The fact that “Week Six” appears in the announcement conditionally reinstating quarterback Mike Vick is a bit misleading.
The first reaction right here was that he has been suspended six games.
The terms “by Week Six” means that it’s five games.
And, as we pointed out previously, if he signs with a team that has a bye week before Week Six, he might miss only four games.
But looking carefully at the language of the release, the Commissioner has committed to making a decision “by Week Six.” And that means he could make a decision before Week Six. Or before Week Five.
Or before Week One.
Our guess is that public reaction will be a huge factor in all of this. If it’s positive, Vick could be back as soon as Week One.
Theoretically.
Meanwhile, it appears that Vick will be paid throughout the term of his suspension, given that he will be permitted to participate in all activities, with the exception of games.
Hopefully he’ll be playing in Week 1. That would stick it to all the haters that thought that the most entertaining player ever to play in the NFL(M. Vick) would never step on an NFL field again. Its only dogs.
That fool should be given a weekly drug test.
So, does Vick not get paid during these suspension weeks (or during the preseason) even though he’s allowed to practice?
Good for Vick, but I still think Roethlisberger raped that girl!
here’s a public reaction, Michael Vick is the most over rated player of all time and he should still be rotting away in prison for committing a despicable crime. Everyone sits around and builds him up to be a great QB but look back at his stats, what did he ever do with his arm but suck? he only broke 2500 yards once and he only threw just 20 TDs once and those were different seasons. his stats are pathetic, sure he can run but maybe that’s why he only made it through one season without missing time. People talk about Jake Delhomme sucking all the time and I agree but he has never put up stats as bad as Vick. The Panthers should just put Steve Smith or Deangelo Williams behind center and they’d be just as good. Better yet forget about Farve, have the Vikings play Adrian Peterson at QB and he’d be just as good as Vick ever was. Is everybody just stupid or what? Vick is a joke and he’ll show us all that if he ever gets a chance to throw the ball again.
As a Denver fan I know how valuable a quality QB could be this next season.
However, my family and I will never watch the NFL as long as M. Vick is a part of it. I will burn my season tickets rather than resell them.
If Denver signs Vick than our new Sunday family tradition will be protesting outside the stadium. Football is changing from the great american sport to a lesson for our kids on how to never act. When the transition is finished it will be a dead sport.
Vick told me Roger Goodell is a weak punk.
What really piss’s me off is Vic had paid his debt to society and yet all the do-gooders want to keep punishing him. Leave him the “F” alone.
We have people in government who have committed far worse crimes and they still have there jobs and no one says chit… get a life losers
Roger Goodell really has no sack.
He’s the Hillary Clinton of commissioners.
And I mean that both because she has no sack, and because she can’t make a decision without knowing what popular opinion is.
Can we all reflect for a momeny on how bad a QB Vick was before he went to jail? Now, add in being away from the game for 2 years. That obviously isn’t going to improve his skills any, we can all agree, right?
But how about one other point that isn’t mentioned (and may be taboo). The point that, on average, the recent generation of black QBs tend to be more sensitive than their white counterparts (Not being racist, I just don’t recall ever seeing a white QB cry on the sidelines, which isn’t the case with Kordell Stewart, Vince Young, etc.) Donovan McNabb has shown himself to generally be above the criticisms, but not entirely.
My point in bringing this up is, IF Vick even gets a chance to play, and IF he’s as “good” as he used to be….will he be able to handle the pressure of being booed mercilessly? He never faced that before. Everyone loved how “electrifying” he was. Even opposing fans respected him for that.
Can we discuss this, or is it not appropriate?
meladjusted don’t be an idiot, yeah Vick paid his debt to society, even though he didn’t serve the time that a normal person would have. Now he should be paying his debt to the NFL. Pacman never even went to jail and was suspended for a year. It’s just hypocritical that Vick pleads guilty to multiple federal and state crimes and is only suspended till week 6. He embarrassed the league, the Falcons, and himself, but in the end he only gets a slap on the wrist by the league. that’s bullshit.
