Sad day. I'm very disappointed in the NFL commissioner
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/m...,2756494.story
Sad day. I'm very disappointed in the NFL commissioner
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/m...,2756494.story





It comes down to money; Vick can make money for the NFL. Top athletes have gotten away with much worse because they bank for the sport.
Legally he served his time and is a free man; if a team signs him it will be up to the fans to protest with their wallets. The NFL is betting those most upset by his actions do not attend NFL games.
How much will PETA and such protest to make it unprofitable to have Vick on a team?





The thing about what Vick did was intentional and thought out but he was a first time offender. Arguably more disturbing was the gambling aspect Vick was involved in; any gambling can get a player suspended for life. It appears Vick worked out a plea bargain with the NFL to get reinstated. Peat Rose is still banned from baseball just for placing bets.
"The NFL does not allow its players to be involved in any form of gambling, and even first-time offenders risk being banned for life. However, Goodell did leave open the possibility of reinstating Vick depending on how well he cooperated with federal and state authorities."
My English Professor within the first week told the whole class in order to make it “Big” in this life your either smart, talented like all the Professional Athletes, or beauty. In Vik’s case he’s talented on the football field that’s the only reason why he’s on the field. Everybody should take personal accountability for where they are in life and the decisions they’ve made to get there EXCEPT celebrities and athletes.


He's back. He served his time leave him the fuck alone.





So I guess it's ok to murder dogs? No, what he did was evil. People that murder animals don't deserve a second chance.
I'm disappointed in the NFL but can't say I'm surprised. They let some football players get away with things that would prevent them from regular jobs. Disgusting. NFL will not receive a dollar of my money. I'm just sad that the days of decent people in the NFL are over. Like mentioned upthread, Pete Rose is banned for life in baseball but Vick can now play ball? NFL is run by thugs and that's all Vick is, a low class piece of garbage murdering thug.


YUCKO! He makes me sick!!
XoXo
"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up." Mark Twain
"Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight." Phyllis Diller
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If we sign him (as he's still up for grabs) I'm going to protest/
XoXo Gia
Danielle Fishell (the Dish): "If the Super-Star thing doesn't work out, Gia makes a great stripper name"
After several discussions with prominent members of the Hall of Fame during induction weekend, Sellig is seriously considering lifting the ban ...
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...pete_rose.html
If you can't win. Make the fellow in front of you break the record.



Michael Vick served significant jail time and has lost most of his accumulated wealth. I don't care if he's contrite or not. Let him earn a living. If he screws up again - put him away again. He at least has a shot at making a living and staying out of jail. It is not the NFL's job to play judge and juror. Michael Vick will be in the NFL next year and 100 people might not go see him play for their home town team because of their strong convictions. Gee, maybe he could go to New England and all the Peta protestor's would create available season tickets for me. I'm not a fan of animal cruelty, but we've already got a pound of flesh from Michael Vick!








I would assume that Vick made a fortune the first time around. Since he pissed all over that opportunity, why exactly can't he make a living working a low paying job like everyone else with a felony conviction on their record? I despise him.





He should be thrown into a pit with some of those dogs of his. He could flip them off all he wanted--until they ripped off his fingers, anyway.
I never knew who he was until the dog story came out, since I never follow sports. But I doubt the majority of the rabid sports fans who make this sort of behavior possible, by kissing the asses of the jock celebrities at the slightest opportunity, will give a flying fuck about his dogfighting past.
You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Free your mind, and your ass will follow.
George Clinton
______________________________________





That's what I was picturing doing to him today also, I think a crowded NFL stadium would be the perfect venue. Very Romanesque!
XoXo Gia
Danielle Fishell (the Dish): "If the Super-Star thing doesn't work out, Gia makes a great stripper name"




The issue of Michael Vick is complex and certainly stirs the emotions of many people.
Personally, I'm not a fan of his, and really could care less if the guy makes another dime or not. However, part of me wants to recognize that he's paid his price to society and should be therefore allowed to market himself and make any living which is afforded to him under the law.
Certainly the pre-medidated acts of cruelty towards another living creature is distrubing on several levels. Yet do many people realize that if his kennal was in GA instead of VA, it would have been legal. If he hadn't been participating in a gambling enterprise across state lines, then he would not have been in violation of Federal laws.
As it was, it was the Federal courts which acted swiftly in addressing this matter. After the recent prolonged cases against BALCO and others it was refreshing to see the Federal judicial system act as quickly and efficiently as it did, and I applauded them for that. It was evident that the prosecutors at the state level were going to drag their feet, and do all they could to protect a local hero. This was as much evidenced by their eventual suspended sentence which was only given after the Federal proceedings had been completed, and under the view that not giving any punishiment would have been laughable in light of the Federal ruling.
He has since lost the majority of a $130 million contract, who knows how much in endorsement dollars, while spending approximately two years in a federal prison. For many, this was punishment enough.
It's hard to say Vick does not deserve to make himself available to NFL teams when considering the following ...
- In 1998 Leonard Little, killed a person in a drunk driving accident, and was only suspended 8 games for the 1999 season (costing approximately $125K in salary), and has been able to continue a lucrative NLF career ever since.
- Corey Dillon threw a college girlfriend out a dormatory window, yet was still drafted and eventually help the NE Patriots win the 2004 Super Bowl.
- Randy Moss drove several blocks with a meter maid on the hood of his car, was never suspended and is regarded as one of the best WRs of all time.
- Jason Peters was a defensive tackle from Nebraska who had incidents in college with beating a girlfriend. Originally drafted by the NE Partriots he was waived after pressure from the owner's wife; however, he was soon picked up by another NFL franchise and allowed to continue his career.
- Donte Stallworth recently killed a person in a drunk driving accident, and while he has not been reinstated to play in the NFL, his sentence was merely 28 days in jail (compared to Vick's 2 years) with the balance of his sentence suspended.
These are just a few cases, and there are many many more (ie Lawrence Phillips, etc.). Yet, I don't recall a uproar from this site against those who beat their wives, gf's or killed innocents.
It could well be argued that Vick suffered a greater punishment than any of these people, who killed or injured humans. While it could also be counter-argued that these punishments were lacking, and two wrongs don't make a right in using them as a measure for why Vick should be reinstated. (Interestingly, the "two wrongs don't make a right" arguement could also be used against those who wish physical violence upon him). I don't know.
One question is, can someone never make ammends? Does someone deserve to never be forgiven? He has spoken with the leaders of the Humane Society, who have accepted his apologies and he may act as a spokesperson for them. While this may be seen as little more than PR dressing, his legal issues have certainly had a ripple effect on other players who may have once participated in dog fighting while also acting as a clear deterrant for anyone who might have thought about entering into it in the future. One might say that Vick has been one of the best things that could happen in the movement against this sport.
Like I said in the beginning, it's a confusing issue. Made even more complex with people try to add race and politics into the mix.
Personally I feel he should be allowed to offer himself to teams. If no one chooses to sign him, I'll certainly not shed a tear. If a team does wish to sign him, people will be allowed to their excercise their right to protest. Yet if he's still able to make a buck, so be it. I have better things to do than to "hate" someone I don't even know.
If you can't win. Make the fellow in front of you break the record.



