Why don't you give the guy a chance! Have you ever made a mistake, Joe? Ever stumbled, Joe? Ever been fired from a job? Have you ever been in a place where the only place you can go is up? What Vick did was reprehensible, but he served hard prison time, not some cushy sentence.

Vick is in an avocation where taking a year off is not an option. He needed to find a way to make a living with what he knew how to do. He has found it. And he will now find with the help of his new team a means by which he can show remorse.

Cut him some slack.

I'm not an employer.



I'd love to say "no," but... Still, I haven't been arrested, let alone incarcerated.



No.



Not yet.



True.



There's no reason he can't, if he were so inclined.



He went to college for two years. Didn't he learn anything while he was there?



That remains to be seen.



On the contrary, I've heard much worse about Vick than anything I've said.

I could say much worse about that scumbag but I was holding back!

Blue please watch the documentary on Vick and dog fighting that is being shown on animal planet. It was the first time I've ever had to stop watching something because it was so upsetting. Seriously how can you compare making "a mistake" "stumbling" "being fired from a job" with what he has done.
I don't understand why you think playing in NFL is only option. It's laughable really. He worked some construction for a bit. Why does he deserve to be filthy rich again ?
He has shown zero real remorse. Every interview he talks about "making a mistake that he can't believe he didn't think thru and the harm it did to his career and family. NEVER does he talk about the pain those animals went thru.



Cut him some slack? Do you have any pets? Take a look in their eyes and imagine just one of the things Vick did over and over and over again happening to your pet. What kind of slack would you cut him if it had been a dog you owned?

Sounds like you dont' think what he did was a big deal at all?

I feel sorry for you.

This argument is so lame. You'd have to use Charles Manson or John Wayne Gacy to accurately compare someone who has done to humans what Vick did to dogs.
I don't agree any of them deserve to play but Vick didn't accidently kill one dog.
Only way I'd be willing to give him any kind of chance if he had taken time to really work for changing the attitudes about dog fighting and donating some serious time and money. Doubt we will ever see any significant amount of either. Oh his agent will arrange some appearances, like the recent one in Atlanta where only media were invited no one from the neighborhood. It was all a show. Eagles could care less about the social redemption of Vick. They got the deal of a lifetime for a backup QB. As others have said think we'd ever here from him again if he was a 4th string guard or on the practice squad?

I don't quite get all the outrage. Yeah, Vick's a scumabg, but there are plenty of scumbags playing in the NFL, as well as the NBA and MLB. Many professional athletes have shown extreme cruelty to other people - usually women - and they continue playing. Prison is supposed to be one's "debt to society," and Vick has fulfilled that obligation, so it's time to lay off him and let him play. BTW, all those outraged Eagle fans will be buying Vick Rottweilers and Poodles to amuse himself with the minute he wins a game in the fourth quarter for them - and that would be true in any city.

As I wrote above, what Vick did was reprehensible. Perhaps I was not clear, it was terrible. It was a big deal. Nonetheless, he went to prison for it and served his sentence. As the law stands, he paid the price for what he did. Why don't you wait to see how he may show society that he has learned his lesson?

As for protesting the light sentences given to players for killing individuals while driving drunk, no, that argument is not lame. Accident or not, those players killed people. Those were human lives. Manson and Gacy were murderers of people. Though his crime was horrific, Michael Vick did not kill people.

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I'm surprised he didn't blame it on steroids (roid-rage) I just can't imagine how warped someone's mind must be to not find any of those acts repulsive. His prison time is not an issue. What is an issue is what else is this guy capable of.

For me BBC there are 2 quotes that stood out from the articles you linked. They basically repeat how I feel about this thorny & volatile situation.





But again, the 2nd quote assumes that he's gonna actually devote his life to such causes. We'll just have to wait & see...

I can't help but think about the OJ case. I remember that he avowed to "find Nicole's (& Ron's) killer for the sake of his children." ....Yeah right! We all know how that turned out!

Would you and other New Yorkers accept him if the Giants hired him or is it only acceptable because it was the Eagles that got him

I still haved mixed feelings about this signing. The signing seems less about the Eagles filling some real on the field need and more about trying to make some point. Perhaps Lurie is seeking a noble prize for charitable works.

