We don’t need to get into the details of Vick’s well-documented transgressions, but the quick summary is that at the peak of his career – and earning power – he was busted for running a dog fighting ring and was subsequently prosecuted and jailed, and suspended from the National Football League.
At the time of Vick’s arrest, he was the highest-paid player in North America’s biggest sports league – a star still on the rise with a decent-enough Atlanta Falcons team around him that it seemed like nothing but the sky would be his limit.
Flash forward a couple of years and change since the whole deal went down and Vick is now out of jail, having paid his penance, and has signed a two-year deal to back up Donovan McNabb with the Eagles.
Which brings us to the topic at hand: Should Michael Vick be allowed to resume his professional football career.
Of course, I’m not the only one to address this topic in the media, but I felt compelled to weigh in following a conversation I was involved in with some family members and a visitor around the dinner table a few weeks ago.
After all, the most important court of opinion in sports isn’t in the pages of a daily newspaper or website, it’s in front of an HD flat screen on Sunday.
Look, what Vick did was terrible – fighting and killing dogs for the sake not only of one’s pleasure, but also for profit, is a truly despicable act. But we live in a society that believes in reform and that people can grow up and learn from their mistakes. You may not be able to change a leopard’s spots, but with the right guidance, you can certainly teach it not to eat you.
Our guest the night of our Vick debate did not agree – in fact, he went as far as to compare Vick to a child molester. Sorry, friend, that’s apples and oranges.
As far as any of us know, Vick is not a murderer, he is not a child molester, he is not a rapist. He is a human being who made a terrible mistake and paid for it by rotting for two years in a jail cell. He’ll continue to pay for it with the looks and comments from anyone he crosses for the rest of his life. Should he have been jailed for his acts? Absolutely. Does he deserve a second chance? 100 per cent.
Like a Republican accusing a Democrat of being unfaithful to his wife, he who casts the first stone should definitely make sure he doesn’t live in a glass house. By no means are we a society of dog killers, but we all make mistakes.
Vick made a bigger one than most, but if he truly has learned his lesson and will use his fame and money to make our world just a little bit better from now on, then sign me up for a Number 7 Eagles jersey…
Well, only if the Jets don’t make the playoffs.
Welcome back, Michael Vick
Welcome back, Michael Vick
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- Published on August 18th, 2009
- Published on Febuary 6th, 2010
- Noah Sidel
If ever there was a player who represented a classic fall from grace, it’s new Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.
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Comments
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- Amber Beans
- - February 17th, 2010 at 14:18:05
Vick deserves to feel the same pain he put those dogs in. He should be electrocuted by his damn "flanks" not put up on a damn pedestal. I am outraged and I plan to send a letter to everyone of the Eagles sponsors about why I will no longer shop at their stores or buy their products *their are no threats in this comment only an expression of my true feelings
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- zclzhygq
- - April 12th, 2010 at 14:14:51
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- zclzhygq
- - April 12th, 2010 at 14:15:01
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- Amber Beans
- - February 10th, 2010 at 12:55:34
Vick deserves to feel the same pain he put those dogs in. He should be electrocuted by his damn "flanks" not put up on a damn pedestal. I am outraged and I plan to send a letter to everyone of the Eagles sponsors about why I will no longer shop at their stores or buy their products *their are no threats in this comment only an expression of my true feelings
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- derek
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:32
what he did is horrible, and he deserved to go from a multimillionaire to being bankrupt and making 12 cents an hour as a prison janitor. He also deserves a second chance to rebuild his life`. i agree with what he did was horrible, but i dont agree with much else. his own horrible money management skills sent his finances into ... Read Morebankruptcy, there was no cause and effect, and he didnt deserve a second chance, his physical. and professional gifts allowed him a second chance. Do you actually think if he didnt run a 4.4 40yard dash, or be able to run the wildcat offense, that he would get that second chance in professional football:)
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- derek
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:30
of any persons fall from grace, his was the most swift and devastating. if any person has paid they`re debt to society it has got to be mike vick. there is no defending his horrific crimes, but this man has served his punishment, gl vick
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- Mike Matlin
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:28
My original post being "censored" , I'll tone it down a notch. Another chance huh, you mean like Pete Rose?
