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Vick expresses appreciation for reinstatement, vows to change

In a statement given to us agent Joel Segal, freshly-reinstated quarterback Mike Vick expresses gratitude for his opportunity, he acknowledges the “terrible mistakes” he has made, and he commits to changing his ways in the future.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to Commissioner Roger Goodell for allowing me to be readmitted to the National Football League,” Vick said, via Segal.  “I fully understand that playing football in the NFL is a privilege, not a right, and I am fully thankful for that opportunity I have been given.

“As you can imagine, the last two years have given me the time to reevaluate my life, mature as an individual, and fully understand the terrible mistakes I made in the past and what type of life I must lead moving forward.  Again, I would like to thank Commissioner Goodell for the chance to return to the game I love and the opportunity to become an example of positive change.

“Finally, I want to sincerely thank Coach Dungy for being in my corner, and I look forward to him being a mentor for me.”

Powerful words, but as Goodell told Vick in a letter sent to him today, actions in the end will speak the loudest.

“As I emphasized to
you when we met, as I have said in other cases, it is actions that count,” Goodell wrote.  “I accept that you are sincere when you say that you want to, and will,
turn your life around and that you intend to be a positive role model for
others. I am prepared to offer you that opportunity. 

“Whether you succeed
is entirely in your hands.”

And Goodell is right.  It’s up to Vick moving forward.  At least for now, he seems to understand that.

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40 Responses to “Vick expresses appreciation for reinstatement, vows to change”
  1. PGDIEHARDEAGLESFAN says: Jul 27, 2009 3:58 PM

    GREAT VICK!!! LETS GO!!!

  2. roofles says: Jul 27, 2009 3:58 PM

    i mean, he is human garbage and i wouldnt urinate on him if he was on fire but he’s served his time so whatever team wants to take a chance (i’m looking at you Al) on this miscreant (who is bound to screw up in the near future) then go right ahead.

  3. vbeach31 says: Jul 27, 2009 3:59 PM

    WELCOME BACK MIKE!!!

  4. Big ben Rapistburger says: Jul 27, 2009 4:00 PM

    So now all Ron Mexico needs is a contract with a team, and some Valtrex

  5. hotchick says: Jul 27, 2009 4:02 PM

    OK everyone let it fly
    A G A I N
    Lets all repost the same comments we make everytime there is a blurb about Vick.

  6. jf317820 says: Jul 27, 2009 4:03 PM

    i, for one, am rooting for mike vick. do i believe he can turn it around? probably not.

  7. pantherdan89 says: Jul 27, 2009 4:04 PM

    Good for him. Now let’s see how he reacts to not being picked up by a team this year.

  8. CKL says: Jul 27, 2009 4:04 PM

    Dear Vick,
    WHAT…YOU…DID…IS…NOT…AN…EFFING…”MISTAKE!!!!
    He should have said for the BAD DECISIONS I MADE. For the BAD CHOICES I made…something, anything but the sloughing of responsibility that the word “mistake” connotes.

  9. MrNatural says: Jul 27, 2009 4:05 PM

    Vick will never, ever be a positive role model. He blew that chance long ago.
    Time spent in a lame prison camp (next door to the real Leavanworth prison) did not change Vick. He still would be doing what he lied about if it did not affect his chance to play in the NFL. He is a liar.
    He is a psychopath.
    I pity the team that tries to play him. Lots of fan backlash, sponsor’s pulling out and…. the dude cannot play ball at the level so many believe he can.

  10. TheBaySay says: Jul 27, 2009 4:06 PM

    “At least for now, he seems to understand that.” Should have read, “At least for now, his agent and p.r. person seem to understand that.” In other news, Swine Flu releaseed a statement promising to stop being a disease and spreading across the planet.

  11. mrdwolfe says: Jul 27, 2009 4:08 PM

    Does changing his way mean hanging out in the strip clubs with Alen Iverson if so he sure is on his way.
    As seen on The Herds Word.

