THE WATERCOOLER:
Are you surprised that no NFL team has signed Michael Vick yet?

BERNIE MIKLASZ:
Yes. It’s a mercenary business and most NFL teams would do anything to win a game. There are a lot of players with police rap sheets running around NFL fields, getting paid. If you look around the NFL, there aren’t many No. 2 quarterbacks that I’d put in the category of “impressive.” Vick can play. The problem is, teams are afraid of the backlash and the potential for disruption. But once Vick does his “60 Minutes” mea culpa, increased his involvement with pro-animal groups and starts to remake his image to win public support, the fear of political incorrectness will subside.

JIM THOMAS:
No. It hasn’t really been that long since Vick was given his green light of sorts from Commissioner Roger Goodell. Given the amount of attention and potential disruption that signing Vick would bring to a team and a training camp, it makes sense that clubs wouldn’t rush into signing him. Besides, he may not be cleared for regular-season play until October.

BILL COATS:
Not really, for a couple of reasons. First, there’s the obvious PR dilemma. Second, there’s the fact that Vick’s skills are somewhat of an anomaly and don’t fit very well with what most NFL teams are trying to do on offense. That said, I still expect some team to take a chance on Vick. Might not happen till the regular season starts, though, and injuries begin to become an issue.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Do you believe Michael Vick should be reinstated and allowed to play football again in the NFL? And, do you think you’ll ever see Vick again as a starting quarterback in the league?

BILL COATS
If I were NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, I’d keep Vick out for another year, just to see if he “gets it” after he returns to the real world. Even then, Vick would be only 30, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he got another shot at starting in the NFL.

JEFF GORDON
Michael Vick should absolutely be reinstated. He paid a heavy price for his crime. He has paid a much heavier price than, say, Leonard Little paid for taking a person’s life in a drunk-driving crash. As for the quarterback part, the suddenly popularity of the “Wildcat” formation could give him new life. He may lack the polish to be a top 10 NFL quarterback in the traditional sense, but he could be devastating as a “Wildcat” quarterback. He is still in his athletic prime, so I expect that he could regain football conditioning easily enough.

KATHLEEN NELSON
I’m the biggest dog lover on the staff. My screen saver is a picture of My Guy Spud, wrapping his long pink tongue all the way around his black Lab snout. It’s lovely. So, the thought of setting one dog against another doesn’t even compute with me. How could anyone find pleasure or thrills in that? The authorities nailed Vick but good.

However, he’s done his time, so you have to forgive. Denying him a second chance would be rather stiff-necked and close-minded.

The answer to the second part of the question is totally up to Vick. He wasn’t a prototypical quarterback to begin with, and his skills have deteriorated. It’s hard to imagine him as a starting quarterback, but if he gets himself in shape and stays out of trouble, some team will give him a chance. Maybe he’ll be a backup; maybe he’ll be a gimmick-play guy. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the field again, albeit sporadically.

REID LAYMANCE
When the U.S. government deems that Vick has payed his debt to society, the NFL shouldn’t prevent him from rejoining the league. And if he still has the skills, a team should give him the chance. If you look at some of the QBs around the league, it would certainly seem that Vick, even with time away from the game, has enough to compete.

DAN O’NEILL
I believe if I was producing the “Dog Whisperer” with Cesar Millan, I would be on the phone with Vick’s agent right now, trying to get him on the show. That said, I think Vick should be reinstated. He has served his debt to society. He made a horrible choice, got nailed for it and paid the price. I have no doubt there will be an NFL team willing to sign him and, given the sorry state of quarterbacking in the league, I would not be shocked to see a team try him at quarterback.
Who would be more entertaining to watch, Marc Bulger or Michael Vick?

STU DURANDO
I’ve thought all along that he would be allowed to return to the league after he served his sentence and appeared to have his life straightened out. When he has things in order, give him another shot. If Leonard Little could get a second chance, Michael Vick should. And as difficult a time as some teams have finding a good quarterback, this guy is just too talented not to be starting again at some point.

THE WATERCOOLER

The New York Yankees today completed their eight-year, $180 million deal with first baseman Mark Teixeira. With that in mind, we posed the following scenario to our writers:

QUESTION: Teixeira’s contract with the Yankees resets the bar for Albert Pujols, who is currently operating on a seven-year, $100 million deal. The two players are separated in age by just 3 months and play the same position. Pujols is signed through 2010 with a club option for 2011. Should the Cardinals be working on extending Pujols’ contract right now, and if so, what do you think it would take?

JOE STRAUSS
The market has not gone down for superstar players in the modern era. Teixeira’s Annual Average Value of $22.5 million is fairly representative of what many believe El Hombre would command if he negotiated an extension today. Pujols obviously has had a more impressive career than Tex. By renegotiating the last 2-plus years on his remaining deal, the club might receive a break going forward while bumping his ’09 and ’10 salaries. To make Albert a “Cardinal for life” would likely start at eight years, $200 million. Much is unknown about the next three years. Pujols enjoys playing for La Russa, who is unsigned beyond this year. There is much to suggest the process could become much more complicated as time passes.

RICK HUMMEL
The Cardinals, before too much longer, should explore extending Pujols’ contract before somebody comes along and gets one even bigger than Teixeira’s. It might take $200 million for eight years, in Albert’s case, or at least six years at $150 million.

