T.O. and I agree: Vick shouldn’t be re-suspended
Michael Vick was suspended by the NFL on Aug. 24, 2007 and remains suspended to this day. That’s 23 months (plus three days) of a suspension that ran almost concurrent to a 20-month jail sentence (reduced from 23 months for good behavior). That is, in a word, enough.
So far as we know, Michael Vick has broken no law since he reported to Leavenworth. So far as we know, he hasn’t further violated the NFL’s code of conduct. Currently speculation holds that commissioner Roger Goodell wants to clear Vick to sign with a team and participate in training camp — but then suspend him for the first four games of the regular season. I’m not a lawyer (though I was accepted to law school 32 years ago), but that seems, to use a legalistic term …
Stupid.
It’s essentially saying, “We know you’ve paid your debt to society, but we’re afraid certain parts of society [read: PETA] will look ill upon us if we let you play on Opening Day. So we’ll tack on another month. Doesn’t matter if you’re as pure as Pat Boone from here on out. We’re docking you four games just to cover our own, er, assets.”
This isn’t to suggest Vick should be given carte blanche the rest of his NFL days. He has heaped dishonor on the league, and if he messes up again he should be treated as a repeat offender. But the league cannot assume such a mess-up will be forthcoming, nor should it rescind, then extend, his suspension just for cosmetic purposes.
Loading ...If Goodell wants to bar him from training camp and not clear him to play until, say, Sept. 15, that course would at least have continuity working for it. But to say, “You can play in the exhibitions but not in the first four games that count” … well, that’s not a penalty based on logic. That’s whim. That’s caprice. That’s folly.
Michael Vick did some bad things, yes. He also admitted his crimes and served his sentence. For the one and only time in my life, I agree with Terrell Owens. The overstated receiver told reporters at Bills camp Vick deserves immediate reinstatement.
Being Terrell Owens, he also overplayed his hand, telling George Smith of ESPN “the commissioner needs to go sit in jail for 23 months.” (At last check, Goodell has pleaded guilty to nothing except being NFL commish.) And in that conversation with reporters, Owens loosed an unfortunate comparison: Suspending Vick further, he said, was “almost like kicking a dead horse in the ground.”
Note to T.O.: Regarding Michael Vick, hold all animal analogies … well, forever.
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162 comments Add your comment
manoman
July 27th, 2009
8:06 pm
I want to see Michael Vick do well and be successful. Though I think his pusnishment was extreme, compared to some of his contemporaries. Ok, the truth… the man is crazy handsome and talented, so he fck’d up a little… who hasn’t. It’s just that the news cameras show up in his case. We’ve all done things in our youth that we regret… and we thank God that the news cameras and paparazzi weren’t on our ass when we did those things.
Mike… go do your thing, be smart, don’t hang with fools, stay beautiful and kick ass.
manoman
July 27th, 2009
8:19 pm
Instead of trying to beat this man down, you and I need to be concerned with how the SEC could continually turn a blind eye to the Bernie Madoff’s of the world, while they spin their lying, cheating webs and fck people out of every cent they’ve worked hard for. How could the SEC let this happen for so long ? … that’s a real problem… get a bigger problem than Michael Vick. Michael, take all that built up and wound up angst and go win super bowl after super bowl baby boo… I see success in the man’s eyes and body language.
VICKSAPRICK
July 27th, 2009
11:10 pm
Novacane…get a dictionary
Back 2 Reality …he may have been re-instated but no team has signed him, now have they bitch?
VICKSAPRICK
July 27th, 2009
11:17 pm
Back 2 reality…it must be hard to have to live vicariously through NFL convicts who, incidentally, don’t give a damn about you and who you will likely never meet. It says a lot about a person when they hero-worship a pot smoking, dog fighting, dog killing, felon. Why my, oh my…your idol Mr. Vick sounds a lot like the “inbred trailer trash” you so apparently loathe, now doesn’t he?
Novacane
July 28th, 2009
10:38 am
VICKSAPRICK-Sorry boy! You are wrong again! My parents are my heroes, and I have no problem with meeting what you call superstars. I call those people normal people not superstars!!!! Also who really need a dictionary did you read what you posted before you posted?? End of this back and forth with you in a couple of weeks in ESPN the magazine lets see who are really hanging out with what you call superstars, I call normal people!!! If only you knew, but you don’t and you will never know!! You may have seen me on the ESPY’s. Its all good Homie!!!!
