I see no problem with it. He did what he did, got caught, paid the price and now we move on.

He did his time leave him alone.

I love my dog, and i help my wife with her animal shelter volunteer work. But even I don't see why he's been so demonized.

he made a poor choice in who he hung around with and who he let leach off his success. He paid for it with some of the best years of his career and possibly the rest of his life.

He's doing his part to educate people.

If you want to demonize somebody why not all the wife beating and drug use in sports?

Can't blame the NFL for trying to make money. But I can blame the people who buy it. They're the stupid part.

@Skankingmike: Even sticking within the NFL, I was always amazed at how bad Vick got it and Leonard Little only did 90 days in jail for killing someone while driving drunk. No one even remembers that anymore.

I don't have an opinion on Vick either way, even though he's coming to play for my hometown team. I feel like he served his time and is doing everything he can to make amends, but I wasn't thrilled that the Eagles picked him up.

That being said, I think it's a dumb idea to have Vick dog jerseys. That's just in really poor taste, I think.

@Alexander: How about Ray Lewis Killed somebody!

@Skankingmike: The NFL is one of the saddest sports because of so many young men who find themselves living lavishly and blowing it all on a fast life of alcohol and women and drugs. It seems like a lot of them end up with the wrong crowd. It proves that you can be a great athlete but you might not learn to be a better judge of character before it's too late and you're being booked for pulling a gun at a club.

@Alexander: He didn't pay a big enough price.

Why the HELL did they let him play again?

I see how some people will interpret this in poor taste, but it's not as if they require you to put a name on it. There is a jersey available without an option for customization. And the jersey doesn't actually have a drop down menu of players or anything. People can put whatever name they want - the name of their pet or Michael Vick, if they like. It's not as if the NFL is making anyone do anything they don't want to do. They added his name to the list of names people can use to customize things because he's a player.

Now a Michael Vick pooper-scooper. That I'd buy.

@Alexander: +1

I was never riled up about it. I don't approve of dog-fighting and concurred with his imprisonment. But the people who insist on the never-ending punishment and contempt are fucking ridiculous.

I never knew because I was never told or informed he was exposed to dog fighting at a very young age. As a child he was exposed to it often. He stated that even the police would ignore it so he grew up not knowing it was wrong.

To bad all the facts did not come out many years ago. Sadly it took me watching a 60 minute interview to learn a lot of facts.

I welcome him back into the NFL. He still has along way to go but welcome back Vick.

@Skankingmike: Right. Also, that multiple convicted child rapist did their time, so you should hire them to babysit your kid.

@pecan 3.14159265: They get the ball rolling with college football.

@pecan 3.14159265: That guy was booked for shooting himself in the leg. Plea'ed to 2 years for unlawful possession of a weapon.

Honestly, 2 years is excessive for shooting yourself in the leg. That's punishment enough to believe that the guy won't do it again.

@silver-bolt: Analogously valid. Completely.

He's playing football for fuck's sake.

How about we focus less on demonizing Michael Vick, and take all that animus and ill feelings, and put it towards the people who are actively fighting dogs. He was caught, and he did time. Let's take the spotlight off him, and shine it on the real scum.

@silver-bolt: Right. Because playing in the NFL involves taking care of dogs.

@GitEmSteveDave_DeathPanelist: Thank you! This doesn't get said enough in these discussions, but I concur absolutely.

Once convicted, always guilty.

Perjury, child molster, rapist, wife beater or cruelity to animals. All the same in my book. Once convicted they will always be guilty and can not redeem themselves.

@NotYou007: Seriously? There are many children that see their moms and siblings get beat and the cops, the family whoever doesn't do anything about it. So they grow up repeating what they saw and experienced, I get that. But that isn't an excuse. He knew it was wrong or he wouldn't have been hiding his involvement.
Ignorance of the law isn't a defense, it really isn't. You try using that if you're arrested or ticketed for something.
I am also curious, if you knew this before, would you have said, "hey, okay he didn't know it was wrong, let him go"?

