Eagles teammates vote to honor dog-killer Michael Vick with Courage Award

[ccharles000]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Michael Vick's peers appreciate his tough journey back to the NFL.

Vick won the Ed Block Courage Award, voted on by his teammates on the Philadelphia Eagles. The once-disgraced star quarterback returned to the league after spending 18 months in a federal prison for his role in a dogfighting ring.

"It means a great deal to me," Vick said Wednesday. "I was voted unanimously by my teammates. They know what I've been through. I've been through a lot. It's been great to come back and have an opportunity to play and be with a great group of guys. I'm just ecstatic about that and I enjoy every day."

A three-time Pro Bowl pick in six seasons with Atlanta, Vick has played sparingly with the Eagles. He has two touchdowns rushing and one passing in 12 games.

The Ed Block Award honors players who exemplify commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. All 32 NFL teams select a recipient, and each winner will be honored at an awards ceremony in Baltimore on March 9.



http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FBN_EAGLES_VICK?SITE=ALOPE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Botany]

1. please .....

" ...... because nobody had to endure what I've been through ..... "

Vick and his friends would go and steal people's pet dogs and tape their mouths shut and
then would let his pit bulls maul them to death.

I now hope that eagles get stomped in the playoffs.

[LynneSin]

3. They are already in the playoffs

And if you don't know Vick, has been working with the local humane society speaking against dog fighting and what he had done. I know, it's easier just to be snarky about it and I know what he had done was horrible. But we have seen what Vick is trying to do today to attempt to make amends (something I doubt even he thinks he'll ever achieve in light of what he has done - but he's trying).


http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/eagles/2009-11-30-michael-vick-school_N.htm

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

5. oh bullsquat

He's simply salvaging a PR disaster so he can continue to make millions of dollars for playing with a ball. Give me a break.

[LynneSin]

6. Making league minimum

Whatever

The guy isn't a saint he's just trying. He knows his life will never be the same and the work he does with Humane Society is strictly voluntary - he was not forced to do that as part of his parole.

I guess you still haven't forgiven Ted Kennedy for what he did at Chappaquidick either?

Oh wait, I guess some people are deserving of a second chance?

[Botany]

10. Poor guy having to limp by on $700 K / year

Credited Seasons 2008 2009 2010
0 $295,000 $310,000 $325,000
1 $370,000 $385,000 $400,000
2 $445,000 $460,000 $475,000
3 $520,000 $535,000 $550,000
4-6 $605,000 $620,000 $635,000
7-9 $730,000 $745,000 $760,000
10+ $830,000 $845,000 $860,000

[Botany]

8. I edited it to say I hope they get stomped in the playoffs.

But as a dog owner not only what he did to his own dogs but to other people's pets means that
blood thirsty asshole should keep his mouth shut. I might be wrong but Vick would still be doing
the same thing right now if he had not been caught with his dog fighting empire on the grounds of
his house.

Duct taping the mouth of a labrador retriever and then throwing him in with some pitbulls to be
ripped to death takes a special kind of sick.

As for the work he is doing now I think some is part of a court order and some is just p.r. work
to buff up his image.

[JonLP24]

12. About your last point

He's done with everything as far as legal goes. He doesn't have to do anything.

Second when he does the speaking engagements or visits children in poor communities to discuss the dangers of the business and encourage "pit bull" adoption there are no cameras around and close off the events to reporters. If you followed this from last summer you would know.

Back in August the Humane Society credited him for effectively reaching an audience that they otherwise would not be able to.

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

4. don't forget the swimming pool

Vick would attach jumper cables to dogs and toss them into a swimming pool and laugh as they died. Michael Vick is a shitstain.

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

2. Merry Christmas, Dog Lovers!

This makes me so mad I could spit; it certainly confirms my decision to boycott the NFL after they let that scumbag back into the league. Michael Vick is a coward and a sociopath and I refuse to give my attention or money to a system that rewards such behaviors.

[Kalyke]

7. I hope the people of Philadelphia shun this team in droves.

Maybe if no one shows up to see their lousy dog-killing and honoring-dog-killer asses, then they'll finally kick this sadist off the team.

[safeinOhio]

9. Redemption can come in strange ways

NPR had a story about this. Some former gangbanger dog fighters have joined with the national Humane Society to work with others to educate and show inner city dog fighters a new and better way to life. One said Vick's conviction has changed attitudes and laws on dog fighting. He said before Vick got busted he could walk down the street with his fighting dog and cops would stop him to see if his dog won another fight. Now he says if he were to walk down the street with a fighting dog the cops would bust him in a second. I don't know if he is sincere or not. I hope he is. However, as a result of his bust, a new light has been shown on the cruelty of dog fighting.
Wish I could find a link to that radio broadcast for you. It really changed my mind about the whole Vick thing.

[safeinOhio]

13. Please listen to this NPR program

It gave me a new view of the results of Vick's conviction. If you love dogs you'll see all of this in a new light.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113158123

[City Lights]

11. .

:puke:

[lbrtbell]

14. Screw the Eagles

Even without Vick, I hated that team. This just makes me hate them more.

As for comparing Vick to Ted Kennedy...Ted Kennedy was drunk, panicked, and did something horrible ONE time. Vick was calm, conscious of what he was doing, and did something horrible MANY times. There's a big difference between making one horrendous mistake, and deliberately torturing and killing living creatures time and again.

I can't speak for anyone else, but that's why I could forgive Ted Kennedy, but not Michael Vick.