Vick has served his time for killing dogs.
However, he lied to Goodell’s face before all of this happened and failed a drug test while waiting to be sentenced.
A four game suspension, for the lying and the marijuana, doesn’t seem unreasonable to me.
Are you kidding me? Pete Rose gambled, and he’s banned for life. This monster murdered innocent animals who had no chance to defend themselves with him, and he gets to play?????
MV squandered an incredible professional opportunity, and wasted the God-given athletic talent he was given.
Surely there’s an athlete out there that wants to play football and who isn’t an animal torturer and murderer.
MV does not deserve a second chance.
I believe he went to jail mainly for RICO and Lying, not dogfighting. I may be wrong here, but people who get in trouble for dogfighting don’t do hard time-look it up. Noone that knows anything says he’s “the greatest quarterback ever”. He is fun to watch, he sells lots of tickets, and is dynamic in his play. His sentence should have been this: Allow him to continue to play under house arrest, but garnish his earnings @ 90 percent. Distribute it to charities and PETA/Humane Society, etc. That is what we need more of in the future. That would have been alot more creative and a better use of resources than to let him rot in Kansas with wasted talent for two yrs.
GM: Hey boss, I wanted to talk to you about this player who is coming off suspension. Here’s a little fact sheet I put together. (hands sheet to owner)
Owner: Hmm…..led his team to a couple of NFC title games I see.
GM: Yeah, great athlete, tremendously skilled.
Owner: I see here he did some prison time. What’s that all about?
GM: Yeah……well it seems he liked to do a little dog fighting.
Owner: So he had a dog and he would set up fights with other guys dogs?
GM: Well it was a little more involved than that.
Owner: How so?
GM: Well, he kind of set up a whole operation, if you want to call it that. He bought some land, built a house, build a bunch of out buildings to house and train a whole of bunch of dogs, hired some friends to run it, actually named it and everything . “Bad Newz Kennels” he called it. But it was kind of funny because he spelled news with a “z” at the end instead of an “s”.
Owner: Catchy. Illegal though, right?
GM: Apparently. Hence the whole jail thing.
Owner: So you could say he was head of a pretty substantial criminal organization, kinda like Tony Soprano, right?
GM: Well the shit really hit the fan when some of the details about what went on there got out. Turns out, when a dog didn’t turn out to be such a great fighter they would “dispose” of them in some not so nice ways. You know, swinging the dogs by their tails and smashing their heads into large rocks, holding their heads in buckets of water to drown them, hanging them from trees and beating them to death, nasty stuff.
Owner: Yikes. Anything else?
GM: Umm….well apparently when there were no dogs to torture or dog fights to go to, they would amuse themselves by putting untrained house pets in with the fight dogs and watching them get torn apart.
Owner: Well I gotta wrap this up. Playing golf this afternoon. To summarize, you want me to consider signing a player that set up a dog fighting operation, oversaw and participated in the torture and murder of defenseless animals, and then perjured himself initially before finally admitting it?
GM: Jeez, when you say it like it sounds terrible.
Owner: Anything else?
GM: Well it’s possible he may have embezzled some money from one of his companies. But that hasn’t been proven, and you know what they say.
Owner: I think I am going to have to pass on this one, Tom.
GM: (sounding disappointed) Well, you’re the boss.
Owner: One other thing, Tom. For even suggesting I hire that sick, twisted animal to be the face of my franchise, you can clean out your office and get the hell out of my building.
southernboi727 said:
1. the most entertaining player ever to play in the NFL(M. Vick)
2. Its only dogs.
reply to your 1st point – c’mon – Walter Payton, Barry Saunders, Jim Brown and even Joe Namath would challenge that.
reply to 2nd point – Don’t say it is only dogs – he tortured and killed hundreds of dogs – and he served 2 years in prison. To say they were only dogs is pretty small minded.
