michael vick signed with the eagles

[Buckalew11]

I'm very disappointed any NFL would have signed him.

 

[KristinBelle]

He's certainly not the first convicted felon to play in the NFL and he won't be the last-

http://www.examiner.com/x-5919-Norf...ichael-Vick-will-join-other-felons-in-the-NFL

Goodell is not only understanding of those who engage in the torture and killing of man’s best friend, but also of those who torture and kill man himself.

In 1998, St. Louis Rams’ defensive end Leonard Little ran a red light, while driving drunk and hit and killed wife and mother Susan Gutweiler, 47. Little pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge, served 90 nights in a work release program and was back on the field the following season. In 2004, he was arrested again on drunk driving charges. In 2006, he was selected for the Pro Bowl.

In 2000, Baltimore Ravens’ linebacker Ray Lewis pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, and agreed to testify against his two friends, Reginald Oakley and Joseph Sweeting, in exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss murder charges against him. Lewis was accused of stabbing to death two people after a Super Bowl party he attended, where a fight broke out between he and two members of a rapper’s entourage. While the NFL did fine Lewis for the crime, they did not issue any suspension. In 2008, Lewis received his 10th selection to the Pro Bowl.

In 2003, Chicago Bears’ defensive tackle Christian Peter retired after spending six seasons in the NFL. Before being drafted, Peter was arrested eight times for various offenses while in college at the University of Nebraska, one for grabbing a woman by the throat. Peter was also alleged to have raped a freshman named Kathy Redmond multiple times, while head coach Tom Osborne helped cover up the crime, Osborne has since apologized to Redmond. .In 1993, Peter also sexually assaulted two women.
Peter was drafted by the New England Patriots, who in light of his long history of criminal behavior, and his eighth arrest just before the draft, relinquished their rights to him. Peter entered the NFL the following season with the New York Giants.

In 2005, Cleveland Browns’ running back Jamal Lewis served 4 months in prison for attempting to set up a drug deal. Lewis was caught in 2004, as he tried to obtain and distribute five kilograms of cocaine. He received a four-game suspension. In 2008, Lewis rushed for 1,000 yards.

Between 2005-2007, Dallas Cowboys’ cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones was arrested and/or convicted of multiple charges including disorderly conduct, public intoxication, assault, felony vandalism. In 2006, Jones was arrested for spitting in a woman’s face at a Nashville nightclub. In 2007, Jones assaulted a stripper in a Las Vegas club and threatened the life of a security guard, Jones eventually pleaded guilty to lesser charges. Jones was suspended for the 2007 NFL season, but returned to the league with the Cowboys in 2008.

In 2006, Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive tackle Tank Johnson was charged with aggravated assault and resisting arrest, after allegedly threatening a Chicago police officer. At the time of his arrest, Johnson was on probation for a 2005 guilty plea to carrying a concealed weapon. Johnson was also charged with further probation violations in 2006. Johnson received an eight-game suspension, after serving 43 days in jail.

In April 2009, Cleveland Browns’ wide receiver Donte Stallworth pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges and received a laughable 30-days in jail after hitting and killing husband and father Mario Reyes, 59 in Miami, Stallworth was drunk at the time. Officially, Stallworth is still on suspension from the NFL. The Browns have not released Stallworth, who signed him to a $35 million contract two weeks before he killed Reyes.

During the 2007 NFL season, an incredible 21 percent of the players had arrest records.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

Goodell is SO not even-handed in his punishments. He suspends Michael Vick for four games and suspends Donte Stallworth (yes, I know he killed someone while driving drunk - which is terrible - but the more I look at the accident, the more I think that the person that he killed was partially at fault...he was walking on an interstate, which is completely illegal in and of itself...and the justice system must have agreed or he would have gotten more than a 24-day plea agreement) for a year. At least, Stallworth seems remorseful and has said that he will have to live with the burden of the man's death on his conscience for the rest of his life. I haven't seen any proof that Michael Vick is remorseful. There is no way Michael Vick should have gone right back to playing football and I don't think he should have ever been reinstated. I am happy to see that it seems like a lot of Eagles' fans are upset about it....and I'm very glad he didn't sign with my team because I have already lost some respect for them this year. I would have lost all respect if they had taken him.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

