From the local paper.
Friday, 08/06/04
Vick hurts hamstring at practice
[size=-2]By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer
[/size]Michael Vick pulled the ball down, dashed around the edge and got into the end zone.
Then he reached for his right leg.
The star attraction of the Atlanta Falcons tweaked his hamstring yesterday afternoon during practice against the Titans at Baptist Sports Park. Falcons Coach Jim Mora downplayed the injury, but it appears unlikely Vick will participate in today's two practices or tomorrow's scrimmage.
Vick is widely regarded as the most indispensable player in the league. With him, the Falcons are considered a potential playoff team. Without him for most of last season because of injury, the Falcons went 5-11.
Mora took an almost over-the-top approach in his comments concerning Vick, reiterating that the quarterback was fine.
''Let's not make more of this than it is,'' Mora said. ''It might not even be a pulled ham. It might be a strain. It might be nothing. It's no big deal. You guys are worried, not me.''
Vick played in only five games last season after breaking his right fibula in the preseason. He missed a couple of recent practices with a blister on his throwing hand.
He left the field yesterday without stopping to talk to reporters, but he wasn't scheduled to talk to the media until after today's second practice.
''It don't hurt,'' Vick said without stopping. ''I'm fine.''
Mora said he wasn't going to treat every ding Vick might suffer as a special event.
''I didn't run over,'' Mora said. ''I'm not going to go baby the guy. He's just like anyone else out there. He's going to get nicked up a little bit. He's going to have some pains and some pulls, and some owies, and he's just going to get through them.
''Every time something happens to the guy we're not going to rush over and, 'Ah.' That's not football. He's fine, man. I get a kick out of it, I really do.''
Rookie Matt Schaub stepped in for Vick and connected on a deep pass to wide receiver Dez White down the middle.
The play resulted in a touchdown despite the protests of Titans cornerback Samari Rolle, who told officials that White had pushed him in the back to free himself for the catch.
[font=ARIAL,HELVETICA][size=-1]Paul Kuharsky is a staff writer for The Tennessean. He can be reached at 259-8024 or [/size][/font]