97 Comments

1. Jack Okie:

I foster dogs for the Animal Rescue Foundation. He is buying his “repentance”. If Vick wants to atone let him work a few years at the local shelter cleaning up. Any team who hires him is going to have a tremendous problem with the animal welfare groups. I wouldn’t cross the street to p*ss on him if he were on fire.

Jul 30, 2009 - 2:43 am 2. seansarto:

Dime a dozen….

2nd chance?
No.

Jul 30, 2009 - 2:48 am 3. Rich Vail:

Nope, Michael Vick doesn’t deserve another chance. He tortured and killed animals for entertainment. The NFL in allowing him to play again has lost me permanantly as a supporter. I’ll never watch another game again.

Jul 30, 2009 - 4:11 am 4. RandyChandler:

It will make for great tabloid-style drama when Vick suits up to once again take the field as an NFL QB. The drama will be on the field and off it. To shake the image of dog killer, Vick will have to work some grid-iron miracles. I don’t know if he has it in him to do that. I suppose we may learn a new angle on the old saw, “Every dog has his day.” In Vick’s case, it could be a very long day indeed.

Jul 30, 2009 - 4:34 am 5. Steveoh:

Yeah he has a right just like any other convicted felon to a second chance in society. And hopefully he will find himself a job worthy of a man who has commmitted such heinous crimes. Doctor’s and Lawyers lose their ability to work in their respective fields when guilty of a felony. Same should go for this monster. Forget the shelter system the dogs deserve better. Put him in polyester and get him going at a fast food joint. Or perhaps the car wash. These are the jobs usually afforded those who check convicted felon on their job apps.
He deserves a chance to earn a living, but why the privilege of playing in the NFL. May the teams agree. I can only hope.

Jul 30, 2009 - 4:37 am 6. Obi-Wandreas:

There’s a reason why serial killers start by torturing animals. Having the ability to control those weaker than you and fully appreciate their exquisite pain is the essence of being a psychopath. Anyone who is capable of participating in such acts has officially ceased to be human.

I’m of the mindset that felonies need to be immediate grounds for lifetime bans. I watch football to be entertained, not to help thugs get rich. There are legions of talented kids banging down the doors to compete here. It’s not like we don’t have enough people to fill the spots.

This is just one of many reasons why I’ve always been a fan of my hometown team, the Bills. Marv Levy never put up with this kind of crap from his players, going so far as to actually assign roommates to certain players to keep them out of trouble. If they were to allow such things to happen (I’m going to be paying close attention to how they handle TO), I would be finished as a fan.

No, dogs are not human. That’s why domesticated dogs need our protection. Dogs especially trust us to take care of them. Exploiting this trust for cruelty, entertainment and profit is a sign of such derangement that such a person has no business ever freely roaming about where they might have contact with innocent humans or animals.

Jul 30, 2009 - 5:19 am 7. kim:

Vick desreves absolutely nothing, and I hope he finds himself not being able to crawl back up from the sludge.

This “man”, and I hesitate to even call hin that, forced dogs to fight, tortured and killed those who did not perform to his standards, saw nothing wrong with what he was doing and I have yet to see real remorse. Excuse me…..isn’t that part of the profiling for psychopaths and serial killers. If he can do what he did to innccent animals and not think twice, what happens if a human pisses him off?

Vick should STILL be behind bars. I’m sorry, but he does not deserve a second chance. Yes, people do make mistakes, but I do not consider what he did a mistake. It was cold, calculated and done for money and enjoyment….pure plain and simple. And as far as I’m concerned, anyone who enjoys watching animals fighting to their deaths has a major screw loose somewhere.

I hope the teams shun him, and I hope the NFL gets the message as well. And if he does get back in, I hope advertisers and sponsors pull out.

Jul 30, 2009 - 5:32 am 8. bobdog:

A great role model for the kids.

Why is it America has one set of rules for celebrities and another set for everybody else? America’s moral compass is clearly broken if he’s allowed to play in organized football.

What’s wrong with us?

Jul 30, 2009 - 5:53 am 9. KevinS:

Sure he deserves a second chance. But that doesn’t mean it has to be in the NFL. He has two things going against him. One is his treatment of animals. Two is the fact that he is not all that good of a QB. What team is going to risk all the bad publicity by hiring him when he has nothing to offer? I would suggest to him to start looking in the want-ads and possibly change his name, because he won’t get on with a team anytime soon and his name isn’t worth a cold pile of dog excrement.

Jul 30, 2009 - 6:38 am 10. locomotivebreath1901:

“…of the 408 NFL players who have been arrested on felony charges since 2000…” none were vile enough to abuse, torture & kill dogs for sport.

And that’s the difference. And why many fans won’t give him a pass.

Yet, apparently, the NFL will.

It ain’t called the League of Thugs fer nuthin’.

But I’m pretty sure that’s not the philosophy Vince wanted in place when he said, “Winning isn’t everything – it’s the only thing.”

Jul 30, 2009 - 6:41 am 11. WJ:

Vick did his prison time. He is now released. He should be able to pursue his football career if some team will hire him. It’s that simple.

Jul 30, 2009 - 6:47 am 12. Lynn:

Violence against women = OK to Play
Violence against dogs = Not OK to Play

Yep, sounds about right.

Jul 30, 2009 - 6:47 am 13. David P:

Vick absolutely deserves a second chance, he’s made mistakes committing victimless crimes & should not be forced to permanently wallow in his own demise.

Jul 30, 2009 - 7:47 am 14. bobdog:

But…but…they’re America’s HEE-ROS!!!

Far as I’m concerned, either one is grounds for a lifetime banishment from any organized sport.

But…but…he SERVED his time!!!

That’s because he only got two years…because he’s a celebrity.

But…but…Can’t we all find it in our hearts to just forgive and forget?

No. Correction: Hell no. Sorry, the man is a pig who should not be rewarded by making him rich to play a game on TV.

Sheesh.

Jul 30, 2009 - 7:49 am 15. Thomas L......:

Vick has no absolute right to be a multi -millionaire athlete. In a very real sense, he serves at the pleasure of his audience and his audience is disgusted with him. Yes, he has the right to be rehabilitated and find work. Too bad he left college before getting his degree. It might have come in handy.
Lynn, you do know what they say about two wrongs, don’t you?

