Lay off Michael Vick

Let me be upfront on two things. First, I don’t like the Eagles. Never have. Second, I am not a Mike Vick fan. Didn’t like him at Virginia Tech. Dang sure didn’t like him with the Atlanta Falcons. And given that he has recently joined the Eagles, I’m sure I’ll go on not liking him for the indefinite future.

That said, I am compelled to comment about the controversy that has been set off by his recent signing and imminent return to the NFL.

I don’t understand the big deal over this. The facts are pretty simple. Vick broke the law. Vick went to jail. Vick lost his job. Vick served his sentence, got out of jail, and promptly went looking for a job. Seems like this is exactly what we’d want an ex-con to do. Why then are so many folks upset that he’s found work?

Could it be that Vick is just that evil and the folks who are upset are just that righteous? I don’t think so. These protests say a whole lot more about the ones doing the protesting than it does about Mike Vick

What if Vick had gone to jail for abusing his girlfriend or failing to pay child support instead of abusing animals? Would the “outrage” be the same? Before you say yes, consider the criminal history of many other athletes who continue to play professional sports. Ever see anybody protesting Ray Lewis or Pac Man Jones? What if Mike Vick had found work flipping burgers instead of as an NFL quarterback? I can guarantee you that you wouldn’t have folks lining up outside McDonald’s to protest Vick making Big Macs.

Do these protesters value animals more than people? Are they jealous because Vick will make a lot of money? You could certainly make that argument.

Make no mistake, what Vick did was wrong, but there it just doesn’t equate to abusing a human being or failing to take care of a child in my mind. Likewise, why shouldn’t Vick go out and get the best job that he can based on his skills, education, experience, etc.? Isn’t that what we all want our kids to do? And why shouldn’t the Eagles hire him if they believe he’s the best player available to back up Donovan McNabb. Isn’t it the job of management to use its best efforts to build the most competitive team possible?

The folks protesting Mike Vick need to shut up about it. If they want to root for whomever Vick and the Eagles are playing each week, that’s fine, but let the man be. He’s admitted his mistake, done his time, and is doing exactly what any of us would do if we had the talent to play quarterback in the NFL.