It's the second quote I wonder about. As Jeffery Lurie said it's not enough for Vick to just do what is asked, he must be proactive in showing what he will do for the betterment of animals. That is the part I have my doubts about. But I guess time will tell.

You have no argument from me pr!

For me this less resembles OJ Simpson's case than it does all those athletes who have made homophobic comments then backtracked with canned apologies when it became public what neanderthals they were.

I suspect that like them Vick is finding that it's even harder to get a good lay since the "good girls" don't like bullies and haters - whether it's dogs or people.

Those good girls are not only a gay guys best friend - sometimes literally - they are also a dogs best friend.

I don't have a problem with Vick being back in the league. But this might be too much!

Uhh yeah I didn't get the OJ comparison either.

The OJ comparison was simply that many people who believed that he was innocent AT FIRST (& who believed his whole shpeel about "finding the killer") gave him the benefit of the doubt. As time passed (which is what everyone here is saying 'bout Vick's mea culpa appearances, "Time will tell," for ie) OJ didn't fulfill his promise. That's the only inference I was making.

But Vick is guilty as sin and served his time, which was actually moreso for the bank rolling of the operation and not the animal cruelty itself. But ok I guess I kind of see where you were going with that.

I don't know that I'd "accept" him per se, but I don't think I'd cloak myself in purported outrage the way some Eagle fans have done. I also think the Giants as an organization currently have a far higher standard than the Eagles in terms of what behavior they'll accept from players (see Burress, Plaxico).

A lil off topic but related:

This story is just unbelievable.

...so the notion of kidnapping dogs is not too far-fetched!

I think in this country it is more like that grandma's corpse will be stolen for a kidney than that a dog will be stolen for medical research.

Rules are pretty strict here for animal use in research. And mongrels are generally not suitable. Lawsuits would be a severe deterent considering that the dog might well have a wealthy owner considering what it costs to keep and care for a pet in many districts.

Now grandma's kidney? I think some descendants on the inheritance list would gladly sell it if they could. Maybe that's the real reason we are so paranoid about "death panels".

Vick went to the bar for a drink the day after being introduced at his press conference.

Wouldn't common sense (not to mention his "advisors") tell him to stay away from the bars for a while, even if it turns out not to violate any probation terms or league guidelines? Right now, it's all about public perception for him. That might change if he suddenly performs brilliantly on the field, but until that happens, this isn't going to win him any more support. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

I heard the other day that since his reinstatement that Vick's #7 jersey was the top selling jersey at NFL.com...that was before Favre signed with the Vikes so that may have changed. Still kind of sad.

Wow are you serious re: his jersey being the highest one sold??? I wouldn't buy his jersey if it were a 1 cent. I'm sure some will be buying his jersey and then may use it as part of a mass jersey burning or will maybe put an S in place of the V of his last name to spell SICK. I'm sure some of the people buying his jersey have protest plans for it. Unfortunately, most of those buying the jersey are probably supporters. I don't mind the guy playing in the NFL again, but I'm not buying a damn thing associated with him.

What I am disgusted the most about this is many are so quick to forgive a worthless human being and yet, many are asking for Brett Favre's demise simply because he still wants to play football. I should not be surprised. It is human nature to reward those unworthy.

Personally, I think the dog killer is overrated so it is quite a desperate move on Philadelphia's part.

I hope Vick chokes.................well, like a dog on a choke chain!

I am sick of Roger Goodell's lax attitude towards corrupt matters.

Who is asking for Brett Favre's demise? Demise? Hoping, thinking, predicting that he'll play like a 40-year-old man with a torn rotator cuff is not "asking for his demise." And, you know, Brett Favre was a drug abuser in his younger days. Gee, it's too bad nobody gave him a second chance.

The Vick circus continues, and here comes another clown. The NAACP may or may not hold a pro-Vick rally outside the Linc before tomorrow's game. Of course, the local head of the NAACP is the same guy who ripped Donovan McNabb back in 2005.

I will avoid the "What crime is worse?" conversation, but dog killing is ultimately stupid. Let's not get literal in the word demise. Many are stating strong opinions about Favre's decision to play another year as if it is the crime of the century. Vick threw away a promising career to kill dogs for a career. Are sure Vick wasn't on drugs?

All in all I could care less, it will just be another disappointing season for the Eagles. I would be worried if it were teams made up of dogs, then the dog killer would have the upper hand.

