Vick reinstated conditionally, may play by Week 6

[Catty1]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/ss/events/sp/20070204_superbowl

Vick reinstated conditionally, may play by Week 6

1 hour, 6 minutes ago

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Quarterback Michael Vick has been reinstated to the NFL on a conditional basis and may be able to play by the sixth week of the regular season, Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Monday.

Vick, who completed a 23-month sentence for bankrolling a dog-fighting ring, will be considered for full reinstatement for the NFL's October 18-19 games "based on the progress he makes in his transition plan," the commissioner said in a statement.

Vick was grateful to be given the chance to play again.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to Commissioner Goodell for allowing me to be readmitted to the National Football League," Vick said in a statement.

"I fully understand that playing football in the NFL is a privilege, not a right, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity I have been given."

Vick, a former number one overall pick in the NFL Draft and All-Pro quarterback, said he had learned from the experience and would continue to receive mentoring from former NFL coach Tony Dungy, who steered the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl title.

"As you can imagine, the last two years have given me time to revaluate 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," said Vick.

Vick played six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons but was released by the club following his conviction.

The 29-year-old quarterback is currently a free agent and able to sign with any team. If he signs for a team he will be allowed to practice through the summer and would be able to play in the final two preseason games, the commissioner said.

(Reporting by Steve Ginsburg and Larry Fine; Editing by Sonia Oxley)

[Karen]

I just hope he is sincere, and he did learn, and continues to do community service and preach about the evils of dog fighting.

[pomtzu]

It would be my hope that the fans would boycott any team that is stupid enough to sign him on!

I don't think there's an ounce of remorse in Vick's body, and he's only going thru the required motions to be reinstated by the NFL. The only thing he's sorry about, is that he got caught! :mad:

[Karen]

I don't think there's an ounce of remorse in Vick's body, and he's only going thru the required motions to be reinstated by the NFL. The only thing he's sorry about, is that he got caught! :mad:

I think any human being can learn, and he deserves to be given a second chance. Just because he's an athlete does not mean he is evil or stupid. We do not know him personally, and shouldn't prejudge, in my opinion.

[pomtzu]

I think any human being can learn, and he deserves to be given a second chance. Just because he's an athlete does not mean he is evil or stupid. We do not know him personally, and shouldn't prejudge, in my opinion.

Yes - I suppose I should have put "IMO" at the end of my post, because that's what it is. :eek:

Perhaps I'm becoming too cynical in my old age. :(

[Grace]

I agree with Karen.

Look at all the other athletes playing who have been convicted, and served time.

There's Donte Stallworth - driving while intoxicated, struck and killed a pedestrian. He took full responsibility, spent 30 days in jail, financial settlement with the family, community service and will be able to play sometime this fall.

Ray Lewis - indicted for murder and aggravated assault. He did a plea bargain, and is currently playing. He was even the MVP of the Super Bowl the year after the incident. He was not suspended by the NFL - just paid a fine.

Then there was Leonard Little. Driving drunk, killed a gal. 90 days in jail, four years probation and 1000 hours of community service. 6 years later, he was again arrested for drunk driving and speeding.

Vick has been in prison, paid fines, and his reputation is ruined. Let him play - if any team will take him. I can't imagine him being welcomed with open arms. But he should have the chance to work and earn a living.

[Lady's Human]

Sorry, not buying any of it.

I'm a federal employee.

If I commit a felony, I'm out of a job, period. No second chance.

I see no reason why some prima donna idiot should be playing in the NFL which, by the way, is a privilege, after being convicted of a felony, especially one which had the implications that Vick's crime did. Animal abuse, illegal gambling (and all the issues which go along with it), ad nauseum.

Goodell went soft, and I'm really disappointed. I thought he was going to crack down on this crap.

I see no reason why Ray and Jamal Lewis should be playing in the NFL, either.

They should be subject to the same penalties for their crimes that the rest of society is.

The fact that they are athletes shouldn't mean they get special treatment.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Goodell went soft, and I'm really disappointed.
I thought he was going to crack down on this crap.

... They should be subject to the same penalties for their crimes
that the rest of society is.

The fact that they are athletes shouldn't mean they get special treatment.

Agreed!

[phesina]

Then there's everyone's favorite rapist, Kobe Bryant, served his time, and he's back in the big leagues and big money and big fan adulation again! I don't bet he was too remorseful either.

Then there's Pee Wee Herman, who was arrested for doing a perfectly harmless, natural thing in a place set up expressly for the purpose of encouraging such urges.. whose career as a show business entertainer was ruined as a result. (What IS Pee Wee doing these days?)

