ESPN: Goodell could let Vick attend an NFL training camp
Citing sources, former colleague Chris Mortensen and Sal Paolatonio of ESPN.com reported Tuesday night that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could meet with Michael Vick as early as this week. And Goodell, ESPN also reported, could allow Vick to join a NFL team in training camp. From ESPN:
“Under a scenario involving conditional reinstatement, Goodell would reserve the right to extend or further define Vick’s indefinite suspension but allow him to attend training camp if he is signed with an NFL team, sources said. A conclusive reinstatement, or additional suspension, for the 2009 season would be expected before Sept. 1, the first mandatory date for roster cuts.”
The belief here has been that Goodell would allow Vick to play in the NFL at some point this season, but I didn’t think we’d see No. 7, who was released from federal custody only Monday, back under the league umbrella this summer. Assuming Goodell sees the desired “genuine remorse” from Vick in their meeting, a “conditional reinstatement” would indicate:
- That Goodell believes Vick has paid a sufficient penalty for his admitted crimes;
- That the NFL doesn’t want the guy once among its biggest names to make his reappearance as a member of the start-up United Football League;
- That the commissioner has some indication there’s interest in signing Vick among NFL clubs, no matter how much those clubs might insist there isn’t;
- That clubs interested in Vick would feel they had Goodell’s tacit, if not blatant, approval to pursue him.
- That Goodell, as Mortensen and Paolatonio report, could still choose to suspend Vick further depending on his conduct, which would make training camp a probational period.
As mentioned in Monday’s post and subsequent comments, I think there’s a market for Vick. Not necessarily as a starting quarterback, but certainly as a backup and potentially as the in-vogue Wildcat quarterback. Several NFL clubs could use Vick – Vinny Iyer of Sporting News Today identified Miami, San Francisco, Jacksonville, Washington, Seattle and Oakland — but the entire NFL has been waiting to take its lead from Goodell. And the commissioner is apparently ready to move.
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293 comments Add your comment
WHAT UP!!!
July 22nd, 2009
12:04 am
I can’t wait to watch Vick tare it up in the UFL!!! GO VICK SHOW THE UFL REJECTS HOW FAST YOU CAN RUN AND FUMBLE!! YOU DA MAN!!
Vanilla Ice
July 22nd, 2009
12:09 am
I hate being white – oh dang!
Numtombot
July 22nd, 2009
12:10 am
What he did was definitely wrong but come on, we have seen “MUCH WORSE” and people have skated with not so much as a slap on the hand. He’s more than paid his debt to the league and society. An true athlete like that will play somewhere. Pretty much a given. Numtombot?
a mother's love
July 22nd, 2009
12:33 am
Some these comments are so ignorant with people’s writings that seems to me to have a third grade education. To stick to the topic about Vick’s ability to play in the NFL is the only thing that needs to be discussed. Character attack is senseless,because the public does not really know Vick the human being. As I stated earlier, I am from his hometown and we know him. He made a mistake, and we all are guilty of something that is unacceptable in society. Again, Martha Stewart is a felon. Big business like KMART NEEDED HER to help them compete. Well, I GUESS SHE SHOWED ENOUGH REMORSE TO PUT HER PRODUCTS AND LABELS OUT INTO THE WORLD TO MAKE INVESTORS RICH: ALL IS FORGIVEN Martha!!!!!!
Mountain Man
July 22nd, 2009
12:34 am
Enough already about Vick! The media have hounded and dogged Vick enough…
Patrick E Smith
July 22nd, 2009
2:45 am
What’s funny to me is that the majority of Vick bashers leaving anti-Vick comments were once Vick scrotum scratchers! I am the first to say that his head was on backwards while funding and participating in dogfighting, but I’ll also state that he has paid his debt(enormous)to society and should be free to pursue his trade with the same rights of any other felon. Good luck Mike,& God Bless!
Keith
July 22nd, 2009
3:31 am
I say this… Mike Vick has paid his debt to society. He served his time, now let the man play! People have done even worse things to human beings, and have got off for less. He did his time, what else can he do? Let the man get back into the NFL and start playing the game that he loves to play. It’s time to forgive!
queenbee
July 22nd, 2009
3:43 am
I feel once an individual have served his time for a crime he should no longer be punished by society. We are all human and we are bound to make mistakes in life and I do believe mistakes do change a person for the better. We are not perfect, if God can forgive him so can man.
