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
Dawg Tired
July 27th, 2009
7:45 pm
Mark – You make some good points. However, I think Vick MIGHT be a high risk. The point is neither you, I, nor Goodell know. Maybe he’s truly learned his lesson, maybe he has not. The weakest part of the commissioner’s conditional reinstatement is that we still may not know by the end of September. I’m reasonably sure he can keep his act together until then. Personally, I would reinstate him with one condition, to wit: keep your nose clean or you’re gone for good.
NikkiFree
July 27th, 2009
7:50 pm
I don’t get it either, Mark. It IS just piling on.
Nielsen never lies
July 27th, 2009
7:55 pm
You all allow your children to look up to other human beings as role models??? I would never because we all fall short and are blogged about afterwards.
SOUTHERN ATL
July 27th, 2009
7:59 pm
$$$$$$ Yes, Michael Vick is back!!!! The teams that not only had a loosing $eason but also empty $eats better not stand idle long…He will fill EVERY $eat and create a waiting list that is two year$ out!!! He will be okay and so will your team!!! $$$$$
Donald Bernk
July 27th, 2009
8:03 pm
Enough is enough. Can anyone argue that Mike Vick hasn’t paid the price. Stop the headline grabbing and let him play. Make it a one game suspension if you are worried that he’ll ruin the NFL’s opening week.
Vick was a jerk and a criminal and I’m glad he’s gone from the ATL. But he’s done the time. Now you ought to be fair to the man
Cedrick
July 27th, 2009
8:04 pm
I believe also that Goodell missed his mark with this ruling. How can you punish a person who has already been suspended and inturn kick him some more by not allowing the guy to play until after a week 6 review? What happened to the days when you got into trouble served your time and try to reitergrate back into society. How can you do that without a job? This crazy idea of the commish will severly hurt vicks chances to get onto another football squad. I guess double jerpardy does not apply to the commisioner, huh? Well whatever team Vick gets on, I am going right out and buy that jersey. Keep your head up Vick!!!!!
Doggoneit
July 27th, 2009
8:07 pm
Vick will NEED six games to adjust himself to the speed of the game and to learn a new offense. good move.
Tobey
July 27th, 2009
8:07 pm
Who cares? He was a lousy QB. He should have been a RB because he doesn’t have the skills to be a competent QB. Any team considering signing him would be foolish to look at him as QB.
Frank
July 27th, 2009
8:07 pm
O.J. gets “off”…MV gets 2 yrs for stupidity…there are people convicted of manslaughter that get less time…M Jackson slept w/little boys, paid off would be plaintiffs…didn’t even get prosecuted; let MV alone..let him make his money to pay off his debts…their are worse crimes…my gosh…get over yourselves…”ye that are without sin, cast the first stone”…!!!
Gordon
July 27th, 2009
8:14 pm
Cedrick, as a reminder, working for any company, ANY company is a privilidge and not a right. He still has the right to go out and make money. I suppose that education that VT was paying for should have been taken advantage of. If he had been an accidental offender (as in not knowing the laws), I could totally see him being reinstated right now. But Vick did personally kill animals and knew that dogfighting was illegal (remember the kill houses painted black). That means he was actively and willfully engaging in horrible acts towards animals. That warrants the NFL holding him out for a period of time, beyond his jail time. He should be thanking his lucky stars that he’s been back. If I had served time and had a felony record, I wouldn’t be allowed to return to my company. The NFL gets to decide who deserves to work for them. Key word: Deserves.
KrisG
July 27th, 2009
8:15 pm
Vick could not be a WR, RB, or KR. He did, however, have a 38-28-1 record as a QB. As for the idiot who claims Vick hasn’t been “held accountable”… Grow up. You’re the kind of man who gets your rocks off by punishing someone who has done wrong. Vick has paid his debt to society, that includes you. No, he should not have to make a sign up list for people like you to come over and kick him for an hour so you all don’t feel cheated out of payback.
Summer
July 27th, 2009
8:15 pm
I know if God forgave him…why can’t you.The man serve his time,and did more stuff behind that…Just let it go and move on with ya’ll live,I can tell he is sorry,he had made his mistake in the past just like all of us. I am not really in to sport,but i heard it was a football player that was DUI end up killing someone and the player get little time in jail.wtf…please explain this to me.
