Will Michael Vick be allowed play in the NFL again? (1 Viewer)

[David Yudkin]

The question is not whether Vick SHOULD be allowed to play, nor is it your opinion on what you feel about Vick. The question is basically asking if the league will ALLOW Vick to play again (basically reinstating his eligibility). We could debate whether Vick would be in shape, talented enough, or young enough to return, but that's not exactly what I was looking for to debate (and those are all legit things to consider). I'm also not looking to debate whehter a team would be willing to sign him and face the P.R. nightmare associated with Vick.

I'm not condoning what Vick did and I AM NOT on his side. But consider the case of Qyntel Woods. Most people will say WHO? . . . but here's his story.

Woods was an NBA player for the Portland Trailblazers that was accused of conducting dogfights at his house in 2004. He pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and first degree animal abuse charges. His penalty? His dogs were taken away, he did 80 hours of community service, he donated $10,000 to the Human Society, and he received a team suspension. No major PETA protests (as far as I know). No jail time. No league suspension. No banning by the league. The Blazers waived Woods but he went on to be signed by the Heat, Celtics, and later by the Knicks.

I understand Vick vs. Woods is hardly an apples to apples comparison, but it is somewhat related. (And I'm not supporting what Woods or the NBA did either.)

Will the NFL allow Vick to be reinstated and at the very least have him ELIGIBLE to play again. (Remember, this is not asking if he will ever play again, only if he will be granted the OPPORTUNITY to play again by the league, allowing him the right to play in the NFL again.)

 

[Andy Dufresne]

But consider the case of Qyntel Woods. Most people will say WHO?

This is the key to why the answer will be "No". Vick is SO high profile, where Woods is a nobody, that from a PR standpoint the NFL can't afford to have Vick playing in the league.I wonder if the NBA would have the image problem it has if David Stern would have instituted and enforced a Personal Conduct policy like Roger "The Hammer" Goodell has. I doubt it.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

I think he will be allowed to play again unless there is more regarding the gambling aspect. I think that is the only thing that could keep him out.

I also don't think the Woods case is similar, because there was no mention (correct me if I'm wrong) of gambling, plus Vick admitted playing a role in the killing of dogs. The latter seems to be the worst thing in Vick's entire case.

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

I believe he will be allowed, however I do not see any team signing him.

 

[Da Guru]

I would say yes, but probably not until the 2110 or 11 season.

I see 18 months in jail, then at least a year banning from the NFL.

 

[David Yudkin]

I think he will be allowed to play again unless there is more regarding the gambling aspect. I think that is the only thing that could keep him out. I also don't think the Woods case is similar, because there was no mention (correct me if I'm wrong) of gambling, plus Vick admitted playing a role in the killing of dogs. The latter seems to be the worst thing in Vick's entire case.

I've never been to a dogfight, but I'm pretty sure that they are focused on betting on one dog or the other and Woods was the owner and host of the dogs and the dogfights. I can't see HOW he didn't gamble, but there's not much more info available that I could find on the case and the charges.Obviously there were no feds involved and it does not appear that it crossed over state lines. And certainly he was not as high profile as Vick is/was.

 

[Workhorse]

If Leonard Little is still playing in the NFL, then anything is possible.

I'd say, Yes.

 

[noneother]

he should.. repeat offenders, drunken drive murderers get to play.. yeah, that guy's on my roster..

 

[David Yudkin]

I would say yes, but probably not until the 2110 or 11 season.I see 18 months in jail, then at least a year banning from the NFL.

Here's the thing that I have not seen brought up. Vick is already SERVING a suspension and will miss the 2007 season. I don't know the answer to this, but why wouldn't the 2007 season count toward a yearlong suspension? He won't be in prison until the season is almost over. If he missed this year year AND a year after he got out of jail, that would be essentially a two year suspension.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Hi David,

My opinion is absolutley positively yes. Without question I think he'll play in the league again.

J

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Hi David,My opinion is absolutley positively yes. Without question I think he'll play in the league again.J

Can a franchise be so bad that they'd risk the PR fallout? I can't conceive of an owner whose team is already bad, rolling the dice with a Mike Vick with eroded skills (which for a QB were marginal to begin with) and legal baggage.

 

[ravnzfan]

If Leonard Little is still playing in the NFL, then anything is possible.

amen to that, brother!I answered YES to "will he be allowed"...Will be perform at an extremely high level?Doubtful....but for all the water already under the bridge on this one, the "indefinite" suspension can very well be terminated after this season--as mentioned earlier, sentencing in this case isn't until late this season, which will in effect wipe out '08 also, meaning 2 years downI don't believe this is a "lifetime ban" offense, and see him eligible to be signed for '09....while I've screamed about how awful this whole thing has been, the loss of wages/endorsements to him in this instance sets new records...enough already...and while there is a new sheriff in town putting up w/little to no greef, all it takes is 1 team--and there will be 1, I'm sure

 

[Thorpe]

Hi David,My opinion is absolutley positively yes. Without question I think he'll play in the league again.J

Can a franchise be so bad that they'd risk the PR fallout? I can't conceive of an owner whose team is already bad, rolling the dice with a Mike Vick with eroded skills (which for a QB were marginal to begin with) and legal baggage.

