Mike Vick Poll

[fundonny]

Should the NFL reinstate Mike Vick for this season?

[Weazl]

Yes. As long as he doesn't join my 49ers.

[spackler]

Yeah, if anyone wants him. What he did was terrible, but he's been away for 2 years and that's a big chunk of his career. Leonard Little killed someone while driving drunk and only got 8 games, Vick's been out 32.

[Bouche]

Ya I would like to see him comeback

[Indio]

He spent his time for the crime... if there is an owner that is willing to give him a '2nd chance' then all the power 2 him.

[sillywilly]

We are all guilty of cruelty to animals if we eat at KFC, should we all be fired? KFC treats their yummy chickens so badly yet I don't care, as long as they taste good. If we ate dogs like they do in china, this wouldn't even be a story.

[mpare]

I'm speachless. My immediate response is "You can't be serious." Please tell us that you're just being your usual, controversial self.

We are all guilty of cruelty to animals if we eat at KFC, should we all be fired? KFC treats their yummy chickens so badly yet I don't care, as long as they taste good. If we ate dogs like they do in china, this wouldn't even be a story.

[mpare]

Vick has served his time, so the Commissioner should be allowed to reinstate him. I'm assuming that the league has a set of objective criteria that ought to be considered in making such a decision, and that Vick meets that criteria. The NFL is not an organization populated by saints. To the contrary, it has it's fair share of ne'er-do-wells. It would be disingenuous to treat Michael Vick as a pariah while this other cast of miscreants is embraced by the league.

[jonf]

We are all guilty of cruelty to animals if we eat at KFC, should we all be fired? KFC treats their yummy chickens so badly yet I don't care, as long as they taste good. If we ate dogs like they do in china, this wouldn't even be a story.

I have to agree with this statement (though perhaps not with the sentiment behind it).


And yes, Vick should be re-instated. He's done the time, paid his debt to society (which ironically means that society paid hundreds of thousands to prosecute and lock him up), and should be allowed to return to the field.

[Kiwi]

Did the crime, did the time, move on.

[Hacker]

Stupid question......the answer is YES!! The National Felon's League has no right trying to hold itself to a higher standard than the rest of society

[sensfan63]

Stupid question......the answer is YES!! The National Felon's League has no right trying to hold itself to a higher standard than the rest of society

The NFL definitely has the right to enforce further punishment upon Vick. Whatever Roger Goodell does, I support it, because Goodell does what he believes is in the best interest of the NFL. Remember, the NFL is a billion-dollar business and if Goodell feels that further punishment is warranted to protect that business, fine. If not, that's fine too.

However, to imply (not that anyone on this forum has done so, but certainly the sentiment has been expressed elsewhere) that Michael Vick has the right to play in the NFL is absolutely not true. That's not an opinion, that's a fact. You play in the NFL if a team owner wants to pay you to do so.

As far as the "higher standard than the rest of society," remember that there is a nice little box that you have to check on an employment application if you have ever been convicted of a felony. There is no doubt that it is more difficult to obtain employment if you check this box. In Vick's case, he has certain specific talents that may be of interest to NFL teams. If he ends up being shunned by all teams, that's fine too.

[fundonny]

Stupid question......the answer is YES!! The National Felon's League has no right trying to hold itself to a higher standard than the rest of society

I hate that expression. 98% (approx.) of these players are good decent men who understand the priviledge of being paid to play the game. I bet that's a higher % then in the Canadian federal government.

[mpare]

You're wrong about those who work for the Canadian federal government, of which I know many. Since pursuing this further would take us off topic and into a political discussion, I'll say no more.

I hate that expression. 98% (approx.) of these players are good decent men who understand the priviledge of being paid to play the game. I bet that's a higher % then in the Canadian federal government.

[fundonny]

You're wrong about those who work for the Canadian federal government, of which I know many. Since pursuing this further would take us off topic and into a political discussion, I'll say no more.

I've been a fed for 13 years now. My point was that in any occupation, you're going to have bad seeds. The NFL, the Fed, the department store Santas, law enforcement, there is no exception.

[BC MIST]

I once ran a 10 km race from Prescott to Ogdensburg over the international bridge. The US customs agent was asking the Canadians if they had ever been arrested and the fellow in front of me said, "Yes," and was not allowed to even enter the US. And yet most want a convicted felon to play for millions and perhaps earn millions for the team. I suppose then that no one here would object to a convicted pedophile moving in next door because he, "Did the crime, did the time, move on. "

For once, I agree with sensfan63.

[jeffc]

remember that there is a nice little box that you have to check on an employment application if you have ever been convicted of a felony.

convicted? Nope, never been convicted.

[fundonny]

I once ran a 10 km race from Prescott to Ogdensburg over the international bridge. The US customs agent was asking the Canadians if they had ever been arrested and the fellow in front of me said, "Yes," and was not allowed to even enter the US. And yet most want a convicted felon to play for millions and perhaps earn millions for the team. I suppose then that no one here would object to a convicted pedophile moving in next door because he, "Did the crime, did the time, move on. "

For once, I agree with sensfan63.

All crimes are not equal. What Vick did was horrible. Someone guilty of your example should be executed.

[jonf]

just as a reminder: dogs ≠ humans

[sillywilly]

just as a reminder: dogs ≠ humans

why??

[jonf]

why??

[thematt]

......annnnnnnnnd Michael Vick has been officially conditionally (i like that one) re-instated.

From my understanding, he can practice and do any off-field activities with whatever team signs him, he can play in the final two pre-season games, but he won't be eligable to play until at least week 6 of the regular season. At that time Goodell will reassess the situation and make a decision.

[fundonny]

It's no later then week 6, could be sooner. I think Roger will give the protesters two weeks to vent, then Mike will play in week 3 or week 4.

I'm guessing Washington or Jacksonville.

[sillywilly]

I can't see how any owner can even give him a shot. Just all the ngative pub would hurt the team more than he could ever help them. What kind of shape can he even be in after 2 years in jail? If I was vick I would celebrate my first touchdown by getting a team mate to get on all fours with him and pretend they were two dogs fighting. I wonder how long he would be suspended for lol

[Chambokl]

I wouldn't be surprise if a small market team go after him.

Buffalo, Jacksonville, Green Bay, Tennessee, Baltimore, ... trying to thing of other possibilities.

[big mac]

Sorry guys---can't get my head around this on----Pete has been out for how many years gambling ???? Vick---2 for causing real creulty to innocent animals ----maybe in another 10 years Seriously-- I think the guy is sick

[fundonny]

Sorry guys---can't get my head around this on----Pete has been out for how many years gambling ???? Vick---2 for causing real creulty to innocent animals ----maybe in another 10 years Seriously-- I think the guy is sick

I'm not defending his actions, but he's not sick. He's a product of his environment, where it isn't considered wrong to have animals fight eachother. To Vick and thousands who grow up a certain way, it's no different then MMA or boxing, instead of people they're using dogs that are bread to fight - pit bulls. Vick has never had any serious issue with the law previous to that (yes, the marijuana), no harm to any person. He was charitable in Atlanta and did a lot of good things. He just couldn't get away from his old crew.

He served two years, an adequate punishment for organizing dog fighting. Now, he's back and like the bible says, he has been forgiven.

[Weazl]

Daniel Snyder in Washington will give him a tonne of cash and I say he plays in week 5 after a 4 week suspension.

[spackler]

I don't think anyone is going to give him a ton of cash this year. Maybe next year if he shows he can still play and keeps out of trouble, but he will be lucky to find a team that wants him this year, nevermind a big salary.

[EDSGOLF]

Let him play, he has paid his dues. Exciting player.