Vick Cuts Hair, AirTran Cuts Vick

Hearing the advice I gave to Michael Clayton earlier this week about shaving his cornrows so he doesn't look like Michael Vick, Vick shaved his own cornrows off in an attempt to not look like himself.

Thursday, he showed up to offseason workouts with his trademark braids sheared and his hair in a short, natural cut, much like the one he sported upon being drafted in 2001.

Vick, who has been embroiled in a dogfighting investigation at a Virginia property he owns, said two weeks ago that he planned unspecified changes in his life and that people would have wait and see what those would be. The haircut apparently is one of those changes.

And it's like the dogfighting never happened! See how much a little personal hygiene can help your image? Of course, the fine folks at AirTran didn't see it that way. They chose not to have Vick represent them with his radio spots anymore. I assumed it was because he kept ruining takes by giggling, chewing Doritos into the microphone and becoming startled when the producer's voice would come through on his headphones (he thought it was the voice of Jesus.) Then the AP reminded me about this little tidbit:

Especially stinging to AirTran, though, was that Vick's publicist blamed the airline when the quarterback known for his quickness failed to arrive in Washington to speak before Congress. AirTran said Vick had ample opportunities to get to his destination on AirTran but chose not to.

Ooh, that's gotta sting. Not as badly as herpes, but close. I assume.

Haircut or not, Vick is done. Even if he isn't indicted, the damage to his public image and reputation is too great to adequately recover from. A guy like Ray Lewis could resurrect his career from his association with a murder rap by being one of the best linebackers in the last decade. Vick has no such distinction. Once the punishment from Roger Goodell is handed out (and there will be one unless a Michael Vick impersonator shows up and confesses) it will be a steep drop downhill from there, culminating with his release from a team that has no viable backup.