In the darkness just before dawn on May 20th, Michael Vick, his fiance, Kijalfa Frink, a videographer and some other “advisers” set out from Leavenworth, Kansas for the 1200 mile ride home to Hampton, Virginia. It’s our guess that they are in the Range Rover that Vick had stashed in Kansas for transportation when Kijalfa came to visit. He seems to have a road trip to film, an appointment with his parole officer on Friday morning and a $10 an hour job starting Monday. For two more months he’ll be under house arrest, only allowed to leave the home in Hampton for work and legal matters. Workers were seen cleaning the swimming pool between the pond in his backyard and house that sits quiety at the end of a cul-de-sac.

Using the same reportage skills as ESPN’s John Clayton and Chris Mortenson, Sportscream is reporting that the house in Hampton has to be a big step up from the clanging and noisy Leavenworth. We expect that the 29-year old quarterback who hasn’t played football for nearly two years will also swim his way back into shape. It is also rumored that brother Marcus Vick, who made an ill-fated NFL attempt to convert from quarterback to receiver, will come in very handy as Mike starts rebuilding his arm in the back yard.

Vick’s advisers will spend most of their time trying to put together a plan to get their man back into the NFL. He’s bankrupt now and, with a solid plan to overcome three main obstacles, could milk a 2 or 3 year career and possibly earn upwards of $3 to $6 million to alleviate his debt. “I hope he likes football,” Herm Edwards said today on ESPN, “he’s basically playing for free now.”

In order to get back, Vick firstly needs to get popular opinion swung his way. That’s taking form as he passes the mile markers on I-70 with sportswriters across the country already defending him by stating that he’s paid his penance. The second obstacle is NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who will guage Vick’s contrition and juggle the precedents that will dictate when he will be allowed back on a field. Thirdly, Vick will need to deliver the goods. Will he be the same double-threat? Will the “Wildcat” offense help him bail out from that bad wine bar investment?

As PETA gears up to picket, and potential employers (Seattle, New England, St. Louis, Tampa, San Francisco) weigh the backlash of embracing “Ookie” based on his horrible history with dog fighting, there is a much more important habit to break. It’s what Falcon board member, ordained minister, Martin Luther King Jr. pal, former UN ambassador, and Atlanta Mayor, Andrew Young, termed “ghetto loyalty,” where Vick stays loyal to his homies.

If somehow Vick can change, and people will forgive him for his transgressions, hopefully no one will remember or be bothered by his past habits. There seems to be a strong belief that people don’t care that he smokes weed (see: the Miami International Airport water bottle incident), or sells weed (see: Virginia arrest of two friends in Vick-owned truck with load of chronic), disrespects the U.S. Congress (see: blowing them off for the ‘Afterschool Alliance’ award), flips off fans (see: film of double bird thrown to Atlanta fans in 2006), steals watches (see: Hartsfield International Airport security check point video of Vick lifting a Rolex), or minds that he has a reputation for spreading herpes as Ron Mexico (see: Sonya Elliott’s civil suit).

We’re pretty certain that Kijafa Frink, his fiance, not the mother of his two children, knows about the Ron Mexico thing. Either Mort or John Clayton probably told her. Or was it Plaxico Burress, or Harris Smith?