With only 24 hours to go until the 2001 NFL Draft, rumors are swirling all over the place. The San Diego Chargers hold the number one pick in the draft and the Michael Vick stories are already at full swing. The big talk around the league is that Vick's agents want $15 million up front for a signing bonus to go along with at least a $50 million contract. The Chargers, who just three years ago used the number two pick in the draft on all-time bust Ryan Leaf and gave him $12 million in the process, don't want to give another huge sum in that amount to a guy that has yet to take an NFL snap.

Basically what is going on here is that Michael Vick is paying for all the crap that Ryan Leaf put the Chargers through. Vick is without a doubt a diamond in the rough. He has uncanny arm strenght, he might enter the league with the best cannon in football. He'll easily be one of the fastest people in the league period. Amongst everyone, not just quarterbacks. But he's also only 20 years old, and has not had many games to master his craft. Besides the slight drawbacks, Vick is still considered the best player available.

But that doesn't mean crap when it comes to contract talks. As much as the Chargers management wants Vick, and as much as the Chargers players want Vick, if his agents don't compromise, there's a possibility they could look in another direction. With John Butler as their general manager it can be said that San Diego could easily get themselves a quarterback in the later rounds, while drafting a skill position player or defensive stud that could contribute right away, instead of Vick, who despite his enourmous skill, won't be ready for at least two years.

That however would not be popular amongst Charger fans who desperately want Vick to bring their city back to sports glory. In the end, things could come down to Michael Vick. If his agents are still tying to get 15 mil and the Chargers don't budge on their stance, it will be up to him to do the right thing to make sure he gets to San Diego. Most people seem to think Vick really has his sights set on San Diego and really likes the idea of learning for a couple of years under Doug Flutie, and more importantly, really wants to be the number one pick in the entire draft.

If that is the case I am sure he will do the right thing and make sure his agents don't mess up his day in history. Otherwise, the San Diego Chargers would be the NFL equivalent of the Portland Trailblazers, who passed on Micheal Jordan in 1984. And who really wants the tag of passing on the guy who could possibly be the Micahel Jordan of football. I think that the contract talks are just that, all talk. While the Chargers are serious, they are not that stupid. John Butler is to smart of a football man to pass up on a guy like Michael Vick. So come April 21, Michael Vick's historic treck to the NFL should begin in San Diego.