A Man of Dishonor: Who Are We To Judge Vick?

To start this off with a warning: I want to say, in no way at all do I condone the actions of Mr. Michael Vick. I do not agree with what he did to dogs. This article is just an opinionated article expressing my thoughts on the NFL.

The last two-and-one-half years in Michael Vick's life has easily been the hardest years in his life. After his arrest, after his confinement in prison, after the loss of his home, and the loss of over $100 million, Michael Vick is in serious need of some help in his life.

With the advisement of Tony Dungy, and the support by the NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles Organization, Michael Vick is now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Michael Vick is moving on, but it seems nobody else is. Here are some arguments from disgruntled fans (all from sackvick.com):

"second chances are for people who make mistakes"

"I am sending e-mails to all to the Eagles sponsors and I am boycotting all of their products. Some Eagles fans have shown that their love for life and the rules, are stronger than the love for their team (as it should be). Having said that, it is evident why so many avoid the “City of Brotherly Love” as it clearly the city that loves sinners."

In no way do I condone Michael Vick for his actions, but in what way does he not deserve a second chance for the heinous mistake he made. To say second chances are for people who makes mistakes would mean you are absolutely perfect.

I am man enough to say I made a mistake, and so has Michael Vick. In his 60 Minutes interview, he did not point the finger, he put the blame on himself solely. Just because his mistake may have been bigger then yours, just because he hurt so many people with his actions, where do we get the right to judge a man's actions so severely.

In a country where we say it is the land of the free and the home of the brave, why is it that even though Michael Vick is free, we insist on slandering his already blemished name.

In a country where many prisoners have a hard time getting a job, why is it we bash Michael Vick for going back to doing what he likes to do. As a human being who is imperfect, does he really not deserve the right to play in the NFL.

Does he not deserve the right to climb back up the food chain and make his name an everyday name in the NFL again?

Instead of praising Michael Vick for finding a team in the NFL that will allow him to play, we insist on protesting, and finding any reason what-so-ever to not allow his past to make up for his present.

There was a person in the MLB who wore out his welcome with his team. He was drafted first overall in the 1999 MLB Draft. His name was Josh Hamilton. 

He had repeated drug offenses that eventually sent him out of his way. He left baseball all together for two years. He left baseball in 2004, and returned in 2006. The Cincinnati Reds took a shot on Josh Hamilton's tarnished reputation and offered to rebuild it.

With what was given Josh Hamilton played in 2007 and rebuilt his reputation in MLB with the second chance he was given.

There is no reason re judge Michael Vick any different then Josh Hamilton. Both are human beings who made mistakes. Both have been given second chances and who are we to say they did not deserve the chances that they were given.

God knows that Michael Vick is human, but it is up to Michael Vick to make the most out of the opportunities that he is given with his life. All we can do is hope for the best, and that's what I as a football fan am doing.