Michael Vick: Why Dogfighting Conviction Was the Best Thing To Happen To Vick

As a dog lover, I think what Michael Vick did was incomprehensible. It was an unspeakable act, but I think his punishment fit his crime.

Now that he is back in the NFL, it looks like his conviction and time away from football has been one of the best things that could have happened to his career.

I am not in any way condoning what he did, but where his career has gone since his conviction is a good thing for football fans. 

His is a story of redemption, not condemnation.

1. Learned That Actions Have Consequences

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Sussex, VA - NOVEMBER 25: Suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick (C) leaves Surry County Circuit Court after entering a guilty plea on two felony counts connected to dog fighting on November 25, 2008 in Sussex, Virginia. Under a plea agreemen

Prior to his conviction Michael Vick acted and played like there were no consequences for him. He threw into coverage and on more than one occasion, hurt his team with costly interceptions.

He lived his life the same way. He ran an illegal dog fighting ring out of his home, surrounded himself with questionable characters and did so with no regard for what would happen if he was caught.

His conviction has shown him that everything he does has consequences. He even relearned that lesson earlier this season when he was hurt trying to squeeze in between two tacklers.

Watching Vick on Monday Night Football against the Redskins I saw a guy who knew the consequences of any action he took. He ran out of bounds when he needed, he checked the ball down to the open receiver, and he kept his eyes down-field when scrambling.

2. Humbled Him

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ATLANTA - DECEMBER 06: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles is interviewed by Fox Network sideline reporter Tony Siragusa (L) after their 34-7 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on December 6, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C.

When Michael Vick last played for the Falcons he was on top of the world and one of the faces of the NFL. After his fall from grace he has shown how much the experience has humbled him.

Vick signed with the Eagles as a free agent knowing that he would be a back up.

Every interview he gave was more about how grateful he was to be playing football as a free man, and less about what he would be expected to do.

It is hard not to root for someone who is just happy to be where he is.

3. Forced to Refocus on Football

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PHILADELPHIA - AUGUST 15: Michael Vick #7 listens to Quarterbacks Coach James Urban in a workout at the NovaCare Complex on August 15, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/Getty Images)

The only way that Vick would be able to regain favor in society would be for him to work on being the best football player he can be.

Coming into Philadelphia, he knew that it was the perfect situation for him. Running the West Coast offense was what he was used to in Atlanta so all it really took was reps and getting used to his new surroundings.

"I thought this was the perfect situation, perfect scenario," Vick said at his introductory news conference last August. "I can come in and I can learn from Donovan, one of the premier quarterbacks in the game, one of the best at it. Everything that he's learned and the way he's been polished just comes from coach Reid. I want to get with those two and do as much as I can to become a complete quarterback and I have time to do it."

Granted McNabb isn't his teammate anymore, but learning from a quarterback who has had success was just what he needed.

4. Got Him Out of Atlanta

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 28: Quarterback Michael Vick #7 of the Atlanta Falcons talks with owner Arthur M. Blank prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Georgia Dome on November 28, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Falcons won 24-21. (Photo by Sc

Michael Vick was in a bad situation in Atlanta. Owner Arthur Blank was not the reason for it, in fact he was the only reason why Vick enjoyed his time in Atlanta.

But the coaching changes, the lack of offensive weapons and the fact that this was the place where his legal trouble happened all were reasons for Vick to need a change of scenery.

So, Vick landed in Philadelphia with the Eagles.

Granted Andy Reid may not be the greatest head coach, but the Eagles were a team with a winning tradition who had worked hard on putting together a ton of talent offensively. 

Jeremy Maclin, DeShawn Jackson, Brent Celek, and LeSean McCoy are all examples of young talented offensive playmakers who make Vick's life easier.

Instead of having to create his own offense, he can rely on the other players around him. Not something he had a lot in Atlanta.

5. Kept in Shape

Vick used his time in prison to his benefit. He reportedly worked on lifting weights to keep his body durable and he even played prison football.

"He is staying in shape,” Falcons Owner Arthur Blank told The New York Daily News. "Apparently, there was a prison football team and he played quarterback for both sides.”

If you look at Vick now it looks like he has put on some good weight in order to remain durable.

6. Better Situation in Philadelphia

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PHILADELPHIA - AUGUST 15: Donovan McNabb #5 and Michael Vick #7 look on during a workout at the NovaCare Complex on August 15, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/Getty Images)

As Vick stated, coming to Philadelphia was a much better situation for him.

He came in with talent around him and was able to learn from a stable situation and not one in transition.

He also doesn't have the baggage in Philadelphia that he would have had if he had gone back to the Falcons.

The Philadelphia fans have also embraced Vick as one of there own, something the Atlanta fans never really seemed to do.

7. Sat Out For a Year

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OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 18: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on from the bench against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 18, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty

Vick's first year back in the NFL was filled with mostly spot duty.

He was able to come in and spend a year getting acclimated to life in the NFL instead of being forced into the spotlight, he was able to adjust.

With only a small sample amount of pressure placed on him in that first year, he was able to be just another face on the roster and not someone who everyone watched all the time.

8. Tony Dungy

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PHILADELPHIA - AUGUST 14: Tony Dungy speaks at a press conference introducing Michael Vick at the NovaCare Complex on August 14, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Vick signed a one-year contract, with a second year option, with the Eagles. (Photo by La

During his time in prison, former Colts head coach Tony Dungy visited the trouble quarterback in order to offer his services as a mentor.

Vick was able to use Dungy as a resource.

Dungy spoke with teams on Vick's behalf and was able to inform teams of Vick's mindset.

Of all the people for Vick to align himself with, Dungy was a good choice because of the respect he commands within the league.

9. Lower Expectations

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LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 15: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles throws a pass against the Washington Redskins on November 15, 2010 at FedExField in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

When Vick was sentenced there were many media members who thought Vick would never play football again, and if he did, he would almost certainly not be a quarterback when he returned. 

Many thought he would have to make the change to running back, wide receiver or even kick returner.

The expectations that he would come in and make an impact as a quarterback were non-existent.

In Atlanta it seemed like people were putting all sorts of expectations on where Michael Vick would take the Falcons. He had the arm and the legs but if he could put them together he would be an MVP and the Falcons would win the Super Bowl.

For someone with the ego that Vick as a member of the Falcons, those expectations pour gasoline on the fire.

10. Higher Appreciation

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 27: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles smiles after the Eagles win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 27, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/G

This appreciation is two fold.

Fans appreciate Michael Vick more and he appreciates the game more.

Just from watching him this season, it is obvious that he is having fun. There aren't a ton of players that are as overt about it as Vick is.

Philadelphia fans and really any football fan can now look at Vick and look at his journey over the past four years and be happy for where he is at.

It obviously wasn't an easy journey. Vick even admitted in a 60 Minutes interview that he "cried so many nights."

After spending time in prison and feeling the remorse that he feels, it is impossible not to be appreciative of the opportunities that he has been given.