[blue]

LH and PH I think nailed it.

If you are famous enough you get off easy.

[Catty1]

FWIW - Paul Reubens aka Pee Wee Herman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Reubens

[caseysmom]

Kobe Bryant's case was dismissed, he never served time.

Peewee herman was charged with child pornagraphy.

[Lady's Human]

Kobe Bryant's case never went to trial because the accuser refused to testify in a criminal proceeding. A civil suit was later settled for an undisclosed amount of money. Anyone want to bet what the outcome of the accusations would have been had it been someone without an 8 figure salary?

Paul Reubens was arrested for indecent exposure, the case was dropped.

He was also later arrested for posession of child porn.

Being that his stardom came from making children's TV shows, I think his career being torpedoed was entirely appropriate.

[caseysmom]

I'm not defending Kobe at all but the whole case was on pretty shaky ground and if she was really raped she shouldn't have sold out.

[HoochsMommiee]

oh brother why didn't someone just off with him while he is in prison now if this would of been a non famous person theyh would of gotton the book thrown at them but since he is some stupid football player they smack him on the hand

this is BS

[Medusa]

There's remorse for committing such heinous acts and there's regret because he got caught. Huge difference. Vick showed no remorse either in his comments or even in his body language and facial expression. He had a smirk on his face the entire time and I imagine that the smirk is even wider now. Everyone does deserve a second chance. With God. Not w/people in general. Petitions, protests, editorials, none have made a whit of a difference in affecting his employment. We know that this is a move motivated solely by financial consideration and not for any altruistic reasons. No one is sorry, no one cares except the public who were outraged but it made no difference whatsoever. Vick's employment should be that of cleaning dog cages for the rest of his life. Instead, he'll be cleaning up for the NFL and for himself. Once again, animal abusers win and the animals lose. This will never change as long as there is a financial component in all of it.

[Cataholic]

I think any human being can learn, and he deserves to be given a second chance. Just because he's an athlete does not mean he is evil or stupid. We do not know him personally, and shouldn't prejudge, in my opinion.

No, his evilness and stupidity have nothing to do with his status as an athlete. He is evil and stupid because of what he did to animals. I will prejudge him, and any other 'person' that abuses animals. The animals DESERVE my viligence, they deserve everyone's viligence. Remember, the animals have no voice. :(

[elizabethann]

I was shocked to see he was reinstated in the NFL. If he were a New England Patriot I would never watch another game in my life.

[pomtzu]

I am relieved to see that so many people share my views on this issue. I can look beyond, and/or forgive many things. Animal abuse does not happen to be one of them. :mad:

[Freedom]

I was horrified and disgusted when I heard this news late yesterday - the Vick has been reinstated.

UGH!

[sasvermont]

One news report mentioned that IF a team picked him up, they should be prepared for a huge amount of backlash. I suspect that will be true. I wonder which team would be willing to take on that kind of loss, financially? New England has been mentioned. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. We shall see.

I think he should not be allowed to play ball.

[Medusa]

One news report mentioned that IF a team picked him up, they should be prepared for a huge amount of backlash. I suspect that will be true. I wonder which team would be willing to take on that kind of loss, financially? New England has been mentioned. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. We shall see.

I think he should not be allowed to play ball.



Doubtful that it'll make a difference. The team who hires him knows what bad publicity comes w/it and they're obviously willing to take the risk, which tells me that the profits outweigh the risk or they wouldn't do it. People will get all fired up in football frenzy and they'll forget all about Vick's crime. Yeah, maybe they'll boo him for a while but if he repeatedly helps to bring about a win for his team, all will be forgiven. WE. DON'T. LEARN.

[lvpets2002]

I would say you have said it very well Mary.. Well just remember what comes around will for sure go around.. I am sure there is other animal lovers that are football players & they will mow ole Vick to the ground.. Payback is & will be coming to bit him in the Butt.. Just wait & see..
There's remorse for committing such heinous acts and there's regret because he got caught. Huge difference. Vick showed no remorse either in his comments or even in his body language and facial expression. He had a smirk on his face the entire time and I imagine that the smirk is even wider now. Everyone does deserve a second chance. With God. Not w/people in general. Petitions, protests, editorials, none have made a whit of a difference in affecting his employment. We know that this is a move motivated solely by financial consideration and not for any altruistic reasons. No one is sorry, no one cares except the public who were outraged but it made no difference whatsoever. Vick's employment should be that of cleaning dog cages for the rest of his life. Instead, he'll be cleaning up for the NFL and for himself. Once again, animal abusers win and the animals lose. This will never change as long as there is a financial component in all of it.

