Monday, July 27, 2009

Michael Vick: Conditionally Reinstated by NFL

Welcome back, Michael Vick!

In effect, that's what NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said today.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Michael Vick was conditionally reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday and could play in regular season games as early as October.

Vick can immediately participate in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games—if he can find a team that will sign him. A number of teams have already said they would not.

Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely in August 2007 after the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback admitted bankrolling the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting operation. Goodell said then that Vick must show remorse and signs that he has changed before he would consider reinstating him.

It was always clear to me that the NFL wanted Vick back on the field.

Everyone deserves to be forgiven, but everyone also must accept responsibility for their actions and the consequences.

In Vick's case, I think his NFL playing days should be terminated.

If not, then the NFL should throw out it's personal conduct policy. It's pure trash.

I don't like the facade. The NFL should just be honest that a player's personal conduct off the field is irrelevant.

Simply expressing remorse shouldn't be the path to getting a do-over. What's done is done. Vick's offense was not minor.

Forgiveness isn't the same as a mulligan.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank God Goodell made the right decision!
Michael Vick deserves a second chance! He is a human being who made an serious mistake. He should not be denied a chance to make a living doing what he is good at because he made a horrible mistake and used poor judgement.

Anonymous said...

It was worse than a horrible mistake. He should be banned from the NFL for life. This is going to be a PR disaster for the NFL. The comparisons to the thug league, the NBA, have already begun. Sacrificing the league for Vick is idiocy.

Mary said...

Any team that would take Vick has to be prepared for protesters to dog them.

(Bad pun intended)