Everybody agrees that, in the immortal words of Joe Buck describing Randy Moss fake-mooning the Lambeau Field crowd, Michael Vick committed a disgusting act. On Tuesday, the convicted puppy murderer plead guilty to Virginia dogfighting charges (he was sentenced to a suspended term), and he's currently serving time in federal prison.
Vick won't be there forever, though; the former Falcon first-round pick will be released in 2009 with the hopes of resuming his NFL career. Ultimately, that decision lies with commissioner Roger Goodell, who has a history of giving players second, third, and fourth chances.
Via ESPN's John Clayton:
According to a source, he has kept in contact with the office of commissioner Roger Goodell during his jail stay and plans to meet with the commissioner before next summer. Because he was remorseful at Tuesday's hearing, he is also making plans to make sure he does the right things in making amends with society for his involvement in dog fighting. ...Clayton also writes that no NFL team would show interest in Vick right now because of the potential public backlash. Which to me, indicates that the Browns would be wise to hastily convene a press conference announcing they'll sign Vick the moment he's released from the clink, just to take the focus off Phil Savage, Romeo Crennel and the 2008 Bumblin' Browns.
According to a source, Vick is hopeful the backlash of his return won't be bad. He had about eight protesters at his hearing, which may be a sign society is starting to give him a chance to come back. We'll see.
During last Sunday's CBS Pregame Show, Bill Cowher had no doubts that Vick would return to the NFL, and even suggested Dallas might be a natural landing spot. Aside from Jerry Jones' almost unhealthy obsession with signing troubled players, the Cowboys make sense because, well, have you seen Brad Johnson and Brooks Bollinger?
But who knows: maybe Vick wants a chance to win a starting gig, or perhaps he'd just be happy to be out of prison and earning a paycheck. I have no idea. Either way, it looks like he's planning a comeback.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
11-26-2008 @ 4:55PM
dubbz3000 said...
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
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2-01-2009 @ 10:24PM
beundressed said...
ok
11-26-2008 @ 4:58PM
dubbz3000 said...
...oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
ooooooooooooo!!!!(::lungs explode::)
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11-26-2008 @ 5:22PM
JMaack said...
IF Vick comes back whatever team that is stupid enough to hire him had best be prepared for a major backlash. People will not tolerate him. Any company that sponsors a team that Vick is on will also have to deal with the backlash. Their product will be boycotted. Vick does not deserve a another chance. There is no excuse in the world for what he did, not even being totally ignorant, which he obviously is.
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11-26-2008 @ 10:34PM
Lawrence said...
Vick doesnt deserve a second chance? HAHAHAHA, and this the same country that gave Bush a SECOND CHANCE at the presidency. Come on guys, you are making this too funny. I don't get why people still hate the guy. Its not like he caused your retirement accounts to go down by 40%. Or made your home go into foreclosure. Or jacked up the interest rate on your credit card. The Chinese have this country by the balls(own $600 billion in treasury bills), and your worried about a ex-football player doing time in prison over some dogs.
No wonder America is such a laughing stock.
11-27-2008 @ 5:28PM
troy said...
okay,im sick of stupid people,vick made one mistake in his life.where he comes from thats what people do,now he clearly knows its wrong.vick was the most exciting player in football and i as well as many other people want him back,the sentence was ridiculous in the first place.one season suspended 90 days in jail and loss of his sponsers was enough.vick is not the idiot packman jones ,shooting the club up people getting paralyed,people loosing thier eyes...bottom line wheres peta when people are starving,kids are being hurt..give me a break,i could give a monkeys rat butt about what peta thinks,mike vick did his time...he dosent need to go around taking pictures with kittens and donating money to a bunch of peta idiots.......if hes going to donate anything ,donate some time with the kids and explain to them that there are consequences for your actions....case closed,i have spoken!!!!
12-02-2008 @ 1:51PM
marcus said...
Dude, are you really that stupid? Millions of people participate in illegal things every year. Hell he wasn't the only player involved in dogfighting. People won't tolerate him? Who are you kidding?? There is money to be made and jerseys to sell. Mike Vick probably will be doing free PETA promos and hopefully continuing his career. You're idiotic statements remind me of ESPN's Jemele Hill. Complete foolishness. She should be sent to prison.
11-26-2008 @ 6:53PM
jason said...
I am kind of tired of hearing you people talk about vic, ok he made a mistake of judgement. He is paying the price for the mistake, you love animals so much that you would let a human be homeless. that's right, with so many problems in the world you would let people go hungry and homeless to save a animal? Look i like pets, but Vic is a human being, and why can't he get a 2 chance to play football? This man didn't kill a human, you put more value on a dog than a human, that is crazy to me. Remember BOXING IS A SPORT, talk to them, get them to ban that. It is crazy to still hear people talk about pets like they are human. Start treating PEOPLE alittle better, help the homeless,kid on the street.
