Are you rooting for Michael Vick? (1 Viewer)

[TheDirtyWord]

The last time Michael Vick started an NFL game as the unquestioned starter of an NFL franchise was 12/31/2006. Close to 4 years later, Vick's journey from NFL poster boy, to America's Villian, and back to NFL starting QB has just about come full circle. While he'll never be endorsable to the level he was prior to his crimes, the question of whether or not he'll ever be a starting QB in the NFL again has been answered.

As such, the question I pose is this...he's paid his dues. Has he earned any credibility capital back with you as a fan of the game? Does his presence on your TV still bother you to no end or have you forgiven him his transgressions?

In short, are you rooting for him?

 

[TheDirtyWord]

My answer is to a certain degree. As a Falcon fan, while his crimes were heinous and overshadowed any impact he might have had on the football field - as a fan, I dealt with the emotional carnage of watching my favorite team essentially dissentegrate that his downfall brought. I find it stunning still that the Falcons were able to turn their fortunes around so quickly. But I've never as a fan had a worse year than 2007 with the Falcons. But there are worse things in life.

So while, the Falcons seem to be no worse for wear...I can't help but think that this version of Michael Vick might wind up being better than anything we as Falcon fans saw. Not just from his play on the field, but smaller more mundane things such as the ease in which he handles the media around his locker now. The Vick I remember in Atlanta ran away from the media as fast as he did LB's. Not that he's embraced them now, but he seems much more comfortable. Almost as if he's now ready emotionally and maturity wise to truly be the face and foundation of a franchise.

I don't know this for sure...many times in Atlanta, he's flash a 3-4 game stretch where you'd say 'I think he's getting it' and he'd follow that up with 2 stinkers. So the jury is still out. I can't say the Vick we've seen the last two weeks is here to stay. There is more proving he has to do. But if he does make it all the way back, I say good for him. While the lowest of the lows he must have gone through were 100% brought upon himself, many people would not get back up from such a disgrace. He's had plenty of support I'm sure along the way, but he had to do alot of the heavy lifting. I wish him good luck, but not that good. I need to see the Falcons win a SuperBowl before him.

 

[Touchdown Syndrome]

He's on my fantasy team, so I'm 100% rooting for him.

As a football player, I've been a fan of his since his VaTech. days.

 

[Frot]

Where is the

"No because i would not root for Jesus' better looking younger brother if he played for the damn Eagles" option?

 

[Insein]

Where is the "I'll root for the Eagles regardless of who wears the uniform" option?

 

[Mello]

Where is the "No because i would not root for Jesus' better looking younger brother if he played for the damn Eagles" option?

 

[Frot]

Where is the "I'll root for the Eagles regardless of who wears the uniform" option?

While I would not agree, this is actually pretty good.If Osama runs a good 40, or can keep Romo off his back, I say the cowboys should find him and sign him

 

[Prinefan]

He's on 2 of my fantasy teams because I think he'll perform well on the football field. Am I rooting for him? Hell no. I gamble with my head and not my heart. Compared to other football player's transgressions (Leonard Little and Stallworth spring to mind) he's definitely satisfied society's price. Compared to actual humans, he sucks.

 

[Chicago Hooligan]

He gots herpes too.

 

[Breesisdaman]

I know he has made mistakes but it looks like he is making the most of his second chances in life. The man has paid for his past crimes and is turning his life around so far as I know. Regardless, he is a football playing fool and I love watching him play especially now that he isn't a Falcon.

 

[Jayrod]

No, but I'm a dynasty Kolb owner. That's really the only reason.

I think he paid for his mistakes, now I'm just judging him based on his football playing (or better yet, fantasy effects of his football playing).

 

[eoMMan]

HONDA

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...&hl=rooting

 

[butcher boy]

He served his time according to the justice system and his past transgressions really shouldn't impact your opinion on him. I will be rooting for him 100% since he is so exciting to watch. I'd rather root for someone like Vick than a primadonna, crybaby attention whore like TO, Chad Johnson, or similar players.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

This is one where I have to say no I am not rooting for the player.

