Dogfight1

 Michael Vick, who was once the highest paid man in the NFL with his 135 million dollar contract, is back with the League as a Philadelphia Eagles (according to ESPN).  In this First Take clip , one gets the opportunity to hear from some expert NFL commentators about how they felt about Michael Vick’s 60 minutes interview. The question which is posed by the host, Jay Crawford, of the show is do you think Michael Vick was sincere or coached for the interview. Ryan Stewart of “2 Live STEWS” comes immediately to the defense of Michael Vick saying “this guy was once the face of the entire league. After doing [time] in jail, after admitting to drowning dogs and killing dogs he better be coached!” Doug Stewart of “2 Live Stews” also seconds the defense that Michael Vick was coached, but still Doug Stewart “definitely believes [Michael Vick] is sorry.”  The First Take clip goes on, but this is where I want to start our conversation about Michael Vick.

 

 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAiwbqkr6Ao

 

I don’t know about you, but I am very doubtful of his remorse for his action, but I do honestly believe he wishes he hadn’t gotten caught and lost the 135 million dollar contract. I am sure everyone is familiar with the atrocity that occurred at Michael Vick’s Smithfield, Virginia estate, but here is a clip attached to an ESPN article just in case you missed out.  According to the ESPN article, Bad Newz Kennel started in early 2002.  It wasn’t until the June 7th 2007 raid, that police found the remains of seven dogs.  

dogfight2From there we learn that not only was Michael Vick the financer, but he was also a participant in the execution of the dogs.   According to the court released information, the dogs that lost their fights were hung, drowned, electrocuted and slammed against the ground as different forms of execution.  This dog-fighting business went on for at least five solid years, and now we are to believe that he feels remorse?  Moreover, during the court case he repeatedly lied so much that the judge sent him to have a polygraph test. It was only under the police administering the “lie-detector” test that he confessed his intimate involvement with the dogs’ executions.  The problem/question becomes that after he has served his 23 months sentence in prison should he get to play in the NFL again.

 The ireporter talks to an avid football fan about how he feels about Michael Vick being re-instated into the NFL and getting a 2 year contract with the Eagles. I have to agree with the fan. Michael Vick did do his time, and therefore, like other players who have actually killed people, Michael Vick should be given a second chance.  However, I disagree that this case is like Donte Stallworth’s case.   I think we see a continuous act of cruelty on the part of Michael Vick that went on for 5 years, whereas Donte Stallworth’s case was poor judgement in driving home drunk and killing unintentionally a person.  So although Michael Vick should play again, I think he should be forced to do the following:

  1. to donate a substantial portion of his income (for the next 5 plus years) to animal rights organizations as well as continuing to work closely with the Animal Cruelty Society
  2. seek the appropriate mental health treatment