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
George
July 27th, 2009
6:36 am
Mark Bradley, Attorney at Law. That does have a certain ring to it, I must admit. And I also have to admit that you and T.O. are correct on Vick – from a purely legal perspective. But this is not one of those “let bygones be bygones” situations. I suspect that absent further sanctioned punishment, Vick will nonetheless suffer the wrath of fans and the media for years to come. Finally, since everyone seems to be in a forgiving mood, put the great Pete Rose in the baseball Hall of Fame.
Mitch
July 27th, 2009
6:49 am
I agree. I think Vick needs to be allowed to resume as normal a life and NFL effort as possible. The man did the time for the crime AND has paid a huge penalty in the court of PC not to mention financial ruin. If Jamal Lewis and Ray Lewis can play in the NFL so can Vick. From what I can tell Vick did not traffic drugs or get involved in anything in which human beings were killed. He fought dogs and gambled on it. Bad stuff, but not stuff that deserves a further suspension past his already served suspension and jail time. It’s over, leave the man alone and let him rebuild his life.
dawes
July 27th, 2009
7:11 am
i think he should be ban for life
T.O.
July 27th, 2009
7:13 am
First!
MightyQuinn
July 27th, 2009
7:16 am
Hmmmm. Wasn’t the initial suspension by the NFL “indefinite”? So wouldn’t this, in a sense, be the defining of the NFL sentence, unrelated to his jail term (which was the Fed’s and not the NFL’s) and not “piling on” to use a football metaphor? That said, if I’m the commisioner, I agree that its time to let it go, but keep Mr. Vick on a very short, uh, leash. (sorry, couldn’t resist!)
oldbird
July 27th, 2009
7:38 am
Regardless of what you may think about Vick the man, he’s served his time and should be allowed to compete for an NFL job. While I like what Goodell is doing to police the game, I think he’s starting to look small and petty for not letting this situation go. The NFL market will determine Vick’s worth and ability to find employment.
A think a large part of Vick’s problem stems from the fact that he’s not a great communicator. I suspect that’s why he never set the world afire with endorsement deals. If he can keep his stuff together and secure a back up role (Jacksonville?), then maybe we’ll get to see a few more years of the athleticism that set him apart from all others.
Come on Roger…lighten up…you’ve gotten your pound of flesh..no more suspension!
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 27th, 2009
7:50 am
I can’t believe I agree with you Mark and TO. I’m scared that a cold front is moving in down south. Anyway, Vick has paid his debt and if he screws up again, he will pay again. Roger needs to not worry about PETA at this point. This is the only national issue they can hang their hats on so they are clinging to it but this case has lost all its steam with the rest of the public and a few picketters isn’t going to keep fans or sponsors away. If a protest had that much impact, then the Braves would be called the Fire or something lame by now.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 27th, 2009
7:53 am
When is the NRA going to protest on behalf of Plaxico Burress
T-Town Dawg
July 27th, 2009
7:57 am
I agree that it is time to let Vick play again, but really, who gives a rats a$$ what TO thinks? Does he really think the commish values his opinion? He has proven time and time again what an idiot he is. His opinion won’t weigh into Goodells decision on Vick.
MiltonDawg
July 27th, 2009
7:59 am
TO has his own issues to deal with…please shut up moron. I agree to give Vick another shot..but Goodell makes the decision, not some overhyped athelte. I also think PETA should keep its mouth shut as well.
NCFalconFan
July 27th, 2009
8:05 am
I am glad someone is questioning Roger Goodell. Why is everyone, players, coaches and even the media, so afraid to question him? Kudos to T.O.
Larry
July 27th, 2009
8:17 am
Had Vick been a lawyer or a stock broker, he would never again be practicing his chosen profession. He is damn lucky to be where he is. He is a psychopath whose “second chance” should consist of his being freed from restraints and find a new profession in which to ply his twisted way. His mere presence dirties an already dirty league.
Rob
July 27th, 2009
8:20 am
Put factually, he’s a poor communicator. And that will hurt him as he tries to rehabilitate his image. That said, he’s a football player, so let him play. If he messes up again, don’t let him.
old dog
July 27th, 2009
8:20 am
Terrell Owens needs to take his ear rings and use them to pin his lips together. He would still probably talk out his A–
Paddy
July 27th, 2009
8:21 am
The Commish gets to do what he wants when he wants. He has all the facts and will make a fair decision on MV. The NFLPA has done what it should do. Show support but from behind the line of battle. Smart move on their part, stay in reserve. What TO and other players say means nothing. This is not the NBA where the players run the league. You saw what happened here in ATL when players spoke out/showed out before they had all the facts, they are no longer here. When the Commish makes his move I will support his decision and will watch MV play on tv in some other uniform in some other town. The man with all the gold gets to make the rules and Goodell has all the gold.
KC
July 27th, 2009
8:24 am
If Vick was a high-ranking church official having sex with little boys, he never would have gotten to work again…. OOPS
If Vick was a President who committed war crimes, he never would have …? OOPS
If Vick admitted to sex outside his marriage, … OOPS
A crime or moral issue doesn’t always block one from returning to their previous profession. Many of capitalism types should want him reinstated and let the owners decide if they want to deal with Vick.
Mike
July 27th, 2009
8:25 am
Always interesting what TO saids. He has the talent and the onfield history to say whatever he wants. You may not like it but TO produces and that’s why he is playing and you all are not. Goodell appears to take on the role of god when it comes to MV. What else do you want the man to do, take 100 lashes like back in slavery time. Will that make you clowns happy? Whats sad is people in this country care more about some nasty dog than soldiers coming home from Iraq. Personnally I dont want an animal that licks his private parts and then tries to lick me.
Bubba
July 27th, 2009
8:32 am
Michael fulfilled his obligations as dictated by a court of law. Last time I checked, that court’s opinion takes precedence over the opinion of Roger Goodell.
Having said that, Goodell is charged with a responsibility broader in scope than what the court adjudicated. Goodell has to further the success of the NFL, while the courts don’t (rightfully) care. Yes, Michael did his time and fulfilled his obligations to the court. Yes, he has the opportunity to seek gainful employment as other law-abiding citizens do.
The right to explore opportunities, however, is not the same as the right to have every opportunity available to him. A lawyer who commits fraud, for example, and serves time does have the right to resume his legal career. He has the right to work, just not as a lawyer.
The question Goodell has to ask, then, is: Will letting Michael Vick play in the NFL negatively impact its earnings? Michael Vick doesn’t have to answer that question; Roger Goodell does. Goodell has to worry more about the NFL than he does about Michael Vick. It’s in his contract. Barrister Bradley doesn’t have to worry about that.
So, Mark, let’s see an opinion about what Goodell’s risks/rewards are when viewed from that perspective.
FalconForLife
July 27th, 2009
8:33 am
There’s alot of people in the league that’s afraid to speak their minds. T.O not one of them. Vick deserves another chance with no conditional stipulation. There’s only about 5 QB jobs that’s secure. So why couldn’t he come back as a starter?
real fan
July 27th, 2009
8:33 am
What I want to know is did he ever pay the falcons back for the bonus money he owes them ? If not Goodell should be worrying about garnishing his wages . And front load it . This man owes alot more than jail time to amend his wrongs in Atlanta . He punished the falcon franchise with his cap debt. And unfortunatly we are still paying for his actions .What does big mouth T.O.think about that I wonder ?
