Post by scorpion42 on May 21, 2009 15:54:56 GMT -7
Gary Myers
Released from jail, Michael Vick deserves new leash on life from NFL
Thursday, May 21st 2009, 3:26 PM
Ernst/Getty
Michael Vick after agreeing to a guilty plea on charges stemming from his involvement in dogfighting.
Take our Poll
All is forgiven?
Does Michael Vick deserve a second chance?
Yes, he's served his time. Let him live his life.
No, he can never make up for what he did.
Yes, but not yet. Let's see how he behaves once he's free.
That's not for me to say.
Related News
Articles
* Ex-QB Vick released from prison after serving 18 months
(Page 1 of 2)
Roger Goodell is in control of Michael Vick's career and, in effect, his life, too, following the quarterback's release from prison. Vick paid for his role in a hideous dogfighting scandal by losing two prime years of his career and the guts of his $130million contract.
Now the NFL commissioner must decide whether to allow Vick back into his league, which is hardly comprised of choir boys. It is filled with plenty of players who have received second chances.
When Vick finishes the home confinement portion of his sentence on July20, Goodell will schedule a meeting with him. Then he should reinstate Vick with an asterisk.
The Falcons own his rights but have no intention of ever letting him play for them again after he nearly destroyed the franchise. They will continue to try to trade him, but are unlikely to find anybody willing to give up anything for the dog killer.
Atlanta, which recouped quickly by drafting Matt Ryan last year, will cut Vick and end all ties with him. By reinstating him, Goodell could make him eligible to sign with a team in time for training camp, which opens around Aug.1.
Just to make sure Vick appreciates a second chance and to provide a further deterrent to him becoming a serial canine criminal, Goodell should suspend him for the first four games of the 2009 season. Eight games would be okay, too.
But he should let him back on the field this season. Vick has blown up his career and is broke. If he still can play, Goodell should let him. If the commissioner sits Vick down for 2009, he might as well suspend him for life.
"Michael is going to have to demonstrate to myself and the general public and a lot of people - did he learn from this experience?" Goodell said this week. "Does he regret what happened? Does he feel he can be a positive influence going forward?"
"Those are questions I would like to see answered when I sit with him."
Vick did unconscionable things to innocent dogs. Has he paid his debt to society and to the NFL, and does he deserve the opportunity to make a living? If the courts say Vick has paid his dues, should the NFL hold its players to even higher standards? Goodell has said repeatedly that playing in the NFL is a privilege, it is not anybody's right. Goodell should let Vick back in, but keep him on a short leash, so to speak.
But that doesn't mean teams will be lining up to sign him. Maybe one or two will be interested - the Raiders, of course, and maybe the Seahawks, now coached by Jim Mora, who made it to the NFC title game in 2004 in his first season as the Falcons coach with Vick as his quarterback.
(Page 2 of 2)
"Somebody will pick him up and take a shot at him. He will have a chance to compete," one general manager said. "But to play the position, you got to have character. You can't lead without character. This guy had none. That's why he failed."
The law-and-order commissioner wants to see remorse from Vick. I'm sure Pacman Jones showed remorse when Goodell lifted his suspension after one season so he could play last year. How did that one work out? Jones was suspended again for four games after getting into a fight with the bodyguard whom the Cowboys assigned to protect him. Even Jerry Jones, the ultimate enabler, had enough, and cut him.
Goodell wants to put his own stamp on this whole ugly ordeal. Vick lied to his face at the 2007 draft about any involvement in dogfighting. That infuriated Goodell. All along, I've thought Goodell would tack on another year. But, in reality, he already took big money out of his pocket.
When Vick pleaded guilty to the dogfighting charges in August 2007, he was still four months away from going to prison. Goodell immediately suspended him indefinitely. That cost Vick the 2007 season. Then he missed the 2008 season. He has huge financial problems and has filed for bankruptcy. He will be working a $10 per hour construction job.
The Humane Society's president met with Vick at the Leavenworth prison. Vick wants to work on a program to end dogfighting by urban teens. PETA wants Vick to submit to a rigorous psychiatric exam to show whether he truly believes what he did was wrong. Vick recently met in prison with former Colts coach Tony Dungy, who is highly respected.
Former commissioner Paul Tagliabue suspended Rams defensive end Leonard Little eight games in 1999 after he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for driving drunk and killing a woman. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, four years' probation and 1,000 hours of community service. If Little lost only half a season, then Vick losing two seasons and then a few more games would be sufficient.
"I believe in second chances," Falcons owner Blank said. "I believe in redemption."
It will take an owner willing to handle the inevitable backlash in his community and a coach secure in his job. The emergence of the Wildcat offense in Miami should help Vick find a job. No team is going to let him compete to be the starting quarterback this season. He must prove he can be trusted.
Regardless of Goodell's decision, Vick already has done irreparable harm to his life and career.
