NFL or Not for Vick
May 20th, 2009 at 7:21 pm by Ahmed Fareed under Sports
You ever camped out before? It can be fun. But, it probably won’t be for the media (including us) that will be camped outside Mike Vick’s Hampton home tonight. I hear the ABC in Richmond brought the s’mores.
As the 24-hour news cycle attacks this story, it has been somewhat difficult for us in the sports department for one main reason: nothing is changing.
Sure, Mike will now serve out his sentence from home. But, that does nothing to clear up his NFL future. The commissioner, Roger Goodell refuses to say anything new until Vick’s sentence is fully up. Of course, individual NFL teams are not commenting on their interest in Vick. From a sports angle, nothing is different now than it was 19 months ago. When nothing is new, it’s hard to make news.
But we do, mostly with speculation. Outside of maybe, possibly, and if, there’s not much more we can add. Will the NFL let Vick come back? Probably. Could Jerry Jones take a chance on him? Maybe. What about the Steelers? Possibly. Other than that, we can’t add much.
The silver lining for us is that soon, everything will change. After his release, he will be reinstated. The Falcons will be forced to trade or cut him. Then, Vick will start negotiating with teams. He will receive offers. Vick will fly around to different camps. Finally, he will pick a team. Then, he’ll try to make that team. Vick will suit up in a game. And so on. Then we will have some actual sports news to talk about.
Please, get here soon.
WAVY-TV 10 Sports Team
michael vick had paid his debt to society. leave the man alone. i just watched all the tv crews and people camping outside his house. if you let vick back into the NFL the message that you send is a positive one to everybody. everyone deserves a second chance and this would allow the men that are in prisons around the country see that it is possible to get out of prison and be a productive citizen. if you dont let him back into the nfl then it sends a message that there are no chances for anyone coming out of prison. its just the way i see it. i understand that he did a bad thing but again he paid his debt to society. and hello yes he killed some dogs but the NYPD shot a black man 50 times and all of them got to go home. justice systems sucks.
Leave him alone. That means you, TV news men & women. He has served more time and suffered more financial loss than he should have and has lost the prim years of his athletic productivity. He will be lucky if he gets back on a pro-football field a year from now and will never make a tenth of what he could have earned without dogs and stupid friends.
Vic made a bunch of serious mistakes, he has paid the price (more than) and you and PETA, etc, should let him work out his own return to public life. Leave him alone and let him demonstrate that he has learned the right lessons.
Bob
Welcome Home Michael Vick,
You know I believe that Mike has served his time. But if we believe in God than he should be forgiven. When Mike was a celebrity and was on the lips of every sportscaster and professional coach in the NFL he could do no wrong. But as usual when we fall those that claimed they supported us turned in his jersey and the hidden hate surfaced. Martha Stewart left prision and people supported her even though she broke the law. They supported her behing bars and never had anything negative to say about her. As a freelance writer I just want to say that i have prayed for him and his family and I hope that he finds his way to a good church in the community. I Voice. May God be with you Michael and your family.
I wish that the media would leave Micheal Vick alone. We all get it that he is coming home. People already have a bad taste in their mouths about him. Michael has paid his debt. Let him get on with his life. We don’t care where he will be working and how much he will make. If the people are not going to help him then leave him alone. God has forgiven him, so why can’t we. People are quick to judge, butthey forget that we all sin and come short of the glory.
What a way to make a living, in a fish bowl. The Dtroit Lions are the one team that can stand Michael Vick. After losing 16 games last year, beggars can not be choosy. Seriously, Vick can play football. He made the league a ton of money as on of its top draws. Like the other Michael, people went to see Chicago Bulls to see Michael. People went to see the Atlanta Falcons to see Michael. Whether they will go to see Matt Ryan without a Superbowl ring is questionable. It is the athlete who raises you up from your seat that folks pay to see. Vick is a money machine for the NFL. Poll the players.
I hope the NFL reinstates him as long as he has to play without pads and helmet, maybe then he’d know how the dogs he used as “bait” felt.
Ahmeed,
Not everyone wants to see Vick suited up; and Many will not be talking about sports if and when he does suit up.