YO_DOG
July 22nd, 2009
6:02 am
Let my boy Play some ball!
elainer7
July 22nd, 2009
6:03 am
Reinstate Vick? Then every pro athlete that has been in trouble and ” paid their dues ” should be reinstated. What makes this guy so special? I dont believe he feels one bit of remorse for what he did.
MiltonDawg
July 22nd, 2009
7:30 am
Who cares!! Goodell will make his decision whether we like it or not. Vick has already lied to him once or twice so it really depends on he feels.
Happy Girl
July 22nd, 2009
7:30 am
I can not wait for Vick to come back to the NFL….money is to be made and real football will be played….GO VICK…GO….there is no other quarterback to compare with what Vick brings to the field….forget the haters all they need to do is look in the mirror!
Joy RB
July 22nd, 2009
7:31 am
Michael Vick has paid his debt to society. He deserves a second chance – at life not football. Pete rose was banned from baseball for life. I don’t think Vick’s situation is much different.
hop
July 22nd, 2009
7:36 am
i don’t why the debate continues because the decision has already been made by the nfl and vick will be in the league this year.
what needs to be discuss is if mike vick is able to be a productive player and the jury is still out on that aspect.
the last two years were his worse both in stats and wins so it will be interesting to see how he does.
Steve
July 22nd, 2009
7:41 am
Goodell will do what will generate the most money, that’s what pro sports is all about these days, making money. If you took every criminal or idiot out of the NFL, you wouldn’t have a team worth watching. Vick has been regulated to the freak bin; you can’t think of Vick without thinking of fighting or killing dogs but if the league says he can play, he can play. You don’t have to watch him, you don’t have to like him. Most everyone will agree you have to be dumber than a bag of dirt to have an IQ as low as Vick’s must be and have the potential to makes tens of millions of dollars and throw that away because you can’t cut loose of the ” I still live in Building C of the projects” mentality that a lot of rich NFL players carry with them but money doesn’t buy gray matter. It buys fancy cars and shoes but not brain power.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 22nd, 2009
7:46 am
I hope Goddell makes a quick decision and Vick signs with someone so we all can move on. He has served his time. It is time to let him make a living so the Bankurptcy Court can get a pay back plan from Vick. The sooner we can move on the better so we can have topics like …..Who would you want to buy a minority interest in the Falcons….
Larry
July 22nd, 2009
7:48 am
Vick is a psychotic sadist who will be in trouble again. In any real profession, he would have been barred for life. His second break is that he is free and should be allowed to pursue non-football jobs, nothing more. He is evil.
Ms Ice
July 22nd, 2009
7:51 am
I don’t think what he did was wrong people are still doing it every day in every state; they’ve not got caught yet. Mike Vick is a very talented young man, he will play in the NFL again this year, he will once again make his name well known around the world..all this mess and bad jokes about him is jut ludacris..but to each his own…I’m praying for him, his family & his career…GOOD LUCK TO YOU MIKE VICK KEEP GOD IN YOUR PLANS AND THEY ALL WILL WORK OUT JUST FINE
Ms Ice
July 22nd, 2009
7:52 am
GO FALCONS………….GO MIKE VICK
Mac
July 22nd, 2009
7:52 am
Daniel Snyder is tingling, but I won’t say where.
Atl Resident
July 22nd, 2009
7:59 am
Well, even though its not official yet, looks like I’m right about Vick coming back. So all the haters, racists, and so-called animal activists suck it up and get over it. This is interesting cause Falcons are disowning him like trash, which is messed up, but what’s scary about this is he can still attend camp and watch when he comes back playing again he will play against Falcons making us look like trash.
Atl Resident
July 22nd, 2009
8:04 am
Joy RB, you can’t even compare Pete Rose situation to Michael Vick. It was time for Pete Rose to finish when he got convicted anyway. Vick’s so young still, he probably still got at least another 10 yrs left.
FALCONSFAN
July 22nd, 2009
8:07 am
I’m just glad the team I support wants nothing to do with Vick, I truly feel sorry for the fans of the team that takes a gamble on Vick.
