Michael Vick just conditionally reinstated into the NFL

[Poiuyt]

Vick conditionally reinstated by NFL

NEW YORK - Michael Vick was conditionally reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday and could play in regular season games as early as October.

Vick can immediately participate 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. A number of teams have already said they would not.

snip

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).

more -

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/32175602/ns/sports-nfl/

NFL = National Felons League

[BlooInBloo]

1. Good. Fuck those who think a man should do his time, and then be left without a career.

[Hutzpa]

4. ditto

thats the mind set progressives are up against.

[KittyWampus]

5. It'll be fun watching whatever team signs him get hammered. Plenty of Americans have had to reinvent

their lives.

[greguganus]

33. I'll be stocking up on dog biscuits to pelt him with if a team signs him & they play the Panthers.

Panthers better not sign him!

[Missy Vixen]

18. He has a college education

Pro football is not the only career option open to him, is it?

[Naturyl]

72. Are you aware that football stars tend to skate through college?

College football stars are rarely held to any kind of educational standards. I'd be surprised if he was functionally literate.

And no, before anyone even gets started (because this is DU after all), this is NOT about race. It's about athletic programs and educational standards.

[Missy Vixen]

80. And this is our problem why?

Again, nobody wants to answer my question: All this concern for Michael Vick's future career, huh? Would you let him dog sit for a weekend? How about babysit your kids? There's a strong link between animal abuse and those who move on to humans.

No animal or babysitting? I thought not.

[Fire1]

24. It's done everyday. What about people (black of course)

who were proven innocent after 15, 20, and 25 years of incarceration AND those who paid their debt to society for crimes they actually committed? Many of them end up going BACK to prison mainly b/c they can't get hired anywhere to earn a decent living. That's one of the MAIN problems with our penal system. They don't rehabilitate. Inmates just learn how to be better crooks. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad that Mr. Vick HAS talent AND a career but shouldn't a job/career or training of some sort apply to every human being and not just a fortunate few?

[Maru Kitteh]

60. And yet you were advocating for the incarceration & forced sterilizaton of the mentally ill.

Strange.

[Fire1]

66. Get a grip. Two different subjects entirely and not even remotely

close. Btw, I advocated sterilization NOT incarceration. You've got your posters confused.

[Maru Kitteh]

78. Yup. You just discounted the reality of mental illness. I shudder to think of your "final solution"

[Fire1]

83. My final solution stands at hospitalization and sterilization. That

is a far cry from discounting reality. Had someone else FACED reality this never would have happened.

[Naturyl]

73. What? You've gotta be kidding.

Someone was doing that on DU and they are still ON DU?

Wow...

[Fire1]

74. The ones advocating the death penalty are still here, too! n/t

[Maru Kitteh]

77. poster discounted postpartum psychosis and admits to advocating eugenics/IE forced sterilization

in this thread. Believe it.

[Fire1]

84. And you need to stop hijacking threads. n/t

[Raineyb]

63. They don't want to hear about that.

It's the animals that are most important here.
:sarcasm:

[ecstatic]

26. agreed.

Come back to Atlanta, Vick!!!

[Joe Fields]

29. trust me, if he was never again let into the nfl, someone would offer

him a career, if he's smart enough to keep his nose clean. He deserves no special privileges, and does not have a God given right to go back to playing professional football. As far as I'm concerned, he gave up that PRIVILEGE a long, long time ago. Fuck Michael Vick.

[Raineyb]

41. I couldn't agree more. n/t

[Obamanaut]

46. He went to college, but didn't finish. He has that to fall back on.

Football is not the only career choice - there are many who never play.

[Morning Dew]

49. I sure hope there's a CFO job waiting for Andy Fastow.

He'll probably be out and off parole by the end of 2013.

[David Zephyr]

2. Chris Rock questioned Vick's conviction while Palin shoots animals from helicopters.

Both are wrong, but Chris Rock makes a good point. She's equally cruel.

[greguganus]

34. How can you compare a clean shot on an animal to torturing one in a fight

and if the losing dog doesn't die in the ring he is then drowned or electrocuted?

[pecwae]

37. You can't.

You're responding to a post full of bullshit.

[Raineyb]

42. How do you call chasing an animal down until its exhausted then shooting it

a clean shot?

[Fumesucker]

48. You can make a "clean shot" on a wolf from a helicopter or airplane?

Usually they run the wolf to exhaustion and then shoot it, the mighty brave hunters then leave the wolf pups to die of starvation.