Jul 30, 2009 - 7:50 am 16. lucy:

He’s disgusting, the violence he enjoyed makes him a monster. That he might be embraced, touted as some kind of celebrity just shows how depraved our culture has become. He can redeem himself by working in soup kitchens and such for the next 50 years. He should never be in the presence of an animal without supervision. And a taser on hand to prevent him from committing another attack.

Jul 30, 2009 - 8:00 am 17. Frank:

Don’t mean to be too glib about this but I don’t have a dog in this fight. I am equally indifferent to dogs in general and Miachael Vick’s career concerns in particular but come on. The tenor of some of these comments leads one to conclude many apparently prioritize the protection of animals over that of women, i.e. the 17% of domestic violence cases in the NFL. We sane are obligated to question a culture where the punishement and career consequences for torturing a dog are worse than that for torturing a person. Seems to me if a player can be banned for life for gambling the punishmnet should be at least as harsh for physical violence resulting in bodily injury off the field. But that’s just me, sane.

Jul 30, 2009 - 8:02 am 18. Paul in MI:

He paid his debt to society but he hasn’t earned the right to play football again. Whether they like it or not, pro players are role models and his role model status is permanently revoked. I would boycott my team and their sponsors if they signed him and I’m a Lions fan for gods sake.

Jul 30, 2009 - 8:18 am 19. Conservative1:

You can’t polish a turd.

Jul 30, 2009 - 8:26 am 20. sharonsj:

I’ve read comments by football fans who think he should be let back into the game. I was appalled by their lack of morality, but then I realized this is a brutal sport and perhaps those kinds of fans enjoy blood and mayhem–and so they are willing to overlook his crimes. Personally I would not want to be within ten feet of Michael Vick.

Jul 30, 2009 - 8:28 am 21. Oldguy:

It’s going to be very entertaining when he’s at an away game and the whole stadium erupts into one continuous dog barking event.

Jul 30, 2009 - 8:31 am 22. blotto:

What all of you are missing is that because he is black, he will be given another chance. Do you think if he were white, we would be having this conversation?? The author tries to negate this tact by mentioning Schlicther in the beginning, but after that there are no white players acting badly or getting multiple chances.

There is a double standard in pro sports: look at the trouble Bill Romoanowski got into for spitting, yet Pacman get embraced by everyone and he committed real crimes. Ron Artest punches a fan and nothing is said-except a few games suspension.

The NFL and NBA have become nothing more than a legion of thugs since about the mid-80s. And that thuggishness is now invading the college ranks. I’ll let you figure out why this is happening.

Does he deserve a second chance? Nope. Him and all the thugs should be thrown out of pro sports.

Jul 30, 2009 - 8:41 am 23. Robohobo:

Frank @ 17:

We sane are obligated to question a culture where the punishment and career consequences for torturing a dog are worse than that for torturing a person.

Ah, hubris. The person can and will and should walk away unless they have some underlying pathology themselves. The dog is a animal whose loyalty is programmed by eons of contact with humans. Sociopaths and psychopaths are diagnosed in one way by their treatment of animals. Most torture them without remorse as Vick did. Q.E.D.

As for the NFL, you will find that most of the US could care less about them. One of the reasons for their declining popularity is the revolving door of drug abuse, spousal abuse, DWI/DUI felonies, gambling and other crimes more often associated with ‘thug culture’ that mainstream American culture. I for one have grown tired of seeing the misogyny of this thug culture and reject it wholly. So, no NFL, hip-hop “music” or other manifestations of this degraded pseudo-”culture” for this person. None.

Jul 30, 2009 - 8:50 am 24. tammyv:

Yes! He deserves a second chance. In our judicial system, we punish people and then we allow them to continue with their lives. If we don’t, then we cannot call ourselves Americans!
That is one of the great things about our country.

He did the crime and he did his time! You don’t have to support him or any team that picks him up, BUT he fulfilled his punishment and he lost everything in the process. He deserved it, but now he MUST be allowed to conitue with his life.

I tuly don’t think he will ever make that mistake again.

Jul 30, 2009 - 9:27 am 25. Frank:

Sorry Michigan Paul, but from one heartlander to another, but a Packer fan…

If you truly believe Vick and others, including hollywood and political celebrities, are defacto role models just because they are famous the problem is with your parenting, not the celebrities behavior.

At most, fame is an opportunity to be a role model. It’s not only not automatic, but the idea that fame=role model is a HUGE part of the problem.

For examples of this unfortunate reality you need look no further than the effect of shock radio and it’s offspring Right Wing talk radio on white folks and rap hip hop on African Amwerican culture.

I am not saying either have no place in our culture, nor am I equating the two, but only pointing out the undeniable coincidence that our culture has grown more coarse in proportion to their increased popularity – - and, back to my original point, because we are not a nation of critical thinkers a lot of that popularity was because they are given the benefit of the doubt on role model status simply because they have a microphone, not on how they use it. Then when an Imus, or Rush, or Tupak step in it, fans feel betrayed – - at least the non-ctritically thinking among them.

I once watched Miacheal Vick carve up slice and dice the Green Bay Packer defense so bad they looked by a basement dwelling high school team, in a year rhey took the division. If he can hone and maintain his athletic gift to that level his destiny and success are assured, and the dogs will be forgotten, even though his damned-for-life detractors will continue to overlook that his million dollar donations helped manyfold more dogs than he harmed.

On the other hand, and more likely, chances are if Vick ever does play again he will booed or barked off the field anyway. I only wish the fan reaction would be as harsh for wife-beaters and other felons. That too paints a none too flattering picture of modern American parenting and our celeb obsessed culture.

Jul 30, 2009 - 9:32 am 26. Lynn:

The person can and will and should walk away unless they have some underlying pathology themselves. The dog is a animal whose loyalty is programmed by eons of contact with humans

translation: The women asked for it. The dogs can’t help themselves.

Is that a good defense? She should have and could have walked away so therefore must have a pathological illness.

Do two sickos make a right?

Jul 30, 2009 - 9:44 am 27. RandyChandler:

Vick won’t get a second chance because he is black, but because he sold a lot of tickets in Atlanta due to the excitement he brought to the game. He will never be a great quarterback but for people who love the game he is fun to watch.

As for the “thug culture,” I wish folks would get more worked up about the thug culture in American politics, get off their duffs and protest that. Football is not going to directly affect most of us but our elected thugs will. Why are we so willing to overlook political thuggery?

