Michael Vick: Should he be allowed to play professional football?

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Permalink Reply by Erik Deckers on August 16, 2009 at 12:15pm

The fact remains that he has paid his debt to society and should be allowed to resume his life. If a business owner went to jail for a crime, he or she would be allowed to resume ownership of the business, start a new business, or even work for another company. Yes, there are exceptions to what kinds of businesses they could NOT work in: a lawyer, a doctor, a CPA, etc., but those are based on licensing and the rules of the organizations that govern that profession.

While we may not like what Michael Vick did, he did fulfill his obligation to the law, and there are no rules in his chosen profession that will not allow him to return. Jamal Lewis returned to the Baltimore Ravens after serving a drug sentence. Warren Moon was allowed to continue playing, even after he was arrested for domestic assault. Mike Tyson returned to professional boxing after serving a 3 year rape sentence. And there are many other instances where a professional athlete has returned to his chosen sport after doing a crime.

So like him or not, the team is allowed to employ him, Vick is allowed to play. But if Eagles fans feel strongly about it, they will show the Eagles their displeasure by not going to games, not buying Vick jerseys, and not spending money on the Eagles. If they're smart, they'll get the message and release him.

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Permalink Reply by Kirk Booher on August 16, 2009 at 12:24pm

What he did was wrong. He served his sentence and apologized (sincerely, I believe). Don't we all deserve a second chance for most everything? We shall see if he takes advantage of this opportunity and is truly repentant. Sometimes we learn most from our mistakes, I know this is true in my life.

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Permalink Reply by Michael R. on August 16, 2009 at 8:33pm

Philly likes their running QB's...Cunningham, McNabb, and now Vick. Too bad Vick isn't as good as the other two. The biggest problem I've had with the whole debacle is that I have no idea if Vick has received the mental health help he needs. They took his money, took his career for awhile, took his freedom, but no mention of someone taking the time to sit down with Michael and find out WHY he was doing the things he did. Killing and torturing dogs is sociopathic behavior: point blank. IMHO, Michael needs intensive therapy but I doubt that he got it. I don't want Vick being a spokesperson for any kind of animal rights group until he has fully grasped what he did was so heinous. Some good therapy for Michael would be to show him first-hand just how remarkable dogs can be. Let him experience a week with a blind person and their seeing-eye dog. Let him experience how dogs sniff out drugs/bombs in airports and border crossings. Let him experience how dogs help ease the minds of the very sick in a hospital setting. Until Michael gets the mental health help he needs I don't think he should be in such a privileged position to earn $1.6 million dollars from the NFL (his salary for this year).

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Permalink Reply by Casey Valiant on August 17, 2009 at 11:26am

I agree that he paid his debt to society. Knowing that, had I been in the owner's shoes it still would have been extremely difficult to sign him on to a leadership position in any organization. Paying one's debt to society does not mean that that person will now make good decisions. I'm sure the team will keep him on an extremely short leash (hehe). I have no doubt that there will be protests, funny signs popping up at games, and crude remarks by opposing teams and fans. He has a remarkable opportunity, it will be interesting to see if prison truly was a turning point or if that was pr fluff.

CaseyV

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Permalink Reply by Martin Smazenko on August 17, 2009 at 4:17pm

First of all, Michael Vick was never a good quarterback. He was fast, but that was it. He never was or never will be an actual good quarterback. I can see why everyone keeps saying he paid his debt to society. That doesn't mean he deserves to be in the NFL. The NFL is a privilege not a right. If a lawyer, doctor, or politician commits a crime, their career is over. Michael Vick has some serious mental problems if he could torture animals, including his own house pets. By saying that "he paid his debt to society," then i guess Mike Tyson must have gotten the raw end of the deal, he paid his debt Oh wait, Mike Tyson was crazy, just like Vick and shouldn't have gotten 3-4 more chances. Society needs to realize that kids see people like him as role models. They look at a guy like him and say, i don't need to be smart as long as i am fast or good at basketball i will be rich. Then, if you do get in trouble, just ACT like your sorry and you get $1.6 mil. Pretty great for an ex-con. My only hope is that a dog loving Linebacker will take a cheap shot at his knee and puts an end to this jerks career.

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Permalink Reply by Kirk Booher on August 17, 2009 at 10:50pm

Looks like the Eagles think otherwise in regard to his quaterbacking skills...there are politicians who commit crimes and have severe moral lapses and continue...remember slick willie or that mayor in DC who was busted with cocaine and was then re-elected.

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Permalink Reply by Martin Smazenko on August 18, 2009 at 3:03pm

He has never been considered a great or even good quarterback. They had to specifically design the playbook in Atlanta to be almost the same as Virgina Tech because he can't understand complicated systems. The only thing he was ever good at was running, and if i remember correctly, he was injured several times because of that. As far as politicians go, for the most part they are one and done as far as public mistakes. What kind of people do you think elected Barry in DC?

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Permalink Reply by Steve Stuck on August 17, 2009 at 6:56pm

I enjoyed the pics of PETA protestors outside the Eagles practice facility that were there with their dogs. The weather was like 90 degrees and sunny/humid with their dogs tongues hanging down to the ground cause it was so hot.

Idiots....

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Permalink Reply by Erik Deckers on August 17, 2009 at 7:11pm

These are the same idiots that kill pets.

I blogged about PETA asking Obama to ban torturing animals it a few months ago. They ask Obama for the torture ban, yet kill a couple thousand animals in their Virginia animal shelter?

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Permalink Reply by Steve Stuck on August 17, 2009 at 8:09pm

Crazy...My wife is a Vet Tech and she even thinks they suck.

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Permalink Reply by Cissi Sherlock on August 18, 2009 at 5:44pm

What about PETA and the Obama fly?

What about PETA newest campaign giving out Happy Meal Boxes drapped in fake blood with Ronald McDonald weilding a knife. They want parents to let the children know how the chickens are killed to get the chicken nuggets.

What about the fact that PETA does not want us to eat fish? What is that name that the have for fish - Sea Kittens? Well' I like me some fried Cat Sea Kittens!!!

Seriously, PETA scares folks!

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Swineford on August 18, 2009 at 9:10am

Was it REALLY necessary to use the photo where Vick is flipping everyone off? That's not really what I need first thing in the morning, regardless of what his work status is.

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