Michael Vick’s “conditional reinstatement”: I don’t get it
The NFL has finally ruled. Michael Vick can practice, but he can’t play until the final two preseason games. (This assumes he can find a team that will hire him, which I believe he will.) Once the regular season commences, he can do everything except play in games.
That’s in September and the first half of October. Once October passes its midpoint, he can play in real games, too.
I don’t get it.
Maybe there’s a Solomonic compromise embedded in Roger Goodell’s ruling, but for the life of me I can’t find it. What I see is a commissioner who felt pressured to do something even if he wasn’t quite sure doing anything more is warranted. So he half-stepped. He also overstepped.
This is, to use a football term, piling on. Vick has been suspended by the NFL for 23 months and three days. If the league wanted to disassociate itself with him completely, it could have just said, “Suspension stands. Sorry, Mike.” But clearly it doesn’t want to disassociate itself with Vick. Clearly it doesn’t want him to pop up first in the low-rent United Football League. It wants to see him on an NFL field again.
Just not quite yet.
Loading ...Why? For no other reason I can discern beyond cosmetic issues. The NFL wants Vick back but it doesn’t want to appear as it’s welcoming him back. And that’s understandable. He’s a convicted felon. He just did 20 months in government custody. But docking him six more games — eight if you count the two exhibitions — isn’t really a penalty. It’s a nuisance. It’s Goodell doing an Alexander Haig and saying, “I’m in charge here.”
OK, Vick embarrassed the NFL. We know that. And playing in the NFL isn’t a right but a privilege. We get that, too. But why have him on an NFL roster if you don’t want him playing — at least not yet — in NFL games? Either ban him or reinstate him fully. Why drag this into October? Why spend 2 1/2 more months reminding everyone of one of the sorriest chapters in league history? Why not just clear him and be done with it?
Because Roger Goodell wanted to look tough. But Roger Goodell didn’t want to look so tough as to drive Vick to a start-up league. So he tried to split the difference. Sorry to say, he missed. This satisfy neither the Vick haters or the Vick supporters. I doubt this even satisfies Roger Goodell.
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313 comments Add your comment
Angus
July 27th, 2009
4:47 pm
I’d say it’s the best for everyone including MV.
Insurance for the league & owner. If he screws up again, he’s gone with no damage done.
The NFL does not want MV to be the #1 story opening week – nor does whoever signs him.
MV gets to ease into it without the ridiculous scrutiny he’d get if say, Tampa or Cleveland, hired him today to compete for starting QB. He may have it in him to play well, but enormous pressure from the get-go could get to him.
Angus
July 27th, 2009
4:48 pm
I’d say it’s the best for everyone including MV.
Insurance for the league & owner. If he screws up again, he’s gone with no damage done.
The NFL does not want MV to be the #1 story opening week.
MV gets to ease into it without the ridiculous scrutiny he’d get if say, Tampa or Cleveland, hired him today to compete for starting QB. He may have it in him to play well, but enormous pressure from the get-go could get to him.
ScoutHawg
July 27th, 2009
4:49 pm
I believe the commissioner wants a slow reinstatement to give the PETA crowd time to get adjusted to his return. That PETA group is a bunch of stay-home moms with nothing else better to do. Give me a break.
Vick Supporter
July 27th, 2009
4:50 pm
mc
July 27th, 2009
4:45 pm
I will be surprised to see who breaks rank and hires him. whatever team takes him is gonna have a p.r. nightmare on their hands. I am just glad I can take my family to the games again. It was crazy at the dome when he was on our team.
—————————————————————
Mac…..I don’t think the “environment” of the stadium is going to change because Vick was the QB. Its a free country……you should look at your own people befor you make dumb comments.
