Should M. Vick get to play?
 

Ok, you all knew this thread subject was coming sooner or later. LOL

Should Michael Vick be able to play in the NFL after the horrensdous crimes he committed?

My feelings..... an eye for an eye. Let him go broke and live on the streets as far as I'm concerned.

One quick answer, hell no!

Absolutely he should be able to play in the NFL. There are people in the NFL currently who have been convicted of much greater crimes IMO. One guy soon will be let back in the league after he hit and killed someone when he was drunk. Vick is a great athlete and deserves a second changes. I'm 100% against dog fighting but the guy deserves a second chance. He served his time now people just need to get off his back and let him get his life back on track and get his money!!

What second chance did these dogs he killed and brutilized have? And as far as the others in the NFL, what second chance to their victims have? Seems like the NFL will let any thug play no mater what as long as they play good.

Pepsi and Papa Johns Pizza better watch things too.

I'm confused on this...

I'm in favor to teach Him a lesson... but I'm against to block anyones' passion to do what they love...

p.s. On second thoughts... can we bar ppl from using vB forever?!?!

People do things and should be forgiven but is giving this guy a multi million dollar contract punishment? Is jail time enough?

You could say he's done his time so move on.

For me, the NFL should enforce a lifetime ban, however, they probably can't do it as he has served his time.
If they tried enforce a ban now, I'd imagine the lawyers would have a field day.

Yeah probably, doesn't ban fans from boycotting though... Hit them where it hurts. Not that that would help either cause at least here in America seems like people get away with everything these days. Instant memory loss for a nation so fascinated with celebritism? Is that even a word? LOL

We've had a similar thing here in the UK with our football / soccer players.
Most recently it was Joey Barton. He served his time for a crime (I'm a poet and I didn't know it) and he was not sacked by his club. A violent crime.
He takes a lot of stick from fans booing and the likes.
It's the fans that ultimately could force a club to sack a player. Protests etc.
However, that then allows another club to snap him up. Catch22!

If every time someone made a mistake, albeit a quite large mistake, was told they were no longer able to do anything any more this world would have died long ago.

He went to jail and paid his dues. He is also now working on the other side of things trying to raise awareness on animal behavior. He is trying to show that he may care.

If he messes up again..doing the same thing then there maybe a reason to actually fault him.

Kevin, What if this was a drunk driving case and he killed a few children? Then pleads guilty to simple manslaughter, serves 5 years in prision. Should he(or anyone) then be allowed to play football and would it be appropriate for the NFL to pay him millions of dollars after an innocent family was so shattered? So disgusting. Not surprised that Americans would allow this at all.

So just because someone committed a crime means they shouldn't be allowed to earn a living?

not via a multi million dollar NFL contract! MacDonalds maybe. LOL

Alright here's the deal... the NFL operates, believe it or not, under a very similar structure to McDonalds... a franchise system. Now, by saying a man doesn't deserve to play in the NFL just because he'll make millions is absurd... seriously.

Think about it for a second: The NFL pays that well because it makes a lot of money, which gets passed along to the players (and the NFL would be nothing without the players). It's one thing to disagree with how much these athletes make, but it's an entirely different situation when you argue against a man's right on the basis of that.

Look, I don't condone dogfighting, and I don't know anyone personally that does, but people make mistakes. He served his time that the legal system (one that in all actuality probably took things harder on Vick than they would have you or I) imposed upon him. Maybe you disagree that he shouldn't be allowed to play, but by saying so, you would also be saying you don't believe he should be able to have a job.

The fact is, the guy has physical talent that you or I don't have that makes him a lot of money. If he can use that to make more money than he would working at McDonalds, what person WOULDN'T take that? You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone. I've said it before and I'll say it again... if you serve the time for the crime, you should be able to resume your life to the extent that the law allows.

I thought ex-convicts make for good entertainment?

Bahaha... Either way, keep in mind this is coming from a Cowboys fan. If the Eagles use him the right way (which does not involve taking McNabb off the field), he could actually cause me some sleepless nights.

A request to those who post about local news: Please include the background of your story as 90% of the members on vB.org probably don't come from your country and have no clue what it is about.

I personally never even heard of a M. Vick, nor do i have a clue what he has done.