I’ll support Mike Vick’s rehab if he has changed and Tony Dungee will help ensure that.
vick is a piece of crap, he can run but obviously not from the police becasue thats only what his kind know how to do.
Good lord, if people cared about other humans 10% as much as they do to some stupid dogs that if not domesticated would be killing each other and us, then the world would be a peaceful place.
Pete Rose gambled on games he played. But other people killed grown people with cars and is starting this year on the line.
Oh, and Pete Rose’s banning only stops him from getting into the Hall of Fame. Vick’s suspension stops him from actively playing.
And now, there’s even talk that Pete Rose will get his suspension lifted. Which I think is a good thing, because Pete Rose was a great baseball player.
But to compare Rose’s situation to Vick’s is comparing apples and oranges. A better comparison would be between those who killed other people or animals… or those who are playing after attempted drug deals.
“realitypolice says:
July 27, 2009 5:35 PM
Owner: I think I am going to have to pass on this one, Tom.
GM: (sounding disappointed) Well, you’re the boss.”
Awww man…..I thought you were about to zing Jerry Jones. What a letdown.
Vick did his time and deserves a chance to play football again. We have football players who have killed people while driving drunk and others who have done things worse but haven’t been caught yet. If he can get himself in shape and gain the trust of his fellow players, then he deserves the chance to play. He has to prove himself on the field and is starting all over. He has lost his fortune and probably will never be able to recover any of it. Leave him fail on his own.
I could not agree more with “MelAdjusted”. This is ridiculous! OK, MV ran an operation that caused the death of innocent dogs. OMG!!! There are people who have murdered innocent HUMAN BEINGS who have went to jail, paid their debt to society and are working a job today as productive citizens!
What the heck do you people want?? Do you want to see him living under a bridge homeless with no income or financial means?? Will that bring those dogs back for ya??
It is called the law! He broke it. He paid for it. Just like you would if you got caught! It is in the Constitution. It’s over!!
Leave the man alone and to echo the phrase…….get a life!!
How many of you people who thinks his killing dogs was so horrible have been deer hunting? You killed Bambi!
@Floyd:
How many of you people who thinks his killing dogs was so horrible have been deer hunting? You killed Bambi!
===================================
Deer hunters kill deer with a single gunshot. Dog fighters kill dogs by either:
A) watching them tear each other apart. or…
B) if they prove to be unwilling fighters, smashing their skulls against concrete or stuffing their heads into water buckets.
If you don’t see the difference, buy yourself a helmet and some velcro shoes.
@TFBuckFutter says:
Awww man…..I thought you were about to zing Jerry Jones. What a letdown.
_______________________________
I was trying to keep it generic, to show my opinion that I hope no one signs him….but obviously I know certain owners (like the one you mentioned) are more likely than others to NOT react the way my fictional owner did.
All I can say is first of who cares… second, put yourself in his shoes and you have done the stupid stuff he has done, would you not hope for a second chance too. Think outside your little box and look at the overall picture.
Did he kill something, yes. Was it right, no. Does he deserve a second chance at the only type of work he knows, I know I would and so would all you people out there who says he doesn’t do. So shut up and let him live his life. Use him as an example of how you can reform your life. Don’t just hate because you are to small in the brain to think.
BlueStar says:
July 27, 2009 5:51 PM
What the heck do you people want?? Do you want to see him living under a bridge homeless with no income or financial means?? Will that bring those dogs back for ya??
===================================
YES! And while it won’t bring the dogs back, it would sure make me feel a lot better.
The guy is a monster, and his acts were grotesque at best. There’s a reason why torture to animals is listed as one of the characteristics of serial killers. How anyone can support a guy like that is beyond me.
“realitypolice says:
July 27, 2009 6:06 PM
Deer hunters kill deer with a single gunshot.”
