Michael Vick is touted to be the next premiere quarterback in the NFL. The Atlanta Falcons had high hopes going into this season as their star quarterback comes of age. Vick can beat you with this arm and with his legs just ask the Green Bay Packers last year when Vick and company handed them their first playoff loss at Lambeau field.

Michael Vick fractured his right fibula in the preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. According to the doctors, there was not any bone displacement and the word is still out whether any ligament damage has occurred. Typically a fracture will heal in approximately six weeks when no ligament damage is present. The doctors will not know for a week to ten days if this damage has occurred. It remains to be seen whether the healing of the fibula is the only key to get one of the league’s most exciting players back on the field. Philadelphia Quarterback McNabb had a similar injury last season and was out for two months.

For now, Atlanta must find a way to win football games with Doug Johnson who has only started three NFL games previously. He is definitely not a Michael Vick but who is ? Even Brett Favre is a different type of quarterback. As a Packer fan, you know I will say Favre is the greatest of all time but this kid is going to make some incredible history in his own right. The hope is that the new NFL poster boy will recover from this injury and will not let the mental impact of it deter the reckless abandon that we know as Michael Vick. This is still unknown. What is known that is this injury will affect the face of the NFC south.

The Green Bay Packers signed free agent veteran Larry Smith from the Jacksonville Jaguars this week in an attempt to fill the void left by Gilbert Brown who sustained a bicep injury in the preseason game against the Falcons. I watched the game this past weekend against the Cleveland Browns. Though the Packers offense showed us many weapons, the defense is still suspect. Hopefully, this will help the Packers sub-par run defense. To make room for Larry Smith, the Packers placed defense back Larry Westbrook on injured reserve.

After Sundays game against the Packers, it looks like the quarterback controversy is over in Cleveland. Kelly Holcomb is the new starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. Holcomb, who will make $875,000 dollars this year simply outplayed the high dollar Couch so far in preseason 14 of 21 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns. Against the Packers, he not only outplayed Couch but out played Farve completing 7 out 10 for 166 yards and two Touchdowns. His success makes me concerned about the Packers defense. Defense wins championships just ask the Ravens and the Bucs.

Gilbert Brown who ruptured his biceps was counted out for the rest of the season. This is a big blow to the center of the Packer defensive line. Monday the medical staff and Gilbert have decided to try to rehab the injury and bypass surgery in hopes of returning to play this season. The typical course of action with this type of injury is surgery. Gilbert has chosen the more difficult road which could lead to losing some strength in his arm. This exemplifies the Gilbert’s will to play football no matter the cost. After a week of rehab and strengthening exercises, the Packers medical staff are impressed with his progress. If things continue to go well, the Packers could have their big nose tackle back in the line up in the latter part of this season.