CBR,
I understand that what he did was wrong, brutal, inhuman, what have you. But what makes you more qualified than Roger Goodell to make the decision to bring back a talented player to the NFL. I understand that the fans pay their salaries, so if you don't like it, do like hundreds of Eagles fans did, and sell your tickets to someone who comes to a game to watch the glory of everything that is pro football.
Let's also not lose sight that Vick did his time. He served his punishment. He payed his debt to society. Vick served 23 months in prison, longest sentence ever served for this crime. They made and example of him. Not to mention he lost ALL of his money and endorsements, and became a broken man. Now the guy does volunteer work for the ASPCA and has apologized to everyone countless amounts of times. All he wants to do now is now is play pro football and get his life back in order. He has done everything right since his hearing and is just asking for a second chance at the life he had. There were many teams who turned him down or wouldn't even give the man a chance because of the baggage. The Eagles decided to give the guy a second chance, and you know what? good for them! They are giving a man a second chance at his life and made a great pick up in the process.
Is this negative attention on a football team any worse than whatever team Terrell Owens is on? I don't think so. Is this negative attention any worse than the head coach of the Raiders punching his defensive coordinator? I don't think so. Is this negative attention any worse than Plexico Burres shooting himself in the leg? I don't think so. Is this negative attention any worse than Donte Stallworth killing someone while drunk driving? I don't think so. Is this negative attention any worse than Chad Johnson changing his last name to Ocho Cinco? I don't think so.
Look, I am not defending the guy's actions here, in my eyes what he did was inexcusable and if I saw that I would have killed him myself. All I am saying is you can't let someone's off field actions take away from the greatest sport on earth. You and everyone else who lets this happen; sells their season tickets because of one man, or denounces their lifelong loyalty to their favorite team because of one man; is hurting this magical game more than Vick did by coming back. And maybe, just maybe, Vick is rehabilitated and has an excellent career in the NFL and continues his good work with the ASPCA (we wouldn't want that now would we :roll
As for not being able to sell out games, there are only one or two teams that will have this problem this year. It is their fault for not producing an exciting team to watch this year, not because of the economy.
I hope this didn't come off as a flame CBR, just trying to have a good conversation is all.
-DJ
p.s. - I think I pm'd you by accidnet CBR