Just curious... did you see any of the film footage of what he actually did to these helpless animals? People who employ violence against those who are defenseless i.e animals, children, the handicaped, and the elderly.... are sick and twisted individuals. And for you to trivilize Sick Vick's actions is nauseating

I'm glad someone else sees it the way I do. I put him in the same category I put child molesters and child killers....absolute garbage. I hope someone stomps all over him the first time he is on the field and he never has a chance to play again. And to the person who said he should be put in a room full of hungry pit bulls, I agree with you as well. It's just too bad that one of those dogs didn't turn on him. I strongly disliked him when the information about what he did first came out but actually having a Pit Bull (mix, but mostly a Pit Bull) live in the same house with me and seeing how sweet they can be when they're treated right and how smart they can be makes me so angry at him that I wish I could walk up to him and spit on him (and he's the only person that I can think of that I feel that way about....I've forgiven people in my life who most people wouldn't forgive and I'm generally not spiteful.)

 

[FireDancer]

I don't watch the NFL so I don't really care one way or the other but we have a person killer here in Cleveland playing for the Browns, and that is exponentially worse than killing any animal.
Human life > Animal life.

I wonder if the same outrage would have been voiced if JC Penny or Sears had hired a felon that had served their time. NFL player is just a job, a high paying job, but just a job. I don't buy the "they are role models" crap. A role model is a role model for their totality of action in life, not simply because they can throw a ball.

 

[Jennasis]

I can only hope the pHilly fans vote with their feet and pocketbooks and perhaps boycott some games in protest.

The man is utter human garbage.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

Never mind....this post was too off-topic.

 

[mlynn]

Growing up in a Philly sports house.This made me sick to hear last night.I will not watch any games this year. (I know my husband will but I will not) I don't know what Philly was thinking.So glad I am more of a Hockey fan then football. this is going to bite the Eagles office in the butt and wallet. BAD MOVE!!!!

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

Eagles fans who leave their team over the signing of Vick make me sick. You aren't true fans. The man paid his dues to society and is just looking at a second chance. We all make mistakes in life and I feel that if the court system could forgive him, then I could. The Philadelphia Eagles are a BUSINESS. They signed Vick with the intention of him helping them bring home a Super Bowl Championship. If Vick runs the Wildcat and scores 2 TDs in the Super Bowl to win it, will you guys not cheer? Many athletes, including some you may root for have drug problems, beat their wives/kids, and do other horrible things you may not like. You are hating Vick because his crimes were public, and unlike many others, he paid for them, dearly.

I hope that when Vick's contract is up, he comes to my team in Oakland, and leads them to the playoffs again.

And I won't complain if he shows up to his first game in a fur coat.

Oh, now I understand you better. You're a Raiders fan....the other garbage can of the NFL and the team that I fully expected to take him in the first place. Even your owner is a thug.
And by the way, deciding that you don't want to be a fan of a team because you don't respect them anymore because of something like this does not mean you're not a true fan. It means you have the strength of your convictions and that's more important than what team you cheer for.

 

[tinatark]

Oh, now I understand you better. You're a Raiders fan....the other garbage can of the NFL and the team that I fully expected to take him in the first place.
And by the way, deciding that you don't want to be a fan of a team because you don't respect them anymore because of something like this does not mean you're not a true fan. It means you have the strength of your convictions and that's more important than what team you cheer for.

Garbage Can. That's an appropriate quote, however inappropriate in the context used, but where this thread appears to be heading.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

Garbage Can. That's an appropriate quote, however inappropriate in the context used, but where this thread appears to be heading.

I wouldn't say it's inappropriate. There are certain teams that take the garbage that no other team wants. The Raiders have been one of them for the past 20 or so years and the Eagles became one yesterday.

 

[Uuaww]

Oh, now I understand you better. You're a Raiders fan....the other garbage can of the NFL and the team that I fully expected to take him in the first place. Even your owner is a thug.
And by the way, deciding that you don't want to be a fan of a team because you don't respect them anymore because of something like this does not mean you're not a true fan. It means you have the strength of your convictions and that's more important than what team you cheer for.