Read more: "Released from jail, Michael Vick deserves new leash on life from NFL" - www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/2009/05/21/2009-05-21_michael_vick_deserves_new_leash_on_life.html?page=0#ixzz0GBURmjIQ&A
Released from jail, Michael Vick deserves new leash on life from NFL
Thursday, May 21st 2009, 3:26 PM
Ernst/Getty
Michael Vick after agreeing to a guilty plea on charges stemming from his involvement in dogfighting.
Take our Poll
All is forgiven?
Does Michael Vick deserve a second chance?
Yes, he's served his time. Let him live his life.
No, he can never make up for what he did.
Yes, but not yet. Let's see how he behaves once he's free.
That's not for me to say.
Related News
Articles
* Ex-QB Vick released from prison after serving 18 months
(Page 1 of 2)
Roger Goodell is in control of Michael Vick's career and, in effect, his life, too, following the quarterback's release from prison. Vick paid for his role in a hideous dogfighting scandal by losing two prime years of his career and the guts of his $130million contract.
Now the NFL commissioner must decide whether to allow Vick back into his league, which is hardly comprised of choir boys. It is filled with plenty of players who have received second chances.
When Vick finishes the home confinement portion of his sentence on July20, Goodell will schedule a meeting with him. Then he should reinstate Vick with an asterisk.
The Falcons own his rights but have no intention of ever letting him play for them again after he nearly destroyed the franchise. They will continue to try to trade him, but are unlikely to find anybody willing to give up anything for the dog killer.
Atlanta, which recouped quickly by drafting Matt Ryan last year, will cut Vick and end all ties with him. By reinstating him, Goodell could make him eligible to sign with a team in time for training camp, which opens around Aug.1.
Just to make sure Vick appreciates a second chance and to provide a further deterrent to him becoming a serial canine criminal, Goodell should suspend him for the first four games of the 2009 season. Eight games would be okay, too.
But he should let him back on the field this season. Vick has blown up his career and is broke. If he still can play, Goodell should let him. If the commissioner sits Vick down for 2009, he might as well suspend him for life.
"Michael is going to have to demonstrate to myself and the general public and a lot of people - did he learn from this experience?" Goodell said this week. "Does he regret what happened? Does he feel he can be a positive influence going forward?"
"Those are questions I would like to see answered when I sit with him."
Vick did unconscionable things to innocent dogs. Has he paid his debt to society and to the NFL, and does he deserve the opportunity to make a living? If the courts say Vick has paid his dues, should the NFL hold its players to even higher standards? Goodell has said repeatedly that playing in the NFL is a privilege, it is not anybody's right. Goodell should let Vick back in, but keep him on a short leash, so to speak.
But that doesn't mean teams will be lining up to sign him. Maybe one or two will be interested - the Raiders, of course, and maybe the Seahawks, now coached by Jim Mora, who made it to the NFC title game in 2004 in his first season as the Falcons coach with Vick as his quarterback.
(Page 2 of 2)
"Somebody will pick him up and take a shot at him. He will have a chance to compete," one general manager said. "But to play the position, you got to have character. You can't lead without character. This guy had none. That's why he failed."
The law-and-order commissioner wants to see remorse from Vick. I'm sure Pacman Jones showed remorse when Goodell lifted his suspension after one season so he could play last year. How did that one work out? Jones was suspended again for four games after getting into a fight with the bodyguard whom the Cowboys assigned to protect him. Even Jerry Jones, the ultimate enabler, had enough, and cut him.
Goodell wants to put his own stamp on this whole ugly ordeal. Vick lied to his face at the 2007 draft about any involvement in dogfighting. That infuriated Goodell. All along, I've thought Goodell would tack on another year. But, in reality, he already took big money out of his pocket.
When Vick pleaded guilty to the dogfighting charges in August 2007, he was still four months away from going to prison. Goodell immediately suspended him indefinitely. That cost Vick the 2007 season. Then he missed the 2008 season. He has huge financial problems and has filed for bankruptcy. He will be working a $10 per hour construction job.
The Humane Society's president met with Vick at the Leavenworth prison. Vick wants to work on a program to end dogfighting by urban teens. PETA wants Vick to submit to a rigorous psychiatric exam to show whether he truly believes what he did was wrong. Vick recently met in prison with former Colts coach Tony Dungy, who is highly respected.
Former commissioner Paul Tagliabue suspended Rams defensive end Leonard Little eight games in 1999 after he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for driving drunk and killing a woman. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, four years' probation and 1,000 hours of community service. If Little lost only half a season, then Vick losing two seasons and then a few more games would be sufficient.
"I believe in second chances," Falcons owner Blank said. "I believe in redemption."
It will take an owner willing to handle the inevitable backlash in his community and a coach secure in his job. The emergence of the Wildcat offense in Miami should help Vick find a job. No team is going to let him compete to be the starting quarterback this season. He must prove he can be trusted.
Regardless of Goodell's decision, Vick already has done irreparable harm to his life and career.
Read more: "Released from jail, Michael Vick deserves new leash on life from NFL" - www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/2009/05/21/2009-05-21_michael_vick_deserves_new_leash_on_life.html?page=0#ixzz0GBURmjIQ&A