Vick didn't make a mistake/mistakes....he was living a lifestyle......to me there is a little bit if a difference.....a mistake might be being in the wrong place at the wrong time......this guy was living a lifestyle where everyday he was part of a hideous crime/organization......he thought it was okay....he was/is a thug, and the only reason he "isn't" anymore is because he got caught......do any of us really think that had he not got caught he would have woken up one day and said "you know what, what I am doing is wrong, I am going to be a better person".....hell no......the only reason he acts the way he does now is because he got caught, had to do some time, and knows he will be under the microscope for a long time......part of me still thinks, if he had it his way he still rather be rollin with the boys living the thug life.....

normally I am about second chances and what not and I know people can turn their lives around.......I just can't give him a hall pass here because he was living a lifestyle, not just making a mistake........I hope he is a better person, but that doesn't change the way he was....

 

[todisco1]

I am rooting for him. What he did was wrong but his debt has been paid.

 

[chilly]

I was an eagles fan for 20 years. My days were planned around the games. If they were not available to me on TV I would sit at my computer and watch play by play.

The day they signed Vick I threw all my Eagles gear in the trash and have not watched or listened or tracked a game since. Until he is let go, Andy Reid is fired, and Lurie sells the team I will hope the Eagles lose EVERY SINGLE GAME.

What is the most ironic issue on this is a few years before the signed vick a RB out of Minnesota (Hamlin I believe) was released by the Eagles because he abused his pitbull.

I don't care how much time he spent in jail, he does not deserve a second change to be an NFL starting QB. He burned that bridge.

And no, I am not a dog lover, and I own no pets. His is a sociopath who has no remorse for his actions.

 

[oukurt]

He's on my fantasy team, so I'm 100% rooting for him.As a football player, I've been a fan of his since his VaTech. days.

What if he killed your favorite pet?

 

[Happy Ragnarok]

I was an eagles fan for 20 years. My days were planned around the games. If they were not available to me on TV I would sit at my computer and watch play by play.The day they signed Vick I threw all my Eagles gear in the trash and have not watched or listened or tracked a game since. Until he is let go, Andy Reid is fired, and Lurie sells the team I will hope the Eagles lose EVERY SINGLE GAME.What is the most ironic issue on this is a few years before the signed vick a RB out of Minnesota (Hamlin I believe) was released by the Eagles because he abused his pitbull.I don't care how much time he spent in jail, he does not deserve a second change to be an NFL starting QB. He burned that bridge.And no, I am not a dog lover, and I own no pets. His is a sociopath who has no remorse for his actions.

 

[Tommy Collins]

It's not just the dog killing thing. He couldn't read a defense to save his life and was the most over-rated QB in the league before he went to prison. I find it hard to believe his boys in orange helped him learn how to break down a defense. He's quickly becoming over-rated again. He's a tremendous athlete, he's not a quarterback. Why he was never given more of a Kordell Stewart slash type role I have no idea.

 

[kface]

Its been said time and time again in Vick threads...if this was some random guy who was released from prison and was about to be the janitor at your kids school very few people would be rooting for him.

 

[RedskinsFan]

Vicks paid his debt to society, give it a rest.

Do you care as much about human life as you do about animal life? If so can you root for murderers like Stallworth or Ray Lewis or Little or any of the players who have taken human life?

I eat animals, you eat animals. I'm not trying to say what Vick did was acceptable to me but seriously think about your priorities

 

[RedskinsFan]

He's on my fantasy team, so I'm 100% rooting for him.As a football player, I've been a fan of his since his VaTech. days.

What if he killed your favorite pet?

what if Ray Lewis killed your brother? What kind of a stupid defense and question is this?

 

[Mello]

Its been said time and time again in Vick threads...if this was some random guy who was released from prison and was about to be the janitor at your kids school very few people would be rooting for him.

Keep saying it...doesn't make it any more true. I hope everyone that gets out of prison can get a job and get their lives back in order. As long as they don't play for the Eagles.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

Vicks paid his debt to society, give it a rest. Do you care as much about human life as you do about animal life? If so can you root for murderers like Stallworth or Ray Lewis or Little or any of the players who have taken human life? I eat animals, you eat animals. I'm not trying to say what Vick did was acceptable to me but seriously think about your priorities

wow.........

