Give Vick a Chance
by oldasquick on Apr 3, 2009 10:48 AM EDT
38 comments
Before the flames begin, i want it to be known that I am an animal lover who helps financially support a local animal rescue, and I'm also the owner of an awesome Pit Bull/Mastiff mix that was a rescue. That said, I think Vick deserves another shot, and I'd like to see the Eagles give him one.
Sign him to a one year, incentive laden contract that includes a required community service clause. Let him face the fire of the Philly media, fans, and animal lovers. Give him a chance to turn his mistakes into a positive, or hang himself if he hasn't truly turned his life around. While there's a downside of course, the upside is a continued spotlight on animal cruelty and dog fighting, and the opportunity for a human being to redeem himself.
As a player, we use him as an H-back, kick/punt retuner, 4th receiver, and wildcat component. With that kind of speed, defenses will have to scheme for him. Think of him as a replacement for G-Lew, with more tools.
I will don my asbestos overcoat and await your responses.
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so sarah palin
was betting on moose fights lol
you heard it first here on BGN
by BadCo'09 on Apr 3, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wish Vick the best of luck in the NFL, but not with the Eagles. If (and that’s a big if) he’s the same player he was two years ago, he should go somewhere he can compete for the starting job. Who knows, maybe he could replace McNabb after next season. I’m the biggest McNabb fan and I want him to retire with the Eagles, but I’d respect the front office if they thought it was the right move a year from now. But it’s not a year from now, and Vick hasn’t proved he can still play, and we have a great QB with a potential QB of the future. He could be useful, and I’m sure McNabb would be a good influence on him, but it’s probably best for him to compete for a starting job (if he can still do it). And for those of you who think he never could play QB, I think you are dead wrong. Yea, he’s not accurate or aware in the pocket, but he improves his team. There’s a reason Warrick Dunn’s career was rejuvenated when he went to the Falcons. There’s also a reason that the Falcons fell apart when he was down with an ankle injury in 2003 and was suspended in 2007. They were built around him. Teams don’t give out the kind of contracts he got unless they KNEW he really was a difference maker and one of the best players in the NFL. Until this dogfighting episode, I think he was far from a bust.
by The Chum on Apr 3, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think he'll like contstruction work.
City of Champions!
by yophillybro on Apr 3, 2009 11:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Interesting
Sort of a Devin Hester type player? Does he have the build / strength to actually be useful in the role you highlighted? I’d be all for the role you highlighted (not QB)
by Alon on Apr 3, 2009 11:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Signing Mike Vick might just be the only thing that would make me turn my back on the Eagles.
Absolutely no way.
He ELECTROCUTED DOGS for his own personal enjoyment.
I hope he ends up on the street. He was in a privileged position and squandered it of his own free will.
Mike Vick sucks and does not deserve a second chance.
by cavortingEagle on Apr 3, 2009 11:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Turning your Back
He did his time, he payed a price. Now he has a chance to redeem himself. Dogfighting is huge in the South. I’m sure he wasn’t the only person of high stature involved with dogfighting or another disgusting act. I don’t want to bring race into it, but you know if Brett Favre was involved with dogfighting, we would either not know or it would be brushed off. At the most he would be apologetic and many people would sympathize with him. He probably wouldn’t get time, and if he did he’d have a contract waiting for him when he got out (if he was younger).
by The Chum on Apr 3, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dogfighting is huge in the South
I couldn’t care less – It shouldn’t be huge anywhere.
And I said nothing about dogfighting. I said something about “Cruelty to Animals”…
He ELECTROCUTED DOGS for his own personal enjoyment.
Mike Vick sucks and does not deserve a second chance.
Whatever on the race card, if this were Donnovan McNabb or Ron Jaworski, I’d say exactly the same thing…
by cavortingEagle on Apr 3, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brett Favre hunts. He shoots white hot lead shards at animals with the intent to end their life, for his own personal enjoyment.
by captain nodar on Apr 4, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
there is a difference between hunting and using what you kill and brutally killing a dog because he lost a fight.
"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"
by Whodie126 on Apr 5, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nope...
You drown a dog in a bucket with your bare hands, and you own (and use) a device called a rape stand… That’s where I draw the line…
Count me out.
by Bye, Dawk :( on Apr 3, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Leonard Little killed someone drunk driving. He then drove drunk again a few years later. That is far worse than anything Vick did. He was never suspended for too lengthy a period of time. In fact, until Commissioner Gooddell takes my advice and suspends any player arrested for DUI for a minimum of 8 games, you’ve gotta give Vick a second chance here.
I am an animal lover. I have 2 dogs and 6 cats. That being said, he deserves a second chance. I think people (depending on the outcome of the court case, obviously) would rather give Donte Stallworth a “second chance” (after his sure-fire suspension) than Vick, and I don’t get it.
But I don’t want him on the Eagles — not because I don’t think he deserves that chance, but because he doesn’t fit in on our roster.
by wildcatlh on Apr 3, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No argument here.
