Should Michael Vick be allowed to play again in the NFL?

**Warrior4God** · Aug 8th 2009, 06:43 PM

He did pay his debt to society. Whether people think it was an adequate "debt" or not is another topic. However, serving his time in prison for his crimes is a different topic from playing again in the NFL. He did his time. Great. But I think the NFL needs to have standards of behavior. I say make an example of this guy. Don't let him back in. He tarnished professional football, along with all the other idiots that have done so. He'll eventually get another job. It just may not involve throwing a football for millions of dollars a year.

***Brother Mark*** · Aug 8th 2009, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by aaron35

He did pay his debt to society. Whether people think it was an adequate "debt" or not is another topic. However, serving his time in prison for his crimes is a different topic from playing again in the NFL. He did his time. Great. But I think the NFL needs to have standards of behavior. I say make an example of this guy. Don't let him back in. He tarnished professional football, along with all the other idiots that have done so. He'll eventually get another job. It just may not involve throwing a football for millions of dollars a year.

I don't see much funny about all that... but I do have a question.

What other employers do you recommend punishing their employees for off the job indiscretions? What other employers should make sure their employees toe the line in whatever way they seem fit?

**tt1106** · Aug 8th 2009, 11:11 PM

Also, what kind of standard of behavior would you suggest?

***Clavicula_Nox*** · Aug 9th 2009, 01:14 AM

Obeying the law is a good start.

**tt1106** · Aug 9th 2009, 01:32 AM

All of them? We'd have to get rid of gambling and steroids then.
Alas, the game would not be the same.

***Brother Mark*** · Aug 9th 2009, 01:34 AM

Originally Posted by Clavicula_Nox

Obeying the law is a good start.

I agree. Many companies have that as a requirement for employment. But at some point, cons have to be assimulated back into society. Otherwise, they are likely to be re-incarcerated.

***Clavicula_Nox*** · Aug 9th 2009, 01:40 AM

Originally Posted by tt1106

All of them? We'd have to get rid of gambling and steroids then.
Alas, the game would not be the same.

Okay? I don't see the problem here.

I agree. Many companies have that as a requirement for employment. But at some point, cons have to be assimulated back into society. Otherwise, they are likely to be re-incarcerated.

I also agree. Assimilation is very important, but I don't think returning them to a life of luxury is the answer. I also don't think they should needlessly suffer, but I ask if doing something besides professional sports is "suffering"? Is Vick bankrupt and unable to afford education, which is what any normal person would have to do when forced into a career change?

Many people are barred from the jobs they want to do for various reasons, for example, I am barred from re-enlistment because I suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury meaning that, through no fault of my own, I am no longer able to do the job I love, metaphorically working for pennies. Should Vick be able to go back to making millions of $ / year for throwing a football? Not for me to decide, but I hope the teams make the right decision here.

***RabbiKnife*** · Aug 10th 2009, 07:45 PM

If Vick is allowed by in, then Pete Rose should get an apology and an entire wing in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

***Brother Mark*** · Aug 10th 2009, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by RabbiKnife

If Vick is allowed by in, then Pete Rose should get an apology and an entire wing in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

I think there is a difference in the two. What Vick did was totally unrelated to football. What Pete Rose did was completely and entirely related to baseball.

***Gulah Papyrus*** · Aug 10th 2009, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by Reynolds357

I saw him play plenty. He was the worst thing that ever happened to the Falcons. I was glad as a falcons fan we got rid of him and got a real quarterback. With Vick, every play was a busted play.

Didn't he get you to the NFC Championship a few years back? In all honesty I totally agree that he is out of position at QB. I used him as an example when giving good hearted ribbing to Texas Fan about how Vince Young, while he was unbelievable in college, would never make it as a QB in the NFL. It just doesn't happen. The only 'running' QB to ever make the transition IMHO was Steve Young, and I believe his passing stats coming out of BYU were nothing to sneeze at. Here in Nebraska we had Tommie Frazier, Scott Frost, and Heisman winner Eric Crouch over the course of a 5 year span(95--00') and none of them even got a look at QB in the NFL. And VY, like Vick, is at his best when a play breaks down, but you can't tell me that there isn't a place on the field for freaks of nature like Vick and Young...just not QB.

I still think someone will give him a look aa a Kordell Stewert slash-back type...and I think he deserves it. Jesus says not 7, but 77...though this isn't so much about forgiveness as it is a second chance in which case I tend to go with the motto 'everybody deserves a second chance, but nobody deserves a third.'

***Brother Mark*** · Aug 10th 2009, 10:58 PM

Joe Montana and Fran Tarkenton were both scramblers and each had a really good career.

***Gulah Papyrus*** · Aug 11th 2009, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Brother Mark

Joe Montana and Fran Tarkenton were both scramblers and each had a really good career.

True, but 'scrambling' is done behind the line of scrimmage...I'm talking about college QB's who average 50+ rushing yards/game. I remember watching Vick in the MNC game against Florida(or maybe it was FSU) and thinking to myself, 'wow, this guy is the best athlete I have ever seen on a football field'...and I watch A LOT of football.

Tark sure was fun to watch though...at 5' nuthin he had to run around just to see between the linemen!

***Gulah Papyrus*** · Aug 11th 2009, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by Brother Mark

I think there is a difference in the two. What Vick did was totally unrelated to football. What Pete Rose did was completely and entirely related to baseball.

Yep, Pete Rose jerked with the integrety of the game...an unforgivable offense. Ask Shoeless Joe about that. Though with the recent steroid epidemic makes what Charlie Hustled and Black Sox look like a saints.

MLB is a joke...unwatchable. College baseball on the other hand is played the way the sport was meant to be played. Gotta love Ping Ball!

***Brother Mark*** · Aug 12th 2009, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by Gulah Papyrus

Yep, Pete Rose jerked with the integrety of the game...an unforgivable offense. Ask Shoeless Joe about that. Though with the recent steroid epidemic makes what Charlie Hustled and Black Sox look like a saints.

MLB is a joke...unwatchable. College baseball on the other hand is played the way the sport was meant to be played. Gotta love Ping Ball!

I hardly watch pro sports at all any more. The college game rocks though for so many reasons! Yet, I fear that some of the same problems with pro ball will eventually move into the college ranks.

***KATMAN*** · Aug 12th 2009, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by Gulah Papyrus

Yep, Pete Rose jerked with the integrety of the game...an unforgivable offense. Ask Shoeless Joe about that. Though with the recent steroid epidemic makes what Charlie Hustled and Black Sox look like a saints.

MLB is a joke...unwatchable. College baseball on the other hand is played the way the sport was meant to be played. Gotta love Ping Ball!

I disagree about college baseball. They would have to get rid of the $400-$600 aluminum and titainium bats and swing with real wood. That is the reason most college sluggers lose their batting average when joining the pros.