I don’t care if Vick plays or not. He’s paid his legal debt so if he’s willing to face the abuse from irate fans and protestors in order to try to make a living, then I say, Give it your best shot, Vick.

But based on some of the comments here, you’d think we should chain the guy up in the backyard and let him rot. Perhaps we should check our own inner levels of cruelty before going into extreme condemnation mode.

Jul 30, 2009 - 9:47 am 28. Paul in MI:

@Frank #30

I disagree, if you play pro sports and you do it well then kids are going to admire you. They’re going to buy jerseys with your number, they’re going to buy posters and trading cards and they’re going to pretend to be you when they play. You don’t have to be a flawless human being but a certain basic level of responsibility is implicit in that arrangement. Not torturing anyone or anything for fun and profit would be a good ground rule.

Your argument seems to be that we should prevent kids from idolizing sports stars and celebrities. I agree in principle but I have to live in this world. Changing the culture is a tall order but keeping Michael Vick out of the NFL seems doable.

P.S. I know this is the internet and all but let’s leave my parents out of it ‘kay?

Jul 30, 2009 - 9:58 am 29. Paul in MI:

Clearly my previous comment was addressed at #25 not #30 which has not yet been written. Oops.

Jul 30, 2009 - 9:59 am 30. JMH:

Violence against women = OK to Play
Violence against dogs = Not OK to Play

Here’s the difference. I can imagine losing my temper in the middle of a heated argument and striking a woman. That doesn’t mean I condone it or excuse it or don’t think it should have consequences, but I can imagine myself, in a moment of weakness, committing that crime. So, I can also see giving someone else a second chance (not a third, fourth and fifth though).

I cannot, in any way, imagine systematically torturing helpless animals for entertainment over a protracted period of time. What Vick did was not something an otherwise decent person might do if they failed to control their emotions. What he did represented cold, calculated sadism. As Kim pointed out above, that’s how a sociopath behaves, and most serial killers begin by torturing and killing animals before they move on to prostitutes, co-eds walking home from class, or ex-wives and their boyfriend in the courtyard (since we’re talking football).

Dogs aren’t more important than women, but the type of person who does what Vick did is significantly more dangerous to those around him than a guy who once slugged his girlfriend.

Jul 30, 2009 - 10:06 am 31. Delia:

Well, I guess if O.J. can get off for murder and still get asked for autographs…

Jul 30, 2009 - 10:16 am 32. Dave:

That question is above my pay grade.

Jul 30, 2009 - 10:16 am 33. Nick Reynolds:

It’s not about “Second Chances”. It about the ability to earn a living. Football is how the man earns his living. He’s done his time, paid the fines, now leave him alone until he F’s up again.

Jul 30, 2009 - 10:20 am 34. Frank:

Robohob 23:
“ah Hubris”

Moi? Either I missed your point or you don’t know what that means. If you think it hubristic (arrogant)to believe torturing people is worse than torturing animals we fundamentally disagree.

If you are one of those “all living things are morally equal” types we have nothing to talk about anyway since you have squandered your expectation to be taken seriously.

I can accept that you might prefer dogs to people, know many like you, and some days absolutely agree, especially when it comes to lefties, but your opinion comparing, let alone equating, domestic violence to animal cruelty falls a bit short of the standard I posited with my “sane” qualifier. It also smacks of moral relativity, a concept of miniscule respect in these parts.

I tend to agree with much of your opinion on the less attractive attributes of the NFL but cannot deny it is part of our, and my, culture. As was the case in the baseball strike years ago the NFL runs into problems when they let commercial interests compromise the integrity of the game. Like the purity of the game itself in baseball I hold that many institutions, the Catholic Church, public schools, Universities, Government, for example are fundamentally clean – - it’s the people that run them that are the problem.

I truly respect your walking the talk in boycotting the NFL and hip hop but if you are part of the culture you can’t boycott everything. To believe you can raises hubris to new heights.

Jul 30, 2009 - 10:51 am 35. Frank:

Paul @ 30

Sorry. No intention to slight or impune your parents, I assumed you are one and was addressing you as one parent to another. No offense intended on that score either.

And no, my argument is not to prevent idol worship but only to say the that strong parental influence should be the mediating factor between the kid and the idol. I would go far as to say that a parent can’t say no to the kid who insists on a Vick, or any known felons’s, jersey is adding to the problem.

Jul 30, 2009 - 11:05 am 36. sallie:

why would anyone want to see this man play? Why would anyone pay this man to play?

War criminals are out to kill us and I will be first in line to torture them. The dogs he tortured were not. They were innocent caged animals. Totally digusting. Yes, there really is a difference!!

Jul 30, 2009 - 11:17 am 37. Genghis Kohn:

Please. The punishment meted out far surpassed the crime. Dog lovers, I would appreciate it if you at least made an attempt to clean up after your beloved pets. Attention, urban pet owners: forcing a healthy animal to reside in the concrete jungles of Manhattan, Chicago, LA, etc is cruel and unusual punishment.

Jul 30, 2009 - 11:39 am 38. glenn:

NO.

Jul 30, 2009 - 11:39 am 39. gnomepunter:

Violence against HUMANS = OK to Play
Violence against dogs = Not OK to Play

Fixed that for you.

Jul 30, 2009 - 11:49 am 40. Lynn:

Michael Vick
what a prick
beat a puppy with a stick.

it too bad
for the lad
should of hit a woman instead.

he could play
every day
it’s his private life we’d say.

Jul 30, 2009 - 11:51 am 41. blotto:

To the defenders of Vick: If you were to do the same thing, would your employer re-hire you? Would you be able to practice medicine again, be a police officer, be a nurse, work on wall street?? So why should the NFL and NBA be any different? Why should these thugs get any more benefits than you or I?

Furthermore, look at the miserable decay of professional sports today. Do you really want you son/daughter to wear the jersey of a thug?? The NBA and NFL have lost all standard of decency and what sports is all about. Instead of revealing character today’s pro sports destroy character and guess what….our kids in high school and middle school emulate these thugs. Is that really what you want in our already screwed up society.

NO, if these guys do something criminal, they should lose their PRIVILEGE to play pro sports. When are we going to start demanding good behavior from our students and adults(sports stars).

Or does an athlete’s ability to play a sport trump being a good citizen?

