It's been hard to find anyone in the NFL who would comment publicly on whether Michael Vick should be reinstated, but Mike Tomlin isn't shy.When asked about the former Falcons quarterback-turned-federal prisoner, Tomlin said he thinks any team with a quarterback need should be interested in adding No. 7, even if he's sure to generate protests wherever he goes.
"I understand it's going to be hard, but what I'm saying is that maybe it shouldn't be. Those without sin cast the first stone, if you know what I mean?" Tomlin said. "The reality is that this young man went to prison and paid his debt to society and if the commissioner deems him worthy of a second chance, who are we to pass judgment?"It is a little easier for Tomlin to talk about Vick, as there's no doubt that Pittsburgh will not be trying to sign or trade for him -- with Ben Roetlisberger on the roster, the Steelers feel pretty good about their quarterback. But Tomlin's vote of support is one of the first Vick has gotten from an NFL coach, even if many of his former Falcons teammates have been vocal supporters.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-25-2009 @ 11:30PM
horatiowrd said...
If Byron leaves via free agency, why wouldnt Tomlin sign Vick? Big Bens best asset is escapablity and strong arm. That was Vick's schitck. Hed be a perfect backup,
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3-26-2009 @ 9:40AM
becarefulangel said...
Strong arm? Last I remember, he was a much better runner than he was a thrower.
If I was a general manager of an NFL team, I would put Michael Vick on the roster, but as a running back. It seems to me like he would be perfect for that position.
3-30-2009 @ 10:25AM
juicebox said...
Strong arm is quite true... yes, he was fast and could run... but he actually had the strongest arm in the NFL... could throw farther than anyone else... only downfall was he wasnt quite as accurate as say, Peyton Manning.
But strong arm is an understatement.
3-25-2009 @ 11:45PM
checka624 said...
big bens asset is he just makes big plays in big games.. vick doesnt do that
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3-26-2009 @ 12:22AM
YouFaceTheTick said...
"big" Ben's play...he won't be in the league long. The guy's about 20 cards short of a full deck and a few more concussions (which will come more frequently) will send him out of the league within 2-3 years. He's turning into Chris Chandler.
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3-26-2009 @ 11:51AM
Steel Wheel said...
Yeah, I doubt that...I think Ben will bow out after his 4th superbowl...while you keep dreamin your penis envy
3-26-2009 @ 6:31AM
bkind7x said...
Thanks Tomlin - justice for Vick needs more sensible comments from reasonable people. I am a qote - white guy - who loves animals - BUT I consider myself to be beige; and quote - black folks - I consider to be brown - all people are a shade of brown - the world is delusional. Another truth - Vick has more right to work than do the people who seek and continue to abuse him in many news articles and blogs - allowing animals to abuse one another is not good - directly and continually abusing a human is even worse. Debt more than paid - out of debt.
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3-26-2009 @ 11:49AM
soulcitysigma1914 said...
i like your comments. i know that Vick's crimes were really disgusting but once he has served the time that the courts have mandated he served, he needs to be allowed to find work, as should all ex-offenders. if we have a problem with how long he served for such disgusting acts, we might need to take that up w/ the courts, versus Vick.
I live in a community where there are a lot of ex-offenders who can't find jobs and who therefore continue with crime or drain the system in other ways. WHo knows, if Vick changes and redeems himself, maybe he can be something of a poster boy for criminal redemption. We don't help society by denying ex-cons the opportunity to work.
3-26-2009 @ 9:39AM
MenoRikey said...
I would stop watching the NFL if Vick was allowed back.
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3-26-2009 @ 12:28PM
Jackie said...
I will hate the Steelers if they pick him up and i am not the only one!
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3-26-2009 @ 12:59PM
john said...
RE: Well my man, you better go grab your popcorn and go watch figure skating. That might be more up your alley. :-)
3-26-2009 @ 9:39AM
MenoRikey said...
I would stop watching the NFL if Vick was allowed back
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3-26-2009 @ 6:38PM
t said...
All you people talking about "forgiving" Vick apparently don't understand how vicious and disgusting dogfighting is. I have pits and they are fantastic, intelligent wonderful companions. Anyone who allowed dozens(or possibly hundreds) of these dogs to be brutalized and murdered for sport does NOT deserve to be a figure in the public eye. Period.
Micheal Vick allowed these dogs to be tortured and killed on his million-dollar properties FOR YEARS. It's not like it happened once or twice; it was a LIFESTYLE to him and his disgusting, ignorant thug friends. Vick is no victim. Not in the least. He threw away tens of MILLIONS of dollars by KILLING dogs for "fun".
