Chargers coach Riley says Vick is for real

Chargers would consider four players/picks for Vick

Michael Vick did nothing to hurt his stock Friday as the likely No. 1 pick of this month's NFL draft. Now, the question is, is there any team out there willing to offer the San Diego Chargers a tempting enough trade package to acquire Vick?

Four might be the magic number for the Chargers. Any combination of players and picks equaling four would get their attention, according to league sources.

John Butler
John Butler and the Chargers like Michael Vick, but they may get an offer they can't refuse.

Chargers coach Mike Riley was in Blacksburg, Va., for the second straight Friday to observe Vick's open workout to all NFL clubs. He did not run a 40-yard sprint, but that didn't seem to bother anyone.

As one scout said, "We've all seen him run away from the Florida State guys, so we know he can run."

His throwing Friday was very impressive, even better than it was the previous week when he worked out exclusively for the Chargers.

Only a handful of clubs were in attendance Friday on the Virginia Tech campus. Atlanta, Cincinnati, Dallas and Kansas City were clubs that were positively identified, along with San Diego.

The Falcons are bringing Vick to Atlanta on Saturday. Even though they have been reluctant to make a play for Vick because of their overall needs, they are very high on the left-handed quarterback. One team official said the club currently is covering its bases "in case (Vick) slips to our spot (No. 5), or if the Chargers make us an offer we have to look at."

That's called posturing. However, there is always a chance that if Vick wows head coach Dan Reeves in Saturday's meeting, the Falcons could increase their interest. Reeves did not attend the Indianapolis scouting combine, so he had no prior opportunity to meet Vick, whose primary contact has been with the Chargers.

Vick had a two-hour dinner with Riley and quarterback coach Mike Johnson on Thursday night, and they came away impressed, although they did have to navigate having three "Mikes" at the dining table.

The Chargers have spent much of their recent time investigating Vick's character, a residue of their disaster with Ryan Leaf, who was the No. 2 overall pick of the 1998 draft. Team sources say they are satisfied that Vick does not have any of the personality flaws that haunted Leaf. Virginia Tech coaches, trainers and even equipment men are among those who have spoken highly of Vick with Chargers officials.

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