FALCONSFAN
July 22nd, 2009
8:08 am
“Vick has paid his debt to society”… that’s patently false until he returns all of the money he STOLE from various business entities and individuals.
FALCONSFAN
July 22nd, 2009
8:09 am
ATL Resident, you do realize that Pete Rose can’t even manage a baseball team, who cares if he was still playing. I applauded what MLB did to Rose, the same should be done to Vick.
FALCONSFAN
July 22nd, 2009
8:12 am
“This is interesting cause Falcons are disowning him like trash, which is messed up”
So, let me ask you this ATL Resident, if you STOLE, LIED and PUBLICLY EMBARRASSED (*the Falcons brand was ruined to a degree because of Vick) your current employer or ANY employer for that matter would you still have a job with that company?
sharon
July 22nd, 2009
8:12 am
Mike Vick should tell the people of Atlanta (you know are), the NFL and PETA to kiss his you know what and go to the UFL. You people kill me sitting back passing judgement like your s*it don’t stink. Why the h*ll should you care whether this man is allowed to play football again. I bet half of you can’t even afford a ticket. As for the people who are being mouth pieces by saying Vick can’t read a defense just STFU. Did you play football? Oh my bad, what professional team do you play for? Who gave your sorry azz a chance to show your skills. These comments are a prime example as to why Georgia ranks dead last in education!
FALCONSFAN
July 22nd, 2009
8:17 am
sharon,
I’m a long time season ticket holder (before Vick), I can afford very good tickets, I’ve never even spoken to a police officer over something I’ve done and I imagine there are many people in the same boat as myself. Maybe YOUR stuff stinks, maybe as bad as Vick, but there are many of us that have yet to even get a parking ticket, let alone be convicted of running an illegal gambling ring.
FALCONSFAN
July 22nd, 2009
8:20 am
I truly feel sorry for those that support Mike Vick blindly, would you all be doing this if Vick were Asian? Hispanic? Or… White? I have a feeling many of you would not.
Bottom line, the NFL was successful without the likes of Pacman, Vick, Ray Lewis, etc. and it will be after they are wheeling themselves around a retirement home.
wbj
July 22nd, 2009
8:21 am
People like Wade Phillips will never want Michael Vick to play professional football again. Why? Because they probably did not want him to play initially. How dare this man make all this money while Wade and his ilk have to put in a day’s work for a day’s pay. Maybe Wade is making a large salary or maybe he is barely above minimum wage, the fact remains that jealousy has reared it’s ugly head once again. Clean Wade’s “jock strap”? Just how dirty is this strap that one would have to hire anyone to clean it! Isn’t just throwing it in the washing machine sufficient. Probably not! Some people would say “scrub my floor, dig ditches, clean up the garbabe heap, etc., but no Wade says “clean my jock strap”. Wade, whether Mike Vick plays football again or not, he will still probably have a more positive following that you will ever have. Hopefully Vick will play professionally again. Of course, Wade and his henchmen will probably be in the crowd booing. I do believe that if Vick survived prison, negative press, a tether on his ankle, a $10.00 an hour construction job, etc., he will overcome jackasses like Wade!
Steve
July 22nd, 2009
8:23 am
Ms ice says she doesn’t think what Vick did was wrong? She said that people do it everyday. How stupid and far back in the hood do you live, Ms Ice? Ms Ice, that’s like me saying I don’t think what the KKK did back in the 50’s and 60’s was wrong, that people did it all the time. Does that make it okay? NO. I must say that Vick has brought out the dumbest of the dumb in the black community.
Nowwhat
July 22nd, 2009
8:25 am
Everybody has one…an opinion. But the fact of the matter is that there are so many others judging what Michael Vick done was so this and that until you have not swepted around your own front door. Ok, he messed up and so have you somewhere along the line. All of us have. Maybe you didn’t get caught doing what he did, but as sure as you have breath in your body, you have errored in this life somewhere and had to ask for forgiveness. I can’t say it enough, wrong is wrong and maybe because you have not been in the spotlight does not exclude the fact that you don’t have skelton’s in your closet either. There is no such thing as a little wrong or a big wrong, it is all just WRONG.