Isn't the Raider's franchise built on this type of scenario?

 

[Pocket Joker]

He'll definitely be allowed to play, but who will take a chance on him? Team(s) will be limited, and I doubt it will be @ QB.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Hi David,My opinion is absolutley positively yes. Without question I think he'll play in the league again.J

Can a franchise be so bad that they'd risk the PR fallout? I can't conceive of an owner whose team is already bad, rolling the dice with a Mike Vick with eroded skills (which for a QB were marginal to begin with) and legal baggage.

Isn't the Raider's franchise built on this type of scenario?

That's always the de-facto answer whenever we talk about "problem children", and it is the image of the fan base, but I've not seen anything that makes the Raiders franchise fit this profile any more than any other in the league.

 

[Big Score]

If Tags were still the NFL Commish, I'd say

But since it's Goodell who is the NFL Commish, this happened on his watch & Vick lied to his face, I'd say

 

[twistd]

Hi David,My opinion is absolutley positively yes. Without question I think he'll play in the league again.J

Can a franchise be so bad that they'd risk the PR fallout? I can't conceive of an owner whose team is already bad, rolling the dice with a Mike Vick with eroded skills (which for a QB were marginal to begin with) and legal baggage.

I heard this and believe it makes sense. If Vick comes back, I think it won't be as a QB. I think someone my sign him to play WR or something. He is a terrific athlete. However, even now he is questionable as a QB. After even two years away from the game, I can't imagine that will help his development as a QB. Vick will be almost useless as a QB by the time he comes back, IMO.

 

[dgreen]

Hi David,My opinion is absolutley positively yes. Without question I think he'll play in the league again.J

Can a franchise be so bad that they'd risk the PR fallout? I can't conceive of an owner whose team is already bad, rolling the dice with a Mike Vick with eroded skills (which for a QB were marginal to begin with) and legal baggage.

I've said it before, but I really think people are overstating the PR fallout of signing Vick in about 3 years. Society forgets. Society forgives. Society moves on.

 

[derek19]

If Leonard Little & Ray Lewis are is still playing in the NFL, then anything is possible.

I'd say, Yes.

Fixed.

 

[dgreen]

If Tags were still the NFL Commish, I'd say But since it's Goodell who is the NFL Commish, this happened on his watch & Vick lied to his face, I'd say

I doubt Goodell wants to go down the road of lying = perma ban.

 

[Brides Maids]

No way he plays again. He's facing at least a year in prison on Federal charges, not to mention the state charges they are going to slam him with. He'll be in prison in one Fed or state for 3 years. Then no team will want any part of him because of the public outcry. NO NO NO he is DONE.

 

[SharkBait]

Hi David,My opinion is absolutley positively yes. Without question I think he'll play in the league again.J

Can a franchise be so bad that they'd risk the PR fallout? I can't conceive of an owner whose team is already bad, rolling the dice with a Mike Vick with eroded skills (which for a QB were marginal to begin with) and legal baggage.

Yes. Time will soften that blow. He is already saying the right things, showing more remorse than he probably really feels (oh sure, he feels remorse due to the circumstances, but I doubt he's that worried about the dogs...).By the time he's allowed to re-enter, so much time will have passed and he will have "paid for his crime" and "deserve a chance to get on with his life". Someone will take him, and if he performs he'll be loved again (by most). But the endorsements, of course, are gone.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I've said it before, but I really think people are overstating the PR fallout of signing Vick in about 3 years. Society forgets. Society forgives. Society moves on.

I think he'd have a better chance of being forgiven if he'd killed a person rather than an animal.

 

[BigRed]

Society is nothing if not stupid and apologist as hell. Of course he does. After all, he said he was sorry - and I believe him!

 

[BigRed]

I've said it before, but I really think people are overstating the PR fallout of signing Vick in about 3 years. Society forgets. Society forgives. Society moves on.

I think he'd have a better chance of being forgiven if he'd killed a person rather than an animal.

I don't think it makes the slightest diff as far as forgiving him goes.

 

[dgreen]

I've said it before, but I really think people are overstating the PR fallout of signing Vick in about 3 years. Society forgets. Society forgives. Society moves on.

I think he'd have a better chance of being forgiven if he'd killed a person rather than an animal.

Okay, forgiveness may be asking a little too much. But, in a few years, people will definitely have forgotten or moved on. Between now and then, about 50 athletes and 100 Hollywood stars and 20 politicians will have done something stupid to capture our attention.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I've said it before, but I really think people are overstating the PR fallout of signing Vick in about 3 years. Society forgets. Society forgives. Society moves on.

