Re Michael Vick: Lose the Hypocrisy and Double Standards!

A few days ago, a member of the Buffalo Bills Fans group at the social networking site, Linked In, proposed on the discussion page, that Buffalo sign Michael Vick.

The overwhelming majority of comments received was enthusiastically positive. The essence of comments, as a composite, was that Buffalo would be a good place for Vick to rehabilitate. As long as T.O. is there, why not Vick also? He would add another dimension to an improving offense. He would bring Buffalo four consecutive Super Bowl Rings.

Within hours a second discussion went up at the Bills Fans page, citing a comment by Bills GM Russ Brandon that Buffalo sees no need for Vick at this time. 

Even then, the comments continued to come in advocating for Vick in a Bills uniform.

So, how should we interpret these comments? Is Buffalo an anti-canine city? Is Buffalo shamelessly desperate for any talent they can get no matter how morally depraved he may be? Is Buffalo management afraid of protests and boycotts by the animal lobby?

The latter may be true, but not the former. In fact, I would suggest that Buffalo (as measured by responses to this discussion) has the appropriate attitude toward Mr. Vick. The man paid his debt to society. He has matured, seen the error of his ways. He deserves an opportunity for redemption. All have sinned and come short.

So the question in my mind is not why a sampling of Buffalo fans was so willing to accept this man who is generally considered a pariah, but why an apparent majority of the general population, including football fans, in our society are so unwilling to forgive animal cruelty when murderers, gangsters, spouse batterers, deadbeat dads and more play in NFL stadiums every week, having served nothing more than a two week suspension and not a day in jail?

Sure, animals are helpless. They depend on the love and compassion of their owners. Animal abuse is egregious. No one is defending Michael Vick's involvement in this travesty or arguing that he shouldn't have had severe consequences.

But he's paid his debt. He's lost his good name. He spent meaningful time in a Federal prison. He's lost his fortune. He lost his opportunity to play in the NFL during his peak years. He's paid a steeper price than peers who have committed greater crimes, crimes against human beings, such as Ray Lewis for just one example.

So why the double standard? Why the hypocrisy?

Any team that takes a chance on Michael Vick may or may not enjoy something close to the level of talent he displayed before his arrest, but they will be a part of something much greater—a process of healing, redemption, and penance, which will not only restore the career of a great player but will restore his soul and the soul of the community that opens the door.

And since the secret ingredient in any championship is the psycho-spiritual intangibles, the karma, things that never show up on a depth chart, the team that welcomes Mr. Vick may be the team that receives the next Lombardi trophy.

That is something Buffalo would do well to reconsider, as well as any other team in need of an extra boost.