Jul 30, 2009 - 11:51 am 42. Max:

I agree… Michael deserves to be used as an example for all those kids looking up to him as a superstar. What he did was cruel and unforgivable, and there is no reason he should be welcomed back to a team. Some media agree, but a lot of others think that by showing he has “changed”, it will bring an even better moral to the story… look at this http://www.newsy.com/videos/vick_gets_shot_at_redemption

Jul 30, 2009 - 1:00 pm 43. Vasio:

Vick, great athlete. Not so good at the QB position… Let’s just say this malpractice is quite different in this situation for you comparing Vick to a doctor, your life is in a doctors hands not Vicks, unless your name is snoopy.. (lol) only kidding.. We have athletes who abuse drugs, women, and commit various other crimes. What you people are doing now is justifying sin. A sin is a sin no matter how big or small you may feel it is.. He should be able to return to his profession, It’s no question. I’m just so curious to why so many people are protesting and angry about this, versus woman beating and drug use in sports.. ??? Especially in Baseball the drug use is crazy so who is a role model, kids think I need to take this drug to hit a home run, no kid will think I should torture a dog to throw a touchdown…!! So he/she that is without sin you throw the first stone, and be sure to throw a few at me, because I am not perfect as no man or woman is.. God has a spirit of forgiveness as long as you repent and turn from your sins.. If you are a believer in God you would have no question about Vick, because it’s not for you to judge, but For God. He will have the final say. There insn’t a point system that tracks all the bad things you did or good things… It’s a belief and faith, So I wish him the best and hope he works on his pocket presence and stop scrambling so much the cover 2 defense is on to that.>!!!

Jul 30, 2009 - 1:06 pm 44. jb:

Why is this person, (I can’t say “man”) not still in prison?

He has committed inhumane crimes and does not deserve to be in the company of humans. Ban him to the burn pile where he belongs.

Jul 30, 2009 - 1:12 pm 45. rich moore:

Maybe its because I’m a business owner but if an employee fails to show up for work for 2 years chances are he doesn’t have a job. And stop playing the race card, if that’s the case I want a white man on the basketball court at all times. And I’m not talking the ref.

Jul 30, 2009 - 1:16 pm 46. The Skizzerd of Waz:

Michael Vick served his time so his legal slate should be considered clean. I loathe what he did with those dogs, but he has paid the price, so to deprive the man of a comeback chance is a double indemnity. People are freed from jail for much worse offenses, let the man alone and move on!

Jul 30, 2009 - 1:16 pm 47. Roderick Reilly:

Does Michael Vick Deserve a Second Chance?

No. The Vick brothers are both jerks — neither deserves a second chance in football.

Jul 30, 2009 - 1:19 pm 48. RandyChandler:

What good will it do to make an example of Vick while our popular culture is selling Obama the Thug-in-chief as a Great American Hero? At least Vick admitted his crime and paid a high price for it. Obama will never do time for his thuggish approach to politics. It’s just “the Chicago way.” We’re led to believe it’s OK. It’s OK with half the population that Obama favors aborting unborn infants, late-term or not. I guess it’s all a matter of one’s perspective…

Jul 30, 2009 - 1:41 pm 49. DogLover:

No 2nd chance. Cruelty to helpless animals is IMHO unforgivable.
We really need to recalibrate our moral compass. These fools and creeps are supposed to be role models – give me a break!!!

Jul 30, 2009 - 1:47 pm 50. Lou C Tiel:

Very few people, if any, of the people commenting on this subject have ever met Michal Vick. I doubt if any of the people here have had a conversation with the guy other than “can I have your autograph?”

Who are we to say that he is or is not a changed man?

That is the key here, isn’t it? If Vick’s time in jail not only punished him, but allowed him to reflect on his choices and resolve to make better choices in the future, what more should we be asking of him or anyone?

For those who are saying that he shouldn’t be given a chance to do what he wants, how can he show that he has changed and been rehabilitated if we block his choice of profession at every turn?

We don’t know Vick. We haven’t sat in a room with him and talked about what happened and how it affected him. We don’t know his plans for the future. We don’t know the depth of his remorse (if any).

It is easy to vilify a guy like Vick. At some point though, we have to realize that we are doing this long distance. We don’t know the guy.

So when Rodger Goodell says “we’ll give him a chance to prove himself as a member of a team and as a member of society,” I am going to accept that because unlike us, he has talked to Vick.

When Tony Dungy, a well respected player, coach and now mentor says that he believes that Vick can and will make the right decisions because he has talked with him, who are we to disagree.

If a coach or owner wants to sign Vick to play, they are going to do so after talking with him and taking the time to lay out certain guidelines. Who are we to say that after those conversations that the owner is wrong?

The bottom line to me is that those who have the most to lose in this – Goodell, an owner, Dungy, etc – are all saying that Vick is a changed man. Good. They have intimate knowledge of Vick and can make that assessment far better than anyone here can.

If they are willing to take a chance on the guy and allow him to prove that he is a changed person, I am going to side with those who have spoken to Vick over commentators on a blog.

Jul 30, 2009 - 2:29 pm 51. genghis kohn:

Dog lovers. I gotta tell you. Dogs are dumb. Dumb, dumb,dumb. If you were to keel over stone cold dead, your beloved, indentured dog would sit there, forever, licking your moldering face. On the other hand, your cat would give you a sniff over, and then go find something to eat. Smart dog, smart dog.

Jul 30, 2009 - 3:14 pm 52. rich moore:

Why is it most black people are standing up for him. Is it his color. I don’t care if dog fighting was a culture thing, I would say more than have of any race knows their culture. Its watching black people with their pit bulls and rotties trying to be a bigger thug then the next brother. Oh and pull up your pants or is that culture to. Oh yeah that meant you were someones biotch in prison bet noone told the youth that

Jul 30, 2009 - 3:18 pm 53. James:

Not just no, but f*** no.

Jul 30, 2009 - 3:49 pm 54. Jack Okie:

I am just – words fail me – appalled at the callousness and cluelessness on display in this thread.

1. I know of no dog-lover who thinks violence to dogs is worse than violence to women. Where does that come from? We’re talking about Vick, not some other woman-abusing player. I’m all for kicking that guy out too! But dogs can’t get a protective order, they can’t start packing heat, etc. They are bred to be loyal companions and can’t fight back in the circumstances Vick put them in.

2. I don’t understand those of you who don’t care, that apparently never had a dog. The only time I’ve NOT had a dog is when I was in the Army. We always had dogs and cats while I was growing up – somehow the stray cats knew which porch to come to. Unless you’ve lived with a pet, you don’t really know what you’re missing, or understand why Vick’s crime was so heinous.