Greedy Vick fanatic
July 27th, 2009
4:51 pm
First off , thanks Mr bradley for your words, as a Vick fanatic , i am really hurt and sad by the furor policy on vick. this is insane, all i can say is , the furor should be glad the UFL is a baby. He will certaintly give the UFL more press now with this decision , look at the timing. I am really sick of the Furor , i mean dungy even said this is a outrage. The furor lacks genuine compassion , i mean Matt jones snorts lines and gets 2 games. Commissioner furor , you suck , and you lack backbone to make a tough decision, this was as wishy washy as it gets.
JustWaitnSEE!!!!
July 27th, 2009
4:52 pm
By the way!!! Vick always played with heart and whoever picks him up will have one helluva weapon!!!
His heart and love for the game was never in question; The man ran a 4.2-4.3 in the 40…Please!!! And that cat like quickness with the ability to cut on a dime…You guys have selective memory; Vick was exciting as hell to watch and I am not even a Vick fan or a Falcon fan but I understand what he bought to the table…I hope he can shake off the rust!
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2009
4:53 pm
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’ve always liked Michael Vick. Do I like what he did to get himself thrown in jail? Absolutely not. But I still believe there’s a good heart within him.
jen
July 27th, 2009
4:55 pm
Do not think Vick can help but “run afoul of the law” again. He does not have the capacity to avoid it. With a man like Mr. Blank supporting him, he lost it all for a cruel and ignorant ploy, just to keep his homies impressed. He should get further help and education. I would never support or cheer a team of his.
Greedy Vick fanatic
July 27th, 2009
4:55 pm
I am really trying to figure out why , the partial reinstatement, your either in or your not , this half ass decision sucks , why not get the protesting and pissed people out of the way early in Aug. This guy is no MR Paul T , now he was a good commisioner.
Terrible Truth
July 27th, 2009
4:56 pm
Should have given him a one year suspension as measured in dog years. Re-apply to the league when you’re 35 you dog killin’ son-of-a…
Greedy Vick fanatic
July 27th, 2009
4:56 pm
The Furor of the NFL sucks , i rival billion dollar league will be in place soon , as*fish
clickdawg
July 27th, 2009
4:57 pm
p funk, thaat you said was really really really, stupid.
Vick Sucks
July 27th, 2009
4:57 pm
I completely support Vick in any football stadium… as long as he pays for the ticket just like everyone else.
Mark in Woodstock
July 27th, 2009
4:58 pm
To even think Michael would be the #1 story coming into this season is giving him a little too much credit….he was an average QB at best during his final few seasons here….he’s been out of football for a while…he might come back to be at best what he was before…a qb would could complete about 52% of his passes…which today won’t get the job done.
Just Maybe
July 27th, 2009
5:01 pm
Mark,
Maybe Roger Godell isn’t as tough as he wants to appear to be. Maybe he really hopes that no team will sign him and then he would not be the bad guy that never gave him a second chance. I hope he’s sign, but just maybe not!
ReShanda
July 27th, 2009
5:02 pm
OMG leave it alone already….this man has done his time in jail for DOGS while Donte Stallworth has been and is out of jail for killing a man while driving dui. Let this man go back to playing football so he can earn a living for his family
CJDawg
July 27th, 2009
5:02 pm
One thing this will do is give MV a lot of extra time getting football ready. Imaging him on the sideline having to watch during those six games working out and getting angry and ready to go. I would not want to be on the other side when he hits the field and runs around like a jet with feet taking out his revenge on defenders in the open field. He will go to the Raiders, who are building a fairly good size of talent. Imagine him and McFadden in the Wildcat with Mike at the wheel. Choose your poison….
Stephen
July 27th, 2009
5:03 pm
Let’s not forget people were already souring on his playing “skills” on the field before he proved himself to be an idiot off the field.
He was Eric Crouch (do your history) with a stronger arm. His style of QB’ing wasn’t sustainable in the NFL. You MUST be able to consistently throw the ball down the field to win in the postseason. He was (and will remain) the ultimate wrinkle on offense, but nothing more. Evidence comes in the form that once people were able to do a decent job of containing him and not let him scramble out of the pocket his accuracy and defense reading abilities suffered tremendously–as did his decision making. Look at the numbers for qb’s during the end of his tenure with the falcons when teams started to figure him out, the guy was dropping Rex Grossman numbers.