JEFF GORDON
Since the Cardinals will certainly pick up Albert’s contract option in 2011, the club can wait until after this season to discuss an extension. Approaching him with two years left seems like the ideal timetable. The club will have a better idea of where top prospect Brett Wallace stands. If Albert becomes determined to test the market and go for the highest dollar, then Wallace would become the first baseman in waiting. He, as Albert did, would have to bide his time at third base or in left field. If Albert wants to test the market, the Cards would have to trade him rather than risk losing him for a compensatory pick. If Albert wants to extend his deal, the Cards should consider tacking on about three years and $75 million before the 2010 season. That extension would give Albert what he deserves and allow the club to deal Wallace if it becomes apparent he really can’t play anywhere but first base.

DERRICK GOOLD
When reports of Teixeira’s deal with the Yankees began circulating, I received a brief email from an agent: “Very good for Pujols.” Good is putting it mildly. This was a jackpot. And Teixeira is just the beginning. Within the next month, Ryan Howard will set all sorts of arbitration records and help further define the escalating cost of a player like Pujols. Follow the trends, and it’s plausible that Pujols will be the first player to receive a contract with an annual average salary of $30 million. That’s what the current market says for the best hitter in the league. But the Cardinals don’t need to let this market set Pujols’ price. They have time on their side. Well, one year on their side. It would make sense to begin discussing an extension with Pujols a year from now, when that 2011 option looms and free agency beckons. Give the market a year. Give the elbow year. Give him another year or two to win another MVP or two. And then pay the toll. The Cardinals have deferred so much of his salary that they are already paying him through … what, 2029? What’s another decade?

DAN O’NEILL
Comparing Teixeira’s deal with Pujols’ deal is apples and oranges. Teixeira became a free agent this winter and cashed in. That’s the way it works; timing is the operative factor. In 2005, Teixeira had 43 home runs, 144 RBIs, a .301 average and he made $3.6 million; Pujols had 41 home runs, 117 RBIs, .330 average and he made $11 million. Was that fair? Yeah, because Pujols was fresh into a new deal. Trying to keep up with salaries from one signing period to the next is like trying to keep up with computer operating systems. You fall behind almost as soon as you walk out of the store.

The Cardinals don’t need to start negotiating with Pujols now, that’s why you gave him so much money for so many years, that’s what the player gives up when he asks for so much for so many years. The Cardinals have an option on Pujols for 2011, meaning he is locked up for three seasons. Perhaps it would be prudent to approach Pujols about an extension, but given the physical problems he has had the past two seasons, it makes more sense to wait.

What’s more, in the current environment, with people at A-B losing jobs, with so many experiencing tough times, it is poor form, if not flat insulting, for any of MLB team to be throwing sick sums of money at players. If Pujols feels slighted, all he need do is try to get by on the $16 million per year he gets for the next three seasons and become a free agent. Then people in New York will be asking if it’s fair that Pujols is making so much more money than Teixeira.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Derrick Goold wrote an excellent piece on Pujols vs. Teixeira a couple weeks back when news of the Teixeira signing first began to trickle out. In case you missed it, here’s a link to that piece, which you’ll find in Birdland.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

THERE’S TALKING, AND THERE’S DOING: Just what is slowing up the Rams’ process in finding a new head coach? Nine days into their quest, the Rams have interviewed just one candidate — Green Bay assistant head coach-linebackers coach Winston Moss.

Contrast that to the Denver Broncos, who canned Mike Shanahan just days ago. First, they are not dragging their feet getting candidates in for talks. Second, they’re aiming high with some of the bigger-name up-and-comers. Sure, they gave an obligatory interview to the team’s offensive coordinator under Shanahan, Rick Dennison. But the Broncos already have interviewed Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. They plan to meet today with Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. And they will interview Minnesota’s Leslie Frazier on Wednesday. (Yeah, the same Leslie Frazier the Rams are talking about talking with for their vacancy.)

Chip’s said he’s got the checkbook out, so what’s with the lack of actual interviews? Meanwhile, Rams scouts continue to wander the lands wondering just what kind of player their next coach may want.

IT’S A TOUGH MARKET: Former NFL star Michael Vick — currently serving a 23-month prison sentence for a federal dogfighting conspiracy — has asked a bankruptcy judge to allow him to sell his eight-bedroom home near Atlanta via auction. It appears Vick is having financial troubles, and even though realtors have shown the house more than 30 times, according to the Associated Press, the $4.1 million price tag is just too high. So now Vick’s lawyers want to sell it to the highest bidder at auction. Anyone planning a move to Atlanta? I hear the place even comes with a Michael Vick Fathead already installed.

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THINGS TO PONDER

I TOLD YOU SO: I was panned on this blog about a month ago when I said the Chargers made a huge mistake letting Drew Brees just walk away for nothing. Some thought I was comparing him to Philip Rivers (I wasn’t, though I would prefer Brees on my team). I was simply saying the Chargers made a mistake letting Brees simply walk as a free agent. He’s absolutely revitalized the team in New Orleans. Still, many slings and arrows were tossed at Brees (and me) in comments to this blog. So it is with great joy that I announce to you:

Brees was voted The Associated Press 2008 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award today.
Brees threw for 5,069 yards, 15 fewer than Dan Marino’s 1984 mark — which is only the second time in history someone has eclipsed 5,000 yards passing in a season. Heh, heh, heh.

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STAT OF THE DAY

3 1/2 — Points Florida is favored by over Oklahoma in Thursday’s BCS Championship game.