Eagles sign Mike Vick

[Matsunaga]

This is a disgrace. I don't even want him in the league, let alone on my hometown team. This just proves once again that Eagles ownership is out of touch with their fans.

[gameoverDude]

No damn way. The fucking dog killer is back.
IMO, he should be banned from the NFL for that sort of conduct.

[Vexorg]

Does this mean they'll be putting the jail back in their stadium now?

[Matsunaga]

Does this mean they'll be putting the jail back in their stadium now?

You realize stadiums in other cities have also had holding cells over the years.. Philadelphia fans are no more ill-mannered than fans in any other big city. Look at the Cubs fan last night, throwing beer on Shane Victorino. I'm sick of people ripping the fans here, there's idiots everywhere.

[Ed Oscuro]

So what about that single-season suspension for DUI manslaughter?

Lol, two years house arrest (but he can still play).

[handsome_rakshas]

Does this mean they'll be putting the jail back in their stadium now?

You realize stadiums in other cities have also had holding cells over the years.. Philadelphia fans are no more ill-mannered than fans in any other big city. Look at the Cubs fan last night, throwing beer on Shane Victorino. I'm sick of people ripping the fans here, there's idiots everywhere.

That's becuase Cubs fans have no fucking class.

[GaijinPunch]

Farmers, hide your doggies!

[Acid King]

Good for the Eagles and good for Vick. The guy did his debt, there's no reason he shouldn't be allowed to play.

[Matsunaga]

He deserves a second chance at life, not to make millions of dollars in the NFL. And Stallworth's manslaughter conviction has nothing to do with Vick. It was no accident when Vick tortured and killed countless dogs. He's a disgrace, and so are the Eagles. You should hear the sports radio station here, the vast majority of people are disgusted at the Eagles, as I am.

[Acid King]

I seriously hope McNabb gets horribly injured and Vick takes the Eagles to the Super Bowl. Seriously though, anyone else tired of outrage? Who gives a shit, the guy gets paid to run around on a field and throw a ball. The Eagles are trying to win football games not a fucking popularity contest. If he can still perform, Vick is a fucking steal.

[Matsunaga]

He's not a good player, never has been. It makes no sense on any level.

[soundwave]

He's not a good player, never has been. It makes no sense on any level.

This really.

I never saw the attriciton with him in the first place & the fact that both the League & the Authorities have been lenient on him is a disgrace in my eyes.

I do feel he should have been banned from the League indeffinitley.
What annoys me most is when you watch Total Access & everyone seems to back him up & say he deserves a second chance.

Not in my eye's he doesnt & especially not when he's back in my Division (Redskins fan )

Neil

[Davey]

Seriously though, anyone else tired of outrage? Who gives a shit, the guy gets paid to run around on a field and throw a ball. The Eagles are trying to win football games not a fucking popularity contest.

Yeah but pissing off their own fanbase might not be such a great idea. Possibly a dumb move, but not a morally offensive one IMHO. Now if he got hired as a dog warden, I might have a problem with that.

[Acid King]

Yeah but pissing off their own fanbase might not be such a great idea. Possibly a dumb move, but not a morally offensive one IMHO. Now if he got hired as a dog warden, I might have a problem with that.

They'll get over it though. I grew up outside of Philly and their fans are a pissy bunch, but when push comes to shove what they care about is winning. If the time comes and McNabb gets hurt and Vick starts to deliver, they'll be all hugs and kisses.

[BulletMagnet]

Who gives a shit, the guy gets paid to run around on a field and throw a ball. The Eagles are trying to win football games not a fucking popularity contest.

To a good extent you're right, but at the same time it's worth noting that the pro sports leagues like to pitch their players not just as athletes but role models; it's largely BS, considering that guys have gotten away with MUCH worse stuff than Vick got punished for (though I personally still think that animal cruelty ought to be viewed more seriously than it is), but if the NFL still wants to put these guys in front of the cameras at charity events and whatnot they need to hold them to a higher standard, especially considering the ridiculous amounts of money they make for what they do. If you try to work almost anywhere else, a criminal record will affect your chances of getting hired - same should apply here.

[Davey]

the pro sports leagues like to pitch their players not just as athletes but role models

Charles Barkley cleared that up years ago.

(though I personally still think that animal cruelty ought to be viewed more seriously than it is)

I agree, but that's a problem with the law, not the NFL. As far as the law is concerned, he's paid his debt.

if the NFL still wants to put these guys in front of the cameras at charity events and whatnot they need to hold them to a higher standard, especially considering the ridiculous amounts of money they make for what they do.

In a way, they do. The role models with big endorsements usually have clean reputations (Jordan, Woods, etc.). Vick could never have that kind of status now, regardless of talent.

As for the money, athletes get paid a lot because they have very rare skills that entertain a LOT of people on a regular basis (even guys that "suck" are tremendously talented). They only make as much as they do because fans create the demand for it.

If you try to work almost anywhere else, a criminal record will affect your chances of getting hired - same should apply here.

It doesn't seem fair to explicitly ban you from your profession, though, unless it conflicts with your work (e.g., fraudulent accountants losing their CPA, lawyers getting disbarred after criminal conduct, etc.). If it results in a de facto ban because nobody wants you (a likely result), well, that's the problem you created for yourself.

[BulletMagnet]

Charles Barkley cleared that up years ago.

Heh heh, don't I wish.

They only make as much as they do because fans create the demand for it.

This is very true, and I do wish that our culture put a good deal more emphasis on far more important things that should be receiving far more voluntary financial backing from the public at large, but that's a whole other ball of wax.

It doesn't seem fair to explicitly ban you from your profession, though, unless it conflicts with your work (e.g., fraudulent accountants losing their CPA, lawyers getting disbarred after criminal conduct, etc.).

I guess this is pretty much a matter of personal opinion, dependent insofar as you choose to see a professional athletic career as a PR job as well - what you say about "de facto" bans and Vick's inability to land Jordan-esque deals are certainly sound, but even as something of a pariah he's still a public figure, and is being given a big stage on which to do his thing (and bring home the cash). Obviously some will say "As long as he plays good ball I really don't care what else he does," and others will disagree, but for whatever it's worth I can't help but feel that the latter does have at least some point to make.

All you said is very well-taken though.

[gameoverDude]

It's good to know Vick didn't get off 100% free. Even though the de jure punishment is weaksauce, his loss of endorsement deals somewhat makes up for that. Hopefully he'll have truly changed and not get involved in dogfighting again.

Especially deplorable is that "bait" animals are also used to test a fighting dog's killer instincts.

Now if he got hired as a dog warden, I might have a problem with that.

I sure would have a problem with it. That'd actually be worse IMO than having the NFL reinstate him (which is bad enough in itself).

[PC Engine Fan X!]

As it stands, Michael Vick will still get his $1.6 million on his contract regardless of his supension according to ESPN. If you stop to think about it, $1.6 million ain't too shabby IMO. But Vick still has his reputation to think about for the rest of his life forever being labelled a "dog killer". So be it. Comon folk have been arrested for animal cruelity and served hard time. As the ol' saying goes like this: If you can find time to do the crime, you can serve time for the crime.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[professor ganson]

Vick is one of the most impressive athletes I've ever seen at quarterback in the NFL. I'm glad that I might be able to see him play again, and I'm hopeful that he'll turn his life around. It's pretty sad when people excel so much in one part of life and so royally screw up in the remainder.