Vick may not be ready for what awaits him
Michael Vick looked grim when he began his prison sentence in November of 2007. Given circumstances, he may not look much better when he gets out. (AP photo.)
Sometime in the next few days, Michael Vick will step outside of prison walls and straight into hell.
He will have supporters. That’s fine. The man has paid his debt to society, slept on a cot in Leavenworth for several months and took a bigger hit to his status, his reputation and his income than possibly any athlete in history.
He will have detractors. That’s also fine. Because for as much as Vick has every right to resume his football career, you have every right not to like it. It’s why so many NFL executives are sitting alone in the dark today, weighing that risk-reward thing.
But Vick’s ability to return to football will be based on something far more impactful than the strength of his legs or arm. A New York Times story this week included a common but equally bizarre assumption: “Vick may still be better than half the quarterbacks on NFL rosters.”
If this were all about skill, Vick never would have been in jail to begin with.
This isn’t 2001, when he was embraced by a punch-drunk franchise in a lampooned sports city. This isn’t 2004 when he brought the Falcons to within a victory of the Super Bowl and was given a $130 million contract.
In 2009, Michael Vick is not a hero or a marketing centerpiece. He is an ex-felon and a marketing pariah.
He will be vilified by half the fans in the city he plays in and most fans everywhere else. He will have every move scrutinized by a public and media ready to pounce and mock and an NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, who didn’t like being lied to.
He will be in a locker room where most teammates will say the right thing, something like, “He’s served his time. If he can help us win, I support him.”
But those same players will then step outside and see the picket signs, the news crews, the elephants, the 17 clowns trying stuff themselves into a Volkswagen and maybe that same plane that two years ago circled the field at Falcons’ training camp with a banner reading: “New Team Name: Dog Killers.” And they will think, “I don’t need this. We don’t need this. I wish he was someplace else.”
The success of any pro athlete, particularly an NFL quarterback, is not fast legs or a strong arm. It’s all of those things Vick failed miserably at: leadership, work ethic, resolve, toughness, maturity, teamwork, character.
Michael Vick’s failure as a quarterback had very little to do with his passing accuracy. It had almost everything to do with the intangibles. Vick must come by them in the worst of circumstances. He must come by them when our last memory of him was looking feeble in a season-ending game at Philadelphia, accepting no responsibility for going 2-6 down the stretch and losing 14 of his last 24 starts. He once reacted to the pressure by giving the middle finger to fans at a home game. He all but threw his coach, Jim Mora, and teammates under the bus after that loss to the Eagles. Then he began his off-season with a suspicious water bottle at the Miami airport, was eventually let go by police and rather than breathe a thankful sigh of relief, he suggested maybe somebody was trying to frame him.
Leaders don’t do that. Any of that.
If Vick can return, if he can endure the taunts and grow up and flash any semblance of the magic he once showed us on a football field, this comeback story will top all others.
Unfortunately, the backdrop suggests otherwise. And at least in prison, there has been solitude.
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451 comments Add your comment
Kat68
May 18th, 2009
10:01 am
Mike Vick has paid his debt to society. Stop the hate forgive, mike is still a person he deserve a second chance. My family and friends can’t wait until he plays again. We believe mike really is sorry he has learned from his mistake. We believe when he plays this time he still will be excellent in football. God is with you mike as long as he has forgiven you that all matters. In this life you will people for you, you will have people against you. Focus on the ones who are for you, pray for the ones that have unforgiveness in there hearts.
leggomyego
May 18th, 2009
10:03 am
I’d much rather be talking about training camp. Or tacos. I love tacos. Or just about anything other than this subject. It’s a tired old debate where the sides have been clearly drawn between the folks that can’t wait to see Vick again and the folks that still carry the wounds of what his behavior did to our franchise. Me personally, I’m over it. Let the man look for a job in the league, maybe they’ll let him and maybe he’ll find one. Sooner the better if you ask me, so he can become another franchises’ athlete belonging to another newspaper so THAT rag can post discussion blogs about him. As for me, i’d rather talk about tacos. C’mon folks, let’s force change of subject here: Who likes tacos?