Fed Up
July 27th, 2009
8:33 am
As NFL athletes are already overpaid, they need to realize that participating in this sport and “earning” millions of dollars is a PRIVILEGE, not a right. As with all careers that puts one in the public eye, and pays exuberant amounts of money, there is a code of ethics to follow, and he failed miserably in that area. To gamble in a few dog fights is one thing, but to finance (on a high level) an entire ring of the dog fighting industry is another… people say he didn’t do anything harmful to humans, but the dog fighting business is linked to drugs, and the mafia and we all know people are slain in the name of all of this in the end. I think he should move on with his life, by working in an animal shelter until he can earn a social security check. I’m sorry, but I have no sympathy for anyone who chooses to committ crimes when he could have had many other better things to do.. this dude tortured dogs for RECREATION he didn’t even need the money… how sick is that? Why should he go back to his “normal life” of driving bentleys, wearing enough bling to blind ray charles, and sipping on cristal all day?
Fed Up
July 27th, 2009
8:34 am
Enter your comments here
Enough
July 27th, 2009
8:34 am
Take the next buyout. For the love of God, take the next buyout.
STL Falcon
July 27th, 2009
8:38 am
I have always been a supporter of letting Vick play, but I read an article on cnnsi that to me really made a great point.
Why should Vick be allowed to play? Simply because he’s talented? There are thousands of auto-workers who are really good at thier jobs – and have done nothing wrong – who aren’t allowed to work and support their families for reasons that are 100% out of their control. Why should Vick, who lead an unrealistic life of privilege be allowed to plug back into that simply because he is good at what he does?
I realize that the above comparison is flawed, but I use it to make a point – Working is not a right. Vick isn’t entitled to play football – no one is. In fact, an exceptional minority of people ever get that opportunity – and he threw it away. Would you honestly take a roster spot from a rookie who has done nothing wrong and caressed their dream with dedication and hard work to give it to someone who had that opportunity and wasted it? What are you celebrating if you do that? What are you valuing if you do that? Redemption? – even if that redemption is at the cost of someone else’s opportunity?
Vick had his opportunity and he had more important things to do. I will be the first to say that he was a once in a generation talent, and it is a severe crime that his opportunity was wasted. That crime would be compounded though if it also took the opportunity away from someone else.
Laywer
July 27th, 2009
8:40 am
This is a Sad day, when someone loses a job for going to jail and then loses all he has for his crimes. I wish that Roger Goodell wake-up and listen, he’s an Attorney also. Michael Vick a Very high price for a simple misdeamnor,this case was about trampling one’s spirit, not for Dog fighting. Many people committ horrible craimes with much less penalties. The NFLPA is pitiful, they should be up and arms about Michael Vicks treatment. MV brought more money to the NFL than any other single player, this is why he wants his job back. If any of you get caught passing a red light or hitting you spouse, or writing a bad check do you deserve to lose your house, cars, job and unable to get another. Think before you write. MV has every Legal right to PLAY all games. He shoulf go to Europe and play and tell the NFL to kiss hiss $ss.
Laywer
July 27th, 2009
8:42 am
Enter your comments here
dawg fan
July 27th, 2009
8:45 am
Give him the same chance he gave the puppies he fed his dogs!
dawg fan
July 27th, 2009
8:46 am
Give him the same second chance he gave the puppies he fed his dogs!
MCS
July 27th, 2009
8:50 am
Mark
I agree with you and TO. Finally someone has a right to their opinion and eveyone has one, but the commis has way too much power for one person. More players need to come out and speak out on Vick behalf. NFLPA should adopt a board when making such decisions that affect another person career. Enough for one person may not be enough for another, it depends on the condition of enough. This is not about PETA either, and the commis needs to recognize, identify and inform them.
kcob95
July 27th, 2009
8:52 am
Mark,
How many times has the argument been made that football is just a game and that athletes get paid millions to play a childs game? Millions! For those hurling insults at T.O, consider this. At best, the NFLPA should be weighing in on the mere principal that the Commish can suspend a player twice for the same violation in succession without due process or violation of a leauge rule or policy. If the commish was really smart, he should have held off of the Mike Vick suspension in 2007 until now. Now he risks the wrath of the NFLPA for piling on. People fail to consider that the commish had suspended Vick for 23 months. The rules don’t state that your time begins when you get out or that the clock stops and restarts. This is why you should have more checks and balances in the process and I’m sure that the NFLPA will seek this in the next bargaining agreement.
Redemption
July 27th, 2009
8:54 am
I agree with you Mark Bradley. I believe he has served his time and should get a second chance.
A Realist
July 27th, 2009
8:58 am
It really doesn’t matter what you, T.O, or anyone else things at this point in time because there hasn’t been an NFL Team willing to take on the media circus that would surround having Vick on their team. Moot point!!!!
kcob95
July 27th, 2009
8:59 am
For those of you stating that Goodell is under no obligation and that football is a privilege-your wrong. Football is a business, with a union. Goodell has a responsibility to the NFLPA and the rights afforded under the bargaining agreement. Vick is a member of that union and has certain rights that must be abided by the commish. I’m no union member, but I recognize how bargaining agreements work. Despite the illusion that Goodell is all powerful, he must also answer to the player’s union regarding these types of matters or he will find himself and the league in court with a violation of the Labor work rules and NLRB due process charge.
What would Jesus do?
July 27th, 2009
9:00 am
Jesus said “He who is without sin cast the first stone”
Jesus also FED THE HUNGRY and HEALED THE SICK ( healthcare for all )
VICKS A RULER
July 27th, 2009
9:01 am
“Give him the same second chance he gave the puppies he fed his dogs!”
..errrrr.. no wait… THATS STUPID!
Give him the same second chance due any HUMAN BEING!
EVOLONE
July 27th, 2009
9:03 am
I think the people at PETA need a psychological evaluation. Oh yeah PETA there is an article in the AJC today about some fool $#%^&*% a dog, and the dog is now dead…………get on it PETA.
Pago Flyer
July 27th, 2009
9:03 am
Do you really think a black player would EVER say anything against a brother!?
spellcheck
July 27th, 2009
9:04 am
Hey Sid,
It’s spelled “role” model, NOT “roll” model. “Roll” is what you have with dinner or what I am sure is around your lard@ss waist. he he he
Wendy
July 27th, 2009
9:05 am
I am so fed up with how MV is being treated. His has paid for the crime. Let it go!! Him playing football has nothing to do with the dog fighting. He shouln’t have to suffer for his football carrer.
For those of you that are hating you will be the first to tune or tailgate to see him play. So don’t act like he’s not an awesome football player.
MV fan til I die.
jconservative
July 27th, 2009
9:05 am
The facts of the case are: Vick is suspended until Goodell lifts the suspension. The question before the court is: should the Commissioner lift the suspension?
Vick was not suspended for breaking the law; he was suspended for bringing “disgrace” to the NFL. And, as part of that offense, he looked both the Falcon owner & the NFL Comissioner in the eye and told them bald faced lies.
Lifting the suspension 4 games into the season really sounds like a very generous resolution. Remember, that for most the 23/24 month suspension Vick was in prison & the suspension was pointless. The jail time was for breaking Federal law. Now he has to be punished by the NFL for his actions that were detrimental to the league.
Edd
July 27th, 2009
9:09 am
He’s done his time. I hope we don’t bow down to PETA. Let him play, he is fun to watch and will put people in the stands, it’s proven !
GOD
July 27th, 2009
9:10 am
For your soul’s sake, you had better pray I am more forgiving than you.