Does anyone know if they're gonna make the Vick Dog Chew Toys with an Eagles Jersey now?

My pit bull would like to de-stuff it.
Maybe after he drowns it.
And electrocutes it.
And pulls out its teeth.

@G.O.B.: Come on!: Well said. I don't condone it. But he did his time. It's time to move on. At what point do we get past it?

@G.O.B.: Come on!:

This exactly. I am completely against dog-fighting or any type of animal cruelty. But for some people to damn near call for his head on a platter is ridiculous! The outrage... it's amazing. I wish people were outraged (and visible like the Mike Vick haters) and passionate about HUMAN suffering. What a world, huh? :)

@wcnghj: so we can all watch some labrador-loving linebackers knock the piss out of him next time he goes up for a ball.

i'm thinking someone should start a "sic vick 50/50" gambling pool - $10/ticket: 50% of the pool goes to the defensive player that knocks him out of the game & 50% to one lucky lotto winner!

@wcnghj: Becasue what he did had NOTHING to do with football.

If a mechanic had done it, should we say he cant fix cars any more? If a janitor did it, should they not be able to sweep any more? He got caught breaking the law, he was punished by a court of law, he served his time in prison and will be doing community service work for as long as his name is worth using in advertising.

What more do you want? Why should he not be able to use a skill he has worked to perfect for years to earn a living?

@silver-bolt: Thats not the same at all. He injured dogs, so do let him be a dog sitter.

His crime had 0 to do with his sport. Maybe if he was busted throwing a game or shaving points or soemthing, but this is not the same thing.

@Skankingmike:

I hearted you last week... wish I could again! I love our dog and I'm disgusted that people are horrible to animals. With that, I'm glad he got imprisoned. I am. I think he should have been jailed. He did his time and it looks like he's trying to move on. I think he's both sorry about his animal cruelty and for getting caught! But I do think he's sorry.

He deserves a chance. I'm not a football fan, but I am a fan of my fellow man. I wish people would just give that man a chance. It's so gross to hear people talk about him the way I've heard.

@kellkell: Actually, as a society we go way easier on people charged with violent crimes if they had early exposure to similar crimes. Abused kids that grow up to abuse people typically claim mental distress etc, and get off much easier than if I were to go pummel my girlfriend or random street person.

@StanTheManDean:

Perjury and rapist= all the same in your book? Wow... really? How? How is being a lie-tellin' fool the same as raping someone? Have you ever been raped? It's absolutely not the same as telling a lie...

@StanTheManDean: Lying and raping a child are the same to you? Beating a Dog and beating your wife are the same?

What about murder? you can forgive for that?

@kellkell:

He was punished. He did serve time. He is far from off the hook. He has lost millions.

If I knew before hand that he was exposed to this at such a young age I would not have been as quick to judge him. What he did was not right. He was punished and is still being punished but he also has the right to move on with his life.

There is a lot more to what went on than anyone knows. I'm letting the man move on with his life. You should as well.

@GitEmSteveDave_DeathPanelist: Well said. Forgot about the ones who have already paid the price. Focus on the ones that HAVEN'T.

Dude, if all of you are pissed off about what he did with pitbulls, visit a puppy mill sometime. That'll turn your stomach worse.

@NotYou007: The family in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre shares the same situation.
And Leatherface would make such an awesome defensive player!

Vick did his time for society - I get that . The dogs in the after life are the only ones who can truley forgive Vick . Did he do his time as far as the NFL and fans that's another story . This wasn't A mistake . This was YEARS of some pretty grotesque & creepy activity .

You have to remember Vick did this over time . This wasn't a bad choice or two this was years of dog fighting AND running a criminal organization . And what they got him on was only what he confessed to . And that brings up another problem - organized dog fighting is organized illegal gambling . If I was the NFL I would be leary of Vick for the fact he was around illegal gambling activity . Illegal gambling & gamblers are the one anything any professional sport needs to distance itself from at all costs or it can ruin the integrity of their game .

