A window of opportunity for Michael Vick to return to the NFL is open.
Whether any team is willing to employ Michael Vick is another matter.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated the disgraced dogfighting star on Monday, following his recent release from prison for running a dogfighting ring.
Vick can participate in regular-season games as early as October.
He can immediately take part in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games - if he can find a team, that is.
A number of clubs have already said they are not interested.
As the season begins, Vick may participate in all team activities except games. Goodell will consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6 (October 18-19).
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to commissioner Goodell for allowing me to be readmitted to the National Football League,” Michael Vick said in a statement released by his agent, Joel Segal.
“I fully understand that playing football in the NFL is a privilege, not a right, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity that I have been given."
Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely in 2007 after the former Atlanta Falcons player admitted bankrolling a dogfighting operation on his property in Virginia.
He served 18 months in a federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan., before being granted an early release and being placed on house arrest earlier this summer.
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6 Comments
July 28th, 2009 1:05 PM
Michael Vick should be content to live on the fringes of society, not expect to be rewarded with millions of dollars and fans. He has crossed a line that no human should cross. If a serial killer or child rapist had been released from prison, no one would be lining up to give him his chance now that he "paid his debt to society."
You don't torture and kill innocent, emotional beings without regret unless you are sociopathic. I am sure he regrets being caught. Not so sure he regrets doing monstrous things.
That people are making excuses for this sick individual says something about our relationship with sports and fame. To hell with the NFL. They have lost a fan for life.
July 28th, 2009 3:26 PM
I pity all the players on any team that Vick may play on. These players have worked extremely hard to get to where they are today. Vick will be like a circus sideshow. The booing and chanting will follow Vick everywhere, and will be a complete distraction for the entire team.
Goodell took the easy way out. The real decision needs to be made by the team owners, and fans.
July 28th, 2009 11:04 PM
Every time i see his face i think of the despicable person he is.
Surely their is thousands of young talented athletes you could get.
Write him off - the football fans have. I wont be watching football if he is on any team.
July 28th, 2009 11:23 PM
I have a great idea for a sport for him to play. He gets released on a track and gets chased by 10-20 starving pit bulls. Winner takes all.
July 29th, 2009 11:52 AM
New Vick scandal?
See:
http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/michael-vick-fighting-fish-scandal/
August 15th, 2009 3:01 AM
Michael Vick should believe what God says about him and not what man says about him. Yes, he made horrible decisions that resulted in several dogs being tortured and killed. But, God is a forgiving God; He is the God of second chances.
It's tragic that the very people who want to save animals want to condemn Michael Vick.
Michael Vick didn't create dogfighting!! Don't pretend that this is the first time you've heard of dogfighting. This is just the first time that most of us have heard of our government spending millions of dollars to convict a man for dogfighting. How many animals could have been saved, or received their shots or critical care? Or for "human lovers" vs "dog lovers" how many children could have been fed, job training provided, education assistance provided with thosd funds.
Yes, convict him for cruelty to animals; we have an obligation to protect animals and children and the physically and mentally challenged and everyone from harm. But, it did not take the millions of our tax dollars to pursue this case.Prior to the Mike Vick case,How many similar cases have their been, involving the federal government and dogfighters? How many after the Mike Vick case?
The lesson learned...it should be to treat animals humanely. It has been...the government can spend our money on whatever they choose. We work hard to make it...they work easy to spend it. There is no benefit to tax payers to have the feds hunt down and serveil a dogfighting ring for over a year and spend millions doing it. Once the data was gathered about the first issue...shut down the dogfighting ring. Fine/convict all participants and move on. Our government surveilled for over a year...how many dogs died during that year? How many dogs did they witness being tortured? They just kept watching it...they are guilty too. Just because you watch it under the guise of being undercover does not make it right. There was no greater good to be obtained. The feds just wanted to "get" Michael Vick and try to make him the "whipping boy" for stuff that has gone on for years.
Let Michael Vick play football, live his life and show us what God has done in his life through this ordeal. Lest we cast the first stone. It may not be dogfighting, maybe its fornication, porn, wifebeating, theft, fraud, child abuse, etc. But...we all have made mistakes. Let's not make the mistake of being unforgiving.