WBK
July 27th, 2009
9:10 am
This whole controversy is based on the screaming of special interests. If peta and the other wacho organizations would be forgiving as they want the world to be as loving as they, this whole thing would be “no news”.
Vick broke the law and paid for his crime. He is not a child molester asking to own a daycare center nor is he a bank robber applying for a finance loan officer position. However, the whining special interest is trying to stop a man from earning a living at what he has trained all his life to do. Why are people listening to these perverted minds?
Vick should play and start playing the first game.
cwb
July 27th, 2009
9:14 am
Mark, you have entirely too much time on your hands if you comment on, much less read, anything T.O. says.
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2009
9:14 am
I think you’ll be surprised how much interest there is in Vick among NFL teams. I think maybe a half-dozen teams would be willing to hire him once Goodell says, “Go ahead.”
Mister Earl
July 27th, 2009
9:16 am
Larry – are you talking about the stockbrokers who stole money on Wall Street?
Vick has done two years. What is the point of further punishment other than bitterness, resentment and jealousy?
Benjamin
July 27th, 2009
9:17 am
I always giggle when I see someone type “First!” about five comments down the line, but that’s because I’m immature like that.
Vick shouldn’t be suspended and has paid his debt to society, but Goodell does have a lot of things to consider. I’m not sure he could get away with framing a non-suspension to the groups you mentioned and still come out looking good in the eyes of a lot of special interest groups. Needless to say, I don’t envy Roger’s position on this one.
midnite
July 27th, 2009
9:17 am
No team has even requested a tryout. He is too fat and out of shape. Besides he is not going to quit smoking Marijuana. Now on to the strip clubs Ookie they need you to make it “rain”. He is a parole violation waiting to happen…just wait and see.
cgm
July 27th, 2009
9:19 am
TO made the comment, “Michael Vick is a guy that really hasn’t any character issues besides what he got a prison sentence for, so why not?”
That right there shows he does not know what he is talking about.
obamaizasocialistliar
July 27th, 2009
9:20 am
kc,you left off…IF he was a sleazy,selfcentered,unconcerning,bribe taking,scew the will of the people,vote bought politician…?OOPS!!!
Benjamin
July 27th, 2009
9:20 am
And WBK, how is PETA operating with a perverted mind? I’m just curious.
You do realize that Vick organized and actively participated in an interstate dog-killing ring, don’t you? He’s not the victim here, in other words. He took a 130 million dollar contract from the Falcons and parlayed that into heinous activities over a few thousand dollars. At the very least, Mike will return eventually and has paid his debt to society in my view, but to demonize PETA for following their cause is a little silly, isn’t it?
FalconAndy
July 27th, 2009
9:22 am
If you look at the “alleged” reinstatement it actually is quite Pro-Vick. Goodell could extend his suspension through the 1st 4 games with no NFL activity. But instead he will supposedly allow him to sign with a team and go to camp and get in shape and familiar with an offense so that by game 5 he will be ready to play. If he just flat out said you can’t do anything util week 5 then by the time a team signed him and he was in shape and familiar enough to run an offense it would probably be week 8 or 9 before he got on the field. This gives Vick the opportunity to get signed and ready to play and avoids all the garbage that will take away from some teams opening day!!
LC
July 27th, 2009
9:28 am
jconservative wrote exactly what I was thinking as I was reading through all of the comments!
Susan
July 27th, 2009
9:30 am
He hasn’t been punished by the NFL, has he? Banned while he was tangled in legal problems? Heck, he didn’t have the time to play. Let NFL suspend him for 4 games….I wish it were for life and he had to work at animals shelters 20 hours a week. If he himself wasn’t always brutal, his posse was the pits. And he doesn’t have endorsement deals because he can’t speak in sentences…you know…ahhh, yeah, you know…..actually…ahhh, you know…
buckhead benny
July 27th, 2009
9:34 am
Sometimes you just have to do what is right and quit worrying what other people think period- You are never going to please everyone with this decision- However, you also can’t argue with a man’s right to earn a living- and pacman jones in my opinion who did much more and more often was given a much easier path than michael vick-
I just think this control and power thing has gotten way too much for goodell- He can’t babysit this league like this- This isn’t a league that is graduating doctor’s and lawyers into society that have taken an oath-
these are guys that go out and bash people’s heads every sunday- it is what it is- you can only hope to regulate it- which is what he has done- now its time to let vick back- if he screws up then man he will pay the price 10 fold for it and goodell knows that
frank monaco
July 27th, 2009
9:35 am
Vick has paid a large price for his actions. He wnet to jail, lost his Multi-Million dollar contact with the Falcons and will be on 3 year probations. The NFL have given a second Chance to many others who have had their off the field criminal problems. The man has a right to make a living and football is how he makes a living. Michael will have to earn the respect and cheers of the fans, but the man should be given the chance. No one is condoning what he did and he paid a very large price. There is amount of money will ever give him back the yrars he lost. The commissioner should live it up to the owners if they want to sign Michael to a contract or not.
BugKiller
July 27th, 2009
9:37 am
Hey Mark, why don’t you go ask your dog how he feels?
I say ban him for life.
Contrary to T.O.’s ridiculous rantings, Vick can make a living. He has the same ability as the rest of us to go find a job.
Let him go to the UFL.
Why, Mark, do you believe that Vick has any “right” to play in the NFL?
Last I checked, Vick was a thoroughly mediocre QB who, in his last two seasons, lost one more game than he won, was sacked at an average of about 45 a season, and has a career completion percentage of about 54%.
The NFL, and the Atlanta Falcons are doing A-OK without him.
If that senile old man in Buffalo, who gave Team-Obliterator (to borrow the term) 6.5 big ones when NO ONE wanted him, wants to sign Vick and is having T.O. say things like this to assuage Vick’s massive ego, then let Buffalo have him.
Then Buffalo will be employing a Team Killer, a Coach Killer, AND a Dog Killer.
Methinks Buffalo will totally implode this season, and I can’t wait.
NC Braves Fan
July 27th, 2009
9:37 am
The Falcons have moved on, and it’s time the commissioner did as well.
The Grinch
July 27th, 2009
9:38 am
Okay, Vick served his time and deserves another shot. I agree. BUT…
What in the WORLD is it with all you people who despise dogs? I’ve lived all over the place, and I never had any idea there could be a city in where so many “civilized” people openly hated loyal, friendly animals. If I had a nickel for every time in the last three years I’ve read people defending Vick on this site by talking about how worthless and unimportant dogs are, I’d be able to buy my own football team.
What planet are you people from? Were you all really that neglected as children that you developed no soul or sense of right and wrong?
Oops…don’t answer that. Vernon Forrest already did.
WBK
July 27th, 2009
9:46 am
Benjamin
July 27th, 2009
9:20 am
NOPE it is not! Maybe santa will bring you a golden calf to worship along with peta. You know… the terrorist organization.
David
July 27th, 2009
9:47 am
Mark,
There is no way Goodell will let Vick be playing on opening day. The NFL does not want all headlines across the country on the first week of the season to be about Vick.
Scorpia
July 27th, 2009
9:50 am
For all of those that say he was flipping off fans, get it correct, he was flipping of NEW ORLEAN’S FANS, not FALCONS fans…I was at the game and heard the taunts being thrown at him, hence, his finger being returned to them.
michaelgee
July 27th, 2009
9:51 am
Mark, you and TO forgot that there wasa charge of organizing a gambling enterprise that he also got offf light on. Pete Rose participated in gambling and got a lifetime suspension. I would think that Goodell is within his rights to do whatever, including a possible life time ban, just on the gambling charges.
