Vick Fans at Skins Camp







Just a tip to anyone in the NFL universe who wants to get on the evening news, or at least the evening blog: wear a Vick jersey and/or bring a Vick sign to training camp. And if you bring Vick a sign the size of a Hummer, so much the better.

Thus, meet Rebecca Pearson, Ian Ferri and Brian Hoysa. Rebecca's the one in the Vick Falcons jersey, Ian's the one in the Vick Hokies jersey, and Hoysa's the one with the 21 Deion Sanders shirt, signed by Fred Smoot, and converted into a DeAngelo Hall tribute.

I know, it's a lot to digest, but here's the basic message:

"I've been a Vick fan for my whole life," Hoysa said. "And I feel like he deserves a chance to play."

"He's served his time," Ferri agreed.

"Nobody's perfect," Pearson added.

Of course, there was a fourth member to this party, the guy holding the "No We Don't" sign above Hoysa's "D.C. Wants Vick" tribute. That would be Erik Pedley, at 25 nearly a decade older than the Vick fans. Pedley saw the massive sign from behind and figured it might be a boon for autographs. Then he saw the text and figured he should stick around to offer a dissenting opinion.







"Some people have been player hatin'," Hoysa admitted.

"Oh, I'll be here all day," Pedley called out.

"But I feel like Vick should know he's welcome," Hoysa continued.

"It just degrades Jason Campbell," Pedley said. "We don't need that. We don't."

Though Hoysa said they don't want Vick as a replacement to Campbell, but merely as a supplement. Anyhow, players have stopped and stared, pointed at the sign, nudged teammates to take a look and snickered. Coach Jim Zorn, of course, said the Redskins will not be signing Vick "at this juncture," but the Vick supporters argued that was a fairly vague description--"this juncture might have ended at sundown yesterday,: Hoysa pointed out. They're hoping the quarterback hears about their tribute, so he knows he has still has supporters here; in an ideal situation, maybe he would actually stop by camp. And what would happen then?

"Have you ever seen a girl at an 'N Sync concert?" Hoysa asked. "That would be my reaction."