The Vick Breakdown
Written by: Tom Sawyer
Unless you have been living under a rock, you are aware of the situation with Michael Vick and his conviction for the part in played in dog fighting. Now that he is out of jail, and not under house arrest, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has ruled on whether Vick can continue his NFL career.
1. Vick can immediately take part in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games — if he can find a team that will sign him.
2. Once the season begins, Vick may participate in all team activities except games, and Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6 (Oct. 18-19) at the latest.
So Vick isn’t suspended from the league, kind of. The “Commish” still has control; his heavy-hand is going a bit overboard in my eyes.
I know the NFL has player conduct and/or morals clauses, but why does this even matter? If you have a field, a football and 22 guys, Michael Vick is one of the most elite human beings on the planet. THE END. No extra yardage, or touchdowns, are scored for being a good human being, but it seems like that is what we expect of professional athletes. Right or wrong (we will get to that) Vick plays a violent sport where physical contact is the norm, yet he is expected to be a role model off the field. I would like to know who decided this and what they were thinking at the time? Why is an elite athlete someone we should look to as a guide to moral behavior? If you haven’t done so before, spend some time with someone who is among the elite in their given field. Many times, that is about all they have to offer – sort of like having all their eggs in one (extraordinary) basket.
The Argument About The Punishment
They were just dogs.
Many people feel like this shouldn’t be a big deal because they were just dogs. I’m not necessarily a dog person, but I’m not a monkey, donkey, pig, hamster, moose or bear person either. Somewhere along the line, dogs were elevated, in the animal kingdom, and became protected by human beings. Hey, it is a law so whatever.
The part that rubs me the wrong way is the fact that Roger Goodell thinks the judicial system isn’t equiped to punish Vick and he must pile on his own punishment. Additionally, he can’t just let him back in the league; he has to regulate how much Vick is allowed to participate and then has the nerve to pass it off as something for Vick’s own good. I would like to know if we should start worshipping Goodell because he is acting like he is God returned to earth. Dude, you run a football league. I know some “money” people may get offended by the “Thugs” in your league, but they don’t mind when those same players are making them a ton of money.
Let’s talk about Donte Stallworth. Stallworth killed a man while under the influence and recieved 24 whole days in jail and a lifetime ban from driving. Oh, and he suspended indefinately by Goodell. I thought the two sentences were way out of whack, but I have learned more about Stallworth’s situation.
1. Stallworth did not drive himself home. He took a cab or was driven home, went to sleep for a few hours and got up to get something to eat. He had basically slept part of his drunken state off although he probably thought he was OK to drive.
2. Stallworth was cooperative with the police. He was the one who called them.
3. The man he hit, and killed, was not using a cross walk. In fact, I read that Stallworth would have hit and killed him if he was totally sober.
4. The family didn’t want Stallworth to have a greater punishment. However, they were OK with the money he gave them.
After reading more about the Stallworth case, I’m not willing to say Vick’s sentence was extreme in comparison. What I am more inclined to say is that they are comparing apples to oranges. If he did sleep for a while before driving and would have killed the man sober makes a difference to me. I still have to process how much of a difference, but it is enough of a difference for me to say it isn’t the same as Vick.
Vick Can (kind of) Come Out To Play
Kathy, from www.kleverkathy.com, recently wrote an article about whether Michael Vick can come out to play. I guess the commissioner, in his controlling way, has said Vick can indeed come out to play. He just can’t play when it counts yet.
Tags: Vick case cannot be compared to Stallworth, Vick partially reinstated, Vick Stallworth comparisons faulty
July 28th, 2009 at 7:35 am
I speak as a big fan of big dogs (not small runty dogs). I also speak as a huge baseball fan. I do not quibble with the justice handed out to Michael Vick just as I did not disapprove of that handed out to Manny Ramirez. Admittedly, the offenses of this pair defy comparison.
But justice is done. They did their crime and have done their time. Manny is back (being Manny) with my Dodgers. The Vickster should be back in uniform. I would be happy if he were playing for the Los Angeles Rams! (Oops!)
I can see how the Commish wants to diffuse the inevitable hostile demonstrations by liberal do-gooders. But I can also see how keeping Michael Vick under arrest even while he wears a uniform, might make him a little less of a pariah and a little more marketable to his future team(s). Goodall, if he himself is just, will judge Vick on a yardstick as level as the standards by which he judges other players in the NFL.
But Tom Sawyer is right. Even felons get 2nd chances. This unusually talented man should have his opportunity to comeback and achieve his potential in this game of football. He shouldn’t be condemned to do something mundane to make a living for the rest of his life.
Like blogging, for instance.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Thank you Tom for all the facts about the Stallworth case. That does make a difference but to me and for me, that isn’t my issue. My question is; what on earth gives Goodell the right? I cannot believe there aren’t checks and balances in place to bring control and continuity to these types of decision and not give Goodell this much power. In my “non-expert on football” opinion, he is being allowed to hold the hoops high while Michael Vick jumps through them! He already paid for his crime! It wasn’t a football crime, yet football gets to punish him… again! I’ve read the stories where he says he wants Vick to show remorse. OMG!!! It is not up to him to walk around with a remorse gauge gun aimed at Michael Vick waiting for his remorse level to meet his approval! Now, if remorse would have kept him out of jail, ok, please show us and the courts, etc remorse. But remorse wasn’t a key factor. He had to go to jail anyway and pay for his crime so really, who cares if he is remorseful or not! And I do believe people should be remorseful for wrongdoings but I guarantee, if Vick wants a career, regardless of how he really feels – remorse or no remorse – he is doing what is necessary to get him back to where he wants to be.