Excuse me? My team is a garbage team? What are you saying about the city of Oakland? It is a very respectable city and our owner wants to win? What "thug" things has Al Davis done? Things said about the Raiders are often exaggerated and not true. I love my home, I love my city, I love my team. I am saying that Vick did his time and deserves to work. His job is playing football. What you are saying is that he doesn't deserve to work because he is a criminal? or are you just upset that he is playing in the NFL and making millions of dollars.

So by your logic, criminals can work after they get out of jail, but they can't make millions of dollars? He is a football player, it is what he does.

Oh and to the user who said Stallworth received a 1 year suspension while Vick only got 4 games? Vick has been in jail for 2 years and Goodell took that into account with Vick suspension so he spent over 2 years out of football.

 

[DrCavin]

Goodell is SO not even-handed in his punishments. He suspends Michael Vick for four games and suspends Donte Stallworth (yes, I know he killed someone while driving drunk - which is terrible - but the more I look at the accident, the more I think that the person that he killed was partially at fault...he was walking on an interstate, which is completely illegal in and of itself...and the justice system must have agreed or he would have gotten more than a 24-day plea agreement) for a year.

Michael Vic has been suspended since Aug 2007

 

[onelilspark]

Eagles fans who leave their team over the signing of Vick make me sick. You aren't true fans. The man paid his dues to society and is just looking at a second chance. We all make mistakes in life and I feel that if the court system could forgive him, then I could. The Philadelphia Eagles are a BUSINESS. They signed Vick with the intention of him helping them bring home a Super Bowl Championship. If Vick runs the Wildcat and scores 2 TDs in the Super Bowl to win it, will you guys not cheer? Many athletes, including some you may root for have drug problems, beat their wives/kids, and do other horrible things you may not like. You are hating Vick because his crimes were public, and unlike many others, he paid for them, dearly.

I hope that when Vick's contract is up, he comes to my team in Oakland, and leads them to the playoffs again.

And I won't complain if he shows up to his first game in a fur coat.

I've been a fan since I was born. I've been a fan since our 3-13 seasons. Saying that I'm less of a fan or a "fair-weather" fan because I'm angered by the signing of Vick is inaccurate.

He's certainly not the first convicted felon to play in the NFL and he won't be the last-

http://www.examiner.com/x-5919-Norf...ichael-Vick-will-join-other-felons-in-the-NFL

And just because it's been done before doesn't make it right.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

Excuse me? My team is a garbage team? What are you saying about the city of Oakland? It is a very respectable city and our owner wants to win? What "thug" things has Al Davis done? Things said about the Raiders are often exaggerated and not true. I love my home, I love my city, I love my team. I am saying that Vick did his time and deserves to work. His job is playing football. What you are saying is that he doesn't deserve to work because he is a criminal? or are you just upset that he is playing in the NFL and making millions of dollars.

So by your logic, criminals can work after they get out of jail, but they can't make millions of dollars? He is a football player, it is what he does.

Oh and to the user who said Stallworth received a 1 year suspension while Vick only got 4 games? Vick has been in jail for 2 years and Goodell took that into account with Vick suspension so he spent over 2 years out of football.

I'm not saying anything about the city of Oakland itself. I've never been there and don't know anything about the city. I do, however, know football better than any man I know and the Raiders themselves are a different story. They are known throughout the league as having some of the worst-behaved fans of any team, Al Davis has refused to pay certain coaches money that has been awarded to them in court after dismissing them, the team routinely hires players that no other team wants, and instead of letting the coaches do their jobs Davis will fire any coach who truly tries to coach instead of just being a yes-man. That is why their record is normally close to the worst in the NFL. If he truly wanted to win, he would allow his coaches to coach.
By my logic, if Pete Rose can be banned from baseball and from the Baseball Hall of Fame for gambling, then yes, Michael Vick should have lost his privilege of playing football. If a player can be suspended for morals reasons (and they are all the time), then Vick's morals are poor enough that he deserves to be suspended/banned for the rest of his life.
And I was the poster who said that the two punishments were not fair in relation to each other. I stand by my statement. Stallworth accidentally killed someone. He had marijuana in his system and therefore should have been punished according to the substance abuse policy. However, the fact that the man that he hit was there was the man's own fault. He should NOT have been walking on the Interstate in the first place, which is most likely why the family didn't push for the prosecutors to take the case further. They wanted the money and they didn't want all of the facts to come out in a court of law, because they might not have been awarded the money. I see it happen in Florida every day and I'm sure it happens in other places....idiots who run red lights, cross the street without looking while on foot, or allow their young children to play in the middle of the street. And yet, if a drunk driver hit them the drunk driver would be found to be at fault. I feel that drunk driving is a terrible thing and it would be a deal-breaker in a relationship for me...HOWEVER, the person who was truly at fault shouldn't be absolved of all guilt just because someone else was drunk.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