  12. killachap says: Jul 27, 2009 4:08 PM

    I love how his released a statement “through” his agent. If he had any intelligence he would come out and do a press conference and tell the people that he has changed and is ready to be a civilized human being. Until he does that I don’t believe a damn word about his remorse and will sit back, put my feet up and wait for him to get caught again 3 or 4 years from now doing the same thing.

  13. Dewey Axewound says: Jul 27, 2009 4:09 PM

    Then he barked like a dog, spun around a few times, threw back his head, howled, put up a middle finger, and yelled, “SUUUCKERRRRRS!” before going home to light a joint and bet a grand on the Rottie-pit mix over the Shepard.

  14. Mattmanus says: Jul 27, 2009 4:09 PM

    Now he has to learn how to be an actual quarterback. (it isn’t going to happen)

  15. MrHumble says: Jul 27, 2009 4:12 PM

    While I thought Vick should’ve been banned for a year, I can live with this, if………..Goodell does not bend on his statement of what is expected of Vick. No more of the “beyond reasonable doubt” and only 100% of “if it walks like a duck…….” Vick wanted a second chance, he got it…..so no playing games or bending the rules of his reinstatement. Strict adherence is the only acceptable expectation. If Vick so much as passes gas in proximity of an nfl official he should be banned , this keeps him from coming back and asking for a THIRD chance to get his miserable life back together.

  16. Dewey Axewound says: Jul 27, 2009 4:12 PM

    I hear he’s already gotten a few calls from Big Ben, asking what he’s done with all those rape stands…

  17. SRQ-Oliver says: Jul 27, 2009 4:15 PM

    Roger Goodell is as much as a scumbag as Vick…he just proved that.

  18. Kidekk says: Jul 27, 2009 4:17 PM

    While them being pen pals is great and all for the media, the only thing that matters is that he doesn’t get in trouble anymore. Forget remorse, forget all of that other intangible/unmeasurable crap. They don’t matter. It’s the end result, and there are only two possible outcomes: a natural exit (injury, retirement) or a forced exit (suspension/banishment).

  19. VikingFan09 says: Jul 27, 2009 4:18 PM

    Drop the Favre chase and make a run at Mike Vick.
    If Favre had any balls he wouldn’t piss the Viking fans off.
    That punk ass bitch agent of his needs to have a cap in his ass.

  20. BuckyBadger says: Jul 27, 2009 4:18 PM

    The only thing that keeps bothering me is it being a called a mistake. This was no mistake. You don’t put this much planning for a mistake. It was a terrible deed, not a mistake. Not saying he shouldn’t be allowed back, I am fine with that. Just don’t say it was a mistake because Vick knew what he was doing and set out to do it.

  21. ewurm says: Jul 27, 2009 4:20 PM

    Joel Segal did an excellent job writing that for Michael Vick!

  22. Our Human not so american Shame says: Jul 27, 2009 4:27 PM

    SHAME ON YOU goodell, YOUR NAME SHOULD BE “GOODHELL” ‘ BADHELL” (take a pick) ! I HOPE THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL BE GOING (in badhell), WHEN IT’S YOUR TIME. AND I REALLY & REALLY HOPE YOU’LL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE WHEN THAT TIME COMES … JUST LIKE THOSE POOR INNOCENT DOGS HAD TO GO THRU, WHEN THEY WERE IN THIS HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE

  23. Our Human not so american Shame says: Jul 27, 2009 4:30 PM

    WHERE ARE WE GOING AS AMERICANS !?!?
    NO WONDER WHY THE WHOLE WORLD HATES US, LOOK AT OUR RECORDS PEOPLE !? ARE ALL AMERICANS THIS MEAN SPIRITED !?

  24. jonnyd34 says: Jul 27, 2009 4:32 PM

    Were are all the ‘finnas,’ ‘betta ax somebody,’ and ‘yo, dogs’?? These “statements” were clearly written by a lawyer!

  25. VikingFan09 says: Jul 27, 2009 4:33 PM

    Now Brett will need to wait a few more days. The Mike Vick Circus is in town for awhile.
    Damn Brett just say it allfugginready.
    Fuggin Drama Whore.