Would it be best for the NFL to put a convicted gambling ring organizer and financier into the league?
Art Schlicter from Ohio got a lifetime ban for gambling involvement didn’t he? But Pete Rose and Schlicter are white, so I guess Vick gets another pass? I say another pass because he actually got off about 22 years from the maximum sentence for torturing those dead animals. Do the dead animals get reinstated, ever again?
I didn’t know your memory was as short as TO’s.
spectator
July 27th, 2009
9:52 am
Hey, “Laywer”….if you were trying to spell Lawyer, you were just a little off. And if you trying to pass yourself off as an attorney, your rambling, incoherent statement in support of Vick sort of calls that into question….or maybe you can get a Morehouse law degree without knowing how to spell or make sentences. Oh, I also have some bad news for you. Your suggestion about Vick going to “play in Europe” is probably not going to work because there is no longer a football league in Europe (or maybe you meant he should go play soccer).
itamazesme
July 27th, 2009
9:55 am
Seems people are concentrating on his lying. People LIE everyday. You don’t know what you would have done in this situation-if you feared losing your job. From articles I have read from pro atheltes – this dog fighting is bigger than vick in the professional sports field – he chose not to bring others down with him and in the end took his punishment. NO athlete or entertainer should ever be placed on a pedastal to be a “role” model – that should start at home. These people are employees they work for a living, they should not be out there for our children to look up to. As far as the drugs, those of you harping on that are kidding right? As my grandma used to say “it ain’t nothing but the caught and the uncaught!!” He might have had a secret compartment, but there have been athletes who have been tested and proven or better yet have pics of actually using them. He isn’t the only one to get caught dog fighting – just as a public figure his was brought to light. You read daily where people are caught dog fighting. When will the people who race grey hounds be jailed? When these dogs can no longer perform, they are put to death. Oh the difference must be that this is an “organized LEGAL killing”.
Let the man try and retain a job in the field he has skills in. And as far as the dirt… There are athletes who have been linked to drugs, murder, and one athlete who drove drunk and killed his team mate and they are still in their respective sports….
WBK
July 27th, 2009
9:55 am
i say give vick the same number
This is exactly what I mean! I guess you believe in late term abortions but dont kick a dog. You are the perverted minds I am talking about. Here’s your golden calf! Worship it intensely.
Robert
July 27th, 2009
9:57 am
Grinch, the Humane Society puts to death how many dogs and cats each year? Hundreds of thousands at least. Why not worry about them if you have to protest something. Peta protested Obama killing a fly. You folks are out of the mainstream but go protest at the Humane Society if you need something to do.
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2009
9:59 am
What difference does it make, legal-wise and otherwise, if Vick had a winning record over two NFL seasons or not? Does that affect the facts of the case?
Sweet Jasmine
July 27th, 2009
9:59 am
T.O. says he’s suffered enough. So what, he caused defenseless animals to suffer.
Marlena
July 27th, 2009
10:00 am
Poor, poor, poor Michael Vick. Poor dog fighting, dog killing, POT SMOKING Michael Vick???????????????????????????????????
Most convicted felons can’t EVEN GET A JOB…let alone a job that pays millions per year. Why should he get a second chance? Let him go to McDonald’s and get a job, work his way back up the way most criminals have to do. What makes him so f*#!ing special?
If all anyone has to do to get their jobs back after a criminal offense is pay their debt to society then that should be the case for EVERYONE. If a cop gets put away for some felony offense, once he/she pays his/her debt to society he/she should be put back on the police force, right? I mean, they have paid their debt to society, right?
There are pleny of talented, NON-CRIMINALS out there who are well suited to take the place of Michael Vick. It is an insult to the players who follow the rules of the NFL AND the rules of society to put Vick back on any NFL team.
Furthermore, Michael Vick is in the public arena…the public pay taxes to build and maintain football stadiums. Why should we pay for some asshole like him to play in one? Take a vote and see how many people want him back in the NFL…not very many.
Yes, he has paid his debt to society. So have all the criminals who are released from jail. Yet they are still criminals. There are certain things that criminals cannot do after they get out of jail, like own guns or teach school children. That is because of a little thing called recidivism. Just because you have paid your debt to society does not mean you have changed. I don’t want Michael Vick representing any UNITED STATES pro-football team because that represents ME and ALL OF US.
IDC
July 27th, 2009
10:02 am
Serving his time entitled Mike Vick to one thing, getting out of jail. That has happened. Nowhere does it say, in anybody’s conviction for a crime, not just Mike Vick, that everything goes back the way it was because you served your time. If you are a public figure that commits a crime that offends the sensibilities of most rational human beings, you can expect a backlash far greater than Joe Schmoe on the street. There are consequences to committing crimes other than being put in jail, and those consequences are logically going to be more extreme on people are the focus of a great deal of public attention.
itamazesme
July 27th, 2009
10:03 am
I say – your facts on the STDs are amazing. First, It wasn’t his girlfriend, and second why is his having an STD a big deal to you? – that his business. Third, if the young lady wasn’t out there like a lot of gold diggers are to try and possibly trap him into supporting her and a “hopeful” situation of a child – she would have requested that he use protection. Her fault that she didn’t care enough about herself to ask him to use a condom. She got a package – just not the one she hoped for.
Sam
July 27th, 2009
10:04 am
Vick was bankrolling an illegal gambling operation. That seems like pretty good grounds for a life time suspension to me.
Shelby Jenkins
July 27th, 2009
10:05 am
Im with PETA, People for the Eating of Tasty Animals. That said I say do the four game suspension and move on. It could have been a lot worse.
Marlena
July 27th, 2009
10:08 am
Poor, poor, pot smoking, dog fighting, dog killing, illegal gambling, convicted felon Michael Vick. He should get a second chance. Let all the idiots who think it is acceptable for someone like Vick to play for the NFL (which is representative of the United States) sit their little kiddies down on Sunday and watch the game. Heck, go down to the stadium and let your son get his autograph, for that matter. Maybe Vick can take them out for ice cream after the game. Then he will look good and quench his munchies.
FALCONS SORRY
July 27th, 2009
10:08 am
ROGER GOODELL! YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO TERRELL OWENS ABOUT THIS! I DONT NORMALLY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING HE SAY AND DO BUT THIS TIME HE IS SPEAKING THE HONEST TRUTH! VICK HAS SUFFERED TOO MUCH ALREADY FOR JUST KILLING A FEW SORRY DOGS! NOBODY SINCE THE CROSS HAS BEEN MADE TO SUFFER LIKE THIS MAN! THE WORLD IS IN BAD SHAPE THESE DAYS AND PEOPLE ESPECIALLY KIDS NEED A HERO TO LOOK UP TO LIKE MIKE VICK TO SHOW THAT YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AND WEALTHY IN LIFE WITHOUT HAVING TO BE CROOKED OR STEAL OR DEAL DRUGS OR BE A GANGSTER! VICK INSPIRES PEOPLE WITH HIS GREATNESS BUT HE CANT INSPIRE NOBODY WHEN THE THE HATERS WONT LET THE MAN DO HIS JOB! SPEAKING OF INSPIRATION MIKE VICK WILL BE THE GREATEST COME BACK STORY OF ALL TIME! NO MATTER WHAT YOU HAVE NON-HATERS HERE IN ATLANTA WHO WILL ALWAY SUPPORT YOU MIKE!