Long story short, he SHOULD be allowed to play, but a team picking him up would probably end up regretting it. Not for this off the field crap, but because a mediocre (at best) quarterback who has been out of ALL football for 2 years probably isn’t worth it.
athuszachery
July 27th, 2009
5:05 pm
terrible truth is stupid. to bad we dont equate human years with dog years. he will be`the man in every nfl city once again. the michael jordan of football
Goodell is a joke
July 27th, 2009
5:06 pm
The NFL players association needs to step up on this, and I’m laughing because this is the first time in my life I’ve agreed with TO on anything. What else can you do to this man? Castrate him? Death by firing squad? I know all of the PETA freaks will say that he deserves what his dogs got. But anybody with half a brain knows this man got more time than he deserved compared to other crimes committed by NFL players. Donte Stallworth sure as heck better be suspended for at least 3 years if there is any justice in this world. And don’t give me that crap about him not lying to authorities. I can’t remember reading where Stallworth offered up that he was drunk and stoned.
Kris G
July 27th, 2009
5:07 pm
Mark… how is it he thanks Dungy as a mentor, but continues to ignore his other biggest supporter and the man who drafted him, and coached him to his best season as a passer?
Becky
July 27th, 2009
5:07 pm
Let him play and prove himself..If he screws up, he can pack his bags and go..
pitbull
July 27th, 2009
5:07 pm
the man is back
yeah right
July 27th, 2009
5:08 pm
Mike could be appointed to the Obama cabinet. DOG CZAR
Vick Supporter
July 27th, 2009
5:09 pm
Mark Bradley is the man. You people that hate Vick need to look at yourselves
unknown
July 27th, 2009
5:10 pm
The two years vick didn’t play was because of his crimes, now these 6 games is for the lies he told.
Trainwreck
July 27th, 2009
5:11 pm
Couldn’t agree more MB. I really don’t see the point in this “conditional” reinstatement. Well anyway I hope he has a good final 11 weeks and eventually put this at least mostly behind him. He’s always going to be seen in a different light from now on but he DID serve his time.
FALCONS SORRY
July 27th, 2009
5:13 pm
ROGER GOODELL! YOU NEED TO STOP MAKING MIKE VICK JUMP THROUGH HOOPS AND JUST LET THE MAN PLAY ALREADY AND STOP BEING A SELF RIGHTEOUS HYPOCRITE AND HATER! YOU WOULDNT LIKE IT IF VICK WAS KEEPING YOU FROM EARNING A LIVING AND FEEDING YOUR FAMILY AND PUTTING CLOTHES ON YOUR KIDS GOODELL! BLANK YOU CAN KISS ANY HOPE OF EVER HOLDING A SUPPER BOWL TROPHY GOODBYE WHEN YOU STABBED VICK IN THE BACK AND MADE HIM SUFFER THE WAY HE HAS FOR NO REASON! I HOPE ALL THE GREAT NFL PLAYERS WHO MIGHT BE FREE AGENTS ONE DAY SEE HOW THIS SORRY TOWN TREATS ITS HEROES! VICK WILL REDEEM HIMSELF AND MAKE 31 NFL TEAMS SORRY THEY DID ROLL OUT THE WELCOME MAT FOR THE GREATEST AND MOST EXCITING BALLER TO EVER STEP ON A FOOTBALL FIELD! MAKE YOUR HATERS YOUR MOTIVATORS MIKE!
mwhite2k
July 27th, 2009
5:13 pm
Another non-Vick supporter here who thinks his punishment has been excessive. Goodell is just trying to stay relevant. Here’s the big problem though: all future punitive actions taken by the NFL will be benchmarked against Vick’s punishment. We’ve already heard comparisons of crimes against animals vs. crimes against humans, etc…. I can’t stand labor unions but it seems Goodell has put the ball on the tee for the NFLPA….