OMG!!!
July 27th, 2009
8:16 pm
I say put in in a dog ring with a mean dog if he wins so be it if he loses put him to sleep like he did the dogs.
frank
July 27th, 2009
8:17 pm
I heard Vick cant even read!!!
KrisG
July 27th, 2009
8:19 pm
Gordon… deserves is not at all the right word. The word is “capable”, and the talent is rare. If you were a difference maker and your skill set was rare, your company would bring you back eventually. I have seen it happen in businees.
SOUTHERN ATL
July 27th, 2009
8:24 pm
I would love to see Vick change his number like Kobe Bryant did…..Since he lost all of his endorsement$, maybe he can work a deal with Stephon Marbury…After all, Mr. Marbury has a nice line of sporting gear at very rea$onable price$!!!
KrisG
July 27th, 2009
8:25 pm
Frank, what you don’t get is that Mark knows Vick and knows much more about him than you do. He also knows that dogfighting isn’t a character flaw… in the sense that the average man is not going to get up and find he’s tempted to fight dogs. Dogfighting is a subculture some people get exposed to. It becomes as much an issue of upbringing as it is of character.
Michael
July 27th, 2009
8:25 pm
Vick is clearly sick, but paid his debt to society. He deserves the right to play…Now
frank
July 27th, 2009
8:26 pm
It doesnt matter now because we have a nice new white face of the franchise. He is smart, can read a defense, call an audible, and actually has some touch on the ball. All the things convick for sure wasnt
Clos21
July 27th, 2009
8:27 pm
MV7 Will return and shine, once again we as Falcons Fans will suffer what we always let get away! Should I Reminded ya’ll about Deion, and Farve.
So what is Matt Ryan, the savior, or the great white hope?
frank
July 27th, 2009
8:28 pm
@Krisg get a life you loser people like u make me sick. why dont you take a walk and get off this blog your lowering the IQ of the conversation you imbesol!
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2009
8:28 pm
Obviously there was a side of Michael Vick I never saw. But I saw several other sides over the years — the competitor, the franchise focal point, the guy who dealt graciously with fans — and I never thought he was anything but a decent person.
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2009
8:30 pm
But let me also say this: Michael Vick versus Matt Ryan isn’t a zero-sum game. In fact, it isn’t a game at all. They’re going to play for different teams, and I doubt seriously they’ll ever be on a field at the same time. (Neither plays defense, last I checked.)
It’s entirely possible, I would think, to wish both well.
micheal vick fan
July 27th, 2009
8:35 pm
to all the vick haters,i truly believe you guys need to get a life find something to do with your time, you haters lets take the black athletes from the world of football what you have nothing a game nobody want to watch you guys need to worry about your own business and leave number seven alone because you know what ever team he go to you better believe millions will support him, vick is the most exciting player to watch, what other football player can u can that was more exciting then vick, I bet most you cant name one. let`s pray he become a better person
Clos21
July 27th, 2009
8:35 pm
Really What have Ryan accomplished. He won a rookie award that should have went to Flaco. He havent won a play- off game. Vick did in his first year as a starter, Vick QB rating was higher in his first year than Ryan. So what are we getting. Many people said that D.J. threw a better ball in the camp last year. But when your rookie getting paid the way he did. He was given not earn the job.
Kaz
July 27th, 2009
8:38 pm
I think Michael Vick will have a good (not great) career in the league and he will be forgiven once he is a part of a winning team. He may be a “Slash” type for the rest of his career. It will be tough at first to deal with animal rights groups and/or fans who have always lived their lives through the entertainers they watch (kinda sad if you really think about it). And the same fans that hate him will be drowned out by the new and old Vick fans and the NFL marketing machine that will embrace him for bringing wins and revenue. Business and blind loyality combined is hard to stop. ONLY IN AMERICA!
John Oare
July 27th, 2009
8:43 pm
Let him play…I dont think I have ever seen a good story about a pit bull 99% of them are pit bulls attack child for no reason…child marred, scarred and in critical condition. Mike Vick was wrong however this entire breed should be exterminated….period. Let him play he has paid his debt to society…
John Oare
July 27th, 2009
8:46 pm
As far as the blog up top Falcons will pay again for getting rid of Vick the Falcons were not in the wrong that is like all the idiots that say Bush caused 9/11 get a clue Vick blew it in Atlanta….however he still deserves to play however not for the Falcons….