3. As others have said, the kind of cruelty and indifference Vick showed is a very clear sign of a sociopath (a psychopath is living in an alternate reality, while a sociopath is in touch, but has no conscience or bond with humanity). There is no cure – three years in prison might make him more cautious, but then sociopaths think they’re more clever than us, so he just may try something different next time.

He can find work around football without being in the NFL.

Jul 30, 2009 - 4:12 pm 55. neverquit:

No. He deserves a second chance at becoming a decent law abiding citizen. But the NFL does not owe him a second chance, and this is a bad move and sets bad precedent. Vick was not just involved in betting on dog fights. If it was simply betting on some dog fights, I would say OK – stupid decision(s) give the Punk a second; But this POS was intimately involved in the operation. So no. His break is that he is a free man, that’s it…..

And really when one thinks about it closely, look at what this idiot squandered!! A multi-million dollar career because he wants to INVEST in dog fighting? WHAT A MORON. He’s too gawd-d$$%ed stupid to be allowed to make NFL minimums as far as I am concerned – rates as follows:

The minimum salary structure for 2007 is as follows:

* Rookies and first-year players $285,000
* Second-year players $360,000
* Third-year $435,000
* Fourth-year $510,000
* Fifth- through seventh-year $595,000
* Eighth- through tenth-year $720,000
* Eleventh-year and longer $820,000

So, no, he does not deserve a second chance to be rich again. Let him learn how to slug it out like the rest of us grunts…

Jul 30, 2009 - 4:32 pm 56. Gideon22:

Never have liked the Falcons, never did care very much for Vick as a player. Football to me is entertainment. Once their helmets come off, I don’t care.
That being said, he was found guilty and served what the justice system said was just punishment. Now that he is out, if some team wants to pay him, so what? The only reason he would get a job is if he could make money for the owner. The same as you and I. How about the rap stars and the hollywood stars with all their problems?
Or the senior senator from Mass?

Jul 30, 2009 - 4:55 pm 57. Jones:

No.

Jul 30, 2009 - 6:28 pm 58. neverquit:

#56 Gideon22

Don’t listen to rap music. Don’t go to Sean Penn movies. Never voted or supported Kennedy. Don’t support Vick either.

The NFL had a choice, they made it. IMHO, it’s a mistake. It’s going to be a PR nightmare IF a Team hires Vick. They will regret the decision. We’ll see what happens. My guess is no one will take him on.

Jul 30, 2009 - 6:41 pm 59. Spider79:

There is no defending what Vick did. When it comes to paying his debt to society, I feel like I’ve gotten my pound of flesh. It has wiped out his millions,cost him jail time and a couple of years off of the prime of his career. There are many in the history of the NFL who have done MUCH worse than Vick and been penalized .001% as much.

I’m guessing he has learned his lesson. Let him play.

Jul 30, 2009 - 7:01 pm 60. myth buster:

Nobody deserves a second chance, but for the sake of mercy and grace we should give him one anyway. “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…”

Jul 30, 2009 - 7:13 pm 61. Brian Richard Allen:

Michael Vick may seek forgiveness and even be redeemed, at his place of worship and before his gods.

But what he did to dumb animals surely places him beyond the pale insofar as any place in civilized company is concerned. And unless Football desires it be judged by the company it keeps, he aught be banned for life!

Sorry Mr Vick. You blew it

Jul 30, 2009 - 7:53 pm 62. JackT:

Could he return to the NFL if he was white? Please people, you’re showing your true colors here. I could go over to a none Republican site and most will be willing to give the guy another chance. Your party will not survive with that attitude. Besides, these were just dogs, not people. Get over it already.

Jul 30, 2009 - 8:11 pm 63. Annie:

No, …. Prison can totally reshape things…

He can do a lot of damage as a sports roll model for kids. He should pick another line of work as a…dog walker, dog groomer, pooper scooper guy,

Jul 30, 2009 - 8:26 pm 64. WhyamInotsurprised?:

To #46 Gizzerd Skizzerd and #60 Myth Fluster

Such ignorance of reality. Yes the man paid a legal price for his transgressions. And yes he can get a second chance. But the fact is, for him and for all of us, the crime he committed has consequences that his payment to society cannot be erased. If no NFL team wants to give him a second chance that is a consequence of his actions. The Teams have the choice, not obligation, to give him a chance. After that, it is his life to make something of, whether it is playing football or not.

Aside from that, I gave up watching the NFL and NBA because it is a thug culture. Show boating, tatoos, ex-convicts, rampant violence off field, pimping-primping-preening-no sense of humility. All these things turn me off to the games. So now I watch other sports like auto racing. I just don’t get excited about big men “dunking” a small ball into a hoop over and over again and acting like it is something special. I guess that is why these leagues are looking to expand to new markets overseas where these feats are still viewed as awesome! Wait until the novelty wears off and realty bites.

Jul 30, 2009 - 8:29 pm 65. pattyboy:

Our family pet KoKo dog disappeared. I would hate to think he ended up as a “bait” dog for Michael Vick’s pitbulls. Michael Vick enjoyed a privleged lifestyle probably since he was in Jr High School because of his athletic ability. There is no doubt in my mind that Michael and his thugs enjoyed watching their dogs destroy other peoples pets. I am sure Michael has contempt for the people who fill the stadium that pay his salary that enables his lifestyle. Michael crossed a line, he could have raised himself from the ghetto lifestyle but he used his wealth to live the ghetto lifestyle large. He should be banned from the football that provided him so much.

Jul 30, 2009 - 9:47 pm 66. Emma:

No, he does not. I don’t even need to read past the title for that one. I’m offended that you even asked.

Jul 31, 2009 - 2:46 am 67. Tony R:

Does he deserve a second chance? That question is moot because he has already been given a second chance by the NFL.

If any NFL team are dumb enough to hire someone like Vicks then good luck to them…. I suspect there’ll be plenty of neative consequences for them in doing so.

He has his freedom, he wont be short of money and he has the rest of his life ahead of him so why the bleeding hearts?

Do I want to see him regain fame and fortune? Not on your life. By his actions it is pretty clear that the guy is noothing but a vile piece of sh*t.

