Michael Vick Inks with Eagles
By Tim Peterson
Former Atlanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick, who was released from prison July 20 after serving 18 months for participating in a dogfighting ring, signed a two year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday.
Vick, a supremely talented player who once had a long term, multi million dollar contract with the Falcons, will make 1.6 million in the first year of the contract and 5.2 million if the option is exercised in the second year. Vick hasn’t stepped on a football field since 2006.
The Eagles figure to get plenty of backlash from animal rights activists and other groups including the Humane Society, for signing a guy that was convicted of not only bankrolling dogfights but also killing dogs mercilessly once they had served their purpose.
While some will seethe and protest and say that Vick should never be able to play football again, others will argue that he has done his time, is remorseful for his gruesome crimes and should be able to get on with his life.
On the same day that Vick signed with Philly, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell banned Cleveland Browns receiver Donte Stallworth for one year for striking and killing a man while driving drunk.
What’s worse? Vick willingly and knowingly killed dogs while Stallworth accidentally took a man’s life. Although when you climb behind the wheel intoxicated shouldn’t you know that that possibility exists?
Also it’s a human life were talking about- not a pit bull. Stallworth did only 24 days in the slam while Vick spent a year and a half in the pen – no pun intended. How did that happen?
Maybe they should both be banned for the year- maybe forever. Does an animal’s life and a human life equate? Does it matter that Vick didn’t kill just one but several dogs?
If Vick would have signed with Cleveland would they have loved him in the dog pound?
What do you think? Let us know.
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