Novacane
July 28th, 2009
10:42 am
VICKSAPRICK -Sorry boy! You are wrong again! My parents are my heroes, and I have no problem with meeting what you call superstars. I call those people normal people not superstars!!!! Also who really need a dictionary did you read what you posted before you posted?? End of this back and forth with you in a couple of weeks in ESPN the magazine lets see who are really hanging out with what you call superstars, I call normal people!!! If only you knew, but you don’t and you will never know!! You may have seen me on the ESPY’s. Its all good Homie!!!!
JuliusCesaer
July 28th, 2009
11:41 am
VICK WILL PROBABLY FIGHT CATS THIS TIME. Since he is blocked from dog fighting, maybe Vick will start an underground CAT FIGHTING RING. Who knows. All I know is that there are some guys who NEVER GET IT. These guys will get in trouble no matter what. Some people when you open their heads and see whats in their brains, theres a ton of bricks up there. Theres about ten of these guys who will always get into trouble as long as they live. They are just wired that way. Plexico Burress; T-O; Jayson Williams; Steve McNair; Tank Johnson; Pacman Jones, Michael Vick; Dante Stallworth, Michael Irvin and Randy Moss. These gentlemen will ALWAYS get into trouble because they are wired for trouble. The circuitry in their brain will always lead them to trouble no matter how much they clean it up. It will only be temorary. They will eventually get into trouble again. The only guy on this list who wont get into trouble again is the late Steve McNair. His last mistake cost him his life. But the rest of them will see trouble as long as they live. Again, the circuitry in their brains are wired for trouble. Period.
PopeyeJones
July 28th, 2009
1:11 pm
Catfighters of America, there is a new sheriff in Town. MV7, Period. Watch out, Vick may snuff you out of the alley, or out of a catfight and bring you into his basement to fight with the other stray cats of the neighborhood. The word is out. Vick is free and has been turned loose on society. If Vick is going to fight cats this time as Julius Cesaer has alluded to, then dont stray too far at night. Vick will be watching you and recruiting you to fight in his incredible catfights!
YueleBrenner
July 28th, 2009
3:46 pm
Vick doesnt need to play again in the NFL. He had his chance and blew it. I dont think the commissioner is wrong by making Vick earn his way back into the league after Vick lied repeadedly about dogfighting. Vick has never shown remorse for the evil crimes he committed and Vick will NEVER show any remorse except that he was sorry that he was caught. Vick believes he can come and go as he pleases; come in and out of the league at will. No Mr. Vick you must sit down and wait your turn to get back into the league. If no one signs you, then work on a construction crew, or flip hambergers at waffle house; you dont have a right to work in the NFL. Its a priviledge and you have shown repeadely that you don’t deserve the privilege. Play in the USFL or the Arena Football League. Those leagues arent policed so you can fight all the dogs you want and still keep your jobs in those leagues.
wordy
July 28th, 2009
3:53 pm
novacan you made no point. I explained how the rules were made and you said “oh yeah”. That’s a good arguement. Goddell is acting within the rules agreed to by the Owners and the Union, which are the NFL rules, constitution, bylaws..ect. There is no rule or regulation outside of NFL rules that would require the NFL to give him a “job interview”.
Plus, despite your small understnading of anything, no I am not a “hater” or a racist (it’s easy to explain things that confuse you by saying someone is a racist right?). I think he should play. I just don’t complain about fictional rights.
Novacane
July 28th, 2009
6:19 pm
wordy- What are you talking about???? I think that you like to talk to me,so you can get some good points about the NFL. When did I ever agree with anything you and these other people said that makes NO SENSE!!! ” Not All Just Some” I have myself Experienced the NFL first hand and you guys make no sense with the things you say!!! So give yourselves a break, and Michael a break!! If our creator were as critical with us, where would you be??????? There are a lot that goes on with players that you will never hear or know about, because of who those certain players are!! They gave him the power to rule, but not abuse and I can promise when it Comes time to make changes the power that he has will be taken away and given to an arbitrator. Also about being a raciest only you can answer that one!!! That was a comment for your buddies, but if the shoe fit wear it Lil Buddy!!! Enough Said
Back 2 Reality
July 28th, 2009
10:01 pm
Vicksaprick, no one is living their lives through another man, what intelligent people recognize & understand is that Vick has been treated like public enemy #1 & idiots like you seen to pop up everytime the guy’s name is mentioned.
So get your ignorant @$$ back to the trailer park or back on the fry machine at Mickey D’s, because you obviously cannot understand that Vick is a commodity that is in short supply & the owner who has balls to get him wiil make money hand over fist.