FALCONS SORRY
May 18th, 2009
10:04 am
AUTHOR BLANK! YOU ARE A LOW DOWN SORRY SNAKE FOR THE WAY YOU DONE VICK! PLANE OLD SORRY! VICK IS THE BEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO ATL! ALL VICK EVER DID WAS MAKE THE SORRY FALCONS WINNERS WHILE HE HERE AND YOU ALL HATE HIM FOR IT! VICK NEVER HURT NOBODY! NONE YALL! VICK GOING TO COME BACK AND WIN THE SUPPER BOWL FOR ANOTHER TEAM THAT APPRESHEATE HIM FOR THE SUPPER STAR HE HIS AND MAKE BLANK GO BROKE AND CRY IN HIS HOMEDEPOT APRIN. BLANK IS SORRY FOR THE SORRY WAY HE THROWED MIKE VICK AWAY LIKE TRASH! THOSE OF US THAT ARE TRUE FANS LOVE YOU MIKE!!
Jeff Schultz
May 18th, 2009
10:08 am
FALCONS SORRY: Arthur Blank didn’t do anything to Michael Vick. Vick was charged, indicted and arrested, pled to a crime and went to jail. What does Arthur Blank have to do with any of that? Was he supposed to break him out of prison? Bake him a cake with a nail file in it. Plus, Vick lied to his face REPEATEDLY, which is an interesting way to repay a man who gave you a $130 million contract.
T.C
May 18th, 2009
10:09 am
Scottbravesfan your not black so don’t pretend to be.Go back and read your comment(all of black people who came to his defense).stop being fake and just comment.You are really a coward because you sit behind a keyboard and lie like everybody knows who you are.there’s nothing wrong with your oppinion because thats just what it is an oppinion.All the oppinions on this blog rather its positive or negetive dont make what you say is true.Matthew 15:18 says,what ever a man speaks comes from the heart and it defiles a man(hatred).
Erin
May 18th, 2009
10:15 am
It breaks my heart to see what the legal system in this country does to families. What about Vick’s prison husband who will be left behind once MV7 is released? Nobody should be abandoned like that.
Dr Soul
May 18th, 2009
10:18 am
What happened to the day when a man made a mistake (no matter how he got there), apologized, paid his pentance and then made an effort to be a better citizen and everyone rallied around to support him…provided him a renewed faith in living a better life, cheered him on and wished him a great recovery and was happy for him to achieve a better life.. because they were just solid and secure people and could give from themselves without thought of rewards for themselves…
Reid Adair
May 18th, 2009
10:19 am
“You people keep saying that Roddy got better when Vick left,lol. I f any of you watched the games, Roddy dropped so many passes that were right in his hands, also, Roddy himself ADMITTED that he didn’t know how to play WR in the NFL at the time, or how to prepare. He learned this from Petrino, of all people. Roddy is good now because RODDY DEVELOPED AS A WR. I gurantee, you will turn on Roddy again, yet you’ll never blame Ryan for anything and we all know why. I saw no one saying ANYTHING about his arm looking like a noodle in week 10,lol. Redemption is near…..ON WEDNESDAY,LMAO.”
This may be the worst comment I have read on this blog post. In a season where he had THREE different starting quarterbacks, Roddy White had more yards and his TWO YEARS with Michael Vick. It has EVERYTHING to do with the quarterback, and it was not to the credit of Bobby Petrino in any way, shape or form.
When you have a quarterback who reads routes and can make timing throws, it’s entirely different than one who just says, “Go deep and I’ll throw it to you.”