Manny
July 27th, 2009
10:15 am
I would like Vick to play again…but here’s the deal. PETA will protest if he is reinstated. Period. It doesn’t matter if he is suspended 4 games or not. What Michael Vick did was wrong theirs no denying that, but why are we putting Vick in a position were he’s the victim. He put himself in this situation. Its not really a second chance when you get in trouble for smoking weed and flipping the bird to the fans of your own team. If he gets reinstated…cool. If he doesn’t…cool. We are in no position to say that he is being treated unfairly and neither is T.O. BTW maybe T.O. should sit in a prison cell for 23 months. Maybe someone will teach him some manners lol.
Curious George
July 27th, 2009
10:19 am
Excluding the “Vick Supporters” who blindly worship him, would anyone on here HONESTLY trust the infected Mike Vick with dating your daughter or walking your dog unsupervised?
Evil Richt 2009 S.E.C. World Tour: "Banned in Columbus"
July 27th, 2009
10:21 am
Mark-
Given that you believe (and I do too) that there will be interest in Vick from a number of teams, did the Falcons make a mistake in cutting him? Dimitroff said at the time he cut Vick because he didn’t want to have to answer questions about him all summer. In retrospect, does that seem wise? Couldn’t the Falcons have gotten something for Vick if they had just had the patience to wait 60 days?
ThinkinOutsideTheBox
July 27th, 2009
10:21 am
I still don’t get it. EVERY Saturday/Sunday morning you can turn on ESPN, Discovery or any cable hunting/fishing channel and watch guys shoot animals with crossbows, bow and arrows, elephant guns…ect…ect…as the cameras shows them painfully dieing….and for what…??? in some case to mount on a wall, in other cases to boost the guys egos. WHERE IS PETA THEN ??? Humans weren’t told to take care of only the cats and dogs…but THE ANIMALS. Vick certainly did something for which I am glad he was punished for but co’mon, where’s the fairness…the justice? We turn a blind eye to those who kill Bambi and villify those who cause the death of Rover. Just doesn’t seem fair. The guy paid his debt for his crime…let him move on.
Robert
July 27th, 2009
10:21 am
I hope folks on both sides of this issue feel better about themselves from getting it off their chest. But on this issue and most others, people don’t listen at all to those with different views.
itamazesme
July 27th, 2009
10:21 am
Marlena:
Why is it if someone has a different opinion than yours they are an idiot? Everyone is entitled to what they believe. Believe me there will be alot of people to watch him play, and please note that your tax money is paying a whole lot more for a bunch of other bull than just a man playing football..BTW, polls have been taken and overwhelmingly people want him to return. It is called forgiveness.
wordy
July 27th, 2009
10:22 am
Let him play but allow the commish to do his job. Goodell can do whatever he wants (it’s a private league). Then let the players union play off that. Working is not a right.
Other than that aint it great that we don’t have to deal with it anymore. GO FALCONS
Robert
July 27th, 2009
10:25 am
TOTB, Maybe PETA folks don’t take on the deerhunters because they don’t want to be mounted on some dude’s wall with a dumb expression on their face. Just kiding.
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2009
10:27 am
You know, the gambling component of the dogfighting ring has always seemed the unexplored part of this story. If you can believe anything about this story has been unexplored.
Swaga1
July 27th, 2009
10:27 am
Great Point KC…Those are great examples that u gave. I don’t know why people continue to be hipocrits like they haven’t done anything wrong in their lives. Let the guy play and if he messes up again then ban him. Everyone deserves a second chance.
Marlena
July 27th, 2009
10:29 am
ita whatever the hell your name is…everyone is entitled to what they believe. And I believe that those who think just because someone has “paid their debt to society ” is a reason to put them back in the public arena for which tax dollars do pay, however minute that tax dollar may seem to you, is an idiot. If paying your debt to society is all it takes to garner forgiveness, let the child molestor who just got out of jail babysit your kid.
midnite
July 27th, 2009
10:29 am
Uh, do y’all understand that hunting and fishing for sport is regulated and is LEGAL. What MV did was ILLEGAL. That is why your type stay in trouble. You have NO respect for the law. Oh, and talk about role models! Look at all the unwed mothers with multiple babies that you morally upright fathers(or sperm donors you are not fathers)spread around.
Cat Fighters need love too...
July 27th, 2009
10:34 am
You folks haven’t seen nothin’ till you have some big time cat bumping!
That said, Goodell should allow Vick back in with the old “one more mistake and you’re out” clause. If Vick does get picked up by anybody he’ll cook his own goose and violate his probation soon enough. In Atllanta he couldn’t stay out of trouble for more than a year at a time. Whoever hires him better have some good connections so they can make future “water bottle incidents” dissapear as easily as Blank did.
I look forward to watching him screw up some other organization besides the Falcons, It should be a very entertaining season if he gets a job.
cwm
July 27th, 2009
10:35 am
FED UP You must be jealous of these athletes and the money they make for playing A GAME….. To bad you are not athletic where you can make the same $$$$ let them make as much money as they can I am not mad at them …
Benjamin
July 27th, 2009
10:35 am
WBK, I like my steaks medium well.
I could care less about PETA as an entity, in other words. They are just there.
At the same time, though, it wasn’t PETA who committed the heinous crimes that Vick did which, as Bradley just mentioned, go beyond dogfighting. What is this stuff about late-term abortions, et al? That’s kook-speak. What does the Vick topic have to do with any of that stuff?
Ms Allen
July 27th, 2009
10:35 am
PETA does not agree with hunting purely for sport…what gave anyone the idea that they did?
Benjamin
July 27th, 2009
10:36 am
I really do hope Mike gets another shot and comes out looking good because I believe in redemption. I just don’t get the demonizing of those who aren’t really that supportive of the man. They didn’t commit the crimes.
L-Dog
July 27th, 2009
10:37 am
If Roger Goodell still tries to keep Vick from playing even after he paid his dues Vick needs to file a $130 million lawsuit with the ACLU against Goodell, the NFL and Arthur Blank for colluding against him for no reason and for having his civil rights violated. Enough is Enough!
Rodney in LA
July 27th, 2009
10:37 am
Can’t we all just get along?
Cincinatti Bowtie
July 27th, 2009
10:38 am
God, i just want him to go away and for you guys to quit talking about him and the “morals” behind this story.
My personal opinion has always been, F mike vick.
Ms Allen
July 27th, 2009
10:38 am
Cwm…no one is jealous of athletes and thier money. That is why we all enjoy football and other sports…this is not about all athletes. In case you can’t read, this is about a convicted felon becoming an athlete again. In particular, his name is Michael Vick and he is an evil, dog killing asshole criminal. Whether it is a dog or another living thing, the cruelty that Vick displayed by fighting these dogs demonstrate the type of person he is.
Robert
July 27th, 2009
10:39 am
Mark will probably get angry with me again but he choose this topic so he could take the morning off and let the two sides fight it out.
Benjamin
July 27th, 2009
10:40 am
LOL @ Vick’s “civil rights!”
I think he got his rights read to him at some point for his actions.
Bradley, I think I’m going to start just reading your columns rather than the notes below from this point forward.
torgo
July 27th, 2009
10:43 am
Before he reported for sentencing, Vick tested positive for marijuana. The standard NFL suspension for a first substance-related offense is four games.
After his reinstatement from suspension for his conviction on conspiracy charges, he still has this separate violation of the NFL conduct policies to face. Four games is exactly the same suspension that any other player would face. It’s quite appropriate and really not worth the extra media attention.