Michael Vic has been suspended since Aug 2007

Suspensions while in jail don't count in my eyes. It's not truly a punishment if you couldn't play anyway because you were incarcerated. Goodell was out of touch enough with how real football fans feel to state that Vick has done his time and people want to see him play. The majority of fans do not want to see him reinstated, according to everything I've seen.

 

[ICF]

Suspensions while in jail don't count in my eyes. It's not truly a punishment if you couldn't play anyway because you were incarcerated.

I think jail is a pretty good punishment...especially in a federal pen.

The majority of fans do not want to see him reinstated, according to everything I've seen.

You might want to check this out then, since you havent seen it.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/ballot/_/id/3878/how-michael-vick-fare-eagles

Most fans on this poll (57% as of 10:30 EST) think Goodell should let Vick play week 1 and 61% think he'll have a positive effect on the Eagles season.

He's done his time for the crime....if some team what to give him a shot, so be it. He wasnt a very good QB before and I doubt 2 years off will help him any.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I think jail is a pretty good punishment...especially in a federal pen.




You might want to check this out then, since you havent seen it.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/ballot/_/id/3878/how-michael-vick-fare-eagles

Most fans on this poll (57% as of 10:30 EST) think Goodell should let Vick play week 1 and 61% think he'll have a positive effect on the Eagles season.

He's done his time for the crime....if some team what to give him a shot, so be it. He wasnt a very good QB before and I doubt 2 years off will help him any.

It's a great punishment...by the legal system. It's not a punishment by the NFL.
And as far as that poll, it is obviously over-representing Eagles fans. The top result as far as how the Eagles will finish the season is that they will win the Super Bowl. Since they've never done that, I don't think a truly representative poll would find that result.

 

[Golf4food]

He did the crime, he paid his time, he's been out of football for two full seasons, he is now working with Tony Dungee - one of the greatest men in the NFL (and I'm a Jaguar fan, so he was the "enemy" for many years) - and also working with the Human Society and other animal groups.

We are all human and make mistakes. He grew up in an area that dog fighting was a regular occurance - doesn't make it right but it isn't like he invented the thing, he just got caught up in something that a lot of his elders were doing. If I had ever wanted to do so growing up I could have gone to dog fights or **** fights, etc. - they were happening regularly. Sometimes run by grown men who owned many dogs, would cry at Where the Red Fern Grows, would do anything for their pet dogs or hunting dogs but still had a few fighting dogs. It happens.

If he has changed and now goes around for the rest of his life sharing his story with children, teens, and adults trying to stop fighting in the future, does that not make him a role model? Does the potential for change and improvement not make him a possible inspiration?

If he doens't change and gets caught being involved with that sort of thing again then by all means throw the book at him. Until and unless that happens he deserves a chance to prove himself and to live his life unmolested by irate people who evidently would prefer to never get a second chance themselves...

 

[Uuaww]

I don't understand why people think Vick should be banned from the NFL. The NFL is not a company that refuses to employ felons. In fact prior crimes and conviction are common among some players. So what makes Vick so different? It is obvious Beachgirl that you love animals, but NFL players have done much worse than Vick and been allowed to play. He did his time and should be allowed to resume his career.

Felons deserve to be allowed to work? why do you have such a big problem if his work is in the NFL?