Thoughts on the NFL and Mike Vick

Unless you live in a cave (in which case, congrats on finding internet access) you are aware by now that earlier this week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that he had granted Michael Vick a conditional reinstatement into the NFL.

There are a lot of points of view out there on this. On the one side, are the people who are understandably upset by Vick's reinstatement. Others, that think the NFL was right to give him another chance.

Their reasons usually follow many of the same lines of logic.

--- People deserve a second chance.

--- He made a mistake and should be forgiven for it.

--- He has paid for his crime and should be allowed to get on with his life.

It's all, just BS.

This isn't a second chance.

First off, this isn't a second chance for Vick. It is not as if Vick was a model citizen and true contributor to society before one day, people were just shocked to find out he was involved in dog fighting. Vick was no Peyton Manning, Tony Gonzales, Tony Richardson or any of the other countless athletes who use their fame and fortunes to better their community. Vick had a bit of a track record at embarrassing himself and the NFL.

In early 2004, two men in Vick's home state of Virginia were arrested for distributing marijuana. The truck they were driving was registered to Vick.

In March 2005, a woman filed a lawsuit against Vick for having sex with her under an alias name of Ron Mexico and giving her genital herpes.  Vick settled the case out of the courtroom.

In November, 2006, after a loss to the New Orleans Saints,he flipped off the fans in his own home stadium in reaction to the fans booing his performance.

In January, 2007, Vick surrendered a water bottle at an airport that contained a secret compartment that was allegedly used to smuggle marajuana. While a tiny trace of marajuana was found in the compartment, Vick was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Then, in the summer of 2007, Vick was accused (and later plead guilty) to felony counts of dog fighting. From all reports, he was involved in dog fighting, animal cruelty including cruelly killing many of the dogs, and involved in illegal gambling associated with dog fighting.

Vick is not getting a second chance here. He's been given multiple chances from an escalating scale of involvement in illegal, immoral and embarrassing (to the NFL) activities.  I'd say on the sliding scale he'd be out of chances -- if it were me in charge.

Dog fighting is not a 'mistake'

I want to clear up this silly notion that he made a mistake for which he should be forgiven. This isn't a mistake.  A mathematical error on your taxes is a mistake. Running a red light and running into someone is a mistake. Heck, even Donte Stallworth's decision to drive after being slightly over the legal alcohol limit and hitting a pedestrian (who wasn't in a crosswalk) and pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter charges is a mistake.

No, what Vick participated in was not a "mistake".  It was a series of conscious decisions over a prolonged period of time to participate in felony activities that were cruel and violent. Dog fighting is not a mistake. It's a criminal lifestyle.

He is not guaranteed the life he used to have

Maybe in an ideal world, our justice system would be uniquely designed to rehabilitate people so they left our prison system as renewed individuals who could go seemlessly back to their lives. And while there are always feel-good stories about people who really do "find themselves" in jail, that isn't really the norm.  So as a society, we most often put stipulations on convicted felons. We don't allow child molesters and rapists the same rights as the rest of us.  The folks involved in the Enron Scandle are not just welcomed back to corporate america as CEOs and Vice Presidents of large corporations.

Vick is entitled to resume his life after spending his time in prison. But he is not entitled to the life of fame, fortune and fanfare that he enjoyed prior to being a convicted felon. The idea that he is entitled to come back to the free world and enjoy everything just like it was before his conviction is not like any other felony crime in America. The NFL should have felt more than free to move on with the world's most successful league without him.

What's next?

Just because Vick was reinstated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell does not guarantee that he will be playing football on Sundays later this year. While Vick was a superstar on the field before he left, it was mostly because of a certain excitement that he brought to the game because of his speed and quickness. But in 2006, his last year on the field, he carried a quarterback rating of a 75.7. That rating would have placed him 28th among NFL quarterbacks last year --in between Chiefs QB Tyler Thigpen (who began the season as 3rd string) and journeyman QB Gus Frerotte.  He is now 29 years old - -and his legs, his most valuable assett -- are on the downhill slide.  And football is a game that requires great skill, built on years of repetition and practice, and Vick has not played this game in over two years.

When you look at the polls on various websites, most show a pretty even split among people who think reinstating Vick was a good idea, and those who think it's a horrible idea. These are tough economic times, and I don't think most teams are going to be willing to take a chance of alienating 1/2 of their fan base to take a chance on a 29 year old QB, who hasn't played a game in 2 years, who was a well below-average passer even when he was well practiced.

