Michael Vick made his debut appearance with the Philadelphia Eagles Friday at a press conference at team headquarters, where he was joined by Eagles coach Andy Reid, mentor/former NFL coach Tony Dungy and, later, team owner Jeffrey Lurie. Read about the day's key moments, which I tweeted live, after the jump.
Here's my tweet-by-tweet coverage of the press conference:As Vick presser ends, Eagles owner Lurie is asked "If he had done this to your dog would you have signed him?" Walks off without answering.
Lurie: "I won't measure Vick on yardage. I'll measure him on creating social change in this horrendous arena of animal cruelty."
Lurie wants Vick to "prove it with actions, not with words...My hope is Michael will prove his value to society."
Jeffrey Lurie wants Michael Vick to hate himself if he's going to play for the Eagles: "I needed to see a lot of self-hatred."
Good point: RT @darrenrovell1 : Dungy: Eagles showed Vick "Christian forgiveness." Does he know Eagles owner
Jeff Lurie is Jewish?
Eagles owner Lurie doesn't sound too enthused about having Vick in the NFL, "a league that he disgraced" So why sign him?
Eagles owner Lurie: Vick's actions "horrific...don't even have words to describe cruelty, torture, complete disregard for common decency"
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie describes himself as "dog lover," says he did "a lot of soul searching" before agreeing to sign Michael Vick.
Tony Dungy endorsement is huge for Michael Vick. Most respected man in NFL supports least respected man
in NFL.
I'm not feeling all warm and fuzzy about Vick or anything, but as far as doing what he needed to do, expressing remorse, I'd say he did it.
Press conference concludes with news that Michael Vick will wear No. 7 with the Eagles. Overall Vick handled media fairly well.
Tony Dungy: If I were still Colts coach I would have wanted Michael Vick but I'd ask him to play another position, not QB.
Andy Reid: If you don't think Michael Vick will contribute, just ask opposing defensive coordinators.
Vick first refers to "my 2 kids" and then "my 3 kids" I'm not sure on timeline but I think his fiancee had a baby while he was in jail.
Vick: "I've paid my debt to society. I spent two years in prison away from my fiancee, mom, family, two kids."
Reid: "I expect the public to have questions but trust that we do the right things here. We have done our homework."
Andy Reid: "Not everybody agrees with every decision. I know some people will not agree. On the other hand, I think the majority will."
Tony Dungy says he went to Michael Vick in Leavenworth and asked him, "Where was the Lord in all this?"
Vick: "I'm ready to go. I've stayed in shape. It was hard when I was away but I've maintained my weight and my build and hopefully my speed"
It's clear that Vick's media handlers have given him some buzzwords: "positive actions," "positive role model," "be proactive," etc
Michael Vick on dogfighting: "We all use the excuse 'it was part of our culture' but I don't think that's an excuse."
Vick promises to help more animals than he hurt. "Everybody deserves a second chance. ... But you only get one shot at a second chance."
Michael Vick: "I was wrong for what I did. ... To this day I can't understand why I was involved in such a pointless activity."
Vick: "After a 2-year hiatus, you can't go out and be a starter for a football team. As much God-given ability as I had, I couldn't do it."
Vick thanks agent Joel Segal and "everybody who has contributed to my comeback." Speaking without notes, says sorry if he forgets anyone.
Michael Vick: "Playing in the NFL is a privilege, not a right." Vick thanks his mom, dad, fiancee, Roger Goodell, Tony Dungy, Donovan McNabb.
Michael Vick: "I've made some mistakes ... made a horrible mistake" But is it really a "mistake" to purposely kill dogs?
Michael Vick: "First off, I'd like to express my gratification to Jeff Lurie and coach Andy Reid for making me a part of this organization"
Tony Dungy: "several" NFL coaches asked thoughts on Michael Vick. Praises Eagles for "giving a man a 2nd chance." Dungy also praises McNabb
Tony Dungy: "It is an honor to be here." Dungy: I talked to Vick in Leavanworth "He wanted to do some great things, be positive role model"
Andy Reid: "Eagles organization very excited to have Michael Vick" Reid says Vick has been "proactive," "sincere" in dealing with his crimes.
Michael Vick, Tony Dungy, Andy Reid all on scene at Eagles press conference.
Folks in Philadelphia say no visible protesters at Michael Vick Eagles press conference.
Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Is there anyone the Eagles wouldn't sign? If a serial killer could run a 4.3 40, would the Eagles give him a contract?
Grow up mike..like the other answers by dsteen7856 and georgiasherry they are pathetic you must have really sad lives, you need to stop living in the past,I dont agree with what Vick did BUT he did what the law in the US deemed fit, reguardless of your opinion he served his time so let it go..Comparing serial killers to the question in hand makes me feel like your the one with the SICK mind..How DUMB does is your post..Regards
Before you comment on my last sentence SO WHAT I MADE A MISTAKE..PPPLLLEEEAAASSSEEE FORGIVE ME..I am now condemed ...LOL
that was awesome and so true - except the vick is a serial killer soooooo ya know. better hope he doesn't lose a game or the philly fans might do the same to him as he did to those dogs. oh well - no real lose, all he does is catch a ball - hey dogs can play catch we should sign some of "his dogs" to play instead. Save some serious cash.
