Dallas Cowboys Running Back Tashard Choice Lacking Common Sense

I had initially decided that Dallas running back Tashard Choice’s ill-advised decision to seek an autograph from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick immediately following Sunday night’s loss was not that big of a deal.

I understand that these football players today are not like the ones I got to watch for about a decade prior to free agency and certainly not like the guys from previous eras. I’m talking about when the Cowboys players and Redskins players really hated each other. You would have never seen Bob Lilly going over to a party at the Redskins’ hotel after a big loss. Today it’s just different.

Honestly, Choice made about the dumbest move you could make on a few levels. His utter failure in recognizing the fact that the visibility factor in this case was going to be off the charts is befuddling. Further, I can promise you that through very easy channels Choice could get an autograph from Vick whenever he wanted it, regardless of who it was for. Trying to a favor for a family member? Whatever.

This isn’t even about the fact that he stooped so low as to seek an autograph from a Eagles anybody, let alone quarterback! Again, Choice hasn’t been alive that long in the grand scheme of things and might not even know who Wilbert Montgomery, Mike Quick or Reggie White even is. Should he? Of course, but our youth today is less educated than ever before so I can let Choice slide on his apparent lack of understanding of the Dallas-Philadelphia rivalry.

But this is where I really fail to get a grasp of this issue.

Choice really should have just left it that he was getting the autograph for his nephew. But after the game we learned how Choice himself feels about Vick saying “I have nothing but respect for him”. He would add, “I admire somebody who can overcome circumstances and come back and prove people wrong”.

Huh? Prove what people wrong?

We already knew that Vick can toss a pigskin 80 yards. We knew he can run really fast. We also know that he is a convicted felon.

Understand that I’m all about second chances, at least in most cases. But sometimes there is a line that has to be drawn. Has Choice ever had to explain to that nephew of his what exactly Vick got in trouble for? Maybe he has and maybe he has not. But it blows my mind that Choice sees fit to prop up a guy like Michael Vick, especially with his beyond-shady passed, like some kind of hero.

Vick hung, drowned and electrocuted dogs—himself. Further, in premeditated fashion, Vick financed  the entire operation once known underground as Bad Newz Kennels. He did this moments  after being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 2001. Yes, this has been proven.

If a convicted child molester ends up getting released from prison they do so under very careful watch and legal circumstances that will never go away. But they don’t just walk out of prison and go right back to the same life they had before. Same is true of a murderer, a thief or any other criminal who violently created a victim.

Now, I’m not trying to link Vick with those kinds of crimes mentioned above. But would you have your children anywhere near that released sex offender? No. Would you hang out at a picnic with someone you knew was capable or had killed another person in cold blood? No. Would you give a rat’s ass about getting their autograph? Of course not.

I’m not too into dogs, as an owner, and especially not pit bull terriers. At the same time, I have no interest in harming them or profiting off of their obvious misery. This would be an even grander statement if I was already worth millions of dollars in the first place.

Now, Vick has paid his dues and I’m sure he has suffered his share of guilt and humiliation through this whole experience. I’m not at all saying that he should not have friends and family at his side or that he is not deserving of the opportunity to earn some self respect back.  But let’s face it. When you can look a dog in the eyes and actually hang it until dead, something’s really not right.

Finally, if Choice thinks that the fact Vick is a starting quarterback in the NFL again is “proving people wrong”, he’s pretty misguided himself.