The Grinch
July 27th, 2009
10:45 am
@ Robert:
Euthanasia of animals is often necessary; I’ve shot a few badly wounded and rabid ones myself. It’s not an “all-animal” PETA thing to me. Hell, I’m not averse to popping a squirrel or two off the bird feeder with a BB gun. That’s not the point.
All I’m asking is how can so many people go through life without the capacity for appreciating a pet? Generally speaking, well adjusted people who’ve not had a bad experience as a child with one can at least usually appreciate other people’s affinity for dogs if not their own.
To the rest of you (Robert at least seems to have an education): I’m thinking most of you don’t like them because you’re used to police K-9 units searching your cars or chasing you down alleyways. If your real viewpoint is “It ain’t nothin’ but a G-thang,” just go ahead and say so. Just please stop with the “I be a laywer and it ain’t nuthin’ but a bunch of danged dawgz” stuff. It’s absurd.
Lindsey
July 27th, 2009
10:45 am
It is not a civil rights violation for a person not to be re-hired after becoming a convicted felon. Jesus, most convicted felons are lucky to get a job.
They Don T Really Care About Us | All Days Long
July 27th, 2009
10:49 am
[...] Vick shouldn't be re-suspended Atlanta Journal Constitution – GA, USA Goodell has to further the success of the NFL, while the courts don't (rightfully) care. Yes, Michael did his time and fulfilled his obligations to the … See all stories on this topic [...]
VICKSAPRICK
July 27th, 2009
10:50 am
T.O. and Michael Vick need to move to California, get married and start a marijuana farm.
Whopper Dawg
July 27th, 2009
10:51 am
There seem to be two arguments to let Vick in the NFL, one is he paid his debt to society. Yes, he did as the court ordered by law after pleading guilty to his crimes. Why he is commended for that I have no idea. That does not speak to the NFL in any way, shape, form or fashion. Playing in the NFL is not a right. Two – there are other bums in the NFL that did worse crimes and still play. Well, ban Vick and kick the other bums out too. Right now.
If I were commish, the rule would be real simple – if you are convicted of a felony in a criminal court of law – you are gone – for life.
Sam
July 27th, 2009
10:51 am
Mark: Thanks for picking up on the gambling piece of the story. I’ve always been puzzled by this. If you set aside the nature of the crime, why isn’t bankrolling an illegal gambling operation alone enough to warrent suspension from the NFL?
Robert
July 27th, 2009
10:52 am
Grinch thanks for responding in a sensible matter since that appears the be the exception this morning.
That’s a good point about euthanasia.
My point is how many other athletes in numerous sports have done worse; drunk driving and causing a death. And then there’s Pacman Jones who has gotten how many second chances.
I just don’t think MV should be driven off the planet because there is a group more concerned with dogs than people.
Marlena
July 27th, 2009
10:53 am
@Whopper Dawg-so well put. My sentiments exactly!
Paddy
July 27th, 2009
10:55 am
Laywer(sp)… He did not go to jail for misdeamnors, he went to jail for federal felonies.
dog fighting is not a federal crime. Lying to federal investagators and running and financing a criminal enterprise is a federal crime. You say its a sad day when he lost his job and most of his money for his crimes. What planet do you live on? That happens every day in our society and court systems. It is the law we live by in this country. And just a minor point, there is no NFL Europe any longer for him to go to. And if there were, it was a NFL controlled enterprise and thus subject to NFL rules. Any suspension would follow him. But that is moot. My take is you are not a real laywer(sp)?
Bobby Dowell
July 27th, 2009
10:55 am
Terrell Owens..now there’s some wisdom. Actually Vick looked Goodell straight in the eye and lied to him. Lied like a dog! (sorry could not resist) Vick deserves at least 4-6 games for being stupid. It will actually work better for him because he can start midseason and the media will not be as over-hyped as it is now..
jeffrey d
July 27th, 2009
10:56 am
Mark -
I enjoy the Vick stories because, despite people claiming that the AJC is in love with him and are just beating a dead….tree, there’s new stories to report and opinions to be shared. But reading the comments gets a little tiring because you’re essentially going to have:
Steve-O: Yawn…another Vick story from the AJC
Jess: Vick did his time now he should be allowed back in.
Homer: Fire Mark Bradley!
Race Guy: If Vick was white he would’ve been playing in the NFL last season.
Righteous Dan: Vick is a heartless and selfish man who should never be allowed to play again. I won’t be happy until his life is ruined.
Stupid Guy: How can Stallworth kill a man and only get 30 days when Vick killed an animal and got 2 years???
VickFan4Eva: WHOO GO VICK!! HE WILL THROW FOR 100 TOUCDOWNS AGAINST THE FALCOSN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I TOLD YOU HE WOULD EB FREE AND HE WOULD BE TEH GREATEST PLAYER EVER AGAIN
all that times about a million
football fan
July 27th, 2009
10:57 am
I think MV will have a chance to play next year but not this year. MV served his time for doing illegal thing, but that does not give him a greenlight to go back and play in the NFL as soon as he got out. He committed to a serious crime and will have to pay his due just like everyone else in our society.
Lindsey
July 27th, 2009
10:58 am
My God, why are so many people saying…”what about the other criminals in the NFL? What about hunting? What about euthanasia? What about this…blah, blah, blah.” Plain and simple, Vick is a convicted felon. This is about what Michael Vick did, not all the other problems in society. There should be NO criminal in the NFL at all! As to all the other ills in society, they are separate issues and do not detract from the terrible things that Vick did, which by the way are not limited to dog fighting!
Robert
July 27th, 2009
10:59 am
@Grinch Good points and I’ll reread them later.
I got something else not found on this blog every often and that’s a sense of humor.
Debates on a subject like this one can’t be much fun for either side unless they all really need to bloviate.
Have a good one. I’m going to check out Mark’s second blog today.
Novacane
July 27th, 2009
10:59 am
This is really crazy! It is to the point were it is becoming what I really did not want it to be and that is a Race Issue. I know that I am not the only one that see this, How is it that your job can suspend you before you are convicted of anything, then once you are convicted, serve time in prison, and then your job tell you they will hire you back only if they can suspend you again!!! What the F***!!!! That’s double jeopardy in court; do the NFL and Goodell make their own rules??? Is this Dictatorship or Democracy??? Enough said!!
VICKSAPRICK
July 27th, 2009
11:00 am
Vick is the Adolf Hitler of dogs.
Jack G.
July 27th, 2009
11:01 am
Tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree…..
VICKSAPRICK
July 27th, 2009
11:02 am
@Novacane…yes, Goodell and the NFL do make their own rules. Most companies do. DUH.
Lindsey
July 27th, 2009
11:04 am
Novacane…yeah, when you are supsected of doing something wrong, most employers do suspend you pending further investigation. Have you ever seen the news and story came on about “police officer suspended pending further investigation?”
The Grinch
July 27th, 2009
11:04 am
We may debate whether drunk driving is better or worse than what Vick did, but I think we agree in general. Vick shouldn’t be the exception. Pacman, Ray Lewis, and at least a half dozen others don’t have my support either.
jeffrey d
July 27th, 2009
11:08 am
Vick is the Adolf Hitler of dogs.
Vick isn’t a dog.
Robert
July 27th, 2009
11:12 am
Congradulation Grinch. Amidst the shouting, we came to an agreement about equal treatment. I’m done here and have a good day.