The baby Jebus wouldn't want mighty hunters to waste ammunition on wolf puppies.

[totodeinhere]

3. He has paid his debt to society. Let him play football. n/t

[NeedleCast]

6. I don't really have a problem with that

Vick did his time.

Does he have to work at Burger King the rest of his life as part of his sentence? Maybe I missed that part.

[KittyWampus]

10. Wow! The only two options left for Vick, playing professional football in the League or Burger King

[NeedleCast]

16. Hello Strawman, How you Been?

So what jobs do you think Vick should be able to do now that he's paid his debt? It appears you have an issue with him returning to the NFL. Please post your list of things that it's acceptable for criminals to do after they've completed thier sentences.

[Hugabear]

22. You were the one who made it seem like an either/or situation

If Vick had not been reinstated in the NFL, it's not as if he would have been forced to resort to a minimum-wage job. There were other opportunities available to him, should he have been banned from the NFL. There is a brand new football league, the UFL, which had expressed interest in Vick if the NFL declined him - I know this because one of the teams will be in Orlando, which would have had the league rights to him. He could have also gone into the world of reality TV, written a book, or done any of a number of other things.

I never felt sorry for Vick. As a rich celebrity, he would have had many more chances than most felons getting out of prison.

[rateyes]

7. That was the correct decision.

I hope he doesn't screw up this 2nd chance, and actually does some good for animal rights.

[lpbk2713]

8. Millionaires taking care of other millionaires.

SOS

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. +1

:thumbsup:

[pecwae]

38. Money talks.

[Thothmes]

52. Vick is no longer a millionaire.

He is up to his ass in bankruptcy proceeding.

[Maru Kitteh]

85. What? Michael Vick isn't rich anymore?

:nopity:

[Thothmes]

86. Several million dollars in debt, in bankruptcy

His major financial plan, as approved by the bankruptch judge, to get out from bankrutcy is his being able to return to pro football.

[VMI Dem]

9. Good, although I don't like the suspension.

[abbeyco]

11. I think it's pretty telling that some teams don't want him

He has no "right" to play in the NFL - it's a privilege and with the NFL and the teams as potential employers, they don't have to hire him. I hope no team does but I expect the Raiders will at least give him a sniff.

That said, IF he ends up playing, I hope he gets hit so hard that his career ends. It is my opinion that I don't think he should ever get back into the NFL.

[BlooInBloo]

12. Won't know that until after this announcement. Teams wouldn't make a move...

Until word came down that he was cleared to rejoin the league.

If nothing happens for him within a week or two, then we conclude that teams don't want him.

[hlthe2b]

28. The article says some teams have already said no...

Which ones, I'd be interested in knowing....:shrug:

[BlooInBloo]

31. Point taken. After a few hours, not every team is interested.

[hlthe2b]

35. I took this to mean teams that had signaled their intent to say NO

prior to the decision to reinstate him... So, I don't think this is an artifact of not allowing sufficient time for reaction following the announced reinstatement. :shrug:

[davidpdx]

51. So far Dallas, NY and Atlanta (of course)

have said no. That still leaves 29 teams.

[emilyg]

54. Good for the Falcons.

[hlthe2b]

55. ditto...

I'm not totally sure I expected them to do so..

[totodeinhere]

17. Trust me on this. Some team that badly needs a quarterback will sign him.

The pressure to win is too great to pass on a chance to have a player of his caliber.

I'm thinking maybe it will be the Raiders. They have a history of signing "bad boy" players.

[abbeyco]

27. I don't disagree at all

and frankly, I think you're right about the Raiders. They're not so sold on Jamarcus Russell now and with their penchant for some of the not-so-savory players, I'm sure they'll try to work a deal with Vick.

I hope he's now got a rag-arm and has lost a step or 10.....

[hlthe2b]

32. Baseball bans for life those caught gambling...

There is definitely a different culture in the NFL--one where machismo and $$ win out no matter what. Frankly, abbeyco, I agree with you.




What future does this poor beast have? Hat Tip to ForkBoy who posted this photo in a previous thread to remind all what was involved in this little "misdeed," that some feel compelled to downplay. I can only hope this vision haunts his dreams every night for the rest of his life. Maybe then, he'll actually show some contrition...

