I don’t really understand the intricacies of football, but I do know this: Michael Vick got Kendra Wilkinson’s husband Hank Baskett fired. In a manner of speaking at least. Baskett, who up until yesterday was playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, was let go from the team in order to make room for Vick. Who is apparently incredibly popular amongst NFL fans – his jersey is the fourth best selling in the league.
Michael Vick can throw passes to his teammates instead of ball boys. The Philadelphia Eagles elevated Vick to the team’s 53-man roster Tuesday, a move that allows the quarterback to practice with the team. Wide receiver Hank Baskett was released to make room for Vick, who is eligible to play Sept. 27 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Vick will begin practicing with the team Wednesday, though he cannot play in Sunday’s home opener against the New Orleans Saints. Vick was suspended for the first two regular-season games as the final league penalty for his role in running a dogfighting ring.
…Vick was brought in to give the Eagles another dimension on offense. He ran Philadelphia’s version of the wildcat offense and took some snaps as a traditional QB under center in two preseason games. The Eagles were heavily criticized by animal rights activists for signing Vick less than a month after he finished serving 18 months in federal prison. Dozens of protesters voiced their outrage outside the team’s practice facility the day after Vick was signed, and many fans threatened to give up their tickets.
A month later, Vick’s jersey is the fourth-highest seller in the NFL behind Brett Favre, Jay Cutler and Troy Polamalu. The league rankings are based on the sales period from April 1 to Aug. 28, so Vick – and Favre, for that matter – had plenty of catching up to do since both joined their teams last month.
Baskett was one of seven receivers the Eagles carried on their 53-man roster through Week 1. He became expendable after Philadelphia selected Jeremy Maclin in the first round of April’s draft and added Brandon Gibson in the sixth round. Baskett had 72 catches for 1,052 yards and six touchdowns in 48 games with the Eagles.
[From the Huffington Post]
I feel badly for Hank. I don’t know why but I really like the guy. He just strikes me as genuine and all-around nice. Generally speaking I think Kendra Wilkinson is pretty lucky to have landed him. And to lose your spot on your team to slime like Michael Vick has got to make the whole thing sting even worse. It is unconscionable to say that the only thing that matters is that the guy’s a good football player. I don’t care how great his skills, you do something like Michael Vick did and you don’t deserve any second chances.
I’m guessing that Kendra and Hank aren’t exactly strapped for money, thanks to their reality show. And they’ve got their first baby due in January, so he’s got a lot of other things on his plate. Hopefully he’ll get picked up by another team that eventually kicks the Eagles’ ass.
Here are Hank and Kendra at the park with their dogs, Raskal and Martini, on July 25th. Images thanks to BauerGriffinOnline.
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