T-HUG
July 27th, 2009
11:16 am
It is an absolute disgrace how Vick’s rights as an American citizen and human being are being stolen away from him by hypocrites and cowards like Blank and Goodell.
Beautiful Monte
July 27th, 2009
11:21 am
Wow. (Yawn.) What a surprise.
In what appears to be his never-ending quest to be accepted as an honorary “brutha”, Mark Bradley writes yet ANOTHER column in which he expresses his “great affection” for the conVICKted felon who soiled No. 7 for the Atlanta Falcons.
To emphasize his point – and to score MORE brownie points with the “local” fans – Bradley notes that he shares the same opinion as that other beacon of calm, rational, and well-thought-out behavior … Terrell Owens. (I presume O.J. was unavailable for comment.)
Regarding the subject of today’s love note: Vick has been in prison; therefore, technically speaking, any previous suspension handed down by the NFL was irrelevant since Vick couldn’t play anyway … because he was in prison (duh).
If Vick is suspended for four or even eight additional games, it won’t be much of a punishment. Given his two-year absence from the game, the intellectual shortcomings that will hinder his ability to learn a new offense in a short amount of time, and his poor passing ability, Vick will likely spend most if not all of the entire season on the bench, so a four- or eight-game suspension wouldn’t be much of a penalty, either. (Only crackheads and Vick fans actually believe will be a starting QB anywhere in the NFL in 2009.)
If I were Goodell, I’d make Vick sit out the entire 2009 season, just to prove he can stay out of trouble. If he makes it to the spring of 2010 without incident, I’d let Vick back in – with the condition that ANY subsequent run-in with the law will result in a lifetime suspension.
In the meantime, Mr. Bradley: we get it. You have gladly accepted the torch of excuse-making and defending the indefensible from your former partner-in-slime, Terence Moore. You are the self-appointed spokesman for spoiled, pampered, “misunderstood” professional athletes all over the ATL.
Congratulations on taking such a courageous position. You’re a real credit to your race.
Novacane
July 27th, 2009
11:23 am
Torgo, I can see that you know nothing about the NFL! 1st time drug offenders in the NFL have to go to substance abuse classes, and are then monitored by the league they are not suspend for 4 games until the second time. If they test positive for a performance enhancing ban substance then they are suspended for 4 games the first time. It is people like you that should never post!! I see you do not know policies and procedures, what about rules???? Some of you people do not have a clue!!!! When has a the value of a dog life and a human life became the same, I guess it is the same when you take your hunting dogs out and they get ripped apart by a wild hogs and you have to shoot it because it will never recover!!! Dogs vs. Humans, it is not the same, less time for killing humans than dogs!!!
Jamie
July 27th, 2009
11:25 am
I do agree that since he did the time he was given he should therefore be allowed to live his life, but what I cannot agree on is that he be allowed a life in the spotlight again, where children can look up to him and he receives praise when he has such a poor character. He had his chance at fame and heroism and proved he wasn’t up to the standards. Being a good football player doesn’t mean he should automatically be eligible to play pro where he can be idolized for all the wrong reasons.
To put it into a different perspective, let’s say a priest molested a few alter boys over the course of a few years. He is convicted and goes to jail for his crime, and then gets out 10 or so years later and wishes to be an acting priest again. Is that right? Certainly not, and it’s the same exact situation. You wouldn’t allow it because it’s putting him back in that same arena, where people are supposed to look up to him and trust him, but he no longer deserves that respect and trust just because he is. He must earn it from everyone he meets.
My feelings on human beings and animals are the same. They are lateral, equal, one in the same. The bible says something about loving all of his creatures alike… we were all created by him and are thereby equal in his eyes. I’m not a practicing religious person, but I was born Christian and my God said, “Protect the rights of all who are helpless.” Proverbs 31:8.
The argument here is whether or not Michael should be allowed to return to the public eye, to which I respond, not a chance in hell. Let us use the same standards on all, and understand that when you commit a crime of a certain type, there are certain things you are no longer allowed to be a part of because of it. I think it’s called something like, consequences for your actions. We all must abide.
And btw, this isn’t just an argument against Michael Vick. I believe the NFL (and other organizations as well) need to start cleaning up their acts and taking responsibility for the fact that these players need to be class acts because there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of children, and adults, who look up to them for their accomplishments. The double standards need to be reevaluated.
wordy
July 27th, 2009
11:28 am
novacan- yes the NFL (owners) and Goodell make thier own rules ( in conjuction with the Union). The NFL is not an branch of the US government. Most “private” companies probably would not rehire you if you went to jail for a year.
Novacane
July 27th, 2009
11:31 am
VICKSAPRICK Goodell nor other companies can make their own rules!!! they all have to operate under certain rules and regulations, that’s why you see congress get involved in everything even sports because they can. This is America not a third world country CLOWN!!! I will have to end my conversation with you because you really do not know better!! SAD
WBK
July 27th, 2009
11:31 am
I did not like Mike Vick as a QB…however, I do not like seeing a special interest in keeping the man down. Just in…”A Jonesboro man arrested for allegedly having sex with his dog was released from jail Friday night on $6,600 bond.” AJC.
I thought this is what these special interest thought of their animals.
They put humans and the interest of the human being behind animals…no pun inteneded.
Novacane
July 27th, 2009
11:40 am
wordy- Key Word “Private” when did the NFL become Private last time a family member of mine that will remain nameless played in the league it was very much public!!! You are talking to some who knows the system. Also you said the NFL (owners) and Goodell make thier own rules ( in conjuction with the Union. Still not just Goodell its everyone eles as well!!! Thanks
CONZY
July 27th, 2009
11:45 am
Jeez Mark it is a good thing you didn’t get into law school you don’t seem to have a clue on this one. Mike Vick in an EMPLOYEE of the NFL…if he doesn’t help their business and in fact hurts it they owe hin NOTHING. Think about this if you seriously damaged the public’s perception of the AJC do they owe you another chance, especially if you were convicted of a felony that called into question your journalistic integrity? Heck no. Don’t forget how large a role gambling played in Vick’s troubles and there is no place for gambling among professional atheletes.
Novacane
July 27th, 2009
11:51 am
Jamie- You lost me because the Bible states that when god made humans they were made a little less then Heavenly being, and ruler of the Earth inhabitants. I did not see dogs, but you know if you think that dogs and humans are the same, that’s your belief, but don’t quote the Bible with garbage like that!!! We are Not asking Vick to raise poodles or any other dogs we are saying that he should be allowed to play football so using the analogy of priest and boys are not the same!
Jamie
July 27th, 2009
12:28 pm
Garbage? What bible are you reading? Keep your overemphasized quotation marks to yourself for a stinkin’ minute and read this…
Romans 8:19 says that all creation waits with eager longing, groans, until God reveals his sons.
Gen 1:26-28, Gen 2:15: The purpose, role of humanity: to cultivate, guard, steward, manage – for the sake of God and of the creation itself.
Jonah 4:11 The Lord can concern specifically for animals
Psa 145:9 The Lord has compassion on all he made
Psa 36:6 Men and animals are in your care
Lev 25:7 God has care for wild as well as domestic animals
Lev 26:43 .. even without people
Prov 12:10 We are to look after animals
You want to look at the one part in the bible where it says we are given “dominion” over other living things, and take that as we can do as we want with them? Think what you want, but all the other areas where this “dominion” is described as moreless caretaking, is what I think our God meant. He certainly didn’t mean to put them into pits and fight them to their death. Or to use them in mass production meat factories so that their entire life existed purely for the purpose of our consuming them. Get real here. And before you call it out, no, I’m not vegetarian. I get my foods from local farms and markets and eat from this earth the way it was intended – humanely and in a considerate manner.