Ah ok Marco. Michael Vick is an American football player for the National Football League. He was a big time superstar until he was convicted of running a dog-fighting ring several years ago. He served his time in prison and was released this summer. He is currently trying to make a comeback to football.

Then i don't see areason why he shouldn't play. He served his time didn't he?

Yes he did. Either way, if there was no such thing as second chances, we'd all be worthless.

yes he should be able to play

yes he served his time

yes he is a great athlete

he actually got signed with "my" team, the eagles, it was quite a shock

all the boycott hoopla, lol, did you know there is literally like a 5-10 year waiting list for eagles season tickets? people leave them to family in their wills, it is serious business.

people are talking about giving away their season passes and there are people in line to take them, vick jerseys are flying off the shelves, it is crazy.

PETA has already been told, Philadelphia is not a wise choice of cities to try and protest in.

I don't support what he did, i like dogs, and i wont be buying his jersey, but he is good and i hope he does well. if you were a eagles fan and are no longer, you probably weren't that big of a fan to begin with.

eta: and yes, there are a lot of other football players with a lot worse things going on. people want to flip out about dog abuse when other people have hurt or killed PEOPLE. google Ray Lewis and see what comes up, i don't see anyone calling for his head.

If he served his time, yes. You shouldn't have to wear a 'Scarlet Letter' for the rest of you life if you are truly trying to change.

Let's hope you never do anything that deserves any forgiveness....

I agree what he did was horrible.
But I guess you need to be reminded - he already went to court; was found guilty, and sentenced. He completed his sentence and now it's time to move on.

If the law warranted a longer sentence then he would have received one.

Perhaps your anger should address the law (justice system) not the player.

And i always thought that 2nd chances where part of the culture in the USA.

I have already written to the NFL stating that I will be boycotting all products, games and broadcasts as long as Michael Vick has a contract to play. The only thing that would make me change my mind is if he was required to spend 95% of his salary advocating against animal cruelty.

I agree that the system is wrong as well. I think he should have gotten life imprisonment. Luckily other groups agree with me and we are working to have things changed.

I'll say it again... the notion that his salary is an issue is absurd. Would you be this upset if he was working at Wal-Mart? Would you boycott Wal-Mart? 95% of his salary... you must be smoking something the world has never heard of...

If he was working at Wal-mart than 95% of his salary should go to advocacy against animal cruelty. That should be his only purpose in life right now and should have been part of his original sentence. And yes, if Wal-mart hired him and used it for publicity than I wouldn't shop there anymore or anywhere else for that matter. He can actually make a decent living in advocacy work and it would improve his image. I am not saying his entire life but for 5 years.

If he was simply caught at a dog fight, than he more than served his time. However he funded them and killed animals violently because "they didn't perform to expectations". I bet he doesn't have to worry about being electrocuted or drowned if he doesn't perform up to expectations.

95%?! I'm sorry but if 95% of a Wal-Mart salary went to someone else, the guy wouldn't even have the money to get to work. The fact is, the legal system has run it's course. If you disagree, then fault the system, not the man. Vick isn't the only person to have done this, and even got stiffer sentences than the other guys that were involved with him. Trust me you don't want to sound like some of the outrageous PETA people that lose all credibility for the rest of the group trying to do some good, and by claiming that one man should suffer MORE just because of publicity is absurd and makes it sound like one of the aforementioned people. As far as it being used for publicity, trust me, the Eagles were trying to get better by signing the guy. You don't give a guy a 2 year contract just for negative publicity and attention.

Trust me I fault the system when a violent criminal is only sentenced to 23 months. There are many groups working to change the system already. If groups like the ASPCA and the Human Society had their way, he would have received life imprisonment. Which is what I believed he deserved. Good for the Eagles in trying to get better but I think it will backfire at least initially. I am not the only boycotting the NFL because of this.

Personally, I don't think he should be allowed to make a living and should still be in prison. A person that is so violent and shows such little regard for life doesn't deserve my respect.

I'm in very close agreement with Wayne's view on this matter, to be quite honest.

It seems like there are two arguments here: The court system, and the NFL contract.

1) Yes, the court system is highly flawed. All the time on the the local news, I see puppy mills and backyard breeders (who merely keep their animals in poor conditions and run the mill for profit) get caught. Compared to Vick, the crimes and cruelty these people committed is not anywhere near as bad, yet they get arrested and sentenced for as long (if not longer) as he did. What he did is much worse and he should have gotten far worse punishment. It's unfortunate that he didn't, but there isn't anything we can do about it. Yes, it is the system to blame and not Vick -- for his lack of punishment.