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- Allen J
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:27
I think the fact that he expected to earn what was at the time the highest salary in the NFL, and instead made 12 cents an hour, has a lot to do with his bankruptcy. Most people manage their finances based on their projected future earnings. Also, I believe the Falcons get a court ruling demanding a nice chunk of his signing bonus back. I'm not ... Read Moresaying he's great at managing his money, but losing his job as an NFL player for 2 years plus the returned signing bonus cost him between 20 and 30 million dollars that he fully expected to receive. And everyone deserves a second chance. I didn't say he deserved to be in the NFL - but if a team wants to sign him because of his physical ability, they shouldn't be prevented from doing so by the NFL front office. As you said, he served his punishment.
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- Trex
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:26
even what he did was wrong, he does indeed deserve a second chance to redeem himself.. if he screws it up. well that will be his fault..
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- Allen J
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:25
He did his time. If he wants to be employed, and an employer is willing to give him a chance to prove that's he's a changed man, why shouldn't he have that right? I mean, what he did is horrible, and he deserved to go from a multimillionaire to being bankrupt and making 12 cents an hour as a prison janitor. He also deserves a second chance to rebuild his life. If he's still got the skills to be a professional athlete, then he should be allowed to earn his living doing such.
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- James O
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:24
Dorothy, you have to relax. Why aren't you as outraged at the Donte Stalworth sentence? The man killed a human being and only served 30 days in prison. While Vick's actions were inhumane and immoral, he served his time and now, like any other ex-convict is able to be free in society and look for a job. He DOES deserve a second chance andhe DOES deserve to be a role model. In fact, what a great story it would be if Vick serves as an American Role Model for years to come - isn't that what America is all about?
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- M.M.
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:21
He served his time, so we should be able to say ok, go on with your life (legally and morally sound, of course) and we will respect that. But he's also a celebrity, and a role model, so he has even more responsibility to make up for what he did. He said he plans on being an advocate for animal rights. I think he has no choice if he wants to be accepted by society again.
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- Doug
- - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:21
I think the point I would like to see made is that American society has decided what the penalty for specific transgressions are. In some cases it is a fine in others it is death, in this case it was two years in prison. Michael accepted the society he lives in's judgement and served that penalty. Why would specific members of that same society now choose to levy additional penalties on him by impeding his ability to work. If you believe the penalty levied on Michael Vick is insufficient then lobby to increase the penalty within the structure that exists, the laws of that country. Vick didn't decide the laws or the penalties he just broke the law and accepted the penalty. He has done what millions in the United States of done, broke the rules of society and suffered for it. Well done American for enforcing your society's rules and well done Michael Vick for accepting the penalty and starting over, hopefully a better man than he was before.
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- Dorothy
- - February 8th, 2010 at 11:15:10
A "mistake"??? Did you see this dog? (Warning: It's very hard to look at) http://www.usanimalprotection.org/gypsy100.jpg Michael Vick saw that for EIGHT YEARS and continued to do it - for FUN. Does that seem like a "mistake" to you? No, he does not "deserve" a second chance in the NFL. No, he does not belong in a position that influences children. PERIOD.
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- Jake Sullivan
- - February 8th, 2010 at 11:15:03
No holds barred ..........for the sake of the team. Right ? Isn't that the true feeling here.
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- shelley mesics
- - February 8th, 2010 at 11:15:01
Made a mistake? that would be a 6 year mistake, and Vick only said it was a mistake after he was caught. Let me see if I understand your comment, "you can't change a leopard just teach him not to eat you". In otherwords, Vick is still a cold blooded dog torturer and murderer and will always be one, but we can teach him how to "act" in public. Vick deserves a second chance but not as a million dollar role model.
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- Kat
- - February 8th, 2010 at 11:15:00
Leopards have spots not stripes and yes they will still eat you unless they were well fed. I don’t see Vick’s atrocities as being classified as a “mistake”. I am sure there were other young men that grew up in the same culture and circumstances as Vick that would never sadistically tortured and kill animals. The severity of Vick’s actions, independent, should be considered not whether anyone of us made a mistake (sinned or what ever). It is sickening to see some of these sports enthusiasts consider Vick’s actions insignificant.
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