[chocolatepuppy]

I am relieved to see that so many people share my views on this issue. I can look beyond, and/or forgive many things. Animal abuse does not happen to be one of them. :mad:

Agree 100% I don't believe anyone who could seriously harm or kill a living being on purpose (animal or human) can truly be rehabilitated, imo.
I'm glad I'm a Brown's fan and have no reason to watch football.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Ellie, I'm with you and some of the other posters. Vick is Vick. He will never be remorseful of what he's done. Letting him back in the NFL is a huge mistake. I still can't even look at him without feeling sick to my stomach. He is scum and he will always be scum, in my opinion.

To be able to do what he did in the first place, the man was already hateful and cruel. To abuse innocent animals, I believe he will always look at animals the same way. There will be no changing him. Now, he gets to go back to the NFL and make mega bucks, smiling all the way to the bank. Just because he was able to pretend to really care for as long as was needed. It feels like he's being rewarded for what he's done and that's not right!!!:mad: :mad: :mad:

[Lady's Human]

Maybe Vick can join the Ravens.....after all they do have a love for ex-cons on that team.

That would open up three Monday nights. :p

[Karen]

I do think he'd get a huge backlash if the Patriots were crazy enough to hire him - New Englanders feel pretty strongly about those who abuse animals, and are known to be very, very vocal. I bet no one would even rent him a place to live, and if they did, they'd have him sign something to keep it secret where he lives, or people might take violent action.

[Lady's Human]

Just reading a couple columns......

Most see only three teams for Vick to have even a remote chance of signing....

Washington, Denver, and Oakland.

[Catty1]

From the beginning of the article:


Quarterback Michael Vick has been reinstated to the NFL on a conditional basis and...will be considered for full reinstatement for the NFL's October 18-19 games "based on the progress he makes in his transition plan," the commissioner said in a statement.

[phesina]

No, his evilness and stupidity have nothing to do with his status as an athlete. He is evil and stupid because of what he did to animals. I will prejudge him, and any other 'person' that abuses animals. The animals DESERVE my viligence, they deserve everyone's viligence. Remember, the animals have no voice. :(

I agree absolutely with you and everyone else thinking along this line.


Kobe Bryant's case never went to trial because the accuser refused to testify in a criminal proceeding. A civil suit was later settled for an undisclosed amount of money.

I didn't realize this.. Somehow I had the idea he had gone to jail "and paid his debt to society." For quite a while, he was out of the picture, and then all of a sudden he's BA-A-A-A-ACK on the field and in the money!

But if his accuser suddenly changed her mind about testifying (gosh, I wonder WHY?!), .. AND then, if he supposedly didn't do it but still paid her off in a civil suit.. this doesn't exactly sound like a blameless, innocent man, just one who didn't intend to be proven guilty in a criminal court but still wanted to get the whole business out of the public eye quickly.



Paul Reubens was arrested for indecent exposure, the case was dropped.

He was also later arrested for posession of child porn.

I didn't know about the child porn (or "obscene images of minors") possession charge, either.

**Sorry, folks :(:(:(, I just do NOT keep up-to-date with all the latest news from the "celebrity" [gack!] and "star athlete" [barf!] worlds :rolleyes: :eek: :mad:... my bad, my total ignorance about the Important people around..**

Anyway, I gather from Candace's link that that charge and guilty plea didn't come along until a while after his career was already pretty much down the toilet, even though he beat off the beating-off charge.


Being that his stardom came from making children's TV shows, I think his career being torpedoed was entirely appropriate.

Okay, so I'll take your point now that maybe he wasn't such a great entertainer for children after all. (As I said, I'm out of touch.)

But, in my opinion anyway:

Child abusers, rapists, animal abusers.. abusers of any other living being capable of suffering.. are equally evil and vicious and despicable. (And I agree that being remorseful about doing it is a very different thing from regretting being caught at it, and much rarer, too.)

And aren't big-deal pro football and pro basketball "star athletes" all-too-much regarded by our children as examples to look up to and want to emulate?

[Daisy and Delilah]

Good point phesina. The sports figures are supposed to be role models. Too bad the NFL didn't consider that more in their decision. :( :mad: :(
We have enough animal abuse in this world. I hope his reinstatement doesn't cause kids to think it's okay to do it because you get to go back to playing football so why not?

[blue]

Sports figures where once role models, sadly that time has passed.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Sports figures where once role models, sadly that time has passed.

Yes, that time has passed. What has happened to this country?

[Edwina's Secretary]

The sports figures are supposed to be role models.

