johnnymk

Animal groups around here are organizing protests. I know people who will be boycotting the Eagles this season.

Really bad move by this team...worse than the T.O. ordeal.

ray

Bad move for this team Publicity-wise? What about Talent-wise?

I don't support Vick's actions in the past, but I do think he has served adequate time in jail for his crimes. Whether or not he has learned anything from the past 2 years is still unknown, but I do think that most people deserve a second chance. If the Eagles didn't give him a second chance, another team would have.

redcolours

not a die-hard eagles fan here, but i root (root! root!) for the home team. initial reaction for me? shock and surprise.

what vick did was reprehensible and downright cruel. I cant look at him and not think of reminding HIM of what he did.

But he went to jail for it, did his time, and SEEMS to be making reparations (constant contact with the Humane Society, and he said he knows this is ongoing, not just one time, etc). The NFL commissioner, Tony Dungy, Jeffrey Lurie, Joe Banner, Andy Reid, McNabb all gave their thumbs up. So if vick effs it up this time, its vicks fault. The system made him pay the price, and he is still paying for it after. Hes now broke, society shuns him, and people dont want to give him a second chance. Except the Eagles front office.

The eagles have prided themselves of having integrity in their locker room. Great character is one thing that ive found to be constant with this team. Some one tried to be a primadonna before and he was let go. SO for the team to take on an ex-con, they MUST have seen something good in him. Something maybe those that are far from vick cant see. Well, WE will all see this season, wont we? Unless you are tuning out of eagles games.

personally, i think its a VERY dice-y move considering the sh!tstorm that IS ALREADY ON. But i say BRING IT ON! let vick play. let those who dont want to be eagles fans anymore do their thing. Protests. Boycotts. Sell their season tickets. Leave the team. Switch to the Cowboys or Giants. Send death threats as some people are likely to do.

but if/when the team goes to the superbowl, id like to see how those people feel at that point. If the team starts to lose games, id like to see who they'll want in place of mcnabb (again).

one thing i dont understand, is how people can call themselves Christians, when they cant forgive someone who said theyre sorry, and paid the price already...

anyways, my worthless 2 cents.

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johnnymk

maybe the penalty doesn't fit the crime?

And I listened to him this morning. He said all the right things, but I get the feeling by some of his comments that what he did wasn't such a big deal. I am sure he is more sorry for getting caught than what he did.

DarkFury

Who said that those folks called themselves "Christians"?

Honestly, they're just "holier than thou" in my opinion.


Oh well, that will give them alot of time to put a fresh coat of paint on their "glass houses" I suppose.

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VTGreg

I'm a VT alum and fan so I definitely have a different slant on this whole subject being in school when Vick lead VT to a national championship game. I think he has served his time, which contrary to the thoughts of many VT folks was appropriate given his behavior during and after the conviction, and now has every right to a second chance if someone is willing to give it to him. However, I do not consider myself a Michael Vick fan based on the life he chose to lead. I hope he can turn his life around and I think re-instatement and signing with a team is the first step. Now he needs to work on being a good human being and if he does that everything else with fall into place.

Regarding the christian and forgiveness comments, I know there are some out there but I don't think many people have a difficult time forgiving someone for reprehensible behavior unless it directly impacts them. However, I also think that forgiving someone and supporting them is a completely different thing. I wonder if those that are "forgiving" Vick's actions are as quick to forgive Madoff or the bank executives or the AIG executives.

From a football perspective, I don't see how this move makes sense for the Eagles. Vick has never been a good fit nor had much success running the west coast offense. He has a similar skill set to McNabb, which means he won't really be able to provide that change of pace QB. I just don't see how the positives of having Vick on the squad outweigh the negative.

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ray

I was thinking Wildcat offense. With Kolb already injured, and if McNabb goes down with an injury, then having a guy with similar skillsets to run that offense isn't such a bad idea. One of the articles I read earlier today mentioned that Vick ran a west coast offense when he was with ATL, albeit different, but they think he'll be able to learn Philly's offense quickly enough.

guiseppewv

I disagree with the second chance at this point in time. Players in the NFL have been suspended for a year + and never convicted of anything. Vick, gets convicted of pretty heinous crimes and he is allowed back right after he gets out of prison? Seems a little unequal.

As far as helping Philly...I doubt it will. It won't be a self destruct thing like when they got TO but unless you take McNabb out, how are you going to use Vick? McNabb would self-destruct if you pull him in favor of Vick. I just don't see this making a meaningful impact to Philly's chances. As VT said, Vick isn't a prolific passer and has never been good at running the West Coast O. Frankly, he ain't the sharpest tool in the shed and I find it hard to believe he will be able to pick up the offense enough to make a net positive impact on the team. Atlanta formed their offense around Vick to play to his strengths and mitigate his weaknesses. Philly does not have that luxury.