The Voice of Reason
July 27th, 2009
5:15 pm
Roger Goodell owes Michael Vick nothing. Vick’s supporters should be thankful he’s getting another chance. However, they aren’t, because the world owes everything to anybody who can run and throw a ball better than most.
ha ha
July 27th, 2009
5:15 pm
This just in: NFL to switch to dogskin over pig. Film at 11.
vick supporter
July 27th, 2009
5:15 pm
Mike not goin now where he goin to Super Bowl this year with T.O
to
July 27th, 2009
5:17 pm
Man it’s cold up here in Buffalo. Want me to cry?
JD
July 27th, 2009
5:21 pm
People need to take their personal feelings of this matter out of the equation and look at it for what it is. Bradley’s right that he mis-stepped and overstepped on this situation. Either you keep the indefinite suspension in place OR you re-instate him fully. It really doesn’t get any more simpler than that. I think that this is just Roger Goodell trying to make himself seem a lot more forceful than Paul Tagliabue in trying to uphold the image of the NFL, but in doing this he’s made himself look wishy washy.
It amazes me how much resentment there is for this young man. Yes, he committed a crime and he’s paid DEARLY for that crime. And yes, it IS a privilege to play in the NFL. So why is it that some people can’t get past that? Is it going to cause some controversy initially if he signs with a team? Yes, most definitely. But if I recall, there’s a current NFL player named Leonard Little who killed a PERSON and is still permitted to play in the league (yes, Tagliabue was still commissioner, but the guy still killed someone and was still allowed to play). It seems as if there’s some vendetta against Vick by those who don’t like him, and it’s your right to not like him for what he’s done. But when does it go away? When HE goes away? It’s seems quite obvious that he’s not going anywhere. You might not like it, but that’s your frustration and emotions on the situation that YOU have to deal with.
FALCONS SORRY
July 27th, 2009
5:21 pm
MIKE VICK IS THE WORLDS BIGGEST DBAG RIGHT BEHIND ME!
Najeh Davenpoop
July 27th, 2009
5:22 pm
Roger Goodell is, for lack of a better word, a douche who is ruining the NFL. When the league goes through an uncapped year two years from now and loses the parity that has fueled its popularity up to this point, Goodell’s dismantling of the league will be complete. This decision is just another example of his general incompetence. I agree with Mark Bradley.
Vick Supporter
July 27th, 2009
5:22 pm
Some stats:
Eli Manning = 73 Games Played – 76 QB Rating. 55.9 Complete %
Mike Vick =74 Game Played – 75.7 QB Rating . 54 Complete %
A lot of people say that Eli iis one of the best QBs in the NFL. Vick will prove that he can be one of the best in the NFL.
Braindawg
July 27th, 2009
5:25 pm
Leave the man alone! He’s lost everything, paid the price for his crimes! Since when do we make people pay twice for their crimes? There have been many NFL players who have done worse, a lot worse and didnt have as much punishment! I for one, will cheer for him. Not against my Falcons, but in every other way! Go Falcons, and Go Mick Vick!!!
peachseed
July 27th, 2009
5:25 pm
He needs to serve a suspension, not for being a convicted felon but for sitting in a meeting about 2 years ago with the Commissioner looking him in the face and lying to him after he lied to Mr. Blank. He may have paid his debt to society but he hasn’t paid for lying to his employers…
Jaymaneb in Dunwoody
July 27th, 2009
5:26 pm
Vick was never an “average” QB. He was the #1 pick in the NFL and the NFL’s biggest star because he won games and was exciting to watch. Just because he changed what you thought of the position didn’t mean he wasn’t a winner because he was.
People watched games to either root for him or root against him and it made money for the NFL and TV.
I do not condone what Mike did to the dogs. I also do not think that Mike Vick is “bad” for the NFL … no worse than 75% of the other guys in the league in regards to what he does … you just hear about it more because he was/is the leagues biggest star.