I didn’t see “dogs” either, but all animals are mentioned all throughout your bible buddy. As I said, I’m not even practicing religious, but I know what I have studied in the past and it doesn’t seem to be the same as what your God believes. Dominion and ruling… ha! Don’t you wish we were so superior? What right would we have?
No, we’re not asking Vick to raise poodles, but you ARE asking that he be put BACK into a position in the spotlight for which he has already abused. There SHOULD be a certain standard or structure of character and morality when we choose to make someone a hero.
Bill C.
July 27th, 2009
12:49 pm
” I did not have sex with that woman.” OJ is still looking for the killer and Mv has served his time, let em play, when He screws up again, can we all say “PAC-MAN !!!!!
Jim
July 27th, 2009
12:56 pm
Am I the only one that thinks that he should never be let back into the league again??? I am sick of athletes making Millions and Millions and then get a free pass through life. He screwed up…BIG…Bigger than Pete Rose! Give me a break! He was bank rolling a dog fighting organization for christ sake! I am sorry if you are ignorant and don’t understand how illegal and morally wrong that is, but come on…he should never be let back to the NFL again. I work my butt off and have never made anything like he has made and to just do something so incredibly stupid…Obviously money doesn’t mean anything to him and If he needs to be the lesson for all the other athletes out there then so be it! He has no remorse for what he has done…what did he tell the judge was his plan to pay back his massive debt? “I’m gonna play football!” give me a break. The author of this article just like TO are both compelete morons! I guess killing dogs is just an everyday think for you and TO and all you other idiots from the hood, but in real life that’s wrong and you should pay so bad that you never forget what you did. So sorry Vick, If football is the only way you can ever make any money…Didn’t you go to VT? Can’t you get a real job…I got one for you… $30,000 a year. Live like the rest of us, not killing dogs, or smuggling weed through airports. Maybe if the Comish makes a stand with you…other guys thinking about doing stupid stuff in the NFL will think twice.
Mark Bradley
July 27th, 2009
1:01 pm
I’ve been a bit distant this morning not because I’m trying to ignore anyone but because I’m in Day 1 of a three-day AJC brainstorming session. (We’ve just broken for lunch.) Tune in at 3 p.m. for a fuller example of what a Bradley brainstorm actually looks like.
wawel78
July 27th, 2009
1:11 pm
I really hope you’re not going to the bathroom at 3 p.m.
Hillbilly Deluxe
July 27th, 2009
2:36 pm
I’m not a fan of Vick but isn’t he already on indefinite suspension? So how do you suspend him 4 more games? Is that like “double-secret probation”?
Football Fan
July 27th, 2009
2:44 pm
How much money will the league make with a Mike Vick comeback? Good or bad tickets will sell. Merchandise will sell. The NFL has a small window to get that money. Yes it’s about money. As we have seen on Wall Street and with people in politics, it’s just a matter of time before we hear of some dirt coming out about the NFL commish..In many cases a hardliner has some skeletons in their closet.
Mike Vick is good for the NFL, and the NFL is good for Mike Vick. There are children living on the streets and people are so up in arms on Mike Vick. At the end of the day it’s just football. Is the NFL clean in all of their dealings with the players and fans? Mike Vick. How many productive years does he have left? People it’s about money. The NFL needs competition…
Back 2 Reality
July 27th, 2009
2:58 pm
It’s a good thing that none of these racist morons are in Roger Goddell’s position. They seem to not understand that the NFL is a private company, and that it is in the business of making money. Michael Vick not playing or going to another league is revenue loss, & they’re not going to let that happen.
Get over people it people & grow up. Vick will play again, if you don’t like, don’t watch & shut up. Time to move on & go forward.
VICKSAPRICK
July 27th, 2009
2:59 pm
@novacane…What is sad is some suck ass like you who thinks they know everything. Listen you twit, if you were convicted of a felony you would be hard pressed to get your job back that you had before you went into the slammer, with our without congress. I wish you were Michael Vick’s pit bull.
wordy
July 27th, 2009
3:00 pm
novacane- you miss the point and your family member has mislead you. private as in the teams run the NFL are usually run by private companies or are owned by individulas…for profit. The commish is selected by them and then the rules made and agreed upon by all parties. The labor union is not the NFL it is a seperate organization that legally argues for consessions from the NFL for the players at large. The only team that is owned by the community is the Green Bay Packers.
So in conclusion your susposed family member, if he is a player, agreed to give Godell the power to suspend Vick for 4 games.
Lindsey
July 27th, 2009
3:02 pm
Enter your comments here
Ms Allen
July 27th, 2009
3:05 pm
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” A famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi.
VICKSAPRICK
July 27th, 2009
3:07 pm
By the way novacane…novacane is spelled N O V A C A I N E and the word “race” is not capitalized. Yep, you can’t fix stupid.
Taleah
July 27th, 2009
3:18 pm
For all of you who are minimizing Vick’s crimes because the victims were “just dogs,” shame on you. Of course humans and animals are NOT the same. Does that excuse animal cruelty, which is what Vick was CONVICTED of? Humans are supposed to be smarter than dogs but in Vick’s case I seriously doubt that is true.
VICKSAPRICK
July 27th, 2009
3:31 pm
Back 2 Reality… we don’t have to shut up…we live in America and we can say whatever the hell we want, so up yours.
Back 2 Reality
July 27th, 2009
4:54 pm
Vicksaprick, just in cause you didn’t know, the NFL just reinstated Vick back into the league. So once again for the inbred trailer trash, this is all about MONEY!!!!! Vick is a money machine waiting to be switched back on, & sometime soon it shall come to pass.
So get some education and stop all the hate-mongering!!!!!!!!!! Power to the people!!!! Vick is back —- I love this Country!!! Great old USA!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr ARay
July 27th, 2009
6:53 pm
All those negative Mike Vick’s haters behavior are contemptible, inferior, ignorant. Now there you go, I said it, I agree with T.O. and Mike…let Vick play now!!! He has paid his dues. I think Roger Goddell should explain the logic in making his decision. Oh I forgot, plain and simple, when it comes to honor he just don’t have any!!!
Novacane
July 27th, 2009
6:59 pm
Jamie- No more comments for you because you are taking little boys and priest and comparing it to what Michael Vick does on the football field and dogs!!! That’s crazy
VICKSAPRICK- Nope! Not So! not the way I spell NOVACANE and yes you seemed to know what it ment so why change the way I spell it for you!
wordy-I see that you have never owned anything bc if you did you would know still family owned Businesses still have rules regulations that they must follow and can still be reprimanded if they are not following the guidelines to run the businesses or organization! Thanks and have goodnight!!!!
To all if Vick is in the spotlight or not he is only human and Role Models start at home!!! Charles Barkley said it the best “he is not a Role Model” and neither should Vick have to raise your kids or any body else’s. Is it about the money or the color of his skin!!! I see some of you are really steaming, hope you all make really good tea!!! LOL!!!
I have been were so few of you will ever go, let the man make a living. Forgive! It is what you have to do if you want to make it in to Heaven or wherever you plan on going!! No need for profanity because you guys and girls could not stand up to me if you wanted to believe that!!! Thanks, also have a goodnight Vick is BACK and will be playing somewhere maybe for your team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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.