Is this a man YOU want your children cheering for?
There are a helluva lot of guys in the NFL, black and white, who are admirable, decent people who deserve the fame, fortune and privilege of their position as sports stars. Vick is NOT one of them. He threw that all away.
Again: Vick CHOSE, over and over and over again, to allow these dog fights to occur on his property. NO ONE owns multi-million dollar properties and lets "friends" hang out there killing dogs without his knowledge. It just doesn't happen.
Pacman Jones deserves another chance before Vick.
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3-26-2009 @ 10:01PM
lazyindiankid4 said...
so ur tellin me that u want kids to follow pacman and his drug crap. I am mean agree wit the pit stuff but dude, give the guy a second chance! he is a human being. If people can freaking do illeagel drugs and let in wit a 2nd chance. Chill, let him in.
3-30-2009 @ 10:22AM
juicebox said...
Your ridiculous... So dogfighting, which i agree is disgusting and horrible, is so much worse than horseracing (where they drug, steroid, and beat horses), huntinh (where they KILL helpless animals), or even eating meat (slaughtering cows, pigs, and chickens)... Unless your a vegan who protests hunting and horseracing... your a hypocrit sir... What makes dogfighting worse than those? because the animal is domesticated? Pigs are often domesticated but we eat them daily... He has paid his dues... pre-prison he did so much for the hoods and bad neighborhoods of Georgia... he helped society there... but because a dog died, he is the worst person in the world... Are you Vegan? Are you part of PETA? Do you protest hunting or horseracing? I doubt any of the 3... Your a hypocrit.
3-26-2009 @ 7:23PM
Havok said...
t, I totally agree with you. Vick's only mistake was to get caught. Otherwise, he would still be killing dogs and using pets as baits. Mr. Tomlin, imagine how your daughter would feel if she knew her beloved pet had been stolen and used as a bait? This is what Vick did for entertainment.
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3-26-2009 @ 7:24PM
bkind7x said...
Vick has paid a price for his choices - whether you like the price or not - it is being paid - and he should be able to work again. Most likely he will not repeat the dog thing again and that is what matter's. If he does do it again then he can go back to jail - otherwise the man needs to work; and people will see that if he does no more fighting he can continue to work - if he does fighting again then he will again go to jail - it's that simple.
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3-28-2009 @ 9:52AM
whispererk said...
I'd sign Jack the Ripper before i'd sign Vick. If an nfl team signs him, that just might end my NFL watching career.
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3-30-2009 @ 1:06PM
Nate said...
t
You hit the nail on the head. It was indeed a lifestyle for Vick to viciously victimize innocent animals for his own entertainment, and, I believe, to look like a big shot high roller in the eyes of his low-life hangers on. To all those who say Vick made a "mistake", these were not mistakes, they were conscious decisions that he made over and over again.
The Commissioner can look for "remorse" from Vick all he wants,but he wont find it. A victimizer like Vick is without remorse and his only regret will be that he got caught and cannot engage in his despicable criminal behavior any longer.
And if you think Vick deserves another chance in the NFL, remember, it isnt like he was a model citizen before the dog fighting ring was discovered. Remember the scandal about him callously spreading herpes to the women he was with, the marijuana in a bottle fiasco, flipping off his own fans, and even admitting he didnt always play hard? This is the guy who deserves another chance? Even if you leave aside the fact that Vick was never more than a mediocre NFL qb, he is way more trouble than he is worth. Maybe he deserves a chance to make a living, but it doesnt have to be in the NFL. Playing in the NFL is a privelege,not a right, and Vick has squandered that for the most disgusting of reasons.
You mentioned all the decent and admirable players in the league, who earn and deserve our respect. I believe there are many more of them than we are ever aware of, because they dont get the attention that the Pacmans, the T.O.'s and the other trouble makers get. Do you think these hardworking, decent men want to associate with a scumbag like Vick?
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3-31-2009 @ 9:57PM
sdbrian71 said...
black always defends black
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4-03-2009 @ 6:18PM
greatr said...
Vick has the same rights as any other convict finishing his sentence. The last time I checked that does not include playing in the NFL. He has no "right" to play. The judge tried to explain this to the lout but the concept was evidentally too difficult for him to understand. If he can find someone who wants him, then he will have a job. If he doesn't there's always animal killing and torture, after all that's the only work experience he has.
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