Let's Keep Vick Sidelined -- For Now

Former (and perhaps future) NFL star Michael Vick should be given the chance to earn his place back in one of the world's premier sports leagues -- but not until next year, and only if certain conditions are met.

The argument for immediate reinstatement to the league is certainly understandable: Vick has served the time for which he was sentenced for his crimes in a federal penitentiary. That is, he "paid his debt to society." While that's true, it does not clear the way for Vick to return to any NFL team.

Yet.

Let's be clear. I don't believe that criminal actions should automatically carry a life sentence, even from a league such as the NFL. However, simply serving a 23-month sentence -- part of which was served under house arrest in a nicer house than most of us will ever see, let alone own -- does not earn his way back to a multi-million contract and the chance to live a dream.

Several factors should be considered:

Vick's crimes were heinous and took place over many years. This was not a one-time mistake. Vick lied to authorities, and he and his cohorts tortured and killed animals for years and stopped only because their activities were discovered and prosecuted.

Vick received a longer sentence from Judge Henry E. Hudson than his co-defendants. While we don't know exactly why, one factor could be that Judge Hudson felt Vick was more involved in the torture and killing of animals than the other two. Additionally, Vick is a celebrity athlete and role model, unlike the other defendants, which may have also had an impact on Judge Hudson's decision. Personally, I hope that it did.

Perhaps most importantly, this operation required funding, and that funding came from money earned from the NFL and endorsements (which only comes from his status as an NFL star) to finance a criminal activity. In fact, an arbitrator required Vick to return $19.97 million of his $37 million signing bonus from 2004 in part because it was believed that at least some of that money was used to fund activities which NFL Commssioner Roger Goodell called "not only illegal, but also cruel and reprehensible."

Sadly, Vick's first appearance on behalf of the Humane Society of the United States looks much more like a carefully scripted PR move designed to craft a new image for Vick than the act of a truly reformed individual. And I'm sorry, but Jesse Jackson's allegations of collusion on behalf of the NFL owners against Vick is simply an attempt to make this a racial issue. It's not, and that thinking cheapens issues of true racism. Personally, I'm disappointed to see Jackson weigh in so absurdly. Each NFL owner must run a business that needs to attract millions of customers (fans) each year. Would you risk the downside of a Michael Vick in your business?

However, a path for Vick to truly earn his way back into the NFL might be positive, not only for Vick, but for the league and for any team that may wish to place him on their roster. If I was in NFL Commissioner Goodell's shoes, here's the path to reinstatement I'd put in place for Vick:

1. Significant, as judged so by the Humane Society of the US, ASPCA or another recognized organization, work to help eliminate the dog fighting culture.

2. The judgment and positive evaluation of a panel of mental health experts that confirms Vick has truly changed his opinion of animal torture, not simply uttered the right words in public forums.

3. A clear plan for long-term work to help stop what he was once a part of. Currently, Vick is only committing to a handful of hours each month -- less time than many NFL players dedicate to causes they never went to prison over. To earn his way back to the NFL, he should commit to at least 30-40 hours each week for a year, then additional work once he has returned to the league.

4. A portion of his future NFL salary for a specified period of time should be dedicated to the eradication of dog fighting.

Once these important hurdles have been cleared, Goodell should seriously consider a Vick reinstatement. But not before. Goodell has a league to run and is not an expert in rehabilitation -- let's leave this issue to those that are.

Many teams that could use a quarterback with Vick's skills are hesitant to bring him on the roster -- and they should be. However, if he had completed a full year of post-prison work as outlined above, team owners could bring him on feeling good about both the player and the image implications. Today, bringing Vick on would almost undoubtedly cause as many problems as benefits. Let's give the league, the team -- and Vick himself -- the chance to truly clean the slate and turn a negative into a positive.

Bring Vick back. Just make him work for it. The animals he tortured and killed deserve that, at the very least.

Follow Doyle Albee on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@doylealbee

Comments

[budderbean]

Vick should spend at the least should spend 2 YEARS proving himself as reformed.. The S.P.C.A. must have made a DEAL with the NFL to let him sign with a team..Look at the interview again.. You can see him smiling through the answers. He came off to me like a bi DUMB jock. Sorry but that's my view.. Anybody that cant see through him hasn't had their eye's open. He has a PR coach.. Image people.. The whole image is manufactured..

I give Vick about 1 year to hang himself ..Money Money Money.. Right.. I don't miss my $163M B.S. Who the hell doesn't miss $163M.. I lay in bed many nights crying over what I did.. Horse Poop!. He was crying because he Misses that $163M... The man deserves a chance... A chance to prove himself WITHOUT a PR team.. Until that happens.. It's just really BAD spin..Vick is great on the feild.. But he's not a very good ACTOR!

[Toriach]

Thank you. Your ideas are very sensible, and frankly if Vick is as "reformed" as he claims he shouldn't have had any problem agreeing to them. Sadly Commissioner Goodell made his potential return far too easy.

[rich3324]

Vick should be allowed to play this season. He has done his time in jail and paid his fines. If Vick was in another profession would people not want him to be able to go back to it after he left prison?