Lynn
Yes Michael Vick did a crime, Yes Michael Vick served his time. There has been many other crimes that went on in the atheletic world that gave the atheletes more than a second chance. Why condemn a man a second time after he has paid the price given to him. That price was through the legal system. Football is not just a sport that he loves to play as a hobby it is a life long job that he trained hard mentally and physically to get to this point.
No I don’t support anycrime but what I do support is young people who is our future. If you deny Vick the oppertunity to prove as a role model to the youth that if you make a mistake you can turn your life around. When this first hit the media they said they is a positive rolemodel image that has to be kept then what positiveness came out of the baseball world by using is Jersey as an Dog poop disposal. That wasn’t positive at all. That was revenge.
To Mr Knight and Ms Wilson, Mike Vick has paid his dept to society and deserves a second chance just as much as anyone else. It must be pleasing for the two of you to be walking around on God’s earth having never made a mistake. Seach your hearts and find forgiveness regardless of the wrong that is done. Jesus did it and that is why we are here today.
I believe that we all should have a second chance…and that all have done things wrong. But we need to truly be sorry…and not commit the same offence again. He was making good money and it wasn’t enough….wasn’t enough…..that He took it upon himself to harm inocent animals that could not defend their selves. Who’s to say it won’t happen again. I pray to God, for the sake of inocent animals that He won’t do it again. Yes, He should have a second chance…..but will it(income)ever be enough?
BAN VICK FOR LIFE
Vick should not be allowed back into the NFL. Once he starts making the bucks again, he will most likely be into some other illegal business. I can only think of the abuse that he personally gave the dogs that didn’t do so well with their fights. I shutter every time I think of that. A leopard doesn’t change their spots. I would fear for my life if I were living around him anywhere. Yeah, his “church” attendence looks good for the public, but I’m not going to pass judegment on that part of his life……..he will answer for that himself.
Mr. Vick has served his time and done everything he was asked to do. He should be allowed to do what he does best, especially play football, if that will make him a good, upstanding, taxpaying citizen. If the media paid as much attention to the child abusers in this society to keep them from being repeat offenders and killing children as they do to Micheal Vick and his problems, this society would be much safer. He has a right, according to our judicial system, to a second chance. With all of the money he has made for the Atlanta Falcons and the NFL, he derserves a second chance to rehabilitate his life.
I totally agree with Mr Knight and Ms Wilson. He may have paid his very small debt to society for this hideous crime, but this just did not happen all of a sudden. It went on for 7 years. He did not need to do it for the money, but did just for fun and obviously for sake of killing dogs, some of which is proven he actually did himself. Also it seems many keep forgetting, his previous violations which were overlooked: drug use, flipping off the crowd after a game. His lack of being a leader on any team he has played in college or pros and he never played an entire season, injury free. By the way, I would be interested to know, how the votes are, along racial lines. Has anyone found an african-american who does not want him back in NFL immediately? This Scottish American says ban him from NFL at least through 2010 season.
It just seems that his million dollar talent was led by a ten cent head.
I do believe that Michael Vick should not be allowed back into the NFL. Yes, he did pay his “debt” to society however, thanks to Michael (and others), he has helped make it virtuality impossible to adopt a pit bull. Animals in general are not mean, it is the owner that makes the animal. Many innocent dogs had to be put down because of dog fighting.
Vick was looked at as hero to some, while others looked up to him, even admired him; why would you jeopardize all of this and money to fund a dog fighter ring? This proves he had it all and even this, was not enough. I do not think that he should be able to go back and play. Who is to say he learned his lesson, his word does not mean a thing.
If God can forgive Mr. Vick then I can too. Keep your head Michael, I support you
Do I believe Mr. Vick should return to the NFL, yes, that is not a problem with me. I believe he has done the time and should be able to get back on with his life. Although that is not to say that he should just be free and clear. I belive that Mr. Vick should be obligated (outside of community service) to volunteer with animal shelters that care for abused animals. I belive that he should do things that give back to the animal community and in the process get more people involved with caring for animals. It is not about sports, it is about doing the right thing!!!! Thank You
Michael Vick served his time. and did it in a very classy way. No crying or blaming any one. If you have a problem with the amount of time he served, take it up with the judge.