[Withywindle]

58. Thank you. Look what happened to Pete Rose's career

and his transgressions caused no living being anywhere near that level of agony. Vick did it repeatedly and remorselessly. This isn't even a case of selfish recklessness accidentally causing a tragedy, like a drunk driving wreck. This is a case of deliberate, methodic, chronic coldblooded sadism.

I have hopes this is one case where "the free market" will actually do its duty. Most sports fans I know are also animal lovers. Any team that takes him can kiss half its fan base goodbye.

I hope so, anyway. Yes, he should be allowed to make a living. He is NOT entitled to the love and respect of the public, however. Once blown, that's virtually impossible to get back. He should have to look for a job and shop his resume around just like the rest of us. He is NOT entitled to make more money than anyone else just because he's good at a sport. Plenty of people out there are who are good at the sport, are hungry for a chance, and manage not to completely blow it because of an addiction to animal torture for fun.

[Johonny]

36. I imagine his 53.7 completion percentage

and below average QB rating makes it easier for teams to take the high ground.

[cherokeeprogressive]

50. I bet Al Davis has already called him. n/t

[Hell Hath No Fury]

13. As an animal lover and activist --

I am OK with this. He was convicet of a crime and took his punishment -- the slate is cleared. And I wouldn't let him anywhere near my animals and hope he never has access to a dog ever again in his life.

[bullwinkle428]

15. EXACTLY - I wouldn't care if he went out an earned another $50 million

playing football, as long as he was never allowed to have any kind of pet for the rest of his life.

[Flaneur]

14. Fine with me. Vick has done his time.

[Bleacher Creature]

20. Unlike health care, this is one case where I'm happy to let the market sort it out.

I was someone who wanted the book thrown at Vick when I found out what he did, but after almost two years in prison and a bankruptcy filing, I think it's fair to say that he paid his dues to society. It's also important to recognize that the NFL's decision today doesn't really answer the question of whether he will actually play, since a team actually needs to sign him. Last I heard, about 1/2 of the teams have publicy stated that they have no interest and many potential candidates don't need him. It will be very interesting to see if a team takes a chance . . .

[SleeplessInAlabama]

21. Fine, but don't have a symbolic BS "suspension" in the first place. n/t

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

23. i wonder, if he evers plays a game in Cleveland,

how rhe Dawg Pound would react.

[AndyA]

25. Vick is a cruel person. He sets a bad example.

This sends the wrong message to young kids, in my opinion. I wonder if Vick is going to do anything special to help abused dogs, like set up a fund to help them or open a placement agency to help them find homes. That would be a postive thing for him to do.

But I don't expect that from him, I think he's a disgraceful, pathetic excuse for a human being, whether he did his time or not.

[Raineyb]

43. Set a bad example?

Because the guys who beat their girlfriends, kill their pregnant exes to get out of paying child support, rape women those guys are great examples. (And not all of them are ejected from the NFL)

Spare me the example nonsense. It's a lot of sanctimonious bullshit.

[AndyA]

44. Two wrongs don't make a right.

Quit defending a torturer. Animals hurt, and feel pain just like people do.

The man is a horrid example. So are all of the others who do the things you mentioned. NONE OF THEM should be in professional sports, period. Animal abusers are much more likely to abuse others, including murdering people. Look it up.

If there's any bullshit, it's yours.

[greguganus]

45. +1 n/t

[Name removed]

57. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

56. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Withywindle]

62. Should not be an either/or

I think utter and complete fan and management rejection of Michael Vick is appropriate. Yes, he's "paid his debt to society" and is free. That means he's free to pound the pavement and read the want ads and submit his resume to temp agencies like the rest of us.

I WISH rapists were also shunned. I WISH women were valued as highly as dogs. That doesn't mean the punishment of dog torturers should be LOWERED; I think it's at a perfectly appropriate level if Vick never gets to make millions for an hour and a half of playing a game again.

Boo hoo, cry me a river. :cry:

The way to make the situation more equitable is to INCREASE the public contempt for rapists, not to lower that against dog-torturers. I'm all in favor of that.

[Raineyb]

64. Well until women are as valued as these dogs

you'll forgive me if I don't spend as much time worrying about the image of the NFL when a dog torturer joins when the rapists are more troublesome. When there's outrage about how sports players treat women let me know. In the meantime all this hand wringing and tearing of sackcloth is well a steaming pile of you know what.

[Withywindle]

69. I AM a woman.

I'll take what I can get. Any movement in the direction of: "torturing smaller/less powerful beings for sadistic enjoyment and/or profit is utterly unacceptable and will lead to your complete social/professional rejection even if you're rich enough to pay off courts" is positive, IMO. It can only help me in the long run.