 

[Happy Ragnarok]

Why does everybody seem to assume that people who don't root for Vick because he's a vile scumbag are hypocrites who DO root for Ray Lewis?

 

[eoMMan]

Its been said time and time again in Vick threads...if this was some random guy who was released from prison and was about to be the janitor at your kids school very few people would be rooting for him.

Keep saying it...doesn't make it any more true. I hope everyone that gets out of prison can get a job and get their lives back in order. As long as they don't play for the Eagles.

Did your Boys audition any new kickers yet?

 

[kface]

Why does everybody seem to assume that people who don't root for Vick because he's a vile scumbag are hypocrites who DO root for Ray Lewis?

They are both scumbags who should be sweeping the floor in some grocery store

 

[TheDemon]

seriously think about your priorities

So you think you know all of our priorities?

 

[Mystery Achiever]

Vicks paid his debt to society, give it a rest.

Doesn't mean you have to root for him. I'd go with the "I root for whoever is in Eagles uniform" option mentioned. Still think he is a thug who doesn't really get why all of the things he's done wrong were wrong. That said, I agree he paid his debt and should be allowed to play.

 

[Mello]

Its been said time and time again in Vick threads...if this was some random guy who was released from prison and was about to be the janitor at your kids school very few people would be rooting for him.

Keep saying it...doesn't make it any more true. I hope everyone that gets out of prison can get a job and get their lives back in order. As long as they don't play for the Eagles.

Did your Boys audition any new kickers yet?

 

[Harrassment Panda]

I have a pitbull mix who we rescued from a fighting operation. His ears were chopped. He is the sweetest dog ever but he will always have problems with infections because of that. I saw what they did to those dogs and it was unspeakably violent and abhorrent.

Having said that I am not rooting against Vick. Everybody deserves a second chance and he's paid his dues.

 

[j3r3m3y]

I was an eagles fan for 20 years. My days were planned around the games. If they were not available to me on TV I would sit at my computer and watch play by play.The day they signed Vick I threw all my Eagles gear in the trash and have not watched or listened or tracked a game since. Until he is let go, Andy Reid is fired, and Lurie sells the team I will hope the Eagles lose EVERY SINGLE GAME.What is the most ironic issue on this is a few years before the signed vick a RB out of Minnesota (Hamlin I believe) was released by the Eagles because he abused his pitbull.I don't care how much time he spent in jail, he does not deserve a second change to be an NFL starting QB. He burned that bridge.And no, I am not a dog lover, and I own no pets. His is a sociopath who has no remorse for his actions.

Were the grammatical errors intentional in order to make it even more clear that this is over the top sarcasm?He has paid his debt. He may or may not be a better person but for some crimes the criminal deserves to be judged on who he is today, not who he was. Let's see if his experiences have changed him. I am rooting for him.

 

[kface]

I was an eagles fan for 20 years. My days were planned around the games. If they were not available to me on TV I would sit at my computer and watch play by play.The day they signed Vick I threw all my Eagles gear in the trash and have not watched or listened or tracked a game since. Until he is let go, Andy Reid is fired, and Lurie sells the team I will hope the Eagles lose EVERY SINGLE GAME.What is the most ironic issue on this is a few years before the signed vick a RB out of Minnesota (Hamlin I believe) was released by the Eagles because he abused his pitbull.I don't care how much time he spent in jail, he does not deserve a second change to be an NFL starting QB. He burned that bridge.And no, I am not a dog lover, and I own no pets. His is a sociopath who has no remorse for his actions.

Were the grammatical errors intentional in order to make it even more clear that this is over the top sarcasm?He has paid his debt. He may or may not be a better person but for some crimes the criminal deserves to be judged on who he is today, not who he was. Let's see if his experiences have changed him. I am rooting for him.

Interesting that you think that 'only for some crimes' does it matter whether the person has paid his debt to society

 

[RedskinsFan]

Why does everybody seem to assume that people who don't root for Vick because he's a vile scumbag are hypocrites who DO root for Ray Lewis?

