York Jets in 2014 and three for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015 before sitting out this season when there wasn't interest in his services.

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