Michael Vick

Michael Vick is fresh out of jail after a 23-month federal prison sentence for financing and participating in the operation known as Bad Newz Kennels. Since his release he’s been signed by the Eagles, he will earn $1.2 million this year and up to $5.2 million with performance bonuses next year, but has been having a pretty uneventful season as of yet – 25 yards rushing and 6 yards passing. Despite his negligible impact in the NFL, I still think this is a guy who shouldn’t be in the league.

For those of you who don’t know, in 2007, over 70 dogs, mostly pit bull terriers, were found on Vick’s Surry County, Virginia property with signs of injury that were evident of dog fighting. The case quickly drew widespread publicity to the issue of dog fighting and the unlawful gambling activities that often accompany it.

Subsequently, Vick and three others were convicted of federal conspiracy charges and imprisoned. Vick was suspended from the NFL, ordered to pay the Atlanta Falcons back a portion of his earnings, and lost endorsement deals worth millions more. The fiasco ended with Vick having to reorganize his assets through Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

For the record, I care for a dog: a mutt I rescued from a shelter. But my stance that Michael Vick should not be allowed to return to the NFL has little to do with his abuse of animals. It is my personal belief that all individuals, regardless of athletic ability, should be treated equally. To reinstate Michael Vick is giving preferential treatment to an undeserving athlete, in addition, it would likely tarnish the NFL in the eyes of some fans or would-be fans.

But Goodell believed that he should let the market decide Vick’s future. This is an appallingly light reprimand who didn’t commit just one dumb mistake. Fans of Vick love to compare his situation to that of St. Louis Ram’s DE, Leonard Little, who killed a woman in 1998 while driving drunk. Then commissioner Paul Tagliabue mishandled the case, issuing only an 8 game suspension under the League’s substance abuse policy. Vick’s fans claim that if Little only got an 8 game suspension for killing a woman, shouldn’t that set some sort of precedent for punishment?

My answer is no. Leonard Little committed a heinous act, in an instant he made a decision that would stick with him for the rest of his life. However, Michael Vick financed and participated in an illegal operation for years and the very nature of his crime makes him a repeat offender. Not only that, his crimes also included illegal gambling and lying to both Falcons owner, Arthur Blank, and Commissioner Goodell. Violence, gambling, and deception. Aren’t these three compelling reasons to banish Vick forever?