Recent negative behavior by Vick harms Falcons

This past weekend Saturday Night Live did a segment on Michael Vick called "What were you thinking?"

I think SNL hit the nail right on the head. What were you thinking Michael Vick?

Vick is a multi-million dollar quarterback and he tried to sneak a water bottle with a hidden compartment into the Miami International Airport. To make matters worse, he seemed reluctant to hand it over to the authorities.

When the police finally got the bottle to inspect it, they found what appeared to be dark specks with a strong aroma of marijuana.

Even though Vick had all suspected charges dropped this past Monday, it still was not the best situation for a star quarterback to be in.

The Atlanta Falcons are one of the most-loved professional teams in Atlanta, second only to the Braves. The team is currently in the midst of a rebuilding year.

With disappointing seasons the past two years the Falcons began their rebuilding process by firing Head Coach Jim Mora and hiring former Louisville Head Coach Bobby Petrino.

Within only a few days of Petrino's hiring, Vick was stopped in Miami.

There are better ways to greet your new coach for the upcoming season.

Vick did not have to be in that situation. Anything with a hidden compartment will raise suspicion, especially in an international airport in a post-9/11 era.

Vick could have prevented this situation from ever occurring. Even though lab tests proved it was not an illegal drug, it still puts a stain on the reputation between Vick and the Falcons.

This is just another incident that defines Vick's poor judgement.

Earlier in November, Vick took a loss to the New Orleans Saints a little too hard.

Instead of going to the locker room and preparing for the next week's game, Vick decided to flip off the fans: The same fans that help pay his paycheck.

The Falcons sell because of Vick and when he gives fans that kind of treatment, it will be detrimental to the Falcon ticket sales.

This again was not the smartest thing to do and Vick apologized saying "I just let my emotions get the best of me in that situation and it won't happen again."

Then, Vick was involved in the "Ron Mexico" fiasco. This brought negative attention to Vick and his team once more.

These incidents continue to happen and Vick's stock continues to fall. No one can deny that he is an outstanding player, but his off-the-field actions continue to raise questions about how valuable Michael Vick really is.

There are calls to have Vick traded more than ever after these recurring incidents over the past few months. There is increasing strain on his relationship with the Falcons. He is not only hurting the fans and the organization, but he is also hurting himself.

Eventually, no organization will want him as a part of their team. All athletes can learn a lesson from people like Michael Vick when they find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Just because an athlete is worth millions, does not mean he or she can live life without consequences for their actions. Sometimes those consequences affect more than the athlete. They affect the teams and more importantly the fans, which ultimately allow the team to continue to exist.

Whether or not that compartment contained any illegal substances, the allegation itself is damaging. So hopefully next time Vick is in an airport he will throw away his water bottle and not take any chances. It would not hurt for him to think of the team and fans he represents, rather than just himself.