As far as the forgiveness goes - I guess I forgive him but I am not sure he needed or needs my forgiveness. If he isn't truly remorseful and he doesn't see the error in his ways then that is on him.

johnnymk

On philly.com, there is a survey concerning Vick's selection. Of the 30,000 or so votes, 51% are against it. I was a bit surprised.

It proves that screwing over man's best friend tugs at the heartstrings of many people.

And it also proves that this is divisive and a very bad decision by the Eagles.

ray

Actually, he hasn't been fully re-enstated yet. He is allowed to practice and play in pre-season games. But he is not allowed to play in a regular season game until at the earliest after Week 6 when Goodell decides if Vick even gets a full re-enstatement.

I don't think preventing him from practicing would solve anything at this juncture, but allowing him to practice isn't saying he's punishment-free yet. This isn't just with Vick, but players like Stallworth as well. After Stallworth's year-long suspension, he'll be allowed to practice again, but his full re-enstatement will still be contingent on how Goodell rules next offseason. Pacman Jones recently went through the same process.

guiseppewv

Actually, Goodall said week 6 at the latest.


Understand what you are saying. Stalworth was convicted and is going to serve 90 days in jail and then probation. Jones, who is a complete idiot, has yet to be convicted of anything, however, he was suspended longer than Vick if you take into account that Vick couldn't have played even if the league wanted him to for the two years he was in the pokey. If Randy Moss would have been treated the same way Jones was, he would have never played a down in the NFL during his first 3-4 years after college. FYI: I think the NFL handled Jones the way they should handle players; it is the other folks, like Vick, that I think they screwed up on.

I do think letting him practice is huge. You are letting him be a contributor at week 6 vice having him start practice at week 6 and not being able to contribute until week 12. Just my 2 cents.

VTGreg

Vick is only allowed to play in the final 2 preseason games. He also isn't guaranteed to be reinstated by week 6 by Goodell. Goodell only said he would make a definitive decision. I assume Goodell is waiting to see how Vick carries himself over the first few weeks and will then make the decision whether or not to fully re-instate him around week 5 or 6. Any slip ups and I can't see him playing this year.

Guiseppewv, I understand where you are coming from. This situation is a bit different because no other players have been out due to incarceration like this. If Stallworth had ended up in jail longer his suspension probably would have been less severe. Hopefully Vick can make the most of this opportunity (which is at least his 4th or 5th).

cheapie

i think that's a bit harsh. forgiving someone and thinking there should be no ramifications to messing up are different. if my son apologizes to me for tagging his sister, i forgive him, but he's still going to pay the penalty for doing the deed.

and before you say his going to prison was all the payment he should have to pay, i'd say that's all the legal system requires....but just because he's out of prison doesn't mean fans have to welcome him back w/open arms. fans have a right to not want someone in the league that they feel did something terrible.

fwiw, i highly respect tony dungy and if tony said he should be given a 2nd chance, then who am i to argue with someone that has much more of a grasp on the situation than i do.

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DarkFury

Prison time, community service time, money spent/lost due to the action... where should it end?

Pretty much, what do these "Christians" want? Blood maybe? Yeah, that's "Christ-like".

Either way, I'm not really here to argue Religion and belief... however from my perspective, he's paid for his crime. Let the man try to earn a living and hope that he's learned from the mistake. If the fans disagree, then let them vote their disapproval by CANCELLING their season tickets and turning off their TVs when the game is on. Honestly, I'm tired of hearing their "racket and commotion" over the issue. Geez... move on with your lives and let that man move on with his.

Folks just have to learn to "move on" sometimes...

Thesifer

Well if anything the Eagles at least decided to give the UFL a chance at success. If Vick had signed with the UFL (Which he would have had to do had the Eagles not offered him at least 1.6 million - Due to bankruptcy laws - since the UFL offered him 1.6 to sign) then people would say the UFL just picks up ex-criminals and wash-outs.

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johnnymk

Well, if the local polls are correct, I am sure that a bunch of non-Christians are against the decision by the Eagles to hire him. This is definitely not a Christian issue in the least.

As to what Vick should do, maybe he should just lay low and work as a Walmart greeter.

Thesifer

The irony being that he CAN'T. He was offered a deal that would pay him $1.6 million dollars, So the bankruptcy court can basically FORCE him to take the job.

DarkFury

That's fine... I didn't make it a "Christian issue"... I just responded to the previous poster that mentioned the "Christian angle" on this.

I'd say... Let them all sit at home on Sundays and watch a football game in a different televised market.

Who cares? If enough fans disagree... the NFL/Eagles will, but honestly, I don't think that's gonna happen. Either way, all these "disgruntled fans" are blowin' smoke for nothing.

Funny thing is... Eagles gear (including any bearing Vick's image) is flying off the shelves as we speak. I know that here in Indy, for the few shops that sell multi team gear, the Philidephia Eagles stuff is virtually gone. (and I should know because my son happens to be playing on the "little league" Eagles team and I could barely find an Eagles hat due to increased demand. Hmmmm... go figure. )

guiseppewv

For me it is just another thing to make fun of Filthadelphia fans for.