As of right now, at least 17 of the league's 32 teams have officially announced that they are not interested in signing Vick.  I swear there are more (I'm 90% sure that New England has officially announced that they are not interested either) and more will announce (can you really see Vick playing in the city of Green Bay after this?).  I might be wrong, but I think soon all 32 teams will have blacklisted him. If Barry Bonds can get blacklisted by baseball owners for steroid use, I find it hard to believe that football owners would stoop so low for Vick. 

So we'll see where it goes. I'm disappointed in Roger Goodell's decision, but hopeful that the NFL owners will have enough sense to make the decision that Goodell was unwilling to.

For more great reading on the subject:

Winograd: And the Monster Went Free

Bad Rap: Animal Cruelty Charge: "Not Guilty"

The Pet Connection: NFL to Sick Vick: What dog thing? Welcome home!

Our Pack: Vick Reinstated, But Don't Worry Leo

The LA Times: Michael Vick paid his debt, but should the NFL let him play?

Fanhouse: Goodell Lets Vick Story Hijack '09 Season

Comments

[EmilyS]

excellent; right on.

IF (I say IF) he acknowledged his guilt in regard to the animal cruelty acts (which he pled not guilty, and was NOT charged for)... which were actually far worse than the dogfighting cruelty.. then I might be willing to forgive. But NOTHING he has done/said so far indicates any remorse, or understanding of his crime. You can bet if he had any, his friends would have leaked some stories, despite whatever gag order he was under.

[lori]

If Mike Vick was being reinstated as a shelter manager, I would be really upset. I fail to see what football has to do with animals. I personally do not care if Mike Vick is reinstated in football and I do not think that athletes are role models. Do kids want to be athletes? Sure. They want the money, fame and to be able to make a living playing games. Who wouldn't?

I HATE what Mike Vick did or allowed to happen or whatever the true circumstances were in his case. I hate dog fighters and I love pit bulls and I love dogs period. I completely support No Kill and have my own No Kill organization. I just do not think he was ever a role model anymore than the guys who cheat on their wives, rape staff help in hotels then deny it and buy their wives million dollar rings then turn around and say well I can see why the gal felt raped even though I did not rape her, die passed out drunk by the hand of their depressed lover while their wives are home with their children just days after her getting arrested with you in the car while she is "high", using steroids. lying about using steroids, betting on games against their team, cowboys getting busted with guns trying to get on airplanes, DENNIS RODMAN, Rhoid raging and abusing/killing your wife and kid, etc. etc. etc. There are a hell of a lot of pigs in sports, always have been and Mike Vick is just one of them.

I know that is not popular right now because you are supposed to be upset that Mike is going to play football, but I do not care if he plays football.

I hate HSUS and I believe that Mike Vick owes his restitution instead to the people who save his dogs, rehabilitated them, found them good homes, gave up hours and hours of time and love and money and food and everything they have to save these dogs.

HSUS just wanted to get rid of his evidence and Wayne P is the one who should be hated in my opinion.

[Jennifer]

Your thoughts are my thoughts exactly. Even though you and I may not consider Vick a role model, some people do. Some kids do. Some adults do. What message are they getting from this? That fame shelters you? That it's okay to commit heinous acts, because even if you get caught, the punishment won't be so bad, and you can pick up where you left off after an insincere apology?

I hope Vick isn't signed anywhere. I hope he has to work a regular job and live a normal life. He's a muscular guy. He'd do just fine in the construction industry.

[PAMM - People Against Malicious "Men"]

The firefighter that lost his job because he shot his dogs is fighting to get his job back, saying his dismissal was a result of politics, not because he screwed up at work. Maybe he and Michael Vick can start a support group.

[Robert Garnett]

Micheal Vick should have no problem finding a job. There are plenty of Cosmetic Pharmaceutical companies, the Military, and Universities who would love to have a person of Vick's qualifications to work in their animal testing programs. But he might have to work for a time on a farm team(slaughter house) to resharpen his skills.

[Social Mange]

The NFL has proven its moral corruption with Vick's reinstatement. It's only about the money, honey.

[Neila Gelvin]

Ia'm sure that the only reason Vick even considered apologizing is because he was caught! Had he not been caught, I would be willing to bet he would still be torturing,
killing and fighting those dogs to this day!
I would never watch a game of any kind with Vick playing in it. He should have to spend at least 5 years in a shelter, cleaning up pens and caring for dogs....all the while being closely supervised.