Jul 31, 2009 - 4:57 am 68. momof3:

I haven’t read any of the comments, or even the article. But based on the headlined question: NO! No, he does not deserve a second chance and more millions. How long are we going to continue forgiving and rewarding felonious behavior just because someone can catch a ball? It’s pathetic! What sort of message does it send?

Jul 31, 2009 - 5:15 am 69. Confused in Virginia:

I am saddened and appalled by a lot of the comments here. Is this really what it means to be a Christian? Judge people as quickly as you can, so if someone posts something that is different from your beliefs, then you can judge that person as well?

I have never been a Falcons fan, or a Michael Vick fan either. However, Vick has served his jail sentence and apologized for his actions. It sounds like some people here would prefer that he be punished for the rest of his life. Why? Is it because, as someone taught my daughter, that “dogs are people too.” (really listen to how ridiculous that sounds). Or could it be envy? Are you envious because he can make a lot of money very quickly? I would ask you to examine your motives.

Vick spent some time in prison, which the people (through the Department of Justice) determined to be the cost for his actions. He should not have to pay each of us individually on top of what he already paid. We should now allow him to resume his life. No one is asking that he be given special treatment, but that was his life before. It’s not like taking just any person off the street and putting him in the NFL. This is someone who already played at that level.

It is sad that if he were Michael Irving or Ricky Williams, he would have already found a team to take him, and probably even give him a raise.

I have watched the transformation of pets (dogs) over the last few years. We went from thinking of them as pets to thinking of them as companions, or children, and thinking of ourselves as “pet parents.” That is so ridiculous that I don’t know how we go to this point.

Vick will be judged when the Father decides to call him home, as we all will be when our time comes. Until that time, he should be allowed to practice his art, his passion, his livelihood. Keep in mind that Jesus said, “Judge not lest ye be judged.” Those are words by which we should live.

Jul 31, 2009 - 5:15 am 70. Lynn:

I’m sick and tired of people tossing around the “judge not lest ye be judged” like a football at the park on Sunday.

What he said and what he meant was be careful how you judge others because you will judged in the same way.

I would bet that most of the people who think that Vick’s should not be able to play in the NFL again would have no problem sentencing themselves to the same fate if they were caught running an illegal dog fighting ring.

Some people might forgive him, but they still would not want to watch him play football on national TV. Some people might think he had a chance to have a successful life making plenty of money, and instead used all that opportunity to run an illegal business that uses animals for blood sport.

P.S. Too bad that a restraining order didn’t stop Nicole Simpson from getting knifed, and too bad some consider having to carry a gun around to protect oneself from another human is an acceptable way to live. Perhaps if the sports world took violence against women and other humans as seriously as violence against animals, we wouldn’t be having this conversation because Vick’s would know that he would be gone, and might have made a better choice. That might not make him a better person but might have saved a lot of animals, and humans too.

Jul 31, 2009 - 6:03 am 71. Jack Okie:

Confused in Virginia:

Appropriate name! You remind me of the hangers-on who appear after some tragedy, and “forgive” the crime because the perp has “expressed his remorse” and it’s “time to move on”. The only person who can forgive an offender is the one offended against. The dogs Vick tortured and abused – the “bait” dogs as well as the fighters – are the only creatures with standing to forgive. The rest of us can only decide what to do with scum like Vick. Just because he served his (ridiculously light) term in prison doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be other consequences for his actions. Consequences, not punishment. Losing his NFL career and its millions is a consequence. Forgiveness has nothing to do with it.

You give him a job where he can practice “…his art, his passion…” if you want to. Knock yourself out. But any NFL team that is stupid enough to hire him better be ready for the mother of all PR disasters. We animal lovers, who stupidly think of our pets as companions, will drop the hammer. And as to how we got to thinking of them as companions, maybe by living with them and loving them.

Jul 31, 2009 - 8:29 am 72. Oldguy:

#54: well said,I can’t add a thing except keep on barking.(a reference to my earlier post #21)

Jul 31, 2009 - 8:43 am 73. RandyChandler:

Reported this morning, Vick may play at New England as backup to Tom Brady. He will play somewhere, so whenever you want to get your hate on, you can tune in the game and hate till your heart’s content.

Jul 31, 2009 - 9:07 am 74. Joe Bison:

#40-Since Vick is the only NFL guy that has
done this a lot of attention is focused on
him. The distraction and blowback isn’t worth
the effort. This is probably the reason he
is persona non grata.

Female abusers are more common-so less
individual spotlight. Sport is business
and the business is to win and fill seats.
Cold calculation with an eye on the paying
public’s mood. Nice poem.

Jul 31, 2009 - 10:15 am 75. Anonymous:

Damn, how else is going to pay all those fines he still owes? He’s a ballplayer, for goodness sake. (And, he got more time in jail for what should be a petty ante state charge as example… shouldn’t own dogs any more, but let the man go on with his life now.) What the heck else is he gonna do, day labor?

Jul 31, 2009 - 10:19 am 76. Jack Okie:

#73 RandyChandler:

How silly to inject the word “hate”. I don’t hate Vick, I find him contemptible. If you don’t know the details of his abuse and killing of dogs, you need to inform yourself. That you seem fine with it makes me wonder about you.

As far as tuning in the game, if it ever gets to that, look for me in the huge crowd of animal lovers at the game picketing and handing out pictures of Vick’s handiwork. Look for my name among the millions on the petitions the NFL’s sponsors receive.

It has nothing to do with hate, and everything to do with justice.

Jul 31, 2009 - 10:32 am 77. Jack Okie:

#75 Anonymous:

Day labor would be good. There’s lots of solid honest folks doing day labor. Lot’s of people returning from prison take it up. Do you think there’s something wrong with it? Do you think Vick is too good for it?

Jul 31, 2009 - 10:36 am 78. prm:

Please show me an instance in which incarceration rehabilitated a sociopath (yes, he fits the profile in terms of his type of crime, namely his inability to empathize with his victim). Serving time in prison does not change people for the better. Yes, he paid his debt to society, so let him look for employment where he will. Let a team in the NFL draft him and if fans don’t like it, they won’t support the team and the team will lose money. And if he truly is a sociopath he will screw up again. He won’t be able to help it.

Jul 31, 2009 - 11:06 am 79. RandyChandler:

Jack, I hate to parse words but contempt is an attitude of utter disgust or hatred.