Dr. R
July 27th, 2009
8:47 pm
Why is he still big news in Atlanta? The Falcons released him. They have another QB now. Vick didn’t go to school here, isn’t from here, and no longer plays here. So why should I give a big flying rip where he winds up, or if he plays at all? Because he has a house in Sugarloaf? Why is the AJC (and ESPN) still obsessed with his story? Could you spend a little more time discussing players who are on a team and scheduled to play instead of the soap operas (Vick, Favre, etc.)? I’m tired of it. There are tons of players you could talk about who actually will be on the field when the season starts. How about focusing on them for a change.
Vick Supporter
July 27th, 2009
8:50 pm
Damn,,,,I just picked up a woman on here, Miss Vick Supporter,lol. J/k
What ya’ll gonna say now,lol
The Great Mike Vick Has Returned
KarmaKool
July 27th, 2009
8:51 pm
As someone stated above, he will screw up again. Offenders are more often repeat offenders, and people in this money level thinks that they are god anyway……Remember how some of the baseball stars kept breaking the law….Strawberry just to name one.
I was a cop and saw the repeat offenders for 15 years…..
I hope everyone stays away from the games he plays in…..I know that my friends and I certainly will…..I will join PETA now….
Vick Supporter
July 27th, 2009
8:52 pm
Vick still owns this town,lol. You fans here can’t even hype up your own QB.
KarmaKool
July 27th, 2009
8:54 pm
To Retired on the Lake: I agree 1000% with you…..and I can’t wait….
Clos21
July 27th, 2009
8:58 pm
I agree, when someone is the talk of the town, and blogs, usually means they was important. I am a Falcons Fan from the bottom to the top. Even have the tattoo to oprove it! and it is my only tattoo! But Vick has been the only thing that we could every talk about on a nationwide level daily even before the dogfight conspiracy! Vick believe me is not and was not the only player doing it. He just didn’t turn on them unlike his low life family..
John Oare
July 27th, 2009
9:00 pm
I saw Mike Vick in person at least 25 times probably the most exciting football player behind Hershcel Walker than I have ever seen…however Matt Ryan is more devoted and appears to care more about winning than Mike Vick ever did….Matt Ryan will bring a Super Bowl to Atlanta within the next five years and I guarantee it…..I would take a less talented player with more heart any day of the week than a gifted athlete with no heart any day of the week…
Dr. R
July 27th, 2009
9:00 pm
Well, to answer my own questions, it’s not about ballgames or winning any more but celebrity drama. Earlier today, AJC had a headline on Terrell Owens weighing in on Vick. Who cares what that washed-up loudmouth thinks about anything? Apparently the Bills now are on the radar because they have that diva. It’s TO this, and Romo says this about TO, then Romo dumps his hot model girlfriend, and Brady marries his, and Favre might want to play, and OchoCinco might show up for camp, yadda, yadda. It’s like a teen-age girl’s diary. I like men’s sports, played hard by real men, played to win, not just to show off for the cameras. I don’t care about the drama queens preening for attention or the endless celebrity worship that the TV networks and others seem obsessed with. Vick, to me, is totally irrelevant until he lands a job and actually has a football in his hand in a real game that counts. Until then, he is a non-story.
Ruby
July 27th, 2009
9:02 pm
Enter your comments here
Clos21
July 27th, 2009
9:03 pm
What a joke that we think more about dogs life than people! I had my 7 jersey on at the zoo. Some man walk up yo me and said you should wear that jersey. I said man I wish some one would mes with me about my shirt. VICK IS THE FALCONS LOGO! JUST LIKE DEION WAS WHILE PLAYING ON ANOTHER TEAM.
Mike Vick
July 27th, 2009
9:06 pm
** A-T-T-E-N-T-I-O-N**
I have lost more money than you illiterate, backwards hillbillies could ever dream about and I will earn even more.