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12-03-2008 @ 8:58PM
HUSKERDIVA said...
Hey, Jason! It's very obvious to me that you don't value much of anything. I see that you value human life. What about unconditional love? Animals provide unconditional love. Have you ever thought about that? Have you ever had a pet? I think not. Stop. Think about what Michael Vick was doing. Close your eyes and really think about it...and then email me and tell me that it was ok...and that he is a stand-up guy. If you can do that...great.
11-26-2008 @ 7:30PM
Skippy said...
IF he comes back...and that's a big IF, it won't be as a quarterback. That's done. Frankly, even if he didn't have these legal problems, he should've been switched to another position. His arm's mediocre at best.
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11-26-2008 @ 7:39PM
bigflyer said...
Vick's wrongs were much more evil than a mistake of judgement: the cruelty he played with showed there is a lack of character and morals in the man. Prison does not change that,. ...many times guys get out and they are worse than when they went in.
People in this USA love dogs and animals and Mr Roger feelgood might forgive him, but most of America will not.
Besides he was a running back and a marginal QB at best. Get lost Vick, you deserve public humiliation not rehabilitation.
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12-02-2008 @ 8:05PM
cam said...
im gonna guess you never did time cause what you said is wrong prision is hard but federal prision is even harder dont get me wrong im not a fan of his but people can change you should keep that in mind next time you take your car in to get fixed cause chances are that the mechanic is an ex con .
11-26-2008 @ 8:12PM
Butcher said...
The dog thing is a big deal, but it`s more then that.
I lived in Atlanta, went to the games more then a couple of times.
He treats the fans like crap and would be willing to bet his own teammates. He laided down on the team a couple of times.
And I don`t want to hear all that crap about he didn`t have any help.
Great running game with Dunn & Duckett, and for a couple of years
pretty decent D.
I saw the guy have a 1st down running the ball and he lets a defender knock it out of his hands ..out of bounds short of first down. Cuz he was hot doggin it. Might have won that game.
You ever play offensive line and try to protect a quarterback running around behind the line of scrimmage for 30 seconds ???
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11-26-2008 @ 10:34PM
Lawrence said...
Have you ever played offensive line? Let me know when your jersey is on sale at the local Foot Locker. Just another armchair quarterback huh Butcher?
11-26-2008 @ 8:36PM
Jason said...
I really can't believe what I am reading here. Vic was a great QB, I live in Atlanta also (Go G-Men) but he was a great QB, but that is not the question here, what is, is that if he comes back and has a great year, most American's WILL forget the past. Time and time again it has happen. Try to remember players and their problems (I will wait!!!!!!!) the point is America's will forget the past of a WINNER, that vic can and most likely will be a winner in the football field again, given the chance and before I forget, F*** PETA. I wish the would try me.
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11-26-2008 @ 8:55PM
CMunie said...
VIck will be back and fairly right so. Ive seen people get lesser sentences for killing human beings and Ive been a policeman for over 20 yrs. I am no Vick fan but fair is fair. Let the man play ball.
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11-26-2008 @ 9:08PM
TAI said...
MURDERER!!!! It is a big deal. He and his buddies KILLED....not once, not twice, but repeatedly.....they sprayed dogs down with a hose then electrocuted them...they fought to the death, strangled, shot, etc animals....and why? To make them feel like BIG IMPORTANT MEN.....so what.....Trash is what I call them. TRASH!!!! Now he's poor and has no money, boo hoo....Does anyone feel sorry for him?.....HELL NO!!! He's lucky in the first place cause someone gave him the chance. He must be dumb as a fence post in the first place.....I love sports just as much as anyone, but WHY do we keep celebrating all these idiots because they are good athletes?.....Its got to stop and Michael "Murderer" Vick is a great place to start. Let him go work for his money like the rest of us do and maybe, just maybe, he'll realize that he did a bad thing and work towards making his self right. I say DOWN WITH VICK!
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11-26-2008 @ 9:09PM
mike said...
i am no vick fan, but after the man has paid his debt to society, why shouldnt he be allowed to return to the nfl? i definately dont condone what he did, but how can you say he has a light sentence? it has caused him to go bankrupt, it was his fault, but still, how many of you have ever served time in jail or prison? more than a year is a seriously long time when every single minute drags out, let him be after he gets out to get his life corrected
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11-26-2008 @ 9:17PM
patrick said...
OVERRATED
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11-26-2008 @ 9:27PM
DallasCowboysRock said...
I`m pretty sure that Vick was never convicted of he himself actually killing the under performing dogs, but knew it was happening and did nothing to stop it. He set up the dog fighting ring in order to get some cash and there is no doubt that what he did was wrong and disgusting. But he has done his time and I think he deserves a second chance. That said, I hope Jerry Jones has enough sense not to sign him as the Boys' backup QB, no need to fuel the Cowboy hater's fire.
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