Tuesday, July 24, 2007

A Football Field Is No Place for Michael Vick

Take care of your legal problems, Michael Vick. Your football career can wait.

Someone in Vick's inner circle should tell him the best thing for him to do is to take a leave from his team -- the Atlanta Falcons -- and from the NFL. Already, the NFL has made it clear it does not want him in training camp, and the Falcons have done likewise by naming a new starting quarterback.

Everyone wants to stay as far away from the dogfighting charges that Vick faces because they're afraid of the backlash from fans, sponsors, advertisers. But the NFL and the Falcons have to walk a fine line -- Vick has a right to due process, and the presumption in our legal system is that he is innocent. The prosecution has to prove his guilt.

Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, said the NFL did the right thing in ordering Vick not to attend training camp.

"Officials from the NFL rightly recognized that it just cannot be business as usual for Vick and the Falcons with this chilling set of facts laid out in the federal indictment," Pacelle said in a statement. "It is our sincerest hope that Michael Vick not suit up for play prior to the resolution of these serious charges in federal court."

Vick has done one smart thing so far: He's reportedly hired a pretty good lawyer -- Billy Martin who represented Monica Lewinsky -- to help him answer the charges. His first date in court is Thursday.

Now, it's time for the legal system to work. For the charges to be presented against Vick and three others. For Vick and the others to defend themselves. And if needed, for a jury to decide his guilt or innocence.

Above everything else, Michael Vick needs to learn quickly that this not the time even to think about his place on a football field.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Actually if Michael Vick has any sense he would get into another line of work. Not dealing with sports of any kind and not owning any animals. The man is an absolute disgrace! The NFL thought they had problems with the "wardrobe malfunction". They have not seen anything yet. If they bring him back and let him continue to play they will have more problems than they can handle. Every animal activist and organization will be so up in arms and on his case and the NFL's case they will not be able to move. They will have a lot of a** kissing to do to make up to alot of people including fans, advertisers and etc.

The guy and his friends are scum all they have done is make the situation about the "pit bull" breed worse and I for one am appalled and hope the Falcons never get to the Superbowl.

Unknown said...

Who ever posted this comment about hoping the falcons never get to the super bowl, you're an idiot. Arthur Blank nor the Atlanta Falcons organization had nothing to do w/this quagmire that Michael Vick has gotten himself involved in. It is not Arthur Blank's job to monitor his players off season behaviors. Michael Vick is a grown man and made his own decisions. Arthur Blank's job is to make sure Home Depot stays profitable. So go take that sorry @ss opinion elsewhere.

Anonymous said...

Yes he certainly is scum. Interesting how many wealthy football players are abusive, aggressive sociopaths.

Anonymous said...

It's only football players who are abusive, aggressive sociopaths? It's never your quiet CPA or stockbroker, you next door neighbor, or anyone except for macho testosterone laden athletes? Give me a break. These guys have every move scrutinized by the press. You have a few bad apples, and all of a sudden they all look bad in the public eye. Forget about all the good that the majority of them do, with charity and helping the less fortunate.

I don't condone what has happened with Vick, and I hope he is punished to the full extent if he's convicted, but let's remember that your abusive, aggressive sociopath comes from all walks of life. We just don't hear about most of them.

Anonymous said...

Michael Vick is a piece of trash. I hope that he trips, falls and breaks his leg in a room full of pit bulls that were trained to kill and he gets torn apart limb by limb so he knows what it feels like.
All those kids that look up to him now think that animals are throw away objects and it is ok to abuse and kill them.
He makes me sick.

Anonymous said...

I think he should get a taste of his own medicine and feel the type of pain he put those poor, incident dogs through. This type of behavior makes me sick to my stomach.

Anonymous said...

Generally, dog fighting is done for entertainment and making a little money in the process. Vick, being an NFL quaterback certainly doesn't need the nickels and dimes this "sport" provides. That means he's doing it for his own entertainment. Imagine, someone who is entertained by the sight of dying animals. This guy needs some serious help.

Kyrie1012 said...

I'm sorry....what ever happened to inocent until proven guilty. None of us has all the facts in this case... you all should wait to see the outcome before you punch his ticket to hell.

Debs said...

Ms. Kyrie
The grand jury has state evidence against Vicks and his looser friends.
I personally hope he does rot in hell.
Anyone who is into this type of activity is a miserable excuse for a human being.
I hope he looses his endorsement for Nike as well.

Anonymous said...

I'm a firm believer in the tormentors being given the same treatment that was given to the pathetic,defenseless dogs found at Vick's home. The sight,on the news, of the two dogs tearing each other apart along with the descriptions of what was done to the"losers" and others,when these people were done with them,made me sick. Wetting a dog down and then shocking it until it was dead?!Is everyone aware of the all too often finding that those who torture and abuse people also have a history of abusing animals first? Does the name Jeffrey Dahmer ring a bell with anyone? Unfortunately, the punishment will not be anywhere close to what they deserve. Lab-loving R.N.from Delaware.

Anonymous said...

I'm a firm believer in the tormentors being given the same treatment that was given to the pathetic,defenseless dogs found at Vick's home. The sight,on the news, of the two dogs tearing each other apart along with the descriptions of what was done to the"losers" and others,when these people were done with them,made me sick. Wetting a dog down and then shocking it until it was dead?!Is everyone aware of the all too often finding that those who torture and abuse people also have a history of abusing animals first? Does the name Jeffrey Dahmer ring a bell with anyone? Unfortunately, the punishment will not be anywhere close to what they deserve. Lab-loving R.N.from Delaware.