If a NFL team wants him, great. If not, thats great also.
The media and all the tree hugging cry babies need to leave him alone and let him get on with his life.
No, Michael Vick is being made to look like a “hero”. We’re tired of hearing about him, and refuse to watch what ever team of idiots hire the man.
He’s a criminal, and should not be given the right to play again! I once looked up to him, and loved watching him when he was at Teck and then with Atlanta. Now I find him disguesting, and when I heard first hand what he did with those beloved Pit Bulls, I was extremely disgusted with him.
It seems in this day and time, criminals and drug adicts are ruling the media. Why they deserve this coverage is beyond me. What has happend to morals, respect for life, clean living, and the love of God? Seems to me that the world has gone completely ape!
Michael Vick needs to return to his job with W.M. Jordan, and see what work is really like. Let him work for $10.00 an hour and see how difficult it is to feed a family. He’s spoiled, and NO, HE HAS NO BUSINESS GOING BACK IN THE NFL. Absolutely not. Most people are extremely tired of hearing about him and not interested in his life. He didn’t just make a mistake, he commmitted a felony!!!!! Hello people!!!!! It’s time to stop giving him media coverage and attention. How about spending more time covering our troops losing their lives for our freedom in Iraq, Afganistan, and what we’re going to do with North Korea. These are more important topics. Vick is a disgusting topic. Get over it!
My family will not be watching NFL football if he returns. You can pass this on to the NFL as they need to know how Americans really feel about this.
I have professional atheletes in my family, and I can tell you first hand, they do not approve.
Making a simple mistake is one thing, but a felony is a felony. If he loved the NFL that much, he should have taken this into consideration before doing something extremely stupid!
Who’s to say, once he returns and starts making money again, that he won’t do something even worse. He runs with the wrong people.
If Vick is exonerated and allowed to be indoctrinated back into the NFL then Pete Rose should be exonerated and indoctrinated into the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of the greatest ball players ever. These types of “letting by gones be by gones” associated with sports figures that have a “roll model” influence upon our children, with thier gambling, steroid usage, attitudes and such, should never be allowed to permeate into the mainstream of sports and anyone that feels Vicks so called debt has been paid up shouldn’t be surprised when their children act or others act upon them in the same manor. This action has nothing more than commerical interest written all over it.
He has served his time. It`s time for him to go back to work. He`s good at what he does. He most likely grew up with dog-fighting, and it didn`t seem so bad at the time.
I worked at a SPCA for awhile and I saw animal control bring in pitbulls that had to be put down within 24 hrs b/c of people like Michael Vicks. I would cry every time because those poor animals would be so abused and blood covered from fights and just from beating that they recieved from the owners.
In my opinion Michael should have spent his time with animal control learning about what he really did to those animals and how to pay back to the wellbeing of the animals that did survive. may GOD forgive him on judgement day.
Michael Vick did a crime and was given a light sentence as his “time”. Now this sick man can once again earn millions and start his illegal acts again, only to be discovered if and when his “buddies” once again rat him out. Remember, he lied to a judge stating he had no idea what was going on on his property…did not know until his friends told the truth. I am from Philly and am ashamed the Eagles had to resort to this low life to get attention. Boycotts a plenty are coming and I hope they hurt. Killing a living thing – or many of them – should not be dismissed as easily as it is being done with Vick. Anyone who thinks electrocution, drowning, etc is a okay, please consider having it done to you or a loved one, then what would the just payment be?
I am shocked to see people now declaring themselves eagle fans simply because Vick was a Va Tech player…. How shame full what are they saying? its o.k. to kill Dogs as long as you are a former Va Tech player? I think the NFL and the eagles need to consider if or not Vick is a good roll model for the thousands of children who adore football players and will think it cool to fight dogs! The message is if you are a good athlete and can advance my team “Hey we are not concerned what you did”. I hope he has reformed but he wont be house sitting my dogs once bitten and all that.
I heard Vick say that he made a mistake today on his news conference. It was not a mistake. He make a conscious decision to murder animals by drowning, electricity and other unforgivable means. I would say let him play-the stipulation is he earns 30 thou and the rest of the over 1 mil be given to animal rescue organizations. See how bad he wants to play.