[MikeyMike]

Nope, I wouldn't.

Vick said yesterday that he wasn't responsible, so it doesn't sound to me like he is repentant at all. He believes, rightly so, that money and prestige can get you out of anything in this country. Why don't we prove him wrong.

[Doyle Albee]

Part of my point is that this is good for Vick as well. Team owners are business owners, and as such, they have to weigh all sides. Sign Vick, and you're a lightning rod. And take that team to the Super Bowl, and the NFL has a problem with it's premier event. However, if he was to complete a program like I've recommended, it convinces more people of his sincerity (and if he doesn't, it removes the "collusion" tag that's cropping up). Would there still be those that believe he should be banned for life? Of course, and that's a viable point of view, just as "let him return now" is. I simply believe both are incorrect and have proposed this potential solution which I think is fair to all concerned. Let's face facts: this man tortured and killed animals and provided funding and facilities for these activities over a period of years. Twenty-three months in confinement and fines is his debt to the criminal justice system, not necessarily to the NFL and potential sponsors. We're not there yet. Can we get there? That is up to Michael Vick.

[dct1999]

Yes, after he's done his jail time and paid millions in fines let's continue to punish him further.

[Nommo]

Once again, give it a rest. This nation tolerates all manner of vile crimes from elected officials, most significantly the torture of humans and illegal wars which result in the deaths of millions of folks. Years of sanctions against Iraq led to the death of at least one million children and did nothing to change Saddam Hussien's status. Nothing.

Playing in the NFL is not a privilege. Football is a sport and those who seek role models there are fools.
Better you should look at your elected officials for role models. Beside, if it were a privilege, how many would have an opportunity to play?

Yesterday there was a blog posted on the subject of beating children in the name of discipline in schools all over this nation. It focused on children with developmental difficulties and there was one response to that blog, yours truly the culprit. Children.

Talk about dogs, and everyone has got something to say. Freakin' dogs, for crying out loud. Nothing for children and all for dogs. If Vick is not signed by the end of the week, (ESPN suggests) then by week four some team will be in straits enough to seriously sign a veteran quarterback.

In the meantime, all you Michael Vick haters would be advised to turn your hate into real work to put an end to all the animal fighting that thrives big time in the US. That, or watch futbol.

[cliffhammond]

I was really liking your comment until you minimized the crime by devaluing the life of dogs. ALL sentient life is precious. ALL life is precious. Even Michael Vick's.

[Nommo]

When children are ignored as regards their fundamental health and well being in what is supposed to be the wealthiest nation in the world, then our priorities regarding sentient beings is all out of whack. If we are so into dogs, why do we tolerate puppy mills, the abuse of dogs in science "research", racing dogs, and so on and so forth? You do know what happens to racing dogs that don't win, huh? Where is all the outrage on that matter?

Sometimes I think that the best thing that humanity can do for dogs is just leave 'em alone.
We could have had a Vice President that endorsed shooting wolves from helicopters. Remember that? Sentient beings, huh?

I don't remember a soul getting bent out of shape over that.

[nananance]

Vick should have been suspended for at least a year. And to accuse those who oppose the return of this racketeer who personally tortured, hung and electrocuted dogs of being racist is an insult to millions of African-Americans who hate what he did
White players who did bad things and disappeared from the league? Why don't you look up Mark Chimura for starters? Or Lance Rentzel?
The NFL isn't just a job, it's a privilege to be allowed to earn millions and serve as a reole model for kids and it's one Vick has forfeited in my opinion.
If he is signed by the team I follow, I will sell all my team memorabilia on Ebay, donate the money to groups like Best Friends which are trying to save the dogs he didn't kill and boycott companies which sponsor games he appears in

[David-from-Memphis]

Current status of the economy aside, I know that if I was convicted of a felony and completed my time, I would have a hard time getting hired. The employer that I work for now wouldn't bring me back. Other companies in the related field wouldn't hire me. That's what Vick is finding out right now.

Plus, he hasn't played for 2 years. He may have kept in shape, but I doubt that he can drop back into pro football without any rust.

[Doyle Albee]

Not only is that pure conjecture, I think it's pure nonsense. This is an issue of criminal behavior, not race. I'd challenge you to name me a single white NFL player who broke the law for years, lied to authorities and the league about it, and who is currently playing. If there is one, it's shameful, so let's call him out. I can't think of one. You?

[BobLablah]

So you're saying white players don't break the law?

[Doyle Albee]

You're kidding with that comment, right? Of course not. You said "if he were white, he'd already be back playing." I asked you to provide me an example of where that has happened to back up your assertion. My point remains: this is not a racial issue, and I'm disappointed in anyone that tries to make it one. This is about an individual who broke the law, not once, but over the course of many years, used money from the job with the league he now wants to play in again to finance that activity and only stopped because he got caught. I don't care if that individual is black, white or purple, he's got some work to do before he returns.

[BobLablah]

If he were white he'd already be back playing.

[MikeyMike]

I don't think so....people who demand compassion to animals, like myself, are pretty color blind. I don't care what color you are, what you wear, or how you act, if you kick a dog (or electrocute one), I'm in your face.