[Raineyb]

82. That's fine. But to pretend that Vicks is the worst person on the NFL is fuckery. That's

what I'm saying. Clearly you have your priorities and I have mine.

[Maru Kitteh]

76. EXCELLENT FREAKIN' POST, and way to rip off this poster's beard.

You

ROCK!

[Withywindle]

79. Thank you!

It seems pretty clear to me! WTF are some others trying to say? If rapists and murderers get off relatively scot-free, that means it's wrong to persecute an animal abuser?

No. The WRONGNESS is in the relatively easy sentencing of rapists and murderers if they're famous and have money.

So Vick is out of jail after only 2 years and that's "enough"? OK, fine, I don't feel it, but that's the law. So he's "entitled" to go back to his overpaid celebrity status with no censure from the public? I don't think so. I'm part of "the public" and I say :thumbsdown:

[Raineyb]

81. Persecute being the key word in your post.

I'm not wasting my time getting all upset because Vicks was allowed back into the NFL. I've got much bigger fish to fry. You clearly need someone to demonize for whatever reason and you picked a comparatively unimportant but slightly more visible cause to use. Whatever, but to be surprised that there are those that find you priorities out of whack? Insulated much?

I don't give a damn what Vicks does, but he's hardly the most egregious member of the league.

[Poiuyt]

68. Which convicted rapists are playing in the NFL?

[WI_DEM]

30. Whatever--I never doubted it.

[xchrom]

39. for the number of dogs harmed and killed -- i didn't think it was much of a book

that was thrown at him.

do i think he's learned a damn thing?

yes -- that he can get away with it.

that being said it's in the past now -- but if i was a dog -- i'd feel that shadow had just passed over me.

[flvegan]

40. My not believing in violence is the only thing keeping

me from wishing his career was permanently ended after taking the first snap on whatever dogshit team signs him.

And yes, I'd say that about any NFL "pro" that got a bullshit sentence for rape, murder or any other crime that hits the top of my outrage meter.

[Withywindle]

61. If it's any consolation, I think enough football fans are also dog lovers that he won't have much of

a career left.

Market forces, yanno. Once in a blue moon, they get it right. Any team he plays for will be saddled with boycotts, protests, and stuff thrown at them.

I wish this ALSO happened to rapists in sports. I WISH women were valued as highly as dogs. But that only means women should be valued higher than we are, it doesn't mean dogs should be valued lower.

[fishbulb703]

47. Oh to have been that judge. I'd make sure he was too old when released. nt

[undeterred]

53. I absolutely couldn't care less and it really annoys me

that this is treated like front page news.

[tammywammy]

59. I don't have a problem with this

But at the same time, I hope none of the teams sign him.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

65. I get reinstatement and paying his debt to society.

But just a little note to anyone in the future who cheers for this son of a bitch: you're an asshole.

[ZombieHorde]

67. I would be pleasantly surprised if there was any real outcry from NFL fans.

Another poster has pointed out other players as being rapists. If this is true, and people are cheering for rapists, I don't think enough of them will care about torture for a spot of fun.

I personally believe that in our society entertainment is only second to a general feeling of safety.

[williesgirl]

70. I for one will boycott any NFL advertiser who's ads appear during ANY game he plays in and I'll let

the NFL know it as well as whatever team signs him. I'll organize an advertiser protest immediately. I have a female Pit Bull who is a Katrina rescue. I planned to foster her until this Vick thing happened. At that point, I gave up on adoption by others and kept her. I didn't need a third dog, especially one who's 80 lbs, but she's such a wuss and afraid of her own shadow that I feared she'd end up as bait for one of these cretins' operations.

Fuck Vick. I hope he never works in football again. I love the sport and actively support it but won't tolerate this. Flame away if you need to.

[Naturyl]

71. Fine. He should not be stopped from playing football, BUT...

He is an awful man and I hope he causes his team to lose every game. I hope every team rejects him and he spends the rest of his life saying "Hi, welcome to Wal-Mart." People who have never done anything like Vick's crimes have to do that every day. The idea of him making millions of dollars again is repulsive - but America is a free country and he did serve his time.

[Iggo]

75. His sentence was a lot lighter than I'd've liked.

But he did his time. He has a right to seek work in his chosen field. And damn the punishment fetishists who think that every sentence should be a life sentence.