The Vick Issue

11 thoughts on “The Vick Issue”

1. Drew,

   My call would be NOT to reinstate him. 1) he committed heinous acts against defenseless creatures; 2) he lied about it to both the NFL and law enforcement authorities; and 3)he has shown no remorse except for that of getting caught.

   While the NFL would lose an arguably world class talent, it would send a strong message about honesty, integrity, and the ability to stand of for moral principles. The NFL would gain respect from both fans and players. The NFL would stand for a league which requires not just athletic ability but also high moral character. I

   Comparatively, the NFL now has a very strict substance abuse policy which results in cheaters being banned for life. How on earth can the NFL claim that despicable acts including abuse and dishonesty which result in a felony conviction are somehow LESS damning than shooting up with steroids? For the sake of the NFL, there should have been some consistency with its views on crime and punishment. Allowing Vick to possibly play sends an absolutely inconsistent message to fans and players alike about what is acceptable conduct.

   Finally, granting forgiveness to a person does not require returning that person to the same status and standing he had prior to his crime and punishment. Vick served his time and certainly is welcome back to society. However his character, in my opinion, has not changed, he has not been rehabilitated, and he is still morally unfit and thus not deserving to play one of the world’s greatest sports.

2. Good Morning from Omaha,

   What ever NFL team makes the decision to pick up this jerk, is going to have a big P.R. problem.

   Animals are considered by most some of good most innocent creatures. His activities with the

   training and fighting of dogs is inexcusable and was compounded by the lying, to himself,his family

   the NFL and the courts.

   I didn’t think football players got any dumber than his brother who had all the talent in the world but came with a ten cent mind but I was wrong. Look for Michael Vick fixing a pot hole near you.

   Strive for excellence, nothing but your best.

   Gene

3. Drew,

   I agree with the commissioner decision. I believe that he should be allowed the chance to play in the NFL. He has served his time in jail and should be given a chance to show that he is a changed man. Whether or not a team decides to join him is a different story. I do think he should be suspended some games this season also (I think the number of games is 5).

   However, if Vick screws up one more time and gets in trouble with the law then I think he should be suspended for life from the NFL. I think the real question is why is Pac-man Jones still allowed to play football?

4. Lets be honest here, Vick and NFL in this equation spells= $$$$$$$.

   I am not gonna lie to anyone here, I am soooooo excited to see what Vick can do after being locked up for all that time and having a chip on his shoulder the size of Mount Everest. If anyone here has the talent to entertain the way Michael Vick can, please stand up. The true part is that we all have done something wrong and still continue to do it weather it is bankruptcy, pornography, or smoking. Sin is sin, wrong is wrong and it is not for us to decide Vicks fate thats why there is Rodger Godell. The comish has decided and like it or not you all are gonna tune in to see Michael Vick succeed or fail, activist groups are still gonna be outside these NFL stadiums and all that generates is money in the press and money in his pocket. Take your place in society and know your roll because until you make millions none of us have any say in these types of situations. Going back to the opening point it is all about $$$$.

5. i agree with mike and gene – very well said – i don’t think he’s shown remorse, i don’t trust him – i would like to hear the media provide equal time – the media goes on and on about vick but i suggest they also have spokespeople for the dogs that are being rehabilitated especially those at best friends sanctuary – i’m going for equal time – let’s hear from the victims – let’s hear about their rehabilitation, let’s hear about those that had to be euthanized, let’s hear about those that can never be adopted – let’s hear about what they’ve had to go through and are still going through – gail

6. The NFL needs to reinstate Micheal Vick. The premise of our society is that after you pay the penalities of your crime, you deserve a second chance at life. He spent 2 years in prison and basically lost everything. It’s up to him whether to rebuild his life or not.

   Now whether a NFL team decides to sign Vick is another question. It’s completely up to the team whether they want to aquire the baggage and drama in return for the potential upside that Vick may or may not bring.

   Personally, I wouldn’t want my team to sign Vick, for many reasons. He hadn’t performed particularly well prior to going to prison. I also find killing animals just for fun very distasteful. I feel bad killing a fish and wouldn’t never do it unless I planned to eat it afterwards. I would rather return it back to the water to live another day.

   But however I feel about it, every person deserves a chance after he’s paid his debt.

7. Ray Lewis is in, there is NO reason in the world Michael Vick shouldn’t be.

8. He did his time. He couldn’t play football during his jail time and lost his contract with the Falcons because of it. He’s paid his debt. I don’t see the need for the suspension other than any team that picks him up has to deal with losing a roster spot to a suspended player so they’d think twice about picking him up. I really only seeing the Raiders picking him up anyway and I really don’t think Old Al is willing to stoop that low. So I think you should have no worries Drew about seeing him on the field anytime soon.

9. Matty G,

   I think you hit the nail on the head. I did a cartoon for United Features last week that I may put on the site tomorrow about the whole “it’s all about the Money thing”

   Drew

10. Stanbob hit the nail on the head with the Ray Lewis comment!! I like Vick and he should be back in the NFL!!! If you have players that get drunk and kill people and dont do as much time as he has then it is ok!!! Vick is an exciting player but honestly I dont see a team signing him. To many PR issues!!!

11. Drew, it’s been a while since I’ve posted here, but lets be honest… he’s served his time. People keep acting like he was never punished or anything for what he did to the dogs, but he served his time in a FEDERAL PRISON. Not a little dinky prison that they put stoner kids, but a place with legitimate criminals for people who broke serious laws.

    Not to make light of the situation, but Dante Stallworth got drunk and killed a 59 year-old man. He got NO jail time for killing someone who potentially had 20-30 years left on his life, who had a wife and children, someone who defected from Cuba and was pursuing the American dream.

    Dogs live roughly 10-20 years max. I care about my dogs and if anything happened, I would be mad. But come on, he served his time.