They also usually eat the animal, and it also has the added benefit of thinning the herd which keeps the deer from starving to death.
I don’t hunt, I don’t particularly condone it, but most hunters don’t torture animals just because they are effed in the head and have nothing better to do.
Lets take a look at players in the NFL. Look at how many still played and did not pay a debt to society. Some are worse than what Vick did.Vick has so leave him alone, let him play in peace. Give him the chance. As far as hits stats go…how many dropped passes did he have. Dropped passes means the ball was in the hands of the other player, wideout, running back, what ever. Vick is the player people love to hate he was at Tech and was at Atlanta. WELCOME BACK VICK!
Ray Lewis’s attorney arranged with prosecutors to dismiss the murder charges – still playing
Pacman arrested for murder – still playing
Big Ben – rape – still playing
OJ – set free
Barrett Robbins – was shot three times during a brawl with police in Miami Beach, and was subsequently charged with attempted murder for his role
Mark Chmura – Despite being acquitted on charges of sexual assault and child enticement, ‘Chewy’ gets the starting nod at tight end
Sebastian Janikowski – been arrested for bar fights, drinking and driving (.20 BAC), reckless driving, bribing a police officer, evidence tampering and possession of a drug best known in the media as “the date rape drug. – still playing
“Brian says:
July 27, 2009 6:22 PM
All I can say is first of who cares… second, put yourself in his shoes and you have done the stupid stuff he has done, would you not hope for a second chance too.”
That’s brilliant.
Everyone wants a second chance when they eff up. That doesn’t mean they deserve one without serving a reasonable punishment (if at all). David Berkowitz probably would have loved a second chance for the “stupid stuff he has done.”
Vick has gotten off sooooo easy it is ridiculous. And now people are crying for the poor man and how he deserves forgiveness and a second chance….ANYONE who isn’t a celebrity that acted the way he did would have done 5-10 MINIMUM and would have faced state charges as well, which he DIDN’T.
Poor Mike, treated so unfairly….
“bavass says:
July 27, 2009 6:36 PM
As far as hits stats go…how many dropped passes did he have. Dropped passes means the ball was in the hands of the other player, wideout, running back, what ever.”
Umm….about a fourth as many as he bounced 5 yards in front of his intended target (INCLUDING running backs which is always hilarious to watch).
Lets see if Vick was let off easy? Read below and see for your self!
A man who held dog-fights in his house has been sentenced to four months in prison following a major RSPCA operation.
Adio Clarke, of Holly Road, Handsworth, Birmingham had pleaded guilty to possessing a dog-fighting venue, to causing dogs to fight, to possessing 11 ‘illegal’ dogs as defined under the Dangerous Dogs Act, and to causing unnecessary suffering to three of the dogs. He was also banned from keeping dogs for 10 years.
Knibbs ( of Harrowby Hall Estate, Grantham was today(18/5/09) sentenced to 22 weeks in custody and given an indefinite ban on keeping and owning animals. He cannot appeal against the ban for at least 10 years. He had previously admitted having numerous items in his possession that were designed to be used in connection with dog fighting, contrary to Section 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
A Belleville man was sentenced to probation Monday for violating Michigan’s dog fighting law. Michael Alan Dalton, 41, was ordered to serve two years of probation by Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Melinda Morris.
bavass, Of those, how many involved racketeering and were charged on the federal level?
Vick didn’t face any charges for dog fighting (so really, he should be looking at an additional 30 days in the county slammer).
Why should MV get to play professional football again? He can get a job outside of professional sports – it may not pay him millions of dollars, but he doesn’t deserve millions again. If he had not been such a sick, greedy indivdual, he would not have squandered the opportunity he was given and jeopardized his future by breaking the law and torturing hundreds of animals.
There are certainly highly talented, young football players out there who want to be given a chance to play professionally, and who are also honorable men and quality individuals with integrity, morals, and concern for fellow creatures of God.
Why do have to bring back this dishonorable, immoral monster?