And…… (heavy sigh) there are teams that don’t want to sign him? Why? I am flabbergasted! If you are a football team, why wouldn’t you want a good football player on your team? If he is done with his sentence, ankle bracelet off, no pending charges looming over his head, why wouldn’t you want a great football player on your football team? And you’re right Tom, he is a football player, not Mother Theresa!
I have got to keep repeating this; I hope Goodell walks the straight and narrow the rest of his life because I don’t think anyone will forget what he did to Vick!
July 28th, 2009 at 8:25 am
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9861576/Vick-reinstated,-but-not-free-under-Goodell
You have got to read this article. Here is a small snippet from it:
“Among the stipulations announced Monday for Vick’s eventual reinstatement: Vick is required to have counselors and mentors guide him through his attempted comeback (former Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy is serving as the NFL’s liaison). Vick must keep Goodell apprised about his living arrangements if/when signing with an NFL team. Vick even needs to tell Goodell how he will “manage his financial affairs” and follow that plan.
The only clause Goodell forgot was one forcing Vick to sit, beg and roll over on command.”
Goodell is a hot mess!!!
July 28th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Let me preface my comment by stating, I am not a football fan, but I am a fan of justice. Having said that, I think Michael Vick was sentenced to a harsher sentence to make an example out of him. Okay, now that he’s served his time, let him get back to his regular job – playing football. There are so many people out there who have committed more serious crimes, and are allowed to go back to work. Why is it so different for Michael Vick? Everyone wants to hold him accountable for his crime – guess what? The court system has already done that (sentenced him to 2 years federal prison) and he has settled his obligation (served his time). It’s time to let that go…….
July 28th, 2009 at 11:52 am
@Vigilante – The comment about blogging is funny!
July 28th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Here are some more pieces from the article Kathy linked above:
“Not with Roger Goodell holding the leash.”
“The only clause Goodell forgot was one forcing Vick to sit, beg and roll over on command.”
“But Goodell’s ruling again shows the biggest problem with the personal conduct policy he instituted in April 2007. Goodell’s power is unchecked and growing.”
You don’t have to agree with what Michael Vick did to see something is wrong with the amount of power Roger Goodell has.
I know it will not sit well with some people, but Vick doesn’t have to be sorry about what he did. Being sorry is for someone who is trying to get off or get paroled. After someone served time in jail, they can really have whatever attitude they want; without a time machine it isn’t going to change the time they served.
I am seeing a growing trend in professional sports where commissioners, owners and some fans want players to act or be a certain way. It is like their rare athletic ability should force them to have a certain personality to include the clothes they wear and how they carry themselves. Honestly, the generation of young black athletes who could be associated with Hip Hop or “thugs” really are the ones targeted. Would this be an issue if most athletes liked listening to Carrie Underwood, wore boots and Jeans to the games? No.
*sigh*, we have so many issues in America.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:30 am
i still can’t get pass the dog issue. people from all over are jumping on the “down with michael vic” bandwagon. people who don’t even know him, who’ve never met him, who know nothing about football. all they know is, he had a hand in a dog fighting ring and the killing of dogs. and because of our country’s twisted view and love of dogs, everybody is up in arms about michael vic and what they think should be he continued plight. it’s not enough for them that he served time in prison, no, it seems they want some sort of perpetual punishment. how the hell can people be this adamant about one persons wrong doing? i know why, it’s the damn dogs. i’m sick of the damn dogs. the football commish is basing his ridiculous restrictions on vic’s reinstatement merely on all these dog lovers cry’s for vic to be crucified. how the f iretr uck can he put all these stipulations on vic’s reinstatement when leonard little and donte stallworth are allowed to continue to play football as though they never killed anyone. i’m getting more upset with each word i write, i feel like going outside and kicking the first dog i see. i know that wouldn’t be right, but it ain’t right for all these dog lovers to be bashing vic like they are.
that’s it, i need to go chill out. i’m sure i’ll comment on this some more, especially when i read the dog lovers comments.
i wish i would see somebody walking their dog today.
July 29th, 2009 at 6:09 am
Just remember two things, Clyde:
1) Never kick a Doberman in anger because they’ll just think you want to ‘play’.
2) Dobies always win.
A couple of words to the wise…..
August 14th, 2009 at 9:24 am
There is one other BIG difference.
If Vick would have been honest he might have only gotten 12 months house arrest which compared to Stallworth’s 24 months house arrest, 8 years probation, 1000 community service hours and a life suspended license the two would have added up about right for the crime…to me at least.
The difference is Vick wasn’t honest like he said and agreed he would be, got caught and got a harsher sentence. Stallworth, has gone above and beyond what was required of him and got a lesser sentence.
It really is like comparing apples to oranges.
October 29th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
That is pretty instresting. I think that pitbulls are just very misunderstood
June 26th, 2011 at 4:47 am
not again.