Unlock Vick's doghouse?
In a perfect world, disgraced quarterback and dog-fighting mastermind Michael Vick would end up working for bullying and clueless Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, allowing current quarterback Jason Campbell to tunnel out to a happier world.
As much as Vick's conduct disgusts civilized people, there's an inevitabliity to his rehabilitation and march back to the NFL. He's paying his debt to society. We forgive and forget too easily. And too many teams need a quarterback.
Vick will be transferred from the federal prison in Levenworth, Kansas, to his home in Hampton, Va., on May 21 for two month's of home confinement. He'll work a $10-an-hour construction job during that time. But then what?
The NFL has said all the right things about Vick needing to show his remorse and about making amends before he is allowed to return. On Tuesday, Vick met with retired Colts' coach Tony Dungy, who is involved in prison ministry.
On the one hand, the better part of you wants Vick to get his head out of his butt and embrace some worthy cause. The Hollywood ending.
But his initial bankruptcy filing--his road map to the immediate future--indicates he's still off in the weeds. His debts vastly outnumber his assets. He expects to land another huge long-term contract and wants to keep his two homes (total value $3 million) and three luxury vehicles.
Who's his financial adviser, Michael Jackson? Maybe Vick should buy Neverland.
And there remains a suspicion that the meeting with Dungy was cooked up by Vick's agent, who called it "positive."
The Atlanta Falcons still have Vick under contract until 2013 and say they can trade his rights. An owner who long ago lost his credibility with the public might not care if PETA pickets.
If not Snyder, who loves to hire over-priced, over-the-hill talent (See: Sanders, Deion), how about Al Davis?
Hope for the best, but expect the worst.
Do we let Michael Vick out of the doghouse?
Comments
Candus:It's doubtful that PETA will picket anything involving Vick since they are in talks with him as their spokesperson!!!! Check out current issue of Ad Age for lead article about this.
Posted by: Susan Anthony | May 6, 2009 8:59 AM
Umm the Ravens hired that "over-priced, over-the-hill talent" you're talking about, so what does that say about us?
Posted by: Steven Hawkins | May 6, 2009 9:45 AM
When people break the law and are sent to jail they are supposed to have paid their debt to society, but have they really. There are some people that will never forgive a person no matter the crime they committed.
I do not believe Vick's crime warranted the punishment he received, especially when people who have been convicted of murdering other people receive lighter sentences.
Football is a business and if he is able to come back and contribute then you better believe he will end up on a team somewhere in the NFL, and if it's not the Falcons, he could end up with the last laugh.
Posted by: Kenny Gamble | May 7, 2009 4:35 PM