John Madden
May 18th, 2009
10:22 am
There are many comparisons on here of Vick to other famous/infamous players. WIthout question, MIKE VICK will be:
A . ) The next QUINCY CARTER
B . ) The next RICKY WILLIAMS
C . ) The next RAY LEWIS
D . ) The next VINCE YOUNG
E. ) The next BIG MISTAKE for some misfortunate NFL Franchise
leggomyego
May 18th, 2009
10:23 am
Hey FALCONS SORRY, I too would love to Win the SUPPER BOWL. If that bowl were filled with Tacos. Mmmmmm Tacos. Is that what we’re having for SUPPER in SUPPER BOWL? Tacos?
And i think you’re caps lock button is on. Might wanna check that.
ERich42
May 18th, 2009
10:28 am
Yep looks like the racist cowards will come out of thier hiding on Wednesday and start the hate for this man. Please keep in mind he has done his time and as far as I am concern he owes the public nothing. As far as Goddell saying he needs to show remorse that is a bunch of BS. That is just he throwing his weight around. So to Arthur and the fans in Atlanta who turn thier back on him I really hope he comes back to Atlanta and show everyone what we once had.One last thing I am sure Vick does not want a hug from you Mr. Blank you are a fake.
Mavis Beacon
May 18th, 2009
10:33 am
For someone who is without a college degree, has sub-par reading & communication skills, is no longer eligible to run for public office, cannot join law enforcement by being unable to possess a firearm, has repeatedly demonstrated low intelligence and dishonesty with his previous employer and the fact that many companies refuse to hire convicted FELONS for high-paying positions, it is not a very bright future for Mr. Vick after football.
Bob Caffey
May 18th, 2009
10:33 am
As a dog lover I never condoned this behaviour, however one must let an individual repent their sins and allow forgiveness. He who has not sinned cast the 1st stone is what I always heard or people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. I hope we are a bigger people. The governor of Alabama repented, why cannot Michael Vick?
Dr Soul
May 18th, 2009
10:42 am
Supes….by chance, are you married to Mavis????
leggomyego
May 18th, 2009
10:43 am
Crunchy Tacos or Soft Shell tacos? I like crunchy the best, but i know i ain’t turning my back on a soft shell neither! Do you guys ever get them ‘Fresco style?’ Oh brother, they replace the cheese with this pico de gallo/ salsa type stuff… pretty tasty, I gotta admit.
All I'm Saying Is...
May 18th, 2009
10:43 am
Vick has been convicted and served his time. Now he will have to live with what he did for the rest of his life. People who hate what he did and do not want it forgiven or forgotten (whether PETA or others) can follow him around and remind all of what he did if they so choose. (However, if you are a religious person, then endlessly persecuting someone for their mistake or sin is not what faith teaches.)
Vick does not have a right to play in the NFL. Goodell, however, will likely have to reinstate him or be subject to a lawsuit given that Vick has paid his debt to society.
Vick can try to make a team if any team is willing to deal with the likely protests (large or small in number, it doesn’t matter). And I think it would be the highest form of hypocrisy for the NFL, Goodell, and the teams to allow persons to try out for their teams who have in their actions or negligence killed people but not allow Vick to do so.
(And Schultz, eager to keep his job and appear relevant, milked another column out of the subject and got all of us to comment on it…and I’m sure he will do it again because this will remain newsworthy …(even if many of us have moved on and do not care about MV, which is our right and is a matter of a lack of interest not a question of ‘arrogance’ — dumbest post (by Lou) I’ve read in a long time))
Eroc
May 18th, 2009
10:50 am
Jeff- Why do you write in a lampooned sports city I cringe at your byline everytime i see it because i know it is going to be something negative form a journalist with bitter feelings that he never made it to the supposed big time. I cant stand the things you said about vick how about you let him be he didnt kill a human being he fought dogs kinda like you fight cocks in your garage. Just let him be he did pay his debt to society and Peta and you half witted jurnalist and TV announcers should just let him be and play ball. Have you not let this go because there is a dark corner you crawl to and avoid asking forgiveness for some past indiscretions.
sad brotha
May 18th, 2009
10:51 am
I remember Vick as the guy who gave the fans “the finger,” admitted to not giving 100% and one of his “posse” stole a watch at an airport gate. With the coaches admitting he didn’t have the mental capacity to know all of the plays and read defenses (hence the lack of audibles) I don’t feel sorry for the “weed toker.” Oh yeah… I forgot to ad LIAR to his dope smoking resume!