You can be a hater all of your life, but that won’t change 2 facts:
1. I will always be rich
2. You will always be broke & jealous
DEAL WITH IT
micheal vick fan
July 27th, 2009
9:06 pm
a white hockey player can kill his friend in a dui accident, still got a chance to play hockey.micheal vick was dog fighting . what can i say white folks think this is there world
BILLY
July 27th, 2009
9:07 pm
Let him play.they let Ray Lewis play,Pacman,Matt Jones,and they will not even consider Ben’s rape allegation.So why not let him play-all those white investors need their money back.So is the mental guy in Michigan with 150 dogs in his freezer getting a better deal than MV???
Clos21
July 27th, 2009
9:08 pm
dO NOT QUESTION vICK HEART, DUDE I SEEN THIS MAN TIRED GETTING KNOCKED DOWN TIME AFTER TIME AND SOME HOW HAD ENOUGH TO PULL IT OFF TO WIN THE GAME! IF RYAN WIN A SUPERBOWL IT WILL BE BECAUSE OF THE RUNNING GAME AND ARTHUR BUILD A TEAM AROUND HIM UNLIKE THE DID FOR VICK! MR DO EVERYTHIMG,
Dr. R
July 27th, 2009
9:10 pm
Vick doesn’t own squat. Considering how much he’s in debt and how much money he gave up for his idiotic behavior, he might not own the clothes he wears. I enjoyed watching him when he played for the Falcons. He’s gone now and they have another guy. Time to move on. Once you stop playing for the club, you become irrelevant. It’s about the game, not the personalities. Unless you prefer the side drama to the real ballgames, in which case you’re not a real sports fan, and quite possibly, a woman. And for those of you who blog in all caps and can’t conjugate verbs, possibly on meth.
KrisG
July 27th, 2009
9:14 pm
Frank… glad I could help. I see more from your other posts that you are a troll, not up to real conversation. It was my mistake.
Clos21
July 27th, 2009
9:15 pm
DR R. This is no damn english class! How about ya’ll tired behind people stop hating on the man. He got that swagger whether you like it or not. You can saying those fairwell wishes but we as Falcons Fans will miss MV7 and I am sure he will remind you and all of you great white hope believers! LOL!
Clos21
July 27th, 2009
9:18 pm
i am out. I don’t have time to keep talking to ya’ll no football knowing behind!I been here going to the FALCONS game since 1980 anfd I
Dr. R
July 27th, 2009
9:24 pm
Frankly, if the Falcons win a Super Bowl, I don’t care if they do it with the single wing and no quarterback. It’s about winning. W-i-n-n-i-n-g. Quit obsessing with the people in the uniforms and focus on the only thing that matters: The scoreboard.
fradzz
July 27th, 2009
9:26 pm
Absolutly shameful. He should be banned for life, no question. If he was a white player, there’d be no question, he’d never play in the NFL again.
KRBTheAuthor
July 27th, 2009
9:30 pm
There are so many haters, bigots, bitter, angry people on this blog, its actually quite amusing. Again, for the record PETA is a bunch of lying hypocrites with hidden agendas and a monumental waste of organizational space. Further more, everyone still on that he should never be forgiven kick need to remember, THEY ARE DOGS, ANIMALS. I don’t care how many cute little outfits you buy, How many pictures you take, How many kisses to the mouth, How many this is my substitute for a kid, you affiliate them with, they are still DOGS.
Honestly, there are some PEOPLE who shouldn’t be walking the earth, but that’s not my call. Mike Vick has done his time, according to the same LAW these firebreathing, hide behind a keyboard, cowards went out of their way (ancestrally until today) to ensure punish the supposed guilty. He is now out and able to resume his life. Problem is there are still far too many who want the life of any minority to be lived out in servitude to those “far superior” to them. Well, get over it. There will be a team, who will understand the BUSINESS of football and not worry about the azzkissing politics of it and sign Mr. Vick.
For those that don’t like it..don’t watch it, return your tickets, choose a new sport, but above all else SHUT THE HELL UP and keep it moving, because contrary to what you think, life does go on and the world does continue to turn without you. I wish Mr. Vick nothing but the best, and oh by the way for all of you wishing his injury, death, unemployment, jail time again…keep in mind what you send out and is what you get back…like they say KARMA IS A BEEYOTCH….
Dr. R
July 27th, 2009
9:36 pm
He broke the law, he went to jail. He said he was sorry, he did his time. Because of his profession, he lost his job and his contract and now has to earn his way back. White, black, polka-dotted, whatever, that’s what happened. Nothing else to see here … move it along.