Its interesting how you guys can fight to save and rehabilitate animals, but you don't believe that a human being can be rehabilitated.
Even after he has serve jail time and apologized for his actions. It couldn't be because he is not white? Or could it? Nah
Do NOT support the advertisers and sponsors that choose to affiliate themselves with the Eagles.
If you are totally disgusted with the signing of Vick, the best way to get your feelings across is to address the advertisers. Let them know that if they choose to support and Eagles (advertise during their games) you will NOT buy their products until Vick is gone.
Vick needs to go. He can work for 8 bucks an hour at the SPCA. That will show everyone how truly "sorry" he is when he's hosing down the dog runs.
When the details of Vick's crime were revealed, I swore I'd never watch a team that carried Vick on its roster. That was then. Today, I sit surrounded by my dogs (3) and hope Vick does well. Why? Perhaps because, without the possibility of redemption, our lives are hollow. Vick appears to have undergone a redemptive internal process. If, indeed, he is sincere, he deserves a second chance. If he is not, we will know soon enough. Vick is going to be tested in every market the Eagles play.
Look Vick up and see how many "problems" the young player has had. For crying out loud, he failed a drug test while awaiting trial for his gambling and dogfighting charges. Once a thug, always a thug.
DO THE POOR DOGS GET A SECOND CHANCE?? ANYONE THAT COULD DO SUCH A SICK THING TO A DOG OR CAT COULD DO IT TO A CHILD. HE SHOULD BE THROWN OUT OF THE NFL. HE IS SICK. HE HAD ENOUGH MONEY WHY WOULD HE DO SUCH A THING, BECAUSE HE LIKED WATCHING A POOR DOG DRAWN AND ME KILLED. I HAVE BEEN AN EAGLES FAN FOR OVER 35 YRS AND I WILL NEVER WATCH ANOTHER GAME. PROMISE. AND SHAME ON ANDY REIVES FOR ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN. PERHAPS ANDY REIVES NEEDS TO GO. GET RID OF VICK.
UPSET FAN AND NO LONGER A FAN
How come you are not making the same idiotic comments about Leonard Little? Donte Stallworth? Vick spent two years in jail...how much time did they do? They killed human beings...maliciously. Why are you not protesting?
What Vick did was horrible. But, he did his time. He paid for his crimes. Why does he not deserve a second chance? That's what is wrong with this country. If it was Paris Hilton crying on 60 Minutes..you would be all about redemption. But since it's an athlete from the inner city..then all of a sudden there is no forgiveness.
Stop playing on your Mommy's computer.
M.Vick has a thug mentality & thug attitude. If you say he has paid his debt to society. Then I Pray society & God help ease the pain of his next victims.
Have you ever met Vick? How can you say what he has or what he's going to do? Maybe you should actually spend some time with inner city kids. You will find out that most of them are not thugs but they get tangled up with the wrong people and then they do stupid things. But, I guess you are perfect so you are allowed to judge others. If it was your family member that was released for this crime, bet you would be screaming a different tune.
Go play somewhere else and stop judging people you have never met.
DSTEEN7856 U ARE A F*****G P***Y!!! DO U WANT CHEESE FOR THAT WINE? HES A GOOD PLAYER GET OVER IT! EVERYONES HATING CAUSE HE KILLED VIOLENT DOGS WAAH. WHILE IF U KILL SOMEONE U ONLY MISS A YEAR? IF UR GOING TO COMPLAIN MAKE IT ABOUT THAT BUM STALLWORTH WHO KILLED A HUMAN
If Mike was white then all the white people would says he did his time... Martha,etc etc. Mike is black and white people hate it...
martha was tax fraud this was torture stop playing that race card that gets old what he did was brutal i wouldnt care if he was purple if u want 2 b technical look at stallworth he killed a human and only got one year suspension so please look deep before u leap peace
White people are silly. They can never palyed the game. He did his time. Move on....
If you do the time for your crime..... everything is OK. Then why can't Child molesters work in Day Cares or School systems. They did their time also. He made his choose. Live with it. It should effect the rest of his life !!!!!What he did was HORRIBLE.
Vick will have shown true remorse when he repays the Falcons organization the money he owes them. Or did he spend it all on doggie-sized jumper cables?
And can we PLEASE get him in a Philly uniform in front of a camera? I'm sick of ESPN showing B-Roll of him in a Falcons jersey.
i listened to vic speaking to JB he sounded sincere and i am not a God to condemn him
a while back i said that if the eagles had vick and McNabb all the other teams would be in shock and shaking with fear
lets give him a chance and we shall see what happens
Okay its been two years so I can't remember did he always seem a little retarded when he spoke?
Seriously, did he use the retarded defense at his trial.
Not only did he say "my 2 kids" and a second later refer to "my 3 kids" he also referred to "my oldest son" and than mentioned the 2 other kids both of whom are girls.
Yeah I guess if you only have 1 son he would be your oldest son and your youngest son too.
My favorite part was when a reporter asked Reid about giving Vick a second chance when he's never given anyone else a second chance before.