As I live in the Atlanta area, I probably know more details of the case than you. But I understand why you find Vick contemptible. I felt the same way about his sadistic actions with animals. But seeing as how he has already lost valuable years of his athletic career and more money than we’ll make in a lifetime, I have no problem with the guy getting another shot at a career that will always be tarnished (just like his name).

Now you could argue that he hasn’t paid enough for the lives of the animals he killed but according to the law, he has. If he has to answer to a higher moral authority than the law allows, sooner or later he probably will. But I can’t hold myself up as such an unforgiving moral authority or paragon of virtue. Can you?

As for the role model thing, I believe a child old enough to think highly of sports figures is probably old enough to understand that, “Yes, son, Vick is a talented man and it’s a shame he almost wasted that God-given talent by his disgusting behavior with dogs, but now he’s paid his debt and says he’s sorry. If you don’t believe him or can’t forgive him for his sins, then you don’t have to watch him play.” I think a level-headed kid could grasp that.

Vick will forever be known as a dog killer. I believe in giving a man a chance to try to atone for his sins and salvage some measure of his reputation. Whether he has the strength of character to pull it off is not up to me.

Jul 31, 2009 - 1:02 pm 80. Meryl:

I think Michael Vick is a complete jerk, based on things he has done. However…….

I have never understood the selective interest of the NFL or the NBA in certain areas of their players’ lives.

I understand why a felony gets the guy thrown off the team, just because of legal complications and schedule interference.

However, they know their players almost all do drugs, violate training rules, etc. and probably 80% of them are guilty of statutory rape.

So what it is that triggers this self-righteous “well! we don’t know if we’ll let him play or not!”

If they’re not willing to require that their team members basically be decent people on every front, I don’t see why they feel compelled to get involved on any front.

When an adjuster in an insurance office gets sent to jail for theft, he just disappears. It has nothing to do with the insurance business.

Somehow in the arena of professional athletes, the management people allow their legal problems to be be portrayed as “team problems”. The guy’s a jerk. Let him go to prison. If he wants to play when he gets back out, let him re-qualify for the team if he can.

There’s some kind of disconnect here that seems to assume that except for these “really bad things” we, the fans, apparently believe that they are just all good little boys almost all the time. Silly.

Using the apparent logic they’re using, it seems they’re accepting responsibility for “just knowing” who the bad eggs are going to be and that’s just not possible. The only exception I can see where the crossover/moral mixing makes sense is when gambling/throwing a game is involved or blackmail of some kind.

Jul 31, 2009 - 3:40 pm 81. rich moore:

I hate vick and hope he dies but I am a new england fan and maybe Brady can teach the guy class if he goes to NE

Jul 31, 2009 - 4:30 pm 82. Landru:

No reason for debate-the answer is no. Anyone who gets off on using dogs, roosters, or any other animals to fight each other for their own sadistic entertainment is a mentally deranged lowlife. If people get off on that, go watch some elk or something during rutting season in the wild and bet on the winner there.

People like Vick and his pals are an absolute disgrace to the country and the human race.

Jul 31, 2009 - 4:33 pm 83. whatabotboxingandUFC:

for 82. Landru
So many in US and outside get off on bloddy boxing and UFC matches.
What is different between watching 2 grownmen figiting like DOGS or watching 2 DOGS figiting like DOGS. NOTHING!!!
US have softspot for DOGS because so many families have them as pets.

I do not like DOG FIGHTING but I do not like the hypocracy either.

Jul 31, 2009 - 6:00 pm 84. bigpappapuff:

N-word

Jul 31, 2009 - 8:38 pm 85. Anonymous:

So many in US and outside get off on bloddy boxing and UFC matches.
What is different between watching 2 grownmen figiting like DOGS or watching 2 DOGS figiting like DOGS. NOTHING!!!
US have softspot for DOGS because so many families have them as pets.

I do not like DOG FIGHTING but I do not like the hypocracy either.

The grown men made a decision to be fighters, the dogs weren’t given a choice. The grown men were not tortured to death if they failed to provide enough entertainment during the fight. The dogs were.

If you don’t understand those differences, there’s very little else to say.

Jul 31, 2009 - 10:06 pm 86. rachel peepers:

Michael and his football playing brother are two of the dirtiest players in the game. They’re both on their hundredth and second chances. They should be treated like dogs.

Jul 31, 2009 - 11:12 pm 87. Emma:

And for the person asking what happened to Christians turning the other cheek: would you be making the same sanctimonious statement if he tortured a child instead of a dog? Or is it just dumb helpless animals that have to turn the other cheek when they’re brutalized?

Aug 1, 2009 - 2:55 am 88. Confused in Virginia:

Lynn – #70 “I’m sick and tired of people tossing around the “judge not lest ye be judged” like a football at the park on Sunday. What he said and what he meant was be careful how you judge others because you will judged in the same way.

P.S. Too bad that a restraining order didn’t stop Nicole Simpson from getting knifed, and too bad some consider having to carry a gun around to protect oneself from another human is an acceptable way to live. Perhaps if the sports world took violence against women and other humans as seriously as violence against animals, we wouldn’t be having this conversation because Vick’s would know that he would be gone, and might have made a better choice. That might not make him a better person but might have saved a lot of animals, and humans too.”

I imagine that the first sentence is aimed at me since I was the one who used that passage. I’m glad that you know the exact meaning, since I would have just thought that it meant we are not to judge others, considering that there are other passages in the bible that tell us that in other ways. I am not sure how you made the jump from Vick’s offense to Nicole Simpson, but I’m sure it makes sense in your mind. You do know that those acts are totally unrelated and committed by two different people, right?

Jack Okie – The name I use is because I usually have more questions than answers. I have been using that name for a while, it has nothing to do with this particular subject. You seem to have a hatred toward Vick that I don’t understand. I realize what he did was horrible, but there has to come a time when you have to move forward. You said, “The only person who can forgive an offender is the one offended against.” You do realize that dogs aren’t people, right?

You are assuming that because people don’t see things the way you do, that they have never had dogs. Your assumption is wrong. I worked with a local chapter of the SPCA (which was around for years before they changed it to the ASPCA) years ago – as my kids like to say, at the beginning of time. What you don’t seem to realize is that the pet industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. They care less about you being attached to your dog than they do that you spend money on your dog.