Buy not buying a Vick jersey or anything else NFL the fans could show their disgust . And you could boycott NFL and Philadelphia Eagle sponsors as well . Just the price of professional sport tickets , concessions and memorabillia are already high enough to keep me away . Speaking with your wallet can't hurt especially when it makes it fatter .

@xtc46 - thinksmarter on twitter: Well I think I agree with your point, that's a pretty bad example.

If a pro athlete murdered 50 people intentionally, it has nothing to do with his sport, but if his prison sentence is short he should be able to play that sport again?

It all boils down to whether the NFL organization has a strong opinion about the issue to bar him from playing. Apparently they don't.

@GitEmSteveDave_DeathPanelist: I don't know, though. He's served his time, he deserves to get on with his life. All true. Leave the guy alone, fair enough.
But being let back into the NFL is wrong. It's a privilege, not a right.
It's also a great way to send the right message to that hard-to-reach demographic who snicker and give each other high-fives at the thought of applying a cattle prod to a dog's testicles simply because it didn't tear the face off of another dog quickly enough.

I've seen quite a few Vick jerseys on kids lately.

@pecan 3.14159265: But the NFL is one of the few pro leagues that actually makes an effort to inculturate the new guys and provide them with some financial education and some life advice. The other leagues are often much worse.

@tbax929: They should donate all proceeds to the SPCA, and then I think it would be acceptable.

@Moosehawk: Your example is bad as well becasue his debt to society, as our law defines it, would not have been paid until long after he wsa dead.

Prison sentences are a punishment for crimes, and while I dont agree that sending him to prison did anything other than waste my tax money, according to the law, his debt to society is paid and he can do as he pleases.

You are correct in saying that the NFL must also agree to let him play, but that isnt the issue at hand,the OP stated that he didnt pay a big enough price. And the law disagrees with him.

Im going to buy a vick jersey just to support the decision to sell it. Im not a big fan of football, and couldnt even tell you who vick played for before being arrested, but I agree with the NFLs choice to allow him to play after being convicted and serving his time.

Personalized Jerseys Available For Michael Vick's Canine Fans...

Here come all the comedians...last seen wearing South Carolina Gamecocks hats in the late 90s. And before that, Big Johnson T-shirts.

@Trai_Dep:

And your point is?

@Trai_Dep: Excellent point re. getting back into the NFL.

I hope the Vick dogs do serve as ambassadors - normally they'd end up being euthanized from a situation like that, but all but two were put into rescues, and many have been adopted out.

I also hope the dipshit learned something from the whole experience.

Alexander already said it so I'm going to reiterate it:
Leonard Little did a far worse crime and he.... 1) only served 90 days and 2)STILL plays for the NFL 3.) was arrested for drinking and speeding and 4) STILL plays for the NFL.

Seriously, get the f*ck over Vick already. I don't condone what he did but when you compare it to what Little faced, something is f*cked up!

The NFL continually proves that no one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public. Just for the record, I don't care about Vick one way or the other. There are enough players in all professional sports who are guilty of domestic violence, DUI and heaven knows what else to focus on just one person who has already served his time. I mean look at Burress. Two years for shooting himself. At least no one else got hurt.

@Alexander:

I know. Look people, either we stand behind the justice system and agree that someone has paid their debt to society after doing their sentance and we let them get on with their lives, or stop $#%^ing pretending that there's any value in incarcerating someone.

He did what "the people" told him he had to do in order to atone. Period. I don't like what hi did any more than anyone else, speaking as an animal lover with 2 dogs and 7 horses at home. However, Vick did the time to atone for the crime and he gets another shot because that's what the laws of this nation say. If he does something stupid again he'll get locked away and we'll never see him again. Until then - I'm not going to complain (any more than I just did).

@Alexander: @Alexander:
o please can we move on?