Until Goodell moves on, none of us can move on
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell needs to get over the fact that Michael Vick lied to him about his crimes for the sake of the league and the rest of us. (AP photo)
It was about two years ago in New York when Roger Goodell asked Michael Vick if he participated in — or had any knowledge of — a dog fighting operation that investigators believed was being run out of his house in Surry County, Va. Vick lied. He said no.
This picture to the left was taken the same day as that meeting, as both were in New York for the 2007 draft and to honor Virginia Tech after the campus shootings. You know the rest of inglorious history — for Vick, for football fans, for the Falcons’ franchise, for Arthur Blank (who had similar pre-indictment conversations with Vick) and for the NFL. So we won’t rehash it. (Again.)
Now, I understand that the NFL has become the People’s Republic of Goodell. He has been tough on crime. Between the looks of disgust, he actually seems to enjoy being judge and jury. Maybe a little too much.
But for the sake of everybody, can we just move on?
Goodell may meet with Vick this week in time for Vick to sign with a team and go to training camp. Or he may not.
He may lift the suspension sometime in the next two weeks. Or he may not.
He may twiddle his thumbs for a while, all in the hope that Vick grovels a little bit more, publicly and privately, just to make sure every last group is pandered to and his own ego is satisfied. Some sort of conditional reinstatement (most likely) or additional suspension should be announced by Sept. 1. That’s 12 days before the first Sunday of the NFL season. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful buildup to Week 1?
Know what? I’m tired of this. I think most of us are tired of this. We all need to move on. We all want to move on but can’t until Goodell reinstates Vick and starts the healing process in earnest.
Roger: Make a decision already. I don’t want to hear that Vick just got his ankle bracelet off Monday. You’ve had 23 months to think about this and plot your strategy.
The longer Goodell takes, the longer this thing drags on. The longer we have to put up with double-secret, triple-anonymous sourced stories on ESPN that basically say nothing. The longer it is before Vick actually returns to the league, signs with a team, starts playing, experiences the hecklers and the picketers and the daily media examinations, all with the hope that he grows up and becomes a man and a player again.
But all that is going to take while. None of it is going to be fun. I’m not sure if we or Vick ever get to that finish line. But I know we’ll never find out if Goodell doesn’t start the process. And I’m so tired of waiting.
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150 comments Add your comment
Native Georgian
July 22nd, 2009
9:18 am
You people are funny out here. You can quote the law but you ignore the part where it states how your crime & sentence is resolved. THAT PART’S OVER FOLKS!
Now it’s time to go to work and be a productive American.
@Adrian… p.s. Your post is laced with racist undertones. “Obama voters”, “worship Vick like a god”, “looks like like a Gremlin”. Just use the “N” word. It’s a lot shorter.
Native Georgian
July 22nd, 2009
9:21 am
@CORRECT!
I can understand that those people will never play for my beloved Falcons. Got it.
I just use them as cross-references to show how we are going full-speed at dogfighting while turning a blind eye to other (sometimes more serious) crimes by other athletes who will return to their trade without all the negative resistance that Vick receives.
CORRECT!!
July 22nd, 2009
9:28 am
Vick has every right to go on and live a productive life. He can be a construction worker or what ever he chooses and who ever hires him. However, the NFL in no way has to bring him back. If I did the things he did my employer would show me the way out anf I would simply have to move on. If Rogers allows Vick’s return, so be it.
The Dogfighter Returns
July 22nd, 2009
9:33 am
Vick rules as long as capitalism is alive. Any article about the man generates hits. hits equals money on the web and Micahel Vick is a serious cash cow like mike tyson and michael jackson.
Nativebird
July 22nd, 2009
9:37 am
Here’s a solution: Roger Goodell and the NFL should develop their own “NFL Players Ankle Bracelet”. That way they could design it so Vick and the other players in trouble (Packman, etc) can run and play with it, and Roger could have his own little in-office Tracking computer on his desk. The one drawback to that idea is with the current state of the NFL, his computer screen would quickly turn into something akin to Centipede or Space Invaders.
midnite
July 22nd, 2009
9:40 am
There is no way Vick can stay clean for three years. He will violate his parole within one year. He will not stop smoking weed and you can take that to the bank. He did not stop before the trial. His only true remorse is for getting his a$$ caught. He had his chance and was too stupid to to step up. He is a liar, and once a liar always a liar. Goodbye Mike Vick and go back to where you came from, maybe 2010 you can get reinstated. Mr. Goodell please drop your hammer on this foolish, immature liar. Forget 2009 you blind loyalists, he is done.