I think he'd have a better chance of being forgiven if he'd killed a person rather than an animal.

Okay, forgiveness may be asking a little too much. But, in a few years, people will definitely have forgotten or moved on. Between now and then, about 50 athletes and 100 Hollywood stars and 20 politicians will have done something stupid to capture our attention.

Seems like a catch 22 then for MV. He won't have the skills OR the box office draw to make any difference for a team - so why take the chance?

 

[Big Score]

If Tags were still the NFL Commish, I'd say

But since it's Goodell who is the NFL Commish, this happened on his watch & Vick lied to his face, I'd say

I doubt Goodell wants to go down the road of lying = perma ban.

I don't think it's just conVick lying to him, that is going to sway Goodell towards keeping conVick out of the NFL.

There might be other factors too you know...

...such as illegal interstate gambling, illegal business operation, the brutal way conVick dispatched the losing dogs (note to conVick & his thug buddies - a .22 cal bullet ain't that expensive), the indirect but likely outcome of the 60+ dogs that were rescued having to be put down, as they're probably un adoptable.

And even though the double finger event & water bottle incident, didn't happen on Goodell's watch, you better believe he'll be taking those conVick fiascos into consideration too.

I think the bald faced lie to the Goodell's face, right around the time conVick hung & drowned those 8 dogs, will be the final nail in conVick's NFL coffin, as far as Goodell is concerned.

Now if a new Commish were to be appointed, maybe it's a different story for conVick

 

[dgreen]

I've said it before, but I really think people are overstating the PR fallout of signing Vick in about 3 years. Society forgets. Society forgives. Society moves on.

I think he'd have a better chance of being forgiven if he'd killed a person rather than an animal.

Okay, forgiveness may be asking a little too much. But, in a few years, people will definitely have forgotten or moved on. Between now and then, about 50 athletes and 100 Hollywood stars and 20 politicians will have done something stupid to capture our attention.

Seems like a catch 22 then for MV. He won't have the skills OR the box office draw to make any difference for a team - so why take the chance?

I'm not saying a team will take a chance. I'm just saying I don't think it will be a big PR nightmare if a team does bring him into camp.

 

[3C's]

Based on what we know about the case I'd say yes he'll be back. But the NFL investigators likely have a bit more details on what Vick was involved in based on the fact that the Feds were dangling a superseding indictment over the defendants heads. That could play into the decision to ban him longer/permanently.

 

[cobalt_27]

I don't see this playing out well for Vick. He assisted in, if not was outright responsible for, the torture and killing of dogs. He organized an illegal gambling outfit. He flat out lied to Goodell to his face and only fessed up to the facts when he was cornered and had absolutely no other out. Just this week he apologized and found Jesus. Good for him.

But, there is clearly no motivating factor for Goodell to reinstate him when Vick returns from jail.

The only way I can see him getting reinstated is if the following happens:

* Vick pays back the Falcons for breach of contract.

* Vick applies for reinstatement after his sentence has expired, and Goodell declines the request.

* Goodell reaffirms the indefinite nature of the suspension and tells Vick that he must further advance his restitution (beyond his prison term) to include active involvement in charities, both working for animal rights activism as well as anything else he chooses. But, he must be an active participant.

* Goodell will also highlight that Vick has to demonstrate that he is squeaky clean model citizen. No more water bottle incidents at the airport. No more giving women STDs. Nary a DUI or domestic violence dispute. He has to be out of the news, unless it's good, positive community work.

* All of this he'll have to demonstrate this for another year, at which time he can apply again for reinstatement.

If all goes well here, and Vick commits himself to reshaping his behaviors--a commitment that would suggest the sincerity of his word--at that point, I can see Goodell reinstating him and reviewing before a national audience all of the effort Vick has made to turn over a new leaf. At that point, he can talk about forgiveness and getting second chances, because it will be out of Vick's own free will to make these choices and demonstrate his sincerity--not being at the mercy of a jail sentence that forces him to say these things.

Assuming all goes well, this will occur during the spring of 2010 and will allow Vick to sign as a free agent for that season. He'll be 30 years old and won't have played a down for 3 years.

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

Allowed to? Yes.

 

[King of the Wolfies]

If it had been killing dogs only, he might have been allowed to play again. But he FINANCED an illegal gambling operation. I don't see how he doesn't get a permanent ban for that alone.

 

[Gr00vus]

The only way he wouldn't be allowed back was if they could prove he gambled on NFL games.

He'll be back, probably sooner than most think. I'd say in a year or two. And of course he'll be a "new man," reformed, found jebus, and all that, so it could quite possibly be a POSITIVE publicity stunt for the wonderfully forgiving team with a heart of gold (who also happen to not be able to sell tickets anyway since they stink) that does give him a second chance.

I'm getting all weepy just thinking about it.....excuse me....I need a moment.........

 

[FBGPoker]

I'd say 99% chance he is allowed to play again by the NFL.

95% chance a team takes a shot on him.