Kenny Powers
May 18th, 2009
10:51 am
leggomyego, i LOVE tacos and think i am going to have them for dinner tonight, or hell im going to eat them for lunch today. YYYYYUUUUUUMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!
Kenny Powers
May 18th, 2009
10:52 am
Best Tacos in Atlanta for you legomyego?
oh and Vick should be shot, plain and simple.
Kenny Powers
May 18th, 2009
10:54 am
WOW Bob, you are about to get kicked off the blog…see ya and eat some tacos, they will calm you down.
Former Season Ticket Holder
May 18th, 2009
10:57 am
No Jeff Shultz didn’t write that bull… that “he GAVE Vick a $130 mill contract”…if that’s not the fallacy of the year, I don’t know what is. GAVE?? Are you serious? How much money did Vick bring into this franchise? This CITY? You have GOT to be kidding with that “GAVE” comment. No, GAVE would be what Matt Ryan got. EARNED and SHORTCHANGED would be what Vick got…or do I need to go and pull the Forbes valuations of NFL teams for every year for the last decade? Do I need to point out the amount of money made FOR this franchise off jersey sales of ONE guy on the team that accounted for 80% of all team merchandise SOLD? GAVE?? Seriously Shultz, what’s that “GAVE” comment really about?
EW
May 18th, 2009
10:57 am
Personally, I KNOW teams will want Vick, if only for the same reason that Buffalo wanted TO. The NFL is a BUSINESS and Vick, like TO will fill seats, sell jerseys, and generate hype. It doesn’t matter if TO or Vick aren’t clubhouse guys or if they bring a media circus with them. They will be wanted as long as they generate cash flow. And I am over people crucifying Vick over this. The man broke the law, did his time, and now just wants to go back to work, is that so bad? And what about Dante Stallworth, didn’t he get drunk and KILL somebody with his car? Where are the MADD picket lines for him? Where is the racial criticism of him? People need to get over this Vick thing and let the man live his life.
What!!!
May 18th, 2009
10:58 am
Forever season vicket blower, thanks for the typo corrections. I guess I shouldn’t work and try to complain about the biggest mistake this franchise has ever made in drafting Vick. What still amazes me is that Matt Ryan really did prove what it is like to have a true QB in Atlanta. So that major screw-up in Vick was corrected in ONE SEASON and MORE TO COME!! Vick’s last 24 games ended with 10 wins and 14 losses! Glad that kind of QB play has left Atlanta FOREVER! What has Vick really done for the NFL? Answer me Former season ticket holder! Hurry! Can’t think of anything? No, can’t you do better than that! Stop….don’t say it……..”Vick won at Lambough” you silly jerk, you know you were thinking it! HA! HA! HA!
Sick Falcons Fans
May 18th, 2009
11:00 am
Happy Schultz? You bought out the crazies just like the editor wanted! Do you guys at the AJC have a weeklong worth of blogs to post about Vick to keep the inbreds all riled up?? I’m sure you do. Hopefully another round of layoffs for this rag is just around the corner. The AJC truly deserves its financial plight.
peter777
May 18th, 2009
11:02 am
Serious hate of Michael Vick is being spewed forth here. If Michael Vick has truly asked God for forgiveness and has turned his life around, then, before God, it is a new day for him. God does not remember the sin. Neither should we. Is it not better that he be restored than forever damned by people?
leggomyego
May 18th, 2009
11:04 am
Kenny Powers: Best tacos in ATL? Man that’s a good one… You know i’m always rockin’ the BELL, but i do enjoy those sit down fancy ‘enjoy a margarita with my tacos’ places too. I live out of ATL, in North Georgia, so I’m not privy to all the great tacos in the metro, ya’ll will have to clue me in. I’d love to get some input on this from other people.. Best tacos in ATL everybody… Where?