Otto
July 22nd, 2009
9:41 am
If most of us were convicted of a felony we would not have our job waiting. Vick has no given right to play in the NFL. If the NFL wants to clean up its image banning him and a few others would be a good move.
Native Georgian
July 22nd, 2009
9:50 am
@CORRECT!! – Still agree with you but I think the proper comparison is with your employer and the Falcons. Vick has been “fired” from the Falcons. Now he has to apply at another firm (team). If Acme Construction fired you, you wouldn’t go to Aamco trying to be a transmission guru all of a sudden. Because you know “construction” you’d look for a job at Bravo Construction instead. That’s all the man is trying to do.
@midnite- If he does violate then he’ll have no one to blame but himself. He just finished paying for his ’sins’. For most people this is the point where you’re at your best behavior. You don’t have to be a blind loyalist to fight for what’s right. It could be Eli Manning (of whom I have the utmost disdain for) and I’d be defending him and the American way just as intensely.
Tyree
July 22nd, 2009
9:57 am
Otto, Thank You x 2. Why do we have to tolerate illegal and inappropriate behavior from so called athlete stars? Please don’t let Vick back in the NFL.
KT2
July 22nd, 2009
9:57 am
To all you VICK haters! Do you all know how many players in any professional sport, has commited a crime. Last time I checked VICK is human. Some of ya’ll are probably cheating on your wives right now. Nobody is perfect, people. GET OVER IT.
San
July 22nd, 2009
9:59 am
Do you pilgrims love pitbulls THAT much or do you just hate Mike Vick?
Jeff Schultz
July 22nd, 2009
9:59 am
First, thanks to most of you for debating this on a decent level, not resorting to some of what we’ve seen in the past.
Old Fart – you made me laugh.
Tim Dix – It’ll be addressed but I don’t think the gambling aspect of the dog fighting will keep him out of the game.
All World
July 22nd, 2009
10:00 am
Those that desire picketing of Vick after he has paid debt to society should not be mad if Blacks who have been hurt by racist inspired dog attacks historically worldwide should organize boycotts of NFL teams and team sponsors. God forgives, we should too. Lifetime harassment of Vick will probably be responded to by supporters of justice, not supporters of Vick.
Otto
July 22nd, 2009
10:02 am
KT2 just because otehr felons are in professional does not give reason to admit Vick. The other players convicted of a felony should be banned too. A misdemeanor and a felony are not the same thing.
No I’m not perfect and you have to make a stand at some point. The NFL needs to make the stand, CFB is gaining ratings share an the NFL is beginning to have an image problem.
Jeff
July 22nd, 2009
10:06 am
Goodell should ban him for life as a clear signal to all that extreme bad behavior will not be tolerated in the NFL. Maybe the other pro league commissioners will follow suit. Actions long overdue.
will
July 22nd, 2009
10:08 am
i agree, MV paid hid dues in jail time….roger goodell is dragging this out for the sake of his own macho, hardliner ego he wants to project to the rest of the league for his own benefit….get over yourself Goodell!!!
i don’t like MV anymore than what he did, but c’mon, he’s done his time…get this over with….because as commissioner, doesn’t Goodell have more generally pressing issues to deal with anyway? ie; salary cap, cba deal, rookie contracts, performance enhancing drugs, etc…?
MOVE ON GOODELL!!!!!!!!
midnite
July 22nd, 2009
10:09 am
None of the below listed people have had anything to do with the Mike Vick case:
Dany Heatly
Bobby Cox
George W. Bush
Patrick Kerney
Martha Stewart
Dick Cheney
Why do the ignorant among us always use these people as a reference in these forums. Compare apples to apples, and not apples to oranges.
The things listed below do pertain to the Mike Vick case:
stolen Rolex at H/J airport security
Ron Mexico incident (STD’s)
water(stash)bottle At Miami airport
birdie finger to the fan
standing up Congress
lying to those in authority
associating with known criminals
Just simply stating the facts.
COOLO CLYDE
July 22nd, 2009
10:10 am
You want some real news in the NFL? Let’s get off of Mike Vick which we all have been talking about for the last 2 1/2 years and let’s talk about Ben ROTTENBERGER the accused rapist!!! This happened more than a year ago and we are just know hearing about it. Hmmmmm. All the information on the wire, world wide web, gossip, beat writers, ESPN and all the other great sources for sports information and we are just now hearing about this CRIME that was committed to a poor defenseless woman by BIG BEN. I guess we protect our own, right Mr. Godell. Let’s see how you handle it when it is one of your own Mr. Godell/Judge/Jury/Commissioner/Wanna Be All.
