R_of_G
May 19th, 2009, 09:22 AM
As you may know, Michael Vick is scheduled to be released from prison within the next 24 hours. The sports media is abuzz with talk of a potential comeback for Vick. I don't think we necessarily need to discuss what Vick did to land himself in prison, though I'm not opposed to discussing it either.
What I do want to talk about is that I think there is one item that the media seems to be overlooking in all this discussion... Michael Vick has yet to serve a day of any suspension levied by the NFL. I hear a lot of "he'll have served his time," and "everyone deserves a second chance" but am I alone in thinking that there still needs to be league imposed consequences for Vick's actions?
He was not suspended last year. He didn't play because he was in prison. Adam Jones was suspended just for being arrested (albeit being arrested multiple times) but still, suspended for being arrested, not tried and convicted. Michael Vick made a deal, which is equivalent to a conviction. He needs to be suspended by the league before we even begin to discuss when he will come back. If he is not suspended, I will consider it a massive display of hypocrisy by the league, signaling that those assumed guilty are penalized more than those proven guilty.
After he serves an NFL imposed suspension, then he can go sign with the Raiders or the Cowboys or whoever is hiring felons at that time.
What I do want to talk about is that I think there is one item that the media seems to be overlooking in all this discussion... Michael Vick has yet to serve a day of any suspension levied by the NFL. I hear a lot of "he'll have served his time," and "everyone deserves a second chance" but am I alone in thinking that there still needs to be league imposed consequences for Vick's actions?
He was not suspended last year. He didn't play because he was in prison. Adam Jones was suspended just for being arrested (albeit being arrested multiple times) but still, suspended for being arrested, not tried and convicted. Michael Vick made a deal, which is equivalent to a conviction. He needs to be suspended by the league before we even begin to discuss when he will come back. If he is not suspended, I will consider it a massive display of hypocrisy by the league, signaling that those assumed guilty are penalized more than those proven guilty.
After he serves an NFL imposed suspension, then he can go sign with the Raiders or the Cowboys or whoever is hiring felons at that time.