Also i’ll be having them for lunch today too now that I’ve talked so much about them. And Bob definitely needs some tacos. See how grumpy he is? No tacos… Somebody get me some of those red shelled Volcano Tacos in here for Bob STAT!!
Best tacos for me =
NativeATLien
May 18th, 2009
11:04 am
i love all the thinly-veiled racist comments here. to all the perennial Vick-haters i say: i hope they trade him to a friggin NFC South team so you can eat Southern fried crow…. you people are weird.
let’s see what happens if Ryan gets hurt. it wouldn’t be pretty. we need Vick and jettison Shockley…
FirstFan
May 18th, 2009
11:05 am
Mick Vick has paid his debt and if you were anykind of American you would welcome him back to the world with open arms but you can`t because you are not an American you are part of a 1930s lynch mob. I guess the rope broke and it did not kill him so you are going to try to hang him again. PETA and animal right lovers you need to get a life and leave Mick Vick alone he don`t care what go on in your life why should worry about what goes on in his, Now eat on that when you finish your STEAK or TURKEY lunch or dinner and remember you just killed a ANIMAL.
Dr Soul
May 18th, 2009
11:07 am
I think ‘child services’ needs to visit Bob’s home in Winder
Sick Falcons Fans
May 18th, 2009
11:08 am
Like eddiedawg said…90% of these people posting are Vick FANS. If they didn’t care they wouldn’t bother, wouldn’t be interested…but as long as he can rile up their emotions like this, you can best believe he will be right back on the field this Sept. The NFL is a business, not a church. These same “I hate Vick!” freaks will be the main ones glued to the telly, so they can run to the blogs to holler about him. LOL Vick is all up in your heads haters! Why don’t you get emotional about your Golden Boy QB? He doesn’t inspire so much as a passing thought. Let the AJC put up a blog about him and its guaranteed to get about 5 comments.
What!!!
May 18th, 2009
11:18 am
PETER777, your right God does forgive and forget sins. But what does that have to do with Vick playing in the NFL again? I mean, if you just got out of jail for bank robbery, should you be hired to work at a bank? I’m not condeming Vick for forgiven sins, it’s his bad QB playing that I keep remembering. Sure he had his highlight moments but when teams picked up on that Vick no longer had a chance in the NFL.
EW
May 18th, 2009
11:23 am
What!!! – hiring a bank robber to work at a bank? So you mean we shouldn’t hire Vick to work at a vet right? Ok, I’ll give you that one. Try to use examples that make sense.
Darrin "The Vent King"
May 18th, 2009
11:23 am
First, I pray that Vick takes his second chance and does something right with it. Having said that, it pains me to see the ugliness this whole situation has brought out in people. The whole “Falcon Experience” went from football (which I loved when it was JUST that) to personal moral beliefs AND football which took a lot of the fun out of it. At the games, on the Falcon’s message board, on ajc blogs, and in the sports bars it was the same thing over and over and over concerning Vick. Thing is, this did not just start when the dog-gate went down- it was like this before that and got ten times worse afterwards. Some of the things Vick did helped fuel that of course, the stollie Rollie, the weed bottle, the assumed blunt pic, the double-barrel salute to the fans, etc and dog-gate just finished things off. What I don’t get is the continued fervor of hate and contempt for this man. To have to watch PETA peeps stalk this man, which you know is coming, to the rabid fans itching to wear dog-collars and shout insults all make me wonder how much more civilized do the morally perfect and judgmental people consider themselves over the obvious morally wrong actions of Vick in the first place? In His eyes, hate is as big a crime as the one Vick committed and two wrongs do not make a right. I believe it is beyond okay to not be happy with what he did for it was terrible, but to spew hate over it to your fellow man when neither one of you had anything to do with or affected by said crime physically is an incredibly sorry waste of time. You’re adding to the pain of the whole situation by doing that IMO and thus the healing, which is the most important thing, can never truly began. It saddens me to come to the realization that this scar on this franchise will be prevalent for a lonnnnng time and some will NEVER let it go. I bet Arthur Blank feels the same way and hates that he will have to deal with this as long as he owns this franchise. This may be the first time that “time” actually won’t fully heal a wound and what a shame because a lot of people will be missing out on a really good football team that we have now…
GO FALCONS
Willie H
May 18th, 2009
11:24 am
Vick should have served 23 days in jail instead of 23 months for a crime that should be a misdemeanor. I hope he lands on his feet in San Fransisco or Minnesota or somewhere else.