What you will likely find is that people care very little for human life but an innocent animal is much more acceptable. The same people who cry about dog fighting find it acceptable that a very large population of the Earth's people feast on canines and that on a weekend it's fine to watch a UFC fight where human beings are beaten to a pulp. To me this is confusing...Personally I care much more about the well being of a human being then I do about a canine. Yes I've had many dogs as pets in the past, but to me dogs are a lower life form then a human. And if I can root for a killer of a human being then I can root for the killer of a dog. Human beings are the superior life force in my eyes. Yes I know I look at things differently then most do but if you always think, act, behave the same as everyone else you'll find yourself just like everyone else

 

[kface]

Why does everybody seem to assume that people who don't root for Vick because he's a vile scumbag are hypocrites who DO root for Ray Lewis?

What you will likely find is that people care very little for human life but an innocent animal is much more acceptable. The same people who cry about dog fighting find it acceptable that a very large population of the Earth's people feast on canines and that on a weekend it's fine to watch a UFC fight where human beings are beaten to a pulp. To me this is confusing...Personally I care much more about the well being of a human being then I do about a canine. Yes I've had many dogs as pets in the past, but to me dogs are a lower life form then a human. And if I can root for a killer of a human being then I can root for the killer of a dog. Human beings are the superior life force in my eyes. Yes I know I look at things differently then most do but if you always think, act, behave the same as everyone else you'll find yourself just like everyone else

People feast on canines...doesn't mean they go out and intentionally torture and violently abuse them for months on end. And your humans fighting is two people making the choice. I don't remember the dogs signing a waiver.

 

[RedskinsFan]

Vicks paid his debt to society, give it a rest.

Doesn't mean you have to root for him. I'd go with the "I root for whoever is in Eagles uniform" option mentioned. Still think he is a thug who doesn't really get why all of the things he's done wrong were wrong. That said, I agree he paid his debt and should be allowed to play.

I am a Redskins fan, I'm not rooting for the Eagles. I see situations for what they are. If I can forgive someone who kills a person I can forgive a person who kills an animal.

 

[j3r3m3y]

I was an eagles fan for 20 years. My days were planned around the games. If they were not available to me on TV I would sit at my computer and watch play by play.The day they signed Vick I threw all my Eagles gear in the trash and have not watched or listened or tracked a game since. Until he is let go, Andy Reid is fired, and Lurie sells the team I will hope the Eagles lose EVERY SINGLE GAME.What is the most ironic issue on this is a few years before the signed vick a RB out of Minnesota (Hamlin I believe) was released by the Eagles because he abused his pitbull.I don't care how much time he spent in jail, he does not deserve a second change to be an NFL starting QB. He burned that bridge.And no, I am not a dog lover, and I own no pets. His is a sociopath who has no remorse for his actions.

Were the grammatical errors intentional in order to make it even more clear that this is over the top sarcasm?He has paid his debt. He may or may not be a better person but for some crimes the criminal deserves to be judged on who he is today, not who he was. Let's see if his experiences have changed him. I am rooting for him.

Interesting that you think that 'only for some crimes' does it matter whether the person has paid his debt to society

There are some crimes that cause damage to individuals or society that can never be repaid. I don't believe his are in that category.

 

[RedskinsFan]

Why does everybody seem to assume that people who don't root for Vick because he's a vile scumbag are hypocrites who DO root for Ray Lewis?

What you will likely find is that people care very little for human life but an innocent animal is much more acceptable. The same people who cry about dog fighting find it acceptable that a very large population of the Earth's people feast on canines and that on a weekend it's fine to watch a UFC fight where human beings are beaten to a pulp. To me this is confusing...Personally I care much more about the well being of a human being then I do about a canine. Yes I've had many dogs as pets in the past, but to me dogs are a lower life form then a human. And if I can root for a killer of a human being then I can root for the killer of a dog. Human beings are the superior life force in my eyes. Yes I know I look at things differently then most do but if you always think, act, behave the same as everyone else you'll find yourself just like everyone else

People feast on canines...doesn't mean they go out and intentionally torture and violently abuse them for months on end. And your humans fighting is two people making the choice. I don't remember the dogs signing a waiver.

