Animal Cruelty and Michael Vick's NFL Return

Sure, let Michael Vick attempt to salvage his career, however I can't imagine what team would be willing to sign him ["Michael Vick Deserves to Play Football in the NFL Again," usnews.com]! Most teams in professional sports strive to maintain their image; signing Vick would be like shooting yourself in the foot. The fact is the majority of fans from any city would not support the management's decision to bring him on the team. Isolating your fans causes sinking ticket sales resulting in a huge loss in revenue. If the teams have any business sense they will stay as far away as possible from this virus.

Comment by Jenny of AZ

I believe that Mike Vick has been made an example out of. He should not have suffered all that he went through for the crime he committed. I love my dog as much as the next man ... but pets are property point blank. What they did was tell Mike that his life was not as important as that of a canine ... and that's bull. What kind of message is this sending to our kids? It's sending the message that if you commit a crime you then do the time and are allowed to lead a regular life after all debts are paid. I don't know why some of us enjoy it when people fail. I agree the way he treated those dogs was wrong ... but the punishment did not fit the crime

Comment by Johnny Cogburn, VA

I totally disagree and do not think Michael Vick should be allowed to return to the NFL. People in these positions are role models for our children whether we like it or not. What kind of message is this sending to our kids? That you can commit the most horrific crime and still be allowed to make millions and millions of dollars and be in the limelight? Sorry but this just doesn't make any sense to me. Vick has not shown one bit of remorse for his actions. And he and his cohorts didn't just do something one time. They electrocuted and beat to death many dogs. This didn't just happen once. The lives of the other dogs that were forced to fight for their entertainment is something that I can't even imagine. His sentence was not enough—he should have stayed in prison for years as far as I'm concerned.

Comment by Barbara Batelli of TX

Our society has held that athletes, especially star athletes, are role models for our children. Stating that Michael Vick should play again is fine if we as a society back away from telling our youth that these athletes are people they should emulate. Personally, I do not see our society going through such a radical alteration. If you question the athlete as role model assertion, pick up the sports section of any newspaper on any given day. These folks are held up and glorified on a daily basis. The Michael Vick situation illuminates the fact that star athletes have a responsibility outside of the athletic arena as role models. Otherwise, the extreme pay for athletic prowess cannot be justified. We pay these folks to be more than the best player; we are paying them, as a society, to set examples for our children. Now with that said, do I agree that Michael Vick should no longer play ball? Absolutely not. I believe he should be allowed to play, but never again in a national venue with national attention for a multimillion-dollar contract. There is a line that should not be crossed, and he has crossed over that line. I would not want children I know looking up to him as a role model. Should he be allowed to play ball on a national level, then the verdict is that you can be famous, and you can abuse the weak, in this case, dogs. That is not the message that pro ball should be sending to anyone.

Comment by Dr. John of SD

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