Welcome Back Michael Vick (sarcastically)

Yesterday Michael Vick was reinstated to the NFL by Commissioner Roger Goodell after serving less than 2 years in prison for brutalizing and killing dogs in the dog fighting ring that he operated. The NFL is now worse off for having this loser back in the league. Vick has shown that he is a complete lowlife even before he was arrested for his treatment of dogs.

Vick was one of those guys who would taunt his opponents whenever he had the opportunity. Additionally I recall one incident in October 2006 when Antonio Pierce of the Giants leveled Vick almost simultaneously as he was ducking out of bounds. Pierece was flagged for a personal foul and Vick had to be restrained from going after Pierce. Vick's overreaction showed how much of a thug he was. Vick's thuggish reaction almost made me forget they were playing football where hitting is part of the game.



Vick's lack of character was displayed later in the 2006 season when he saluted his hometown Falcons fans by extending both of his middle fingers to the crowd. Vick was upset that he was being booed and he showed his respect for the crowd by giving them the double middle finger salute. In January of 2007, Vick was stopped by airport security when he was carrying a water bottle that smelled like marijuana. The bottle showed no traces of marijuana, but it is not a coincidence that Vick had been in possession of a bottle smelling of drugs. Later that year while awaiting trial for the dog fighting case he failed a drug test. I will spare the details of Vick's actions in the dog fighting operation that led to his incarceration, but it was obviously brutal and gutless. When news of the dog fighting operation had spread to Commissioner Goodell, he met with Vick to speak about the allegations. Vick lied to Goodell's face, denying any involvement in the dog fighting ring that was being operated out of his Virginia house.

Michael Vick is a guy that has shown no regard for decency or the law. He is supposedly "remorseful" and "sorry" for what he has done. Of course he is going to appear that way, when he is bankrupt and desperate for a chance to play football again. Let's call a spade a spade or in this case, call a dirtbag a dirtbag. Vick has had countless chances to rehabilitate himself, but he has never done so. Commissioner Goodell should not have reinstated Vick, especially given the fact that Vick abused his trust and lied to his face about the dog fighting when Goodell was trying to help Vick through his troubles. I think it is laughable that some NFL players have been critical of Goodell for being too harsh on Vick. Especially outrageous were the comments by Terrell Owens who said that "the commissioner needs to go sit in jail for 23 months." I realize that Terrell Owens is a clown who should not be taken seriously but I still find that to be such an offensive statement. Owens is under the impression that Vick is a victim who was unfairly forced to go to jail for 2 years.

I found it interesting that an ESPN.com poll this week found that 55% of NFL fans would want their favorite team to sign Vick to play for their team. There were over 70,000 respondents to this unscientific ESPN.com poll. These poll results do not reflect well on American society. The fact that the majority of football fans would want to root for a guy of Vick's character if it meant helping their team win is depressing. It just shows the win at all costs mentality that has permeated most professional sports in the 21st century. Never mind the issue of Vick's character; Vick the football player is not a player that was at the peak of his game prior to his suspension and incarceration. Vick's completion percentage is under 54% for his career and his passer rating in his last 3 years prior to his suspension ranked 20th, 25th, and 21st in the NFL in each respective year. Vick has a great ability as a running quarterback, but in today's NFL the quarterback needs to be a strong and accurate passer. Take a look at Vince Young and how he has lost his starting job with the Tennessee Titans. Michael Vick the football player just does not have much use anymore, save for a cameo role in the Wildcat offensive package. Also throw in the fact that Vick has been out of football for 2 years and he might have difficulties regaining the peak fitness and skills needed for an NFL quarterback. I know that I don't want my favorite team, the New York Jets, to even contemplate signing Michael Vick. Hopefully no team will sign Michael Vick and he can live the rest of his pathetic life away from football.