Leonard Little, Dontae Stallworth should be tossed from the league.
by cavortingEagle on Apr 3, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I always refer to the Leonard Little argument too
As long as you can kill people and get a second or third chance in the NFL, Vick can too.
I guess now is where I say I rescued a JRT from the pound, so I’m not completely heartless when it comes to animals. But with respect to Vick, the guy has been so ostracized and people seem to be so beyond forgiveness when it comes to him, I’m actually rooting for him to succeed. And hopefully with genuine remorse, and be an example of how you shouldn’t do things and all that.
That said, I’m pretty sure I want his comeback to be with another NFL team. Maybe because I don’t see him as a football fit for the Eagles, maybe because I feel the birds have had their fair share of bad PR already … I don’t know.
Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring It Home For Jerome
by D3Keith on Apr 4, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
23 Months and Bankruptcy
He served 23 months in prison and is bankrupt. I think he got all he deserved. The animals at the slaughter house aren’t treated any better than Michael Vick’s dogs and I don’t see anyone not going to Eagles games because they’re sponsored by McDonald’s and sell cheesesteaks. He served his time, he deserves to be re-instated and given a chance to redeem himself.
by The Chum on Apr 3, 2009 12:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The difference between the animals we eat and Vicks dogs, is that the first are in fact animals we eat.
I suppose if you argued that Vick then ate the dogs he entertained himself with, you’ve got me, but I’m pretty sure I read about mass graves behind his house – and there was no evidence of human teeth marks on the corpses mentioned in any of those reports…
by cavortingEagle on Apr 3, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Honestly
You can’t generalize animal cruelty. Regardless if we (I don’t, I’m a vegetarian) eat meat or not, the animals are subject to cruelty. Even animals bred especially for food, are subject to cruelty. The difference between what Vick did and what the slaughter houses do, is Vick, like you said, did it out of enjoyment and his animals are considered domesticized. I am not saying everyone should stop eating meat because it is a personal choice to do so or not. But to make the argument that animal cruelty isn’t evident in other areas is just ludicrous.
Vick has become a victim of being an example. He deserves punishment for what he does, however, how much does the guy deserve? People will argue that he deserves to rot in hell etc etc. Yet, Leonard Little gets to walk for killing a man after being under the influences. I agree, Vick deserves to be punished and such but after taking away everything, can’t we just let him be? I agree Goodell should suspend him for a season after he is out and in addition when he is reinstated he should donate a percentage of his money to animal organizations. Stop taking all your anger out on him, just because he is a high profiled person, there is no reason to be cruel. What more could we do to the guy? Nothing except torture him which would be no worse than what he did.
by soman319 on Apr 3, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You articulate well, however at no point did I argue that cruelty isn’t evident in other areas.
It all boils down to choice. I am no more the fan of the trophy hunter than I am of the dog fighter.
What I was trying to imply without explicitly stating was:
What Vick did would be ok if he ate the dogs afterwards.
Since he didn’t I choose to continue to be cruel to Vick.
by cavortingEagle on Apr 3, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, you’re entitled to your own opinion and I respect that. But I drew my line. Fact is, Vick will probably never play in the NFL like he used to again and if he does then it will surprise me (By like he did, I mean as that entertaining QB). My bad, I wasn’t strictly responding to your comment, just making one in general.
by soman319 on Apr 3, 2009 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I could give him a second chance, but not as an Eagle.
by captainmike011 on Apr 3, 2009 12:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
the biggest load of BS that is propogated on this topic is that Vick made a “mistake”. a mistake is getting busted with pot for the first time, a mistake is letting your emotions get the best of you and slugging someone in a bar. hell, Donte Stallworth’s crime (although more serious because it involved the death of a human) is more of a mistake then Vick’s.
Vick systematically ran an underground dog fighting ring for however many years. he profited off of it and oversaw/took part in it’s day to day operations. He knew what he was doing was wrong yet he continued to do it for years.
im not opposed to giving him a second chance, but I think Goodell should suspend him for a full season AFTER he is released from prison. I dont think Vick’s punishment was enough. It’s not so much the cruelty to animals as it is the fact that he ran a huge underground illegal operation. Here is a guy who was one of the highest paid and most popular players in the NFL, and he still ran this huge dog-fighting ring. it just shows a complete disregard for the fact that playing in the NFL is a privelege, as well as to the fans who spend all the money on tickets and merchandise so the owners can write his checks.
by njh3293 on Apr 3, 2009 1:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i will never understand how some people can crucify mike vick for his dog fighting (a historically black event) and act like the sport of hunting deer or moose or whatever (a white event) is ok….
by Bugzy on Apr 3, 2009 2:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
so you think what he did was okay then?