I volunteered with this organization back when dogs were outside animals for most people. We lobbied for animal rights, we educated people about spaying and neutering their dogs and cats, so that we could cut down on the numbers of strays that had to be put down, and we educated children about how to take care of their pet. At that time, we were seen as crazy people, but we managed to get some things changed. I also saw this organization change from people who would do anything for the animals, to people who cared more about money and legislative power than about the animals they were supposed to protect. I was in charge of going out on cruelty and injured animals calls. So, yes, I understand how horrible the things were that Vick did.

Back then, I had 3 dogs and 3 cats, and over the years I have had pets. I know dog-lovers who think violence to dogs is worse than violence to women. I have seen a person walk around a hungry child to feed the dog that she had with her. I have also seen dogs that fight their owner, regardless of what type of training they’ve had.

What you and others are proposing goes beyond justice or consequences. You are proposing outright revenge. That is the reason that I asked you to examine your motives. Vick is a professional football player. If you knew a plumber who was sent to jail for drug possession, should he not be allowed to be a plumber when he gets out of jail? Vick should be allowed to continue in his profession.

Meryl – #80

“However, they know their players almost all do drugs, violate training rules, etc. and probably 80% of them are guilty of statutory rape.”

These are serious accusations. Do you have any proof that any of this is true, or are they just your opinions?

Aug 1, 2009 - 5:52 am 89. Meryl:

Meryl – #80

“However, they know their players almost all do drugs, violate training rules, etc. and probably 80% of them are guilty of statutory rape.”

“These are serious accusations. Do you have any proof that any of this is true, or are they just your opinions?”

No, I don’t have proof that any of this is true. These are my opinions….similar to the opinions expressed by many others in this thread about the apparent lack of moral norms on the part of many NFL and NBA players.

My point is that the front offices of many of the pro-sports teams seem to kick in to overdrive on certain select situations. What is their criteria for going into the agonizing self-examinations? What is their criteria for throwing a Pete Rose overboard as opposed to (apparently) being tempted to recycle Michael Vick?

I overstated my opinion in hyperbole. Withdrawn.

I still wonder how they decide which situations to get excited about. Is it tied to negative public relations? Impact on ticket sales? Or does someone really believe they are actually delving in the “potential redemption” aspect and not wanting to be “too hard” on someone who’s paid the penalty under law?

I guess it seems to me that if indeed they want to recycle Vick at this point, then they shouldn’t have any trouble signing a brand new player who has exactly the same personal history (significant prison time served for dog fighting). Do you think they would do that?

Aug 1, 2009 - 1:09 pm 90. Lynn:

#88 I know that OJ Simpson’s history of abuse toward his wife might not had ended in her death if the NFL took violence against other humans as seriously as violence against dogs.

It that clear enough? I was also addressing the commenter’s opinions who alluded to the abused as being able to get a restraining order or carry a gun as an excuse for taking the abuse against an animal more serious as abuse against another human.

I myself believe that people should be given second chances since we ALL are fallible, yet at the same time I understand why people do not want to watch Vick’s play in the NFL. I just think it should be taken with the same gravity as a football player who commits violence against another human such as spouse or girlfriend or child. I don’t think it is, and many people including the NFL cover it up by pretending it is a ‘private’ matter.

If a NFL player wants to keep his private life private, then stop involving the police. Once the police are involved then their qualifying for playing professional sports should be questioned, just as Vick’s qualifying to play professional sports for his abuse of animals is being questioned.

I agree with Meryl. It’s the money and whether a players behavior will affect the profits, not necessarily the seriousness of the crime.

Aug 2, 2009 - 7:08 am 91. James G.:

Those other 408 are NOT CONVICTED FELONS who served time IN PRISON.
Plus–Vick LIED, LIED, LIED until the very, very end. He made his apology because he had no other choice. He “paid his debt” because he had no other choice.
This man ruthlessly beat, choked, drowned, and electrocuted dogs.
He is Scum-of-the-Earth in a whole different league than the rest of the “408.”
Good Riddance Vick.

Aug 2, 2009 - 7:26 pm 92. James G.:

I do not condone violence against women, however a player being angry and hitting a woman (horrible as it is) is in a WHOLE DIFFERENT LEAGUE than repeatedly, willfully torturing and killing dogs. Vick’s behavior points to deep psychological problems and a total disregard for life.

Aug 2, 2009 - 7:30 pm 93. Lynn:

#92
Sure, one’s a blood sport, and one is just bloody. It’s all is becoming clear now. It’s the money.

Hitting a woman does not point to deep psychological problems, or a disregard for life, no, it is anger.

What did she do to make him so mad? A question heard by most battered woman. Play on.

Aug 3, 2009 - 5:05 am 94. Telly:

At the very least, if that bastard ever runs out on a football field again, he should be pelted with unopened cans of dog food. Rain them down on his head.

The HSUS is no better than PETA for allowing him to buy his acceptance back. He should euthanized like most of the animals that PETA said it was saving.

Aug 3, 2009 - 5:15 pm 95. PUNA:

Some of the people who have left comments on this site are way to sensative and just downright childish and need to get a life they care more about a dog a dog for crying out loud. I bet many of these people would probably put their money on the counter when paying for a good or service rather than treat the next man a they would have someone treat them. As a dog lover myself I Certainly do not condone what Micheal Vick did. Micheal Vick has served a 18 month sentence and pled guilty to charges brought by the commenwealth of Virginia. He has been punished he has lost everything. Now as a convicted felon he is out of jail and looking for work I hope that he finds a team that can utilize his talents and that he puts the dog fighting incident behind and that he never have another incident like this occur in his life. Quite frankly I am rooting for this man, i hope that he redeems himself and becomes a better citizen and chooses his friends more wisely But some of these people Just need to get a life and worry about what is really important.

Aug 10, 2009 - 3:30 pm 96. Pamela Ernest:

Michael Vick deserves a second chance, after all he gave his dogs second chances. If they didn’t die when he hung them – he would hold their heads in a bucket of water til they drowned. He gave them a second chance to DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH.

Aug 18, 2009 - 3:47 am 97. Donna Graves:

The senseless torture of animals is unforgivable. I think the only thing he is sorry for is that he got caught. The eagles made a big mistake ( contact the sponsors and tell them so)
Personally I hope vick breaks his neck on the field and lives a long, painful life as a quadriplegic, before he dies a slow painful death- then he will meet his maker and only at that time will he begin to pay for what he’s done.
he is a piece of excrement, and anyone that supports him is the same.

Nov 19, 2009 - 11:43 am