Michael Vick Joins Eagles on One-Year Deal

[lanlady]

Source: Washington Post

Vick Joins Eagles on One-Year Deal
QB Could Return Against Redskins

By Mark Maske
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 14, 2009

Michael Vick's return to the NFL became official Thursday when the quarterback, after two seasons out of the league while serving his federal sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation in Virginia, signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Vick signed a one-year deal with the club with an option, at the team's discretion, for a second season. He is to be starting quarterback Donovan McNabb's backup.

"I'm a believer that as long as people go through the right process, they deserve a second chance," Eagles Coach Andy Reid said at a news conference Thursday night. "Michael has done that. I did a tremendous amount of homework on this. I followed his progress. He's got some great people in his corner. He has proven that he's on the right track."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/13/AR2009081304048.html?nav=rss_email/components

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His contract is worth $6.8 million. I hope he puts his life back on track.

[Crazy Dave]

1. You think they're doing this for the media coverage it's getting?

People who follow football regularly are talking about the pre-season but now I hear everybody complaining about "socialized healthcare" and "Michael Vick"

I don't think my mom could tell you one team that was in the last Superbowl but she can tell you who Michael Vick is.

[NJmaverick]

17. Football is not like Hollywood. Publicity isn't all good

the media circus will cause a distraction to the team.

[Happyhippychick]

2. Yuck. There's something very wrong with a person who tortures helpless creatures.

I'm glad I'm not an Eagles fan.

[FreakinDJ]

5. There is some thing wrong with Dogs Bred for Fighting

I just as soon rather see the Breeds licensed to special owners.

Sick and tierd of every low life I see running around with a neglicted pit bull

[PurpleChez]

6. I'm not a sports fan in any capacity, but

a coworker invited me to become an honorary Eagles fan and I accepted. Even though it was just goofing around I'm afraid I'm gonna have to surrender my membership.

It disturbs me to think of how many people will be really excited about this. I am always stymied by the hypocrisy of law and order RW'ers when it comes to the felonious athletes who play for "their" teams. Same goes for racists and bigots--how many sports fans do you know who idolize Black athletes whose families they wouldn't want living next door? Anything that means more wins for "their" team. I have no basis for understanding people whose self image is so tied to people outside of their own reality.

[Baclava]

3. PETA releases statement on Vick signing

PETA's Statement on Eagles Vick Signing

PETA and millions of decent football fans around the world are disappointed that the Philadelphia Eagles have chosen to sign a man who hanged dogs from trees, electrocuted them with jumper cables, held them underwater until they drowned in his swimming pool, and even threw his own family dogs into the fighting pit to be torn to shreds while he laughed. What sort of message does this send to young fans who care about animals and don't want to see them be harmed?

PETA certainly hopes that Vick has learned his lesson and feels truly remorseful for his crimes—but since he's given no public indication that that's the case, only time will tell. At this point, all Eagles fans can do is cross their fingers and hope that they won't ever have to explain to their sons and daughters what a "rape rack" is and why their favorite player was using one, as Falcons fans once had to.

[WriteDown]

4. Darn I was really hoping for Raiders...

or maybe Cowboys.

[AngryAmish]

7. I'm of two (or three) miinds on this

1. He committed multiple crimes, but did his time and should be able to make a living.

2. Dogfighting is sick and unforgivable.

3. But I like cockfighting.

4. I would not want the distraction on my team.

[litlady]

14. This is an odd admission.

Normally I would never attack a person online so I hope it doesn't come off that way but what the hell is the difference between cockfighting and dogfighting? They are both "sports" that involve sentient beings being forced to hurt each other for human sickness.

[DinahMoeHum]

15. Cockfighting and dogfighting are also forms of GAMBLING. . .

and Michael Vick was essentially running a gambling operation.

And the NFL has traditionally taken a hard-ass line with players who get involved with gambling. Only here, Vick wasn't merely involved with gamblers, he was running a gambling operation himself.

Gambling can get a player/coach/manager in deep shit at the professional level - there are myriad reasons the professional leagues come down real hard on this:
The most obvious reason is that a player is most susceptible to blackmail from outside sources.
There is also the issue of a level playing field being tilted because of said player's habit.


Here's hoping the Philadelphis Eagles organization knows what they're getting into with this guy. Old habits are hard to break.

:evilfrown:

[sharesunited]

8. Boycott all Eagles games. That's all. Boycott.

[pecwae]

9. With that kind of contract

he should be able to camo his next dog mauling compound better than the last one.

Fuck Michael Vick.

[PurpleChez]

10. He'll be able to hire someone

to electrocute the losers for him.

Wonder if Whoopi Goldberg has weighed in on this....

[hatrack]

11. Welcome to America - the Land of Money and Bullshit

:eyes:

[xchrom]

12. ...

'I followed his progress. He's got some great people in his corner. He has proven that he's on the right track."

wish i had some people like that in my corner.
:puke:

[Baclava]

13. Philly is flipping out

[panzerfaust]

16. He did the crime, has done his time ...

However, the nature of the crime was so horrendously sick that it points to an underlying psychological or personality disorder of a such a nature that it should prevent his employment in a situation in which he is seen to be a role model for youth.

Still, given the basic aggression, savagery and brutality which is encouraged and celebrated in professional football, it would seem unfair to Mr. Vick to single him out simply because he hangs and electrocutes dogs.

[NJmaverick]

18. He did his time because he got caught

in fact he has done nothing good or positive unless he was forced or had no choice. He was pretty much a dirtbag before the dog fighting came to light and I doubt he has changed.