Newspaper_Hero_Zero
July 22nd, 2009
10:14 am
It seems as if the readers really want The AJC to “move on” without waiting on Goodell..
In case you did not understand three years ago:
Vick = $$$$ and national exposure for the “entertainers” in the media.
I love the question of “Will Atlanta heal after Vick let them down? My answer is: No, because the national and local media will not stop reminding everyone with their “Vick watch”.
Vick could give-up football today, and some reporter here will be writing about him decades from now.
PETA would still be trying to force Vick to pay 10% of any $$$$ he makes. Why don’t they hassle, and hustle some of these hunters out here (who have no live-stock to protect, and do not eat what they kill)?
It’s all about $$$$ and fame now.. Nobody is “clean” or innocent who was a part of the spectacle.
What will it take to cool the unnecessary Vick coverage locally?
It is going to take Arthur Blank or a Falcon player to become very angry about The Vick coverage over-shadowing the supposed coverage of a miracle playoff team (with The NFL’s best young QB: Matt Ryan).
MW
July 22nd, 2009
10:15 am
Yes, this has been a long and painful process for many people. However, neither Vick nor anyone else has a “right” to play in the NFL. He has shown himself to be criminal, not only with the dogfighting but with facilitating illegal an gambling operation. He is untrustworthy. He lied to his team owner, his coach, the fans and to Goodell. If Vick wants to play, he will be patient and do whatever is necessary to make it happen. Forgiveness can be given, but trust has to be earned.
Sage of Blueland
July 22nd, 2009
10:23 am
I think it’s safe to say that even Atlanta, The City of Sheep, has moved on.
Who hasn’t moved on: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Suckers.
retired on the Lake (formerly cityofdecatur)
July 22nd, 2009
10:26 am
white men Horning (sp) and Karras were suspended 1 year for their part in illegal gambling black man Vick should get the same. how’s that for fair vicklovers.
jeffrey d
July 22nd, 2009
10:30 am
If most of us were convicted of a felony we would not have our job waiting.
In case you haven’t figured it out yet, the sports world works nothing like our world.
midnite
July 22nd, 2009
10:31 am
Has Mike Vick shown any remorse whatsoever? He has done nothing to indicate that he has. This what Commish Goodell said it would take for reinstatement-TRUE REMORSE. Oh, and it is a privilege to play in the NFL, not a right as some on here have stated. Check your United States Constitution for specifics on rights. NO TRUE REMORSE=NO PLAY in the 2009 NFL season.
Steve
July 22nd, 2009
10:32 am
Mike Vick ? Who cares ? Alabama ROLL TIDE football starts in 45 days. That’s real football !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
croob
July 22nd, 2009
10:40 am
Vick is a sociopath. All the signs are there for everyone to see. If they let this guy back in he will pave the way for others like him and it will ruin the NFL. I can’t stand the sight of him knowing what he did and Goodell has a chance to make it count by throwing this monster out. Do the right thing Mr. Goodell.
jeffrey d
July 22nd, 2009
10:41 am
And to everyone complaining about the coverage of Vick – this is the first time Bradley or Schultz have written about Vick all summer. The truth is, Vick is in the news again because a big decision concerning his future is coming up soon. Something you guys obviously feel passionate about – “He had his chance, give him the boot!” or “He paid his time, get over it!.”
If you don’t like it, quit whining and just read one of the other 239482342379 blogs Schultz and Bradley post today. You guys are such babies.
And did Steve really just give an all caps “ROLL TIDE” in an Atlanta newspaper on a topic about another person in a sport that isn’t college football? There’s a winner.
kidd huff
July 22nd, 2009
10:47 am
Say “Good Night”, everybody.
Fulton
July 22nd, 2009
10:48 am
People in sports (Heatley, Little, Stallworth, etc..) have killed other human beings and yet, are still allowed to resume their careers after the legal proceedings are done. Can anyone offer a reasonable explanation as to why Vick doesn’t deserve the same options?