Say it isn't so, Joe...


Scandals in sports...and not such good role models are nothing new...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1919_World_Series

[smokey the elder]

True, that. I don't care for the mixed message Goodell is sending, by reinstating Vick, conditions or no conditions.

[caseysmom]

I have never understand professional athletes being called role models. In my opinion they are not role models, parents, pastor, aunts and uncles are role models not professional athletes.

[RICHARD]

Here's the deal.

RG, the commish cannot bar MV from coming back-all because of the likes of whas his name from the Ravens...

MV 'just' fought dogs.

GoodHell has to reinstate MV because, at the least he will be called 'unfair' at the most?

Al Sharptongue will come on the scene and call the NFL racist because if this was a white man........................;)

----------------

Let's play this as a 'real life' scenario.

If he's Joe Eff-up, he gets canned from his job and can't vote, own a gun and all the other fun shiat that pro athletes get away with?

Plaxico, again, who comes up with these names?, Almost neuters himself and is supposed to get jail?

There is a certain amount of payback in the sports world. If you do something stupid and your teammates know about it? :eek::rolleyes:

You will not live it down.

I don't care for Vick, Burress or most of the AHs that screwup. I want to slap the kids that STILL wear the jerseys of these morons.

As a recovering Catholic, I should be able to forgive this punk. MY love of animals puts a kink into that idea. As a football fan? I love the game and don't care to see players get hurt trying to run down the "dog fighting QB".

The NFL doesn't have a 'minor league' to pull players from-Look at Manny Ramirez. When he was on the last legs of his 50 game suspension, the effing moron fans in the minor leagues, where MR 'tuned up' for his return, sold out all the games he played in.

LOL, In NY they would run your arse out on a rail before they forgave you. Here in El Lay no one gives a carp, as long as you win.

If the LAD's were losing, I bet that MR would have been a little more contrite.

Here's the deal,

Part of me says, "let the dude play..." I want to see a HUGE SAMOAN defensive lineman eat MV's lunch.

As a Christian, I want to see him play the "lions"!:eek::D

As a practical person (FB fan), Eff him, I don't get the breaks he does, so why should I be so forgiving of the moron?

It's like the Brett Farve thing.....

Shut up and do wrangler commercials, you'll make money and don't bleed.

If you have any bits, like Lance Armstrong has;), You'd come back, settle for third place, LA played teammate to an unappreciative Spainard who never thought to thank his team, especially the old man who still can bring it.

If the Arena or World League was still going, Goodhell could send Vick there to play. NOT this time, the NFL has to take this ah back, like it or not.

As a fan, it really irritates me to have stories like this one distract me from the game, But, since I am a "raid-uh" fan I have to shut up-LOL, the fans are worse than the players!:eek:

[blue]

I have never understand professional athletes being called role models. In my opinion they are not role models, parents, pastor, aunts and uncles are role models not professional athletes.

I may be wrong in this but at one point pro athletes where role models, and in some sports they still can be considerred as such.

[Medusa]

I have never understand professional athletes being called role models. In my opinion they are not role models, parents, pastor, aunts and uncles are role models not professional athletes.

I'm w/you. The only time someone should be considered a role model is when they conduct themselves so as to be emulated.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Every occupation - professional athlete, actors and actresses, lawyers, business people, teachers, police, politicians, doctors, astronauts, soldiers - there are some good and there are some not so good.

If we need role models to admire it should be for their accomplishments - not their occupation.

I would suggest Sonia Sotomayor might be a good one...;)

[Lady's Human]

Congrats, ES.

You finally found a way to bring politics into an otherwise politics-free sports thread.

*golf clap*:rolleyes:

[Daisy and Delilah]

Sports figures as role models does seem to be in a distant past. Way back when sports figures were downright good people and known for what they had accomplished, Not just for their occupation. Today, they make way too much money and many of them have little or nothing that makes them a person worthy of being called a role model.

I think alot of the "role model" persona was given by people in the media. Years ago, we possibly looked up to people because they were well known and someone we could use as examples for our children. If your son liked baseball, Mickey Mantle was a great guy to aspire to be.

Any person can be a role model. Alot of ideal people for that are at the end of ABC News on Fridays. The Person of the Week. Really fine people.:)

Richard::::::you're cracking me up as always!!:D

[Edwina's Secretary]

Congrats, ES.

You finally found a way to bring politics into an otherwise politics-free sports thread.

*golf clap*:rolleyes:

You are very welcome!:D

Since it already had race and religion...why not?

[blue]

WHere is race or religion in this thread?


:confused: