Michael Vick Protesters Flock to Oakland Coliseum for Eagles-Raiders Game

OAKLAND, Calif. -- About 30 animal rights protesters gathered outside the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Sunday, waving signs decrying dogfighting in response to Michael Vick's arrival with the Philadelphia Eagles and drawing mostly praise from Raiders fans entering the stadium.

Oakland has been the happy ending for many of the animals rescued from Vick's dogfighting and gambling operation in Virginia. Ten of the dogs in Vick's pit bull collection -- the ones that could be saved and rehabilitated -- found new lives in San Francisco's East Bay, fostered and treated by the group BAD RAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls).

On Sunday, a plane circled the Coliseum, trailing a banner that read "Dog Fighter Go Home! BAD RAP.org" and sign-carrying activists from groups such as In Defense of Animals carried signs that read, "NFL ADD DOGFIGHTING TO YOUR CODE OF CONDUCT."

California animal rights groups had pinpointed this game between the Eagles (3-1) and Raiders (1-4). Last week, representatives from BAD RAP offered Vick an opportunity to visit his former dogs in a setting that would not violate terms of his probation agreement. Vick declined.

The Eagles' controversial quarterback/receiver remained in the visiting locker room throughout the pregame warm-ups, and Philadelphia officials said he did not see or hear the commotion around him, or in the sky above.

Pit bull owner and rescuer Megan Collison, 38, drove four hours south from Albion, Calif. to denounce Vick. "I feel very strongly. I have a pit bull at home and she was abused," Collison said.

She and other protesters withstood some heckling and arguments. Gary Marshall of Turlock angrily debated the seriousness of Vick's crimes with Collison. "What Vick did was mild compared to child molestation," Marshall told her.

Jeff Blagg, 42, from the East Bay city of Martinez, stood in support of the Vick protestors and barked over and over to gain attention outside the stadium. "I am a dog owner!" he said loudly, adding that he is angry to see Vick in Oakland wearing an NFL uniform, even after serving time in federal prison.

"No. He got back too soon," Blagg said. "It bothers me that he's in the NFL, period. That's what bothers me. It doesn't matter where he plays. He's playing too soon."

In the always boisterous Raiders' pregame parking lot, a lone Vick supporter wore an Atlanta Falcons jersey for his guy.

"It's been a little hostile, but it's not too bad," said Charles Wright, 44, a burly tow truck operator from Oakland. "Maybe if the Raiders win a few more games, it wouldn't matter, you know?"

Wright chose a Falcons' Vick jersey, "because I wanted to get the original jersey; this is like a throwback now. So I'm wearing my throwback today."

Why did Wright feel compelled to show his support for an athlete so many people despise? "It's like this: sooner or later you're going to have to forgive the guy anyway," he said. "So you might as well get it out of your system and let him play ball."

On the field, Vick's first action came midway through the first quarter, when he lined up wide as a receiver but lost four yards on a reverse. Kirk Morrison's tackle led to a smattering of dog-barking sounds from fans at the Coliseum, which did not sell out in time to avoid a local television blackout.