Dogs are more valuable than humans but I should forget the past.
Dogs are more valuable than humans but I should forget the past.
Dogs are more valuable than humans but I should forget the past…Hypocrisy!
Dogs are more valuable than humans but I should forget the past…Hypocrisy!
All this dog loving hatred spewed at Vick is pretty hypocritical, coming from the gun murder capital of the world, America. How many innocent animals have died at the hands of this morally corrupt nation? How many bison were driven off cliffs as Americans stole the native people’s land and perpetrated genocide? How many enslaved Africans were raped, tortured and murdered, while their loved ones were forced to watch in attempts to psychologically terrorize a race? How many innocents have lost their lives and resources in america’s great imperialistic march all across this planet?
Vick is a human being, despite the 3/5ths value constitutionally afforded his ancestors. He has a singularly unique talent, which is obviously valued in a society which paid him millions to display it. All you haters are spitting in the ocean. Millions more will pay to watch him play again because he is entertaining, a one of a kind talent. Quit judging people and hating those obviously more fortunate than you are.
I am ashamed at the some of them comments that people are saying about vick. He did something that was illegal true. But at the same time the owner of the falcons was in africa on a safari killing animals. I dont see the difference. Vick paid a terrible price for what he did. I price that I feel was too high. The many more men in america doing worse crimes and getting away with it. Tru enough vick was stupid enought to get caught in that crime. He deserves a chance to redeam himself in the public. He paid his dues ten times over. And he is not an immoral monster and the person who wrote is probably an perverted, kid watching lunatic. He made a mistake just like me and you.
I never cared that much for his game but I think, leave him alone and let him play! Why should one hold a grudge? Or, should ALL continue to pay for past mistakes? If so, I want my retributions, apologies, and so forth! Cut me off some of that hard earned wealth!
@cynicalone:
“All this dog loving hatred spewed at Vick is pretty hypocritical, coming from the gun murder capital of the world, America. How many innocent animals have died at the hands of this morally corrupt nation? How many bison were driven off cliffs as Americans stole the native people’s land and perpetrated genocide? How many enslaved Africans were raped, tortured and murdered, while their loved ones were forced to watch in attempts to psychologically terrorize a race? How many innocents have lost their lives and resources in america’s great imperialistic march all across this planet?”
—————————————————–
These comments aren’t coming from “america”, they are coming from individuals with opinions. Individuals, by the way, who had nothing to do with driving Bison off cliffs or raping Africans.
If you will allow me to be cynical for a moment, oh “cynicalone”, this grandiose projection of blame for all of America’s past ills onto Americans who are generations removed from these events is not making you sound nearly as intelligent as you are obviously hoping it does. It makes you sound like an automaton regurgitating obsolete rhetoric you jotted down during a lecture by whatever self-righteous pseudo-intellectual you were into that week.
He is a human being (just like the rest of us), he made a mistake, he paid the price, let him be.
Nuff said.
“realitypolice says:
July 27, 2009 6:06 PM
@Floyd:
How many of you people who thinks his killing dogs was so horrible have been deer hunting? You killed Bambi!
===================================
Deer hunters kill deer with a single gunshot. Dog fighters kill dogs by either:
A) watching them tear each other apart. or…
B) if they prove to be unwilling fighters, smashing their skulls against concrete or stuffing their heads into water buckets.
If you don’t see the difference, buy yourself a helmet and some velcro shoes.
However Floyd replys:
The dogs are dead, no matter how they were killed. The deer or other hunted animals are just as dead with 1 gunshot as with 2 or more gunshots or arrows. The end result is their DEAD.
People in other countries routinely kill and eat dogs. Only in America is this looked upon as wrong. Vick has lost millions of dollars because he was in prison where he couldn’t play and earn an income to support and protect his financial
holdings. He spent 23 months in prision. He probably won’t ever be in the top physical condition he was in prior to prision. His life is in the toilet. He took his chances, got caught and did his time. He only has himself to blame. He still has to face bankrupsy court and stands to lose his last home. I’d say he has done his penitence. Let him move on and don’t put up anymore barricades in front of him. Forgive and forget.
