Philadelphia Eagles: The Second Chance For Michael Vick

Welcome to the new media circus of the NFL: Philadelphia.

By now, you’ve heard of the Eagles' new acquisition at the quarterback position, former NFL superstar and ex-convict, Michael Vick.

While this move certainly provides some intriguing storylines on the field, the storm that will center around Philly for the foreseeable future has little to do with Vick’s on-the-field prowess or lack thereof.

Why should it, when the man recently finished serving a year and a half in the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas? After he was convicted of conspiracy in running a dog-fighting operation, Vick drew the attention of avid football fans and disinterested spectators alike, so it's no small wonder that he will continue to generate an awful lot of attention from both.

The news of Vick’s signing hit the NFL like a bombshell on Thursday night, and overshadowed every other sports story on Friday. It started a media firestorm that will not likely die down any time soon. Vick will be the story of the preseason (sorry, Tom Brady, the 24/7 coverage of your every step just ended.) Once the regular season starts, protests against Vick are likely to pick up, keeping the troubled quarterback in the spotlight.

Football fans seem divided over what should be done with Michael Vick.

There are, of course, those who will follow the PETA route. They protest Vick every step of the way and contend that he should never again be allowed to don an NFL uniform.

Other fans would like to see Vick suspended for one more season. During that time, they would like to see him prove that he will turn his life around while playing on a less prestigious stage such as the newly-formed United Football League.

Still more fans believe that Michael Vick has served his debt to society and should be given another chance. Allow him to play immediately as if the last few years had never happened, they claim. After all, doesn’t he have a right to earn a living?

Truth be told, it isn’t quite so simple as anybody would have it seem.

Of course, Michael Vick has a right to earn a living. Yes he has served his time and, therefore, I believe, his debt to society.

But, right or wrong, NFL players are public figures that many people look up to as role models. Even if he does succeed in putting his life back together, Vick is a far cry from a role model. Yes, I know that many athletes vehemently protest being treated as role models, but they have to understand that adoring young fans frequently fail to separate the team colors and jerseys from the men who wear them.

That being said, there is a flip side to the coin.

Vick has at least publicly stated remorse and acknowledged that his actions were an atrocious crime. If he is willing to do so, he has the opportunity to become a high profile advocate for the protection of animals. Ed Sayres, president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said as much by expressing his hope that Vick will use his regained status to speak out against cruelty against animals.

For that reason, I believe that Michael Vick deserves to have a second chance in the NFL.

However, don't ask me to join the ranks of those who seem to feel sorry for Vick because he lost everything. As a devoted dog owner, I am glad that he not only went to prison, but also that he lost all of his millions of dollars.

Let’s remember as well that Vick wasn't exactly considered a boy-scout even before the dog-fighting scandal broke. Whatever he got was a long time coming; however, now that he has done his time and paid his debt to society, I have no problem with him playing, so long as he stays on his best behavior.

While it seems hard to believe that a man who treated dogs so cruelly before would suddenly find a change in heart, we have no way of knowing how he really feels. He may be putting on a big act, wishing inside that he could go back to his old ways. Or he may really feel remorse for his actions.

At this point, all any of us can do is trust the judgment of the people who have looked Michael Vick in the eye and spoken with him. And if those people are NFL coaches and owners willing to trust Michael Vick not to ruin their reputations, then that is their prerogative.

Tony Dungy is one of those people, and he seems to believe that Vick wants to change his life. When Tony Dungy put his own reputation on the line by showing a willingness to mentor Vick, that was a strong endorsement in favor of Vick in my mind.

On the other hand, Eagles’ owner Jeffrey Lurie sounded somewhat less convinced that we will see a new Michael Vick. He brought up a good point that I believe all of us can agree on—there are no third chances.

If Vick can turn his life around, and return to anything close to his former athletic form, this will be a win for both parties. The new Wildcat offense may be just the wrinkle that Vick was looking for all of those years when he was struggling to adapt to a pro-style offense. He could be just the weapon that Philly needs to get them over the playoff stumbling block and bring them their first Lombardi Trohpy.

We will probably discuss Vick and the Eagles ad nauseam for the next few months. Really, what we should do is watch.

Watch to see how Michael Vick the person and Michael Vick the player handles his second chance.

F. Scott Fitzgerald once said that there are no second acts in American lives. Evidently, he was wrong. The second act of the Michael Vick story is about to begin. Will it follow the same sinister and depressing path as the first, or will it somehow find a happy ending?

The curtain is rising. Let’s watch and find out.