Bhorsoft
July 22nd, 2009
10:50 am
I think it’s simple. You get convicted of a felony, you don’t play for the NFL again. Most places I’ve worked, if I get a felony conviction, I don’t get my job back. Goes for any felony. Stallworth – DUI, not a felony. Drug use – not a felony unless convicted in a court of law of felony possession. Accusations – this is America; remember “Innocent until proven Guilty
?” Get a felony conviction in a court of law and you’re out of the NFL for life.
mike
July 22nd, 2009
10:55 am
i agree with you. the commish has had almost 2 YEARS to think about what he wants to do.pita is NEVER going to be ok with letting vick back so dont spend to much energe worring about them.
Paulie OldSchool
July 22nd, 2009
10:55 am
I would feel much better about Mr. Vick if, just once, HE (not his lawyers, not his agent, not his PR people) would address the fans and just apologize. Just apologize, not take questions, not go into whatever reasons there were, just say “I’m sorry for my actions” and then step down from the pulpit. I don’t need groveling, I don’t need to see him debased any further, I just would like to hear him say “I’m sorry”. Not to his family. To us, the regular folk. That would make a huge difference in the way people perceived him, I think. And, BTW, no one has “the right” to play in the NFL. You earn it. I am not opposed to Mr. Vick playing in the NFL again, but after some time passes.
Dawg Lover
July 22nd, 2009
10:55 am
Native Georgian – Unfortunately, serving the time does not erase mistakes made. There is forgiveness, but how many job applications have you filled out that DIDN’T ask if you’d been previously CONVICTED of a felony? Case and point…Michael Vick is just ONE among MANY on that list of felons now and why should he be treated with special “priveleges” that other felons aren’t privy to? He should be given a second chance, oops 3rd/4th chance, but MANY aren’t afforded that luxury. I think NFL should give him the boot. Be done with Michael Vick. Let him redeem himself in LIFE…not in work.
Michael
July 22nd, 2009
11:05 am
Jeff, you and your media brethren are just as culpable, if not more so, in not letting anybody move past this nonsense. If you really want to move on, stop writing about it, stop thinking about it, and listening to anybody else talking about it.
Fulton
July 22nd, 2009
11:07 am
Well, I wouldn’t go THAT far, Wayne. He’s not MY shining prince…
JSS
July 22nd, 2009
11:12 am
He’s mentioned Michael Vick 17 times this summer. This is the 1st extended column (using that word loosely). I haven’t called Jeff Schultz this in a while; but on all things regarding Michael Vick,he is a unmediated liar…
For the last time to the silly among those who frequent the writings of Jeff Schultz, Michael Vick can not work or gain entry in the sovereign nation of Canada. He has a felony conviction. Stop bringing up the CFL. The UFL is a different story… But as I have said before, you need to pray that he is reinstated immediately. The money that he agreed to repay the Falcons is an unsecured debt and will be treated so by the Bankruptcy administrator… You want blood from the turnip, then give it a seed… A bunch of hypocrites… And to that three word creep: HT, do you want to take your chance today? Go for it…
Chris Broe
July 22nd, 2009
11:14 am
Vick will tear up the league this year. Defenses have forgotten how to defend against him, and he’ll get some easy pickings early on. Great fun: dead ahead.
Mack H. Jones
July 22nd, 2009
11:16 am
As I recall when the Vick story broke, Arthur Blanks had recently returned from a safari in Africa where he had gone to hunt and kill innocent wild animals. Killing animals for sport is celebrated while being involved in dog fighting is a crime of the first order and sufficient to deny a man the right to earn a living in his chosen craft. What hypocrisy!! Such hypocrisy seems to be a major feature of contemporary American culture. Exceptionalism indeed.
Steve
July 22nd, 2009
11:19 am
jeffry d, yeah I did. What’s your point? Truth is I care about one thousand times more about Alabama football or any colleg football than I do about your opinion of me or anotjer tired Mike Vick article. And, until you get your own blog and block me…I’ll do what I want. jeffry d …my friend ROLL TIDE.
Vick Supporter
July 22nd, 2009
11:21 am
You people don’t even talk about your own QB …..”Ice”,lol.
Vick STILL has a hold on this city.