So,get over… he is human and we all have sinned. Now, he has paid his debt to society…bottom line. Who do you think you are to hold something over somebody’s head… nobody for that fact. He has just as much of a right to have another chance as anybody else, including all you haters of him. You are just mad as hell because he had more money than you and will still get more money than you. And, you can’t stand to see that. Get over it… Worry about your own grass and stop trying cut other others. If you spend this much time trying to clean up your own mess, maybe your life would not be as miserable as it is. In the end, you ain’t got nowhere for no one to lay their head anyway, so what you say really don’t even matter…NOWHAT.
Phil McCrotch
July 22nd, 2009
8:26 am
Yes Derrick I’ve done some things that were wrong, however, I’ve never committed a federal crime. Big difference in cheating on a test and breaking the frickin’ law. Geez, some of you people just don’t get it.
Curious
July 22nd, 2009
8:32 am
Let him play. Vick’s the most exciting player ever.
Chris
July 22nd, 2009
8:46 am
To Flo-Ri-Duh…
You don’t think Vick getting suspended and thrown into prison caused any ‘problems” for his team? Are you nuts? He detroyed the Falcons ENTIRE Season!
Not Disappointed
July 22nd, 2009
8:47 am
<—————- Loves Dogs and other animals; moreover my wife is visually impaired with a seeing eye dog.
I do feel Vick has paid his debt to society. We should all go forward. He should have a opportunity to start over. Good day to all…
Even my ga pup friends. “Ramblin Wreck!”
MsMoMorris
July 22nd, 2009
8:48 am
It is so easy to sit high a judge others when you guys have not made any mistakes.(RIGHT!!!!!!). Mike Vick made a mistake, he lied about what he was doing to those who wanted to play God. I agree totally with Kelly someone drives an expensive car kill his best friend and he gets away virtually scott free. I am by no means taking away what Mike did but Damn when do we give him a break. No we can not compare apples and orange these two incidents are not totaly alike but in both sitiuation some one made a decision that would affect others.
Chris
July 22nd, 2009
8:49 am
You don’t think Vick getting suspended and thrown into prison caused any ‘problems” for his team? Are you nuts? He detroyed the Falcons ENTIRE Season!
ATLfan15
July 22nd, 2009
8:50 am
Vick is a poor example of a human being and the sight of him makes me sick. With that being said, there is nothing wrong with him trying to earn a living. It’s just too bad that he did not see the error of his ways BEFORE he did all that crap.
One of the posts above said for him to ‘keep God in his plans’. If he had done that initially, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. I have noticed that all of Vick’s supporters conveniently forget that he lied to both of his superiors about his off-field activities when given a chance to come clean. And then he failed a drug test while on probation. That shows his true character right there…so let me leave with you a quote: “Character is what you do when no one is watching.” Think about that…then think about what kind of character example you want to show to the children who may be in your life. Don’t depend on a pro athlete, celebrity, etc to be those examples; YOU must be the example…by living an honest and (more importantly) law-abiding life.
fishman2
July 22nd, 2009
8:50 am
give mike a break. if he had killed a person while drunk with his car he would have already been back in the NFL. I love the NFL, but i do not agree with what has happen here. Yes what he did was was bad, but not Hittler bad. he has lost everything. all i know is he gave us Falcons fan some of our greatest memories and i am sad he can’t be a Falcon again & Yes I said a Falcon. i know he and Mr. Blank where close and i know he feels like he let him down and the fans. there was nothing better than hearing or not hearing because it was so loaud him being introducted at the dome. i know tha is not going to happen. don’t get me wrong what Matt Ryan did last year was Great and i can see him taking up to the Superbowl in the near future, but wouldn’t be nice to have Vick as a option.
wikki50
July 22nd, 2009
8:55 am
Give a break, he is not even close to being bankrupt. I am sure he has money stashed in several different accounts. Also, the comment about killing a friend in a car accident. What Scum Vick did was on purpose, what the hockey player was an accident. Their is a difference. Vick should of rotted in PRISON.
Jaine
July 22nd, 2009
8:57 am
In a country where former President Clinton was allowed to cheat on his wife – over and over – and lie on national television to our faces about it? – all while President of our country – and keep his job – what is everyone’s problem with allowing Michael Vick to have a career? I personally have never seem him play a lick – (I am a Georgian) – however, I do not see the point in continuing to deny him the right to do his job – and WHY it is getting so much attention?? There are much much bigger problems out there – like a hostage soldier in Afghanistan who may never see his family again. Get over it people????
ken
July 22nd, 2009
8:57 am
hold up use mike vick as a back up?