@Floyd-
First, Vick didn’t lose millions. He squandered millions by choosing the live a risky, crime filled lifestyle.
Second, you make it sound as if we should give a shit that he squandered his millions. Here’s a newsflash for ya: HE COMMITTED THE CRIME, JACKASS! HE DESERVED TO HAVE HIS INCOME GO AWAY!
I’m sorry, but just because he deliberately squandered millions so he could fund a thug lifestyle doesn’t mean he should have been elgible for reinstatement. In fact, I really hope commissioner didn’t take that into consideration when he made his decision. His decision to throw away millions shouldn’t even be on the table when discussing reason for reinstatement.
@realitypolice-
Very well said. I get tired of the “Well, the white man did this and that and..” argument. I’m sorry, but I never owned a slave, my parents never had slaves (Unless you count us kids) and their parents never had slaves. In fact, I don’t know anyone who ever owned a slave, and neither does anyone else so they need to STFU already.
Might I be a little cynical? In the interest of ALL who suffered versus ALL who gained, let the ones that gained do a Manufactorer’s recall and correct the past. Or, did the Manufactorers’ owners say, that was not my Make and Year and I don’t have to pay?
“Floyd says:
July 27, 2009 10:42 PM
The dogs are dead, no matter how they were killed. The deer or other hunted animals are just as dead with 1 gunshot as with 2 or more gunshots or arrows. The end result is their DEAD.”
So, in your opinion, someone who smothers their cancer-ridden spouse to put them out of their misery deserves to be viewed the same as someone who tortures a person to death for their own enjoyment?
The end result is the same, right? DEAD?
I look forward to watching Michael play this season.
Hopefully for the Bills.
If God-ell is reading this, LET HIM PLAY ALREADY.
Here’s the way I look at it. Whether or not you feel Vick’s punishment was too much or too little is irrelevent. The point is that he served the time he was sentenced to. Whether or not anyone else agrees doesn’t matter. The guy served the time and now he has the right to continue his life. It doesn’t matter if you think what he did was not as bad as what some other plays did that are still playing. The point is that the nfl is a business and people will get over this. In fact I’m sure there are plenty of people that would love to see Vick play again, just if it’s to laugh if he fails.
Do I condone the torture and killing of dogs, no I don’t but at the same time I believe the past is the past and people deserve a second chance to prove themselves. He has to live with his mistakes for the rest of his life.
So get over it and let the man move on with his life. If you don’t like that he’s gonna play, then don’t watch, it’s as simple as that.
He did an atrocious, nauseating, wicked, merciless, selfish thing (want more adjectives? I’ve got ‘em) and he is a son-of-a-bitch because of it whether he plays football again or not. But take this perspective… those in celeb-professional positions like this are looked up to by kids all over the world. What kind of a message is being sent here? ‘If you are rich and famous, you can do anything you want; even if you get in trouble you can go right back to your glamorous life and get whatever you want.’ ??? It’s disgusting! Kids are getting mixed signals from parents trying to teach them that doing wrong has consequences when they see that there really aren’t any consequences at all if you have the right connections.
Do I think he should live under a bridge? It’s crossed my mind… nonetheless, he shouldn’t be able to be in a position that even offers him the opportunity to be idolized by others. He is not a good person and doesn’t deserve to be seen as one. (he’s not that great of a player either for that matter.) And I know that some of you think it’s just an animal. That’s where it all starts. First abuse comes to animals and then on to humans. (proven psychologically)
I don’t believe in this theory only for Vick the Dick, but for all those mentioned above too! Horrible people shouldn’t be forgiven just because they have more money than the rest of us!!!!!! Let him flip burgers.