Mike has his second chance and when he starts taking down your favorite teams AGAIN I’m sure we will hear more of your cry-in-your-beers excuses of why he shouldn’t be in league. Quit complaining … He’s back just like we all (even all of you) knew he would be. I guess all of you that are PETA supporters will boycott the NFL and turn off your TVs when the games are on (just like all of those people who were going to close their businesses when Obama won office).
By the way … for all of the PETA supporters (and the majority hiding behind that)… whats the last thing you did to support PETA before before VIck went to jail?? Since he has been in jail ?? What are you going to do for PETA now that he is out ???
eastbound and down
July 27th, 2009
5:26 pm
All this outrage over killing dogs..the National Felon League has players on the field that have killed people, ran them down in the cars, or whatever..amazing. from what i understand dog is pretty tasty..
Vick ? no,never
July 27th, 2009
5:27 pm
The commissioner and the NFL have lost all credibility. Vick should have been banned for life. When will these players grow up. The sport media and all the on air, print and web jock sniffers
need to get back to reality.
TW
July 27th, 2009
5:27 pm
CAN ANYONE THATS AGAINST MICHEAL VICK TELL ME THE NAME OF THE PERSON THAT WAS CAUGHT WITH SEVARAL DOGS AT HIS HOUSE THAT WERE IN VARY BAD CONDITION SOME WERE DEAD MANY OF THEM WERE AMOST STARV TO DEATH , SOME WITH BAD CUTS AND BRUSE NAME? NO YOU CAN’T, WHY NOT SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT PERSON OR IS IT OK FOR COMMON PEOPLE TO DO WHAT THEY DO.GO AFTER THAT PERSON MAKE PETA INFORM THE JUDGE WHAT HE SHOULD DO TO THAT PERSON, TAKE OUT AD AGAINST THAT PERSON IF YOU DID IT FOR VICK THAN DO IT FOR THAT PERSON.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 27th, 2009
5:27 pm
On another note, it appears Plaxico Burress might get over a year of jail time… for shooting HIMSELF. As much as I have objected to Vick’s sentence, two years for organizing a dogfighting ring will look positively light compared to that. Burress has a lot more to complain about than Vick.
CasualNFLWatcher
July 27th, 2009
5:28 pm
Animal abuse is unforgivable. He shouldn’t have been let back into the NFL. He already paid his penalty? This is one area where no matter how much time and money they take, it’s never enough.
Curious George
July 27th, 2009
5:31 pm
RE: “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’ve always liked Michael Vick. Do I like what he did to get himself thrown in jail? Absolutely not. But I still believe there’s a good heart within him.” – Mark Bradley @ 4:53 pm
====
So, Mark, is this the “good heart” that KNOWINGLY infected unsuspecting women with STDs, the “good heart” that brutally tortured, raped and viciously executed loyal pets & other animals, the “good heart” for whom the FBI discovered a rape stand for animals in his bedroom, the “good heart” that flipped off the paying customers at the Georgia Dome, the “good heart” that completely disregarded the laws under which the rest of us live each day, the “good heart” that was a pathological liar to every authority figure in the NFL, the “good heart” that fathered numerous illegitimate children with multiple women or the “good heart” of the dope fiend who smuggles and uses illegal drugs with the flippant attitude with which most of us would consume diet soda?
MightyQuinn
July 27th, 2009
5:31 pm
Oh, God, this crap is never going to end, is it?
juan harris
July 27th, 2009
5:32 pm
All white people care about is stanky ass dogs. I can see if fought poodles. This man has paid for his crime and lost all of his wealth. What more do you all want. Get over it already.
R.D.Mercer
July 27th, 2009
5:32 pm
This just in…UGA is missing. Film at 11.
shilohmecq
July 27th, 2009
5:36 pm
Goodell is showing his true colors. Or lack thereof…..
MV…may the wind be at your back in returning to your league. Go about the business of making it just that upon your return. And when you play the falcons you beat them like they stole $100million dollars and smeared your name.! If PETA disagrees let them wave thier multicolored flags and whine because we still LOVE YOU and will forever support you.