—> Mike vike best QB in the NFl as a back up?
G.T.O.H…………………..
marcus vick
July 22nd, 2009
9:00 am
come on people, vick should be allowed to play…if leonard little can play, vick should be able to play…on the field, i cant believe what im reading on this blog. vick was all the falcons had at the time, we had no line, a 145 pound running back that we were pounding up the middle 25 times a game and no WRs…Roddy white was not ready neither jenkins….and lets not forget Greg Knapp..and a weak defense..and damn southern people, if you guys hate vick so much for killing dogs how do yall feel about Bush? …Im from ATL and has been here my whole life and i know that this is still a very racist state.
for instance if this year the ol does not produce the city will place the blame on the ol not ryan… but with vick he took all the blame..are u people sure that the problem with vick was that he is BLACK.. people hate when blacks speak on racism but its obivous when i read some of these comments… I love matt ryan, i think that he is going to get better and better but after the Arizona game u all put the blame on the defense not the 3 turnovers by Ryan.if vick was the qb he would have took all the blame..people say vick was not accurate, thats BS.. how can a Qb be accurate when he is running for his damn life… we had the smallest line in the nfl at the time…we could not block elite ends…vick will play again and if a franchise is willing to put a TEAM around him he still can perform at a very high level…vick started 4 years, he beat the packers in year 1, broke his leg the next year, nfc championship the next year, no playoffs the last 2 years due to bad supporting cast and bad coaching..
JG
July 22nd, 2009
9:06 am
Kelly,
No One watches Hockey, Look at the TV Ratings. That is why that Hockey player can get away with it here in Atlanta. No one knows who he is.
The NFL is huge and the ratings can’t be compared. Also, Dan Snyder’s parents were fools and allowed him to walk away from the charges. Vick was a household name that Franchise and Arthur put everything into. That is the difference.
So it ain't so, Joe
July 22nd, 2009
9:12 am
Leonard Little, Ray Lewis (got off thanks to Paul Howard), Jamal Lewis. 3 players who all committed harsher crimes than Mike Vick and all are back in the league. You can’t keep a man from earning a living, and the NFL is not a private league considering all the taxpayer funded stadiums in the country. He’s served his debt to society, let him play and if he screws up then kick him to the curb.
Ashley B.
July 22nd, 2009
9:16 am
I am extremely confident in saying that Mike Vick is and will always be known in the sports world as a dominant player. The undertones of his dominance and knowledge of the game still linger in the sports world. I am a realist; therefore, I have to say that what Vick did was wrong; however, for some of us the divide between a human being and an animal is not clearly defined in our psyches. Lastly, as an African American woman, I am mindful of the adversity that one must face, and I am ever mindful of the struggle that some of my African American counterparts have gone through,as well as I, but at the end of the whim of adversity is triumph. Mike Vick will triumph, and his triumphant stride back to the gridiron is one in which me or anyone else has no control over. For Mike Vick, stay in tune with your maker, God and let him be the head of your life and the source of your strength.
Dean Lorentz
July 22nd, 2009
9:17 am
i hope vick goes to carolina or tampa and haunts the falcons for the remander of his carrer. he is a great athelete whoe made a very bad mistake, but he did his time so people just need to give him another chance.
RK22
July 22nd, 2009
9:20 am
Flo-Ri-Duh!
God allows second chances after committing murder and/or violent crimes against humans. See Moses (murdered an Egyptian), David (bedded someone’s hot wife and had a hit put out on the guy), and Paul (tracked down Christians and terrorized them). I’ve never been a real Vick supporter (although I have been amazed at his natural God-given athleticism), but, if the aforementioned guys were given second chances, then just maybe (insert tongue-in-cheek) we should at least consider it. Let him play. Hopefully, he’s learned some lessons. But, who knows? We’ll have to wait and see.
Sunny
July 22nd, 2009
9:26 am
“He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.” Put your rocks down. Let the man do what God has given him the talent to do because, we serve a God of a 1st, 2nd, 3rd……… chance!