Legalities don't mean that we should think one crime is less then another, not when your dealing with superior clases. Humans are the top of the food chain. You twist my words to make believe that I find it acceptable to fight animals. For the record I don't. This is an issue of repentance and forgiveness. My point is valid. If you can forgive someone who does a worse crime against society then you should be able to forgive someone for a lesser crime. Taking a human life to me is much worse then killing a dog. If I can forgive someone who killed a human then I can forgive someone who killed a dog. If you can't forgive someone who killed a dog but you can forgive someone who killed a human then I think your priorities are out of wackAnd this is just my opinion

 

[nyy45]

As a die hard Giants fan who hates the Eagles as much as the Red Sox, I can honestly say I want to see Vick do well, as long as the Eagles lose, which doesnt seem to probable with him under center. The whole soap opera that went on made me sick. Granted, what he did was wrong. It's not right to treat animals like that, end of story. But, the media's hard-on for this story and they way they used this unfortunate situation to scapegoat Vick as the biggest culprit in dogfighting history, was unacceptable, when in fact he wasn't even close to the biggest 'bad guy' in this underground sport. The way the media exploited him was almost as bad as what some of these dogs went through. Watching this never-ending drama play out over and over, day after day, was worse than sitting through an episode of the OC. Hey, as long as the networks were getting paid right?

The only thing worse than watching this end with Vick getting sentenced to jail, was seeing Dante Stallworth get away with drunk driving and 2nd degree manslaughter with 30 days in jail and 1,000 hours of community service. The worst part was that nobody seemed to care. He killed an innocent HUMAN, while driving drunk and get's off easier than Vick. Makes me cringe. It's disgusting the disregard some people have for humans and the empathy they have for animals.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

Why does everybody seem to assume that people who don't root for Vick because he's a vile scumbag are hypocrites who DO root for Ray Lewis?

What you will likely find is that people care very little for human life but an innocent animal is much more acceptable. The same people who cry about dog fighting find it acceptable that a very large population of the Earth's people feast on canines and that on a weekend it's fine to watch a UFC fight where human beings are beaten to a pulp. To me this is confusing...Personally I care much more about the well being of a human being then I do about a canine. Yes I've had many dogs as pets in the past, but to me dogs are a lower life form then a human. And if I can root for a killer of a human being then I can root for the killer of a dog. Human beings are the superior life force in my eyes. Yes I know I look at things differently then most do but if you always think, act, behave the same as everyone else you'll find yourself just like everyone else

People feast on canines...doesn't mean they go out and intentionally torture and violently abuse them for months on end. And your humans fighting is two people making the choice. I don't remember the dogs signing a waiver.

Legalities don't mean that we should think one crime is less then another, not when your dealing with superior clases. Humans are the top of the food chain. You twist my words to make believe that I find it acceptable to fight animals. For the record I don't. This is an issue of repentance and forgiveness. My point is valid. If you can forgive someone who does a worse crime against society then you should be able to forgive someone for a lesser crime. Taking a human life to me is much worse then killing a dog. If I can forgive someone who killed a human then I can forgive someone who killed a dog. If you can't forgive someone who killed a dog but you can forgive someone who killed a human then I think your priorities are out of wackAnd this is just my opinion

you are acting like there are a bunch of Lewis/Stallworth/Little fans up in here.......I don't think that is the case....Vick was living a thug lifestyle committing crimes on a daily basis........he didn't just go out one night and get drunk and decide to find a couple dogs in an alley and make them fight......and then it never happened again.....it was his life and probably still would be had he not got caught......

 

[Stinkin Ref]

As a die hard Giants fan who hates the Eagles as much as the Red Sox, I can honestly say I want to see Vick do well, as long as the Eagles lose, which doesnt seem to probable with him under center. The whole soap opera that went on made me sick. Granted, what he did was wrong. It's not right to treat animals like that, end of story. But, the media's hard-on for this story and they way they used this unfortunate situation to scapegoat Vick as the biggest culprit in dogfighting history, was unacceptable, when in fact he wasn't even close to the biggest 'bad guy' in this underground sport. The way the media exploited him was almost as bad as what some of these dogs went through. Watching this never-ending drama play out over and over, day after day, was worse than sitting through an episode of the OC. Hey, as long as the networks were getting paid right?