Michael Vick commited a crime He is now on prime time TV saying how remorseful he is. Now it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that anyone who commits a crime and is caught will not lament and say oh how sorry I am. What would be happening right now if Michael Vick was never caught? He would be making millions of dollars and would still be abusing and killing animals. Sorry but this man should not be given the glory of any national spotlight and the NFL, by allowing him to join a team, will be doing just this. How sad is this?
Give him a second chance, yes but let someone else hire him where he won’t be glorified. Let him get a job like the average person where he won’t be looked upon as a super hero and making millions. Let him fade away from all the media because I know every time I hear the name Michael Vick I think of the poor animals that never got a chance.
What a shame. The Vick issue is just another example of double standard. Here is a man who was at the top of the game,money by the millions,big homes for himself and his family and fame that caused a cavalier ego. But, now he is out of his cushie prison and off that so terrible home confinement (oh poor thing),and back doing what he likes to do,make money and show off,where is the justice, equal justice? Something is wrong with this picture. If a person who worked at a major retail store really enjoyed their work and they did what Vick did, do you honestly think that they would have been given the same punishment and allowed to return to their home to finish their confinement, and on top of that go back to work at the store they were at before their arrest? It is ok for someone with money and fame along with the ability to lure the average citizen into a venue to gain profit, it is fine for such a person to cause one animal to fight another and brutally kill those animals that did not perform well, perhaps we should treat these people as they treated the animals. What is wrong with our system where we reward the famous people who behave in such a manner by giving them our hard earned dollars and allow their egos to run rampant? Where is the Equal Justice?
Mike Vick should not be allowed back into the NFL. He should have thought about the “job he loves,” and about those who look up to him. By him being accepted back, it sends a message to young people that as long as you are famous, anything is possible. Just because it was dogs that lost their life, it is fine. He did not need the money (which is not an excuse to begin with), so why do it?
Due to him and others just like him, they make it virtually impossible to get a pit bull. The breed itself is not bad, it is the owners that make them that way…this holds true for any animal. If you abuse it, it too will be bad.
Between Mike Vick and Stallworth, it seems that as long as you are famous and have money…you can do anything and all you will get is a slap on the wrist. Ask yourself this, “If a regualr average person had been involved in dog fighting or drove drunk and hit and killed someone, do you think that person would have to spend “2 years” in jail with 4 game suspension while the drunk driver gets 30 days in jail and is suspended for the season.
I do not know if I am more mad at these individuals for committing the crimes they did or because no real punishment was given to them.
I am sickened that number 1- Vick was signed by ANYONE! There will be no Eagles games being veiwed in my house and I have signed a petition swearing to boycott anyone who advertises dueing an Eagles game.
The secons thing that sickens me- That PeTA has the NERVE to say squat about Vick when their own employees were caught red handed dumping animals in dumpsters after killing them in a moving van… all this after they picked up those poor animals from a NC shelter swearing that they were bringing them to Norfolk to find them good homes.
Vick and PeTA are BOTH disgusting and neither one should have a moments air time… period!
Pitbulls have a hard enough pre-determined rap from most people in the world. If you really spent enough time with them you would see what a great pet they make. I blame the owners for any mis-directed pits be it by non-training, non-socializing or bad breeding which is something you will see with just about any breed. They are easily trained for many things and very devoted. It always disturbs me how quickly someone will change their sob story once they get caught and have to answer to what they have done for many years with no remorse for the feelings that a dog may have. How can someone like Micheal Vick ever be a role model for children after all he has done? What is wrong with people to say we’ll forget everthing he has done and put him right back out there saying he wants to be a role model again? Is this what we want for our children? Come on people…. Where are your values?
Mr Michael Vick DESERVES to play football. He has paid his debt to society in full. He is a man who made a mistake and lost everything and now is trying to make a legal living to support his family. There is nothing wrong with that. If the people who don’t want him to earn an honest living can support him & his family, so be it. If not, stop belittling him, pray for him to do the right thing, and succeed so that he can be a spokesman for how to treat animals correctly and make amends. Let those who is without sin cast the first stone.