"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel
by foos05 on Apr 3, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It has nothing to do with race, it’s all about the fact that Vick’s crime was so complex with so many different layers to it. He was breeding and training dogs for the sole purpose of having them kill one another. He was taking bets, collecting profits, and running a small scale criminal enterprise around the matter. He bought a house in his name with his salary just for this purpose. When the dog’s didnt perform he violently and savagely killed them That is a lot more then someone going into the woods and shooting a deer to hang on their wall. and for the record I have never been hunting and I dont really ever plan on doing so.
It’s not about about race, nor is it just about dog fighting. It’s about the operation as a whole
by njh3293 on Apr 3, 2009 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
good explaination...
vick didn’t just kill a few animals… he basically owned and operated a slaughter house for dogs.
by awd777 on Apr 3, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i gotta be honest
when i first seen the heading on this post i said “fuck that”.
but im all about winning, character is great for one, but i also want to win. i do normally believe people deserve a second chance, and even though i was a vick hater after this whole dog thing, i still feel for second chances.
again when i first saw the heading i thought you were crazy. i also though you meant to replace donavan at quarterback. which again is why i thought this was really stupid. but im a fan of one year deals. and it defnitely cant hurt to bring him here as athletic as he is. im sure he can help us in some way.
and my apologies to all the animal lovers out there i dont mean to offend anyone by this.
by bigd81 on Apr 3, 2009 4:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I see I’ve kicked a hornet’s nest here. I cannot argue that what this guy did was absolutely despicable. My point is that he MAY be able to use his notoriety to actually help save other dogs, by keeping his name in the spotlight, and showing remorse. IF (a big IF) he has redeemed himself, and IF he still has the skills that made him a marquis NFL player, I think the upside would outweigh the bad.
I bleed green and I piss silver and blue
by oldasquick on Apr 3, 2009 5:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Even if you put the extra baggage aside, I’m not going to get excited about a guy who’s been away from the game for 2 years, hoping he can compete to be a 4th WR and maybe help in the return game.
by FredEx on Apr 3, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
considering hes probably one of the biggest athletes arguable in the game about 4 years ago i would say either way it cant hurt to throw out a one year deal. he has runningback and wide receiver speed and agility it doesnt take an expert to tell someone that.
by bigd81 on Apr 3, 2009 11:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Vick's best option
May be to try to play in either the CFL, UFL, or new USFL for a season to show the NFL he can still play. I think he’d be interesting to watch and could be effective if given a Wildcat offense package of plays to run. I’m not sure he’s an every down quarterback at this point, but he could have some type of role. I just don’t think the Eagles would be the place for him. They really don’t run the Wildcat and I don’t think you want to be taking McNabb off the field to put the ball in Vick’s hands.
My feeling is he should be allowed to play again. If a person commits a crime, they have to find a job after they serve their punishment. As much as we all hate to admit it, playing in the NFL is a job and that is what Vick does. That doesn’t mean I don’t think abusing animals is wrong. But I’d rather see Vick become a productive member of society again and if that means allowing him to play pro football to get himself back on track, then so be it.
by Baron Dainer Von Tresvant on Apr 4, 2009 3:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The other leagues ...
… is an interesting idea, although I find it hard to believe he’ll go to a league lower than the NFL and not play QB. If for no other reason than he’s trying to earn some money and QBs make more.
Also, he wasn’t your prototypical QB, but he wasn’t exactly garbage either. He was certainly a player whose hands you want the ball in more than 4-5 times a game.
Granted he’s rusty, but refreshing QB skills seems a better bet than learning to be an RB or KOR from scratch.
Still waiting for the Eagles to Bring It Home For Jerome
by D3Keith on Apr 4, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If he went to one of the other leagues, Vick would absolutely play QB fulltime
I would think either the UFL or the new USFL would like to have him so they could get some press attention, especially if he played QB full time. It would work for him because I’m really not sure what NFL team wants to take a chance on him.
by Baron Dainer Von Tresvant on Apr 4, 2009 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
im not ok with dog fighting as a sport. I love dogs. I just cant for the life of me understand that he gets crucified (when hes probably been involved in dog fighting way before his NFL days)//and some other people who hunt get away with killing deer or birds or whatever scotch free…something is wrong with the system. It is a race thing. Dog figtign originated in ther South with black folk and huting is a majority white thing. If anything….No ANIMALS SHOULD BE KILLED to make everything even.
by Bugzy on Apr 5, 2009 9:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Again hunting for use is different then torturing and killing a dog because it lost a fight or wasn’t mean enough. I hunt and fish and I eat what I kill, this is how we as humans have survived and I find nothing wrong with that. Hunting for sport IMO is ridiculous and should not be allowed but for survival I see no issue.
To put what Vick did on the same playing field as a hunter is quite possibly the dumbest thing I have ever heard. I have never caged a deer, starved it, beat it with sticks, then electrocuted it, then drowned it, then buried it in my back yard. Hunting <> Torture
"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"
by Whodie126 on Apr 6, 2009 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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