The only thing worse than watching this end with Vick getting sentenced to jail, was seeing Dante Stallworth get away with drunk driving and 2nd degree manslaughter with 30 days in jail and 1,000 hours of community service. The worst part was that nobody seemed to care. He killed an innocent HUMAN, while driving drunk and get's off easier than Vick. Makes me cringe. It's disgusting the disregard some people have for humans and the empathy they have for animals.

seriously.....?

 

[RedskinsFan]

The only thing worse than watching this end with Vick getting sentenced to jail, was seeing Dante Stallworth get away with drunk driving and 2nd degree manslaughter with 30 days in jail and 1,000 hours of community service. The worst part was that nobody seemed to care. He killed an innocent HUMAN, while driving drunk and get's off easier than Vick. Makes me cringe. It's disgusting the disregard some people have for humans and the empathy they have for animals.

 

[Stealthycat]

why not?

he paid his debt to society as decided by a jury of his peer's, he lost - literally - everything and he's come back

what is there NOT to root for?

many, many people have done far, far worse and they don't seem to find their names in threads like this?

 

[kface]

The only thing worse than watching this end with Vick getting sentenced to jail, was seeing Dante Stallworth get away with drunk driving and 2nd degree manslaughter with 30 days in jail and 1,000 hours of community service. The worst part was that nobody seemed to care. He killed an innocent HUMAN, while driving drunk and get's off easier than Vick. Makes me cringe. It's disgusting the disregard some people have for humans and the empathy they have for animals.

I think the difference is intent....one was a accident...the other was intentional torture and death. I would trust stalllworth babysitting my kid more than vick because vick has that bone in his body that allows him to physically mutilate animals. Its like that kid on the street that likes to torture cats that everyone knows is going to grow up to be something not good...Edit to add i think stallworth got off easy as well but we don't punish drunk drivers in this country the way we should.

 

[oukurt]

He's on my fantasy team, so I'm 100% rooting for him.As a football player, I've been a fan of his since his VaTech. days.

What if he killed your favorite pet?

what if Ray Lewis killed your brother? What kind of a stupid defense and question is this?

Lighten up, Francis.

 

[Ghost Rider]

I would have voted for Option 3 had it been correctly labeled "Couldn't care less."

 

[whitem0nkey]

in order.

1-Cancer

2-Hitler

3-Vick

4-AIDS

5-The Macarana

 

[RedskinsFan]

He's on my fantasy team, so I'm 100% rooting for him.As a football player, I've been a fan of his since his VaTech. days.

What if he killed your favorite pet?

what if Ray Lewis killed your brother? What kind of a stupid defense and question is this?

Lighten up, Francis.

Ya made me laugh

 

[golfguy]

i hope he flops terrible bad. i hope it blows up in andy reid's face. i think reid is so over rated as a coach and has been lucky to have great defensive coaches around him.

 

[RedskinsFan]

The only thing worse than watching this end with Vick getting sentenced to jail, was seeing Dante Stallworth get away with drunk driving and 2nd degree manslaughter with 30 days in jail and 1,000 hours of community service. The worst part was that nobody seemed to care. He killed an innocent HUMAN, while driving drunk and get's off easier than Vick. Makes me cringe. It's disgusting the disregard some people have for humans and the empathy they have for animals.

I think the difference is intent....one was a accident...the other was intentional torture and death. I would trust stalllworth babysitting my kid more than vick because vick has that bone in his body that allows him to physically mutilate animals. Its like that kid on the street that likes to torture cats that everyone knows is going to grow up to be something not good...Edit to add i think stallworth got off easy as well but we don't punish drunk drivers in this country the way we should.

I understand what your saying here. However even knowing his action you really should consider that he spent time in jail for his action. He's paid the price for his actions. Sure it's much less then we would have gotten as normal society members but he still did time. And he's not been involved in it since. Now when I see a guy like Vincent Jackson who gets multiple DUI's then my blood is boiling because its as if he didn't learn. Vicks learned at least I think he has. As far as babysitting, neither of those guys could watch my kids. However I'd drink a beer with either