EW
May 18th, 2009
11:25 am
and WHAT!!!- if you’re point is that Vick shouldn’t be hired because of bad play, then you are saying he’s the worst quarterback in the league, including all back ups??? If that’s the case then I agree, he shouldn’t be hired by a team, but you and I know that isn’t the case.
Ripped again.
May 18th, 2009
11:32 am
Go Away ! Go Away ! Vick did it to himself !
What!!!
May 18th, 2009
11:33 am
EW, 10-14 record is the case I’m making! You my friend should also use examples that make better sense.
What!!!
May 18th, 2009
11:38 am
Ripped again, you sir are 100% CORRECT!
mano17
May 18th, 2009
11:41 am
thats a bunch of bs he did his time now give him a chance to redeem him self. also ray lewis killed two people and u people dont talk bout it . danny heatly killed his teammate and was drunk everybody forgave him,also mark sanchez raped a girl and it was swept under the rug . now u mean to tell me that all these were crimes against humans not animals. whats worse crimes against dogs or people? did madd go out and protest leonard little for vehicular homicide what about dante stallworth, or even patrick kerney, or what about johnathan babinex he killed his girlfriends dog wtih his bare hands and he is still on the team. it just dont addu people give mike a chance. and if u really want to know matt ryan on his best day is not a better qb than vick
ET
May 18th, 2009
11:53 am
Seems to me that a lot of posters on this blog are intentionally posting the opposite of what they really think. They want the readers to think that the other side is ignorant, racist or just plain insane. I’m not falling for it. I don’t read the “off the wall” posts, the capitalized posts or the novel length posts. Even after eliminating all of those posts there is still too much racial crap on this blog to waste my time with it. The Blog by Jeff was a timely one since Vick will be reentering football with a lot of baggage to overcome. Race will be one of those factors evidently.
Mac
May 18th, 2009
11:59 am
Jeff, when you respond, they win. Methinks FALCONS SORRY did punkith thee.
AGTFan
May 18th, 2009
11:59 am
I believe in the power of redemption. I hope and pray that MV has learned lessons from his mistakes and can finally realize his potential as a human being. I will be pulling for him to succeed as a human being. Football is secondary to that. Whether he is ever able to effectively participate in a professional sports again is fully dependent on his growth as a person. The MV we saw in the past, would stand little chance of success with the obstacles he has placed in his own way. I hope that he has grown enough to succeed. I can’t forgive his actions, but I can forgive the person.
Mac
May 18th, 2009
12:00 pm
Actually, I think that should be “punketh.” Sorry.
Hollywould
May 18th, 2009
12:01 pm
Good blog Darren/ I will be glad when it is all over. Let him play and all his followers can follow him to another town. I don’t know if some people on this blog are dumb, bigots, or just don’t get it. For you dimwits who think he will come back to the Falocns I have as much chance of playing QB for them as Vick does. VS2, anyone who was proven wrong so many times last year should shut up or leave no doubt how dumb they can be. I remember “Wait until they play the Bucs again, the saints again, blah,blah,blah. Always wrong. Please follow Vick wherever he goes and leave the true Falcon fans alone.