Vick 09
Mike
July 22nd, 2009
11:30 am
People PLEASE! Get off it! You all at like he had people fighting and killing one another. Even though I don’t agree with dog fighting one bit. People have done it (white and black) for years and continue to do it til this day and will never stop doing it. They fight roosters they run bulls. Get a grip. All you people on your high horses like you have lived the perfect life your whole life get on my nerves. We all have done things we are not proud of in our lives. No one is perfect. Let the man live you all acted like he murdered someone. Even before Vick got arrested I didn’t feel he was a great passer and I’ve had season tickets for 11 years. But come on the mad did his time give it a rest. If you got locked up for hitting your wife or DUI you don’t think you should be able to go back to work? If the shoe was on the other foot eveyone on this blog would be doing the same thing Michael Vick is doing trying to get back to what they know best.
Let it go already
July 22nd, 2009
11:32 am
Well Said! Everyone just needs to let it go. Vick made really bad choices, and has paid the consequences for those choices.
I’m sure PETA will be ready to protest if he goes to a team. I work at a school w/ 90% of the population living in the poverty level, qualifying for free and reduced lunch. Many of our kids badly need mentors, someone to come and make a difference in their lives.
I would encourage the people of PETA, if they really want to make a difference, to volunteer in schools such as mine.
There is one drawback for the folks in PETA, there is usually no television cameras filming the wonderful individuals who help students like mine, and I know how PETA people crave being on TV. (I live near the Falcons complex and drove by during one of their Vick protests and one of the protesters was wearing a Cat in the Hat hat, seriously?, was it a protest or a costume party?).
Vick made horrible choices, but I believe that once people pay their debt to society, they should be given a second chance. It is just a football game after all.
Isn’t there a very prominant football star being accussed of rape right now? I bet he will gain less protest than Vick, and his accussed crime is against a woman, not a dog.
Beautiful Monte
July 22nd, 2009
11:35 am
I guess we shouldn’t be surprised there are so many Vickheads out there.
I mean, if a deceased, drug-addicted, child molester has millions of fans who worship him as their “king”, I guess a conVICKted felon and liar who disgraced the organzation that paid him millions of dollars should have his own set of loyal subjects.
Speaking of the Vickheads, judging by their atrocious spelling and lack of critical thinking skills, it’s quite obvious that most of these pathetic jock-sniffers have fifth-grade educations … which means they are probably high-ranking officials in the B. Hussein Obama administration.
Mike
July 22nd, 2009
11:36 am
Let it go already! That was the greatiest reply I’ve seen. Big Ben is accused of RAPE it didn’t even lead Sportscenter last night.
eplayerj
July 22nd, 2009
11:36 am
Oh yes Jeff, Goodell needs to reinstate and move on. Plain and simple. There is no need for this to continue.
shannyeight
July 22nd, 2009
11:40 am
it is amazing how we got all these “professional psychologists” stating their so-called “expert opinions” and psyche evals on vick, and how he’ll never change, and blah, blah, blah…
and the last time i checked, when does someone’s bankruptcy procedings indicate whether he is remorseful or not? so i suppose if he were REALLY remorseful, he would let every tom, dick. and harry come out the woodworks claiming he owes them something and take everything he worked hard for( it mightve been some illegal work in there, but the keyword is WORK, not given to him). i suppose since he has a family and wants to keep a roof over his head as well as a nice car or two, that doesnt mean he is “really” remorseful…get out of here. That is the most ridiculous “proof of” statement i’ve ever heard.
whether goodell wants to let him back into the NFL or not is between goodell and vick. As far as i’m concerned, the man did his time for his crime, and i feel he should be allowed to play. But that is not up to me…that is up to a man whose face vick lied to. If he reinstates him, whutever…if not-whutever…i’m not gonna lose any sleep about it. I just shake my head everytime this subject comes up coz some of people are a little TOO INTIMATE and emotional about it.
GET OVER IT.
Terrell
July 22nd, 2009
11:40 am
JS, regardless of what Goodell does many people will never be able to move on. There are too many emotional and racial ties with this issue whether you want to admit it or not. Some can’t get over their emotional ties with Vick to be rational, and there are some who can’t get over their emotional ties with dogs to be rational.
Adrian,
You are right Vick was in jail for the illegal gambling, but he’s put on public prosecution for the dog fighting. I would comment on the Obama comment you made, but I would rather not stoop down to your level.
jeffrey d
July 22nd, 2009
11:43 am
Steve – I don’t care if you do it or not..it just makes you look like an idiot. Just giving you a heads up, chief
Randy
July 22nd, 2009
11:47 am
I could care less when or if Vick ever plays football again. But you’re right we need to move on so quit writing about him.
Allen
July 22nd, 2009
11:50 am
HE DID THE CRIME, HE DID HIS TIME. Move on!