Seriously, What is WRONG WITH PEOPLE?!?!?!!?!!!?????
The girl in NY who breaks into an apartment, trashes it, and puts the kitten in the oven gets a year, Vick gets a 23 months sentence for killing how many dogs, but the average conviction for marijuana posession is 31 months incarceration, and 42 months probation?
I don't do any drugs, never have, just never wanted to.... but this is just absolutely ridiculous. Our priorities are messed up.















My views on the subject are obviously pretty harsh.
But it has always galled me that the penal system regards suffering and/or death inflicted upon innocent, helpless creatures of different species as somehow insignificant when compared to the same suffering or death inflicted upon humans.
And also that when said suffering is imposed by a jock celebrity, on whatever species and especially ex-wives, etc., it's somehow insignificant as compared to the same suffering inflicted by an ordinary citizen.
Of course this is a relatively new development in human legal affairs, the notion that animals have any sort of rights at all. Then again it could be argued that the distinction between humans and animals is really relatively recent as well, and only in the last few thousand years has it become significant.
In Vick's case, there isn't much distinction at all. He's no better than the dogs he trained to kill and threw into pits to get ripped up, only the dogs didn't have much choice, and he did.
Verfolgung presents a very balanced view of the subject. But I'd still throw Vick into a pit.
You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Free your mind, and your ass will follow.
George Clinton
______________________________________
I can certainly see that side of the argument - premeditated intent vs. unfortunate circumstance.
I can also see there tends to be more leniency in our society when we can empathize with a situation. While many people can recall back to times when they may have had a few too many and still took the wheel of a car, they find it much harder to picture themselves being brutal and cruel to innocent animals. I can understand this.
Is there not some choice involved when regularly taking the keys while intoxicated? Why do they, along with those guilty of domestic violence, have a greatter right to continue their lucrative NFL careers? I don't know.
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How about framing the argument in another context. Vick is part of a global sub-culture which enjoys various blood sports including animal fighting (dogs, cocks, etc.). We may look at cock fighting in Singapore as being borderline barbaric. Conversely, they look at americans as hypocrites considering the conditions under which we keep and slaughter our livestock for food - out of site, out of mind. Is everyone who is appalled by Vick a vegan?
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Again, please understand that I'm not trying to argue on Vick's behalf, but merely offering up the various arguments I've heard on this complex issue.
My personal opinion is that I do not fault the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, in making him eligible to be signed. This decision did not provide him with a contract and did not guarantee him money. All it did was add him to a large pool of available free agents, some of whom may have done things as bad or worse in their own lives.
My opinion is the time to be critical may come when an owner and a team actually signs him.
ETA: One thing we can hope, is that if a team does sign him, members of the opposing defenses will be dog lovers.
Last edited by verfolgung; 07-28-2009 at 11:32 AM.
If you can't win. Make the fellow in front of you break the record.
If it is a one time slip...then I'd be willing to give them a second chance(based on the severity of the crime...esp domestic violence)provided they are truly repentant and do not make that mistake again. Vick is an entirely different story. He did this knowingly and willingly for many years. His father has made statements that Vick was NOT raised this way. That he was raised to have respect for ALL life and that he knew damn well what he was doing was wrong and did it anyway because he thought he was above the law.
Nobody DESERVES a second chance. Getting one is a privilege. One that Vick has not earned.


on a side note......he didnt do 2 years for dogfighting.....he did the majority of his time for the conspiracy charge related to running an interstate illegal gambling operation(its what they get bookies on). Felony dogfighting carries a MAXIMUM sentence of 1 year, people generally do 30 days or probation.
The Unites States doesnt see cruelty to animals as that big a deal....why should the NFL be any different?
But that may not be the problem for Vick. No team has stepped forward to express any interest in signing him. And that has more to do with his passing skills than any worry about a PETA protest. When is the last time ANY company has worried about something PETA might do?
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