Mac
May 18th, 2009
12:09 pm
Oh, also, “pled,” is a made-up TV journalism non-word. The correct word is “pleaded.”
The opinionator
May 18th, 2009
12:18 pm
When this unfolded I, as a white man, was channel surfing when I came upon Tavis Smiley’s show and actually watched it since he was talking about the Vick issue.
Tavis said something that is just plain obvious for all to see. There is a big cultural divide between blacks and whites and their perceptions as to how a dog should be treated.
Whites shower their dogs, let them sleep in bed with them, pamper them as if they’re children. Go into a petsmart and you will see a lot of white people taking their dog around looking at what treats or toys to buy them. You don’t see any black people in petsmart pampering their dogs.
Blacks tend to treat dogs as if they’re not much more than say a chicken. Its just another animal to most black people. In my job I’ve been to hundreds of black and white homes in middle class and working class neighborhoods. In the black neighborhoods you see many dogs just chained up to 6 or 10 foot chains, dirty and ragged, basically just neglected.
Generally speaking, black people view dogs differently and just don’t take care of their animals like white people do. I’m sorry if that sounds racist but its just a fact of life. I’ve seen it, Tavis Smiley confirms it, and just general observation confirms it. Still don’t believe me? Turn on that animal channel 61 and watch the episodes on animal cops. 90% of the time they are investigating abused or neglected animals its in black neighborhoods and in virtually every dogfighting case its in black neighborhoods. And while there are certainly black people who humanely care for their beasts as a general rule blacks simply view animals differently and do no care for them in the same way white people do. I’m sorry if it sounds racist but it is what it is.
I do watch how people treat animals. They bible says something to the effect that you can judge a man’s character and kindness by how he treats and manages his beasts. I tend to agree. Since animals can’t communicate, can’t fight back, and are largely subject to the whims of their human master you can make a good judgement as to a person’s character by looking at how he or she treats his animals. Do they treat them in a caring, humane manner. Or do they ignore, neglect, and otherwise abuse the animal? Just something to think about.
Wink from Lithonia
May 18th, 2009
12:21 pm
Jeff this is a mean spirited column you have written here. There has got to be redemption at some point for Mike Vick. Let me say for the record that I don’t condone his actions. I am a pet owner myself and I can’t remember not having a dog for a pet over the last 27 years. I was no Mike Vick fan, I wanted to see him traded not locked up. My issue with him was his win/loss record you point out & his ability to pass the ball. That said this man has a right to make a living after paying his debt to society.
This article just stirs up old emotions & divides the Falson fan base. As a columnist, with a forum, I guess you have right to do your work as you see fit. I am speaking in protest of your work today. Mike Vick has a right to apply his trade (football player) in the forum that”s available to him. There will be detractors (Commissioner, teams) & protesters (PITA & sports columnists) regarding him coming back to play. They have a right to do so, as well. I as sure PITA has a whole programed agenda against any team that allows him to come to camp. After all, he’s their poster boy, which means it never over for them; the added media also keeps the embers burning…get my drift. Let the man compete for a job, surely the layoff may have hurt his skills, he already had flawed mechanics, as described in your column…..or could it be, there is a fear he may succeed in the right system and get full redemption…like say Ray Lewis, who was accused of murder; or the current NBA marquee guy Kobe Bryant, accused of rape, but now the NBA Commissioner (STERNS), is on his coat tail again. SEE REDEMPTION IS POSSIBLE.
All teams in the league will benefit, they share revenue, and MV7 had the number one selling jersey in all of NFL football (I never owned one) & he put fannies in the seats at HOME & AWAY… it my guess that if he get back in the league, despite all the detractors & protesters, Jeff Schultz will be in attendance too.
Bobby Dowell
May 18th, 2009
12:25 pm
I just look forward to the day when he is no longer linked to this franchise. SO very tired of hearing about it.
Mac
May 18th, 2009
12:31 pm
PITA = People for the (Icky, Indifferent, Intelligent, Isopropyl) Treatment of Animals?