Enjoy a year of Vick's unnecessary reckless playing...oh, and those very acrobatic flips!

Hmm...I think the NAACP needs to fall back on this one, unless anti Vick protests are held. If there are demonstrations in which his jersey are burned then I think they have every right to have a pro Vick demonstration. Look...not everyone views the guy in the kind of negativity expressed by those of us on this board, and from many we've heard in the public. He still has a lot of support, and it shouldn't be surprising that he's going to get a lot of that support from the black community.

I see your pt to some degree mdterp. But honestly, the only way the NAACP (& the Black community) will get any respect (if they show up for his support) is by the following:

1. They publicly denounce dog fighting & reiterate that it's not only illegal, but that it's immoral & cruel to mistreat animals for the sake of financial profit.

2. Have Michael make a similar denouncement as the NAACP.

3. That they're ONLY there to support Michael becuz he's served his time & paid his debt to society.

Anything short of that will be political suicide.

Just sayin...

Uhhhh.....SCTrojan...since when have black people or the NAACP based their decision on marching or demonstrating for something ever been determined by whether or not they will be respected by people. And what exactly is this respect you're talking about and whose respect are they trying to garner?

I was only talkin 'bout this case...If I have insulted you I apologize...

I stand by my 3 pts!

No I wasn't at all insulted or offended. I was just curious as to whose respect or approval they would be worried about not having as a result of this.

Michael Vick's reception from Eagles fans was...well...rather surprising. He got a standing ovation and cheers. From what I understand there were no boos and chants of "We Want Vick". I guess the real test will be when he travels to other stadiums. He had the comfort of being in his home stadium. I'm sure some of the other fans in other cities won't be so nice. But, at least it seems as though he won't have to deal with it at his place. The less drama the better.

Certainly an interesting article.

Two things I read online (since I was in Baltimore I didn't see the game): the stadium was half-empty -- surprising in itself, given the hype. And the "We Want Vick" chant came after a McNabb interception.

Also, apparently the offense only started to click after Vick was done for the night. Before that the disruptions with him going in and out and all the formations and trick plays and such made rather a mess of things.

Regardless of the timeline of events and half empty stadium, ANY CHEERS were surprising to me. Considering the reaction from many Philly fans and media coverage in general, I still wasnt' expecting that kind of reception. Goes to show that ultimately, winning is what fans care about.

I know a group was there to support him along with protestors but I'm curious what possible angle the NAACP would have to be supporting Vick?

Roger Goodell has made his decision: Vick is eligible to play in the regular season beginning with Week 3. If he's on the roster for the first 2 weeks he can practice but not play, but they'd only have 52 eligible players. If he's placed on the exempt list, they can have 53 players but Vick can't practice. Speculation was that if he had to wait longer than 2 weeks, the Eagles would have had to exempt Vick to keep A.J. Feeley around as the third QB. Now it seems more likely that Feeley will be traded or cut by Saturday, and they'll try to get by for two weeks with only 2 quarterbacks.

It will be interesting to see how he's received in the Carolinas today.

Lucky for him most of the dogs down there are busy defending their actions while in office or running for it.

Since he's not playing, he'll be in a luxury box with Jeffrey Lurie (I assume Lurie will be there) or in civilian clothes on the sidelines, so many people won't even know he's there unless he's shown on the video board at the stadium.

At the time of this post the Philadelphia Eagles are one for two for the regular season.

One brash blogger predicted they would go 13-3 for the 2009 season - without even mentioning the wild card of Michael Vick which apparently had not come in to play at the time of the *ahem* prediction. Right now said prediction ain't looking so likely. A 50-50 season is threatening.

So I've got a suggestion for the beleaguered Eagles (call them the BelEagles?): The City of Brotherly love needs to release its Inner Fabulousness. The whole team needs to loosen up and put on a Bare-as-you-dare skimpy-dimpy mens bathing suit fashion show. Imagine all of the linebackers prancing down the runway in one of these conservative numbers. Instead of raising money they could raise spirits by donating it to charity and making the whole city feel more like a community. Imagine if Michael Vick and Brent Celek had the courage to risk having their naked shoulders accidentally collide in full view of the public. Of course that public might include a few lusting gay men as well as some excessively horny straight women. But hey, this is for a good cause. Vick could revamp his image. Players like Celek could improve their image among the "nice" women and the Eagles get a morale boost.