  26. realityonetwo says: Jul 27, 2009 4:49 PM

    FYI: Your headline is incorrect. It should read: “Vick’s lawyer expresses appreciation for reinstatement…”
    Why pretend? Vick didn’t write a word of this, and I doubt he even read it.

  27. beautyis26 says: Jul 27, 2009 4:51 PM

    Kudos for this wonderful reporting… :-)

  28. whatthehellisgoingonoutthere says: Jul 27, 2009 4:56 PM

    Geeze, perhaps Goodell realizes like everyone else walking the planet that any prepared statement or letter publicized is not in any way written by Michael Vick but instead his handlers. Give me a break!

  29. tacious says: Jul 27, 2009 5:11 PM

    I just canceled $250 worth of merchandise orders from NFL.com…
    I will no longer be supporting the NFL in any way as they have lost all credibility!

  30. empty13 says: Jul 27, 2009 5:53 PM

    how contrite, remorseful and sincere… his agent is!
    the creditors and the media demanded this kind of action and they got it.

  31. realitypolice says: Jul 27, 2009 5:55 PM

    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.

  32. PattyLou says: Jul 27, 2009 6:09 PM

    I feel that everyone deserves a second chance and then I start to think about what he actually did and the cold indifference to the pain of a living animal and I think no……yeah no, he sucks as a human being…………..

  33. sandrano says: Jul 27, 2009 6:32 PM

    Michael Vick is a sad bunch of s–t who has no remorse for the horrendous torture of those dogs. He is a friggin sociopath. I am embarrassed that Selig is letting him play. So much for paying the price. And for once I would like to see what Vick, himself has to say. He probably couldnt write, let alone read, his letter of Thanks. Burn burn burn scumbag.

  34. Our Human not so american Shame says: Jul 27, 2009 6:48 PM

    PattyLou:
    were any of the poor dogs that died fighting and/or were put to sleep when the crualty was discovered given a 2nd chance !?

  35. WTF says: Jul 27, 2009 7:03 PM

    Both Vick and Goodell are worthless pieces of garbage. Today’s decision is no surprise. Can’t celebrate in the endzone, but go ahead and kill a couple of dogs in the most violent way…No big deal

  36. empty13 says: Jul 27, 2009 7:26 PM

    the only victims that “count” are the ones the media/elites anoint as victims.

  37. Cleve Johnson says: Jul 27, 2009 7:29 PM

    Last I heard, America was about giving 2nd chances. I guess that applies to all except Vick huh? Been to a service station lately? What about a seafood market in TX. who owns them? Most participated in wars against Americans where a lot of honorable Americans lost their lives. I know this is a little way out, but the point is you’ll accept anyone else over Vick and his equally awful deeds? Not a role model, are you one to your family, that’s all that counts. No effing mistake? No strip clubs for him but ok for you and the other dude’s that visit? Vick made a statement through his agent, if he did it you would not think any more of him. Finally you cancelled your $250 order from NFL. I hope so, you don’t play so why where their outfit. Trust me, those items will sell to a real FAN.
    -

  38. empty13 says: Jul 27, 2009 7:34 PM

    vick didnt express diddley.
    another mollycoddled athlete.

  39. imjustnoisy says: Jul 27, 2009 8:54 PM

    Vick would have been better off to kill a human being than have a dogfighting setup. That the way some who are leaving comments seem to think. Stop the hate on Vick ,beleive me he’s paid
    the price and will never gain what he had. I hope he atleast learned that he can live without his buds. I still don’t understand that this all started when his cousin was stopped for a drug situation,yet the cousin has not spent a day in jail.
    WTF

  40. imjustnoisy says: Jul 27, 2009 8:56 PM

    Vick would have been better off to kill a human being than have a dogfighting setup. That the way some who are leaving comments seem to think. Stop the hate on Vick ,beleive me he’s paid
    the price and will never gain what he had. I hope he atleast learned that he can live without his buds. I still don’t understand that this all started when his cousin was stopped for a drug situation,yet the cousin has not spent a day in jail.
    WTF

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