2) The NFL had a choice: they didn't have to reinstate Vick into the NFL, and they don't have to employ him any more. It's the NFL's reputation that is lost to people/groups like Wayne, and I applaud the boycotting efforts.

Do you honestly think he can't afford to live off of what he has already made in his career? The rest of his life is paid off, I'm sure.

I am pretty sure he was trying to file for bankruptcy because of everything that has happened.

I guess. All while buying a new condo, too.

http://www.totalbankruptcy.com/news/...hael-vick.aspx

Actually, due to bankruptcy proceedings, he doesn't have anything left. Is that his fault? Yes, but it still doesn't make it right to give money as a reason to boycott him.

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Also, you do realize that story about two years old right?

HELL NO.

There's a such thing as making "A mistake." But does the YEARS.. day after day after day of torturing mans best friend qualify as "A mistake?"

It wasnt some kind of accident, or a one time deal. He knowingly did what he did over and over. He is only sorry he got caught. What a shame anyone could even support him now.

One can only hope there's a special place in hell for child and animal abusers.

All the NFL is turing into is a bunch of ex-convicts that are suppose to be role models/examples for our sons.

Not in this house...

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Not one in the public eye that is suppose to be a ROLE model.

He can go earn his living by picking up the trash off the side of the road and I'd have no problem!

Sorry Marco. I do realize this. I tried to post a link many times but when I hit "send reply" it kept doing nothing. I'll try harder next time. :DI was thinking about this last night some more. This" do as a say not as a do mentality" is ridiculous in this case. Does anyone actually think that any of these Chicago thugs with a big huge wad of rolled up dog fighting hundred dollar bills cares what Michael Vicks says? Honestly, pretty wishful thinking. Michael made his money of these poor animals and so will all the rest of these scumbags. They aren't gonna give up a life style just because one of 'Them" got caught and is now preaching to the choir most likely because he was made to do so not because he wanted to. And if Vick wasn't a so-called celebrity you can bet he would be back doing the same thing as he wouldn't have a multi million dollar bank account to fall back on.

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Hi Princeton... would you feel the same if he killed a child drunk driving after repeat offenses? If it was your child, mother, sister or brother?

This is the problem with the "move on" mentality humans have developed is that it lets people off the hock too easily and continues the lack of personal responsibilty we are seeing today. Forgive and forget and move-on? Say that to the parents of this child? Say that to a dog missing a leg because Vick tortured it? Something is so wrong with this mentality and cements the double standard of celebrity -vs- citizen punishment both in court and out.

Is sort of like the same principal as people who "Get Jesus" after they've killed someone and have spent a few years in prison. They say Jesus forgives them but does this make the crime any less horrendous or the time any less warrented.

Of course he is only sorry because he got caught... he even admitted as much. That isn't much different from the rest of us with most anything in life. In this case, that's what the legal system exists for. Sure it's a "mistake", albeit a big one. It's a mistake because it was poor judgment and taste. I don't support what he did, but I do support his endeavor because I'd like to think he is truly remorseful for what happened.

Here's a piece of advice though... if you're looking for professional athletes to mentor your children, turn the TV off and talk to your kids yourself. It's time for the world to quit blaming mass media for their problems.

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No one said it makes anyone feel better in the end, but what good does it do for the rest of us to condemn a person for it instead of supporting the person trying to improve their life and make better choices? It doesn't mean you support what they did in the past, you merely support them in hopes that they come out of it a truly better person.

I have so many words to describe Vick the bottom line is NO he should NOT be allowed ever back in the NFL. He's only sorry that he got caught simple as that!

You can speak for yourself buddy. I am most certainly VERY different than him. I would never TORTURE living things for fun, amusement, or any amount of money. Good for him he is remorseful, and boohoo he cries over it. LAME.

As I stated, NOT IN THIS HOUSE. I never blamed anything on anyone for any so called problems. :confused: Im pretty certain you dont know about our TV time here as well. My children are smart enough to know a mentor from a sick criminal. ;)

No...I think he should not be given a second chance.

So in your entire life, you've never done anything that you were sorry for because you got caught? In that case, could you go ahead and give me your blessing and send me on to heaven?