I'll admit, my first reaction to the Vick saga was he should be banned from football forever. Now I'm not so sure.
What Vick was involved in is atrocious and he should be punished. I'm not making any excuses for him.
If he does his time and "pays his debt to society", should the NFL ban him or should he be allowed to seek to resume his career?
My thinking is that there will surely be some NFL team that would gladly snatch him up. But at what cost in PR? Since NFL teams are in it for the money, would a team owner be willing to risk his profit for Vick or would the market dictate Vick not play?
I just think by banning him outright, the NFL opens itself up to many problems where allowing a teams fans to decide his fate might be better for all.

Probably.....in most cases, a second chance maybe ok....assuming that the individual has been appropriately punished and it's clear that there has been significant change for the better for said individual...

__________________
The Lone Ranger of the AWE liberal elitists.....who was that masked man???

And now, I'm the Elitist of liberal Elitists...

For one I don't think he is sorry I think he is sorry he got caught. I for one think it is high time these people have someone tell them NO this will not be tolerated children look up to you and you have betrayed that later and have a good life. Let the lesson be that in what ever else you decide to do in your life you will cherish and apreciate it. In this case he did not steal something small get busted for some stupid little thing most of us have or would what he did show a character inside of him no one can truely deny. I through a woman out of my house once on the first date when she kicked at my dog, she did not have to be a dog or animal lover but the very fact that she could do something like that to a creature that only fault is to love and please you well that says mounds as to the person they realy are.

__________________
When you came into this world you cried.
Live your life so that when you die.
The world cries. the shadow

He will get a second chance but it won't be at QB. What QB skills he did have will be diminished. I look for him to return kicks and maybe play some slot receiver.

IMO, the guy shouldn't be banned for life, but those 12-18 months should be enough to stop him from having much more of a career. Remember, Terrell Davis retired at the grand old age of 28. The window in the NFL isn't very long.

If 5 years is the maximum sentence then that's what he should get as well as a lifetime ban from the NFL. Let him go to the CFL or Europe if he so chooses. The fact that he literally drowned and electricuted dogs is so abhorrant to me that it defies any sane reason that he should be permitted back into the NFL. I thought the press conference was a great lesson in p.r. The only thing missing was the bible - though he claims to have discovered Jese. This guy is a peice of shit and a lowlife and he deserves little more than to fade into obscurity.

Change his name to john smith and his occupation to accountant, everything else the same. Is john smith to be forever banned from accounting?
The NFL, after all, is a business. What elevates the NFL to the status of a special privilege?
Remember, I'm not excusing him. I'd kinda like to think the fans of football would never allow him back. But reality tells me somebody will take him back and their fans will be ok with it, as long as he's winning.

Say the words Pete Rose

__________________
Its better to have fussed and crabbed then never to have fussed at all - Lucy

He has found god.God has given him a second chance.
Maybe god could plead with the almighty N F L for a second chance with it.

__________________
I respect your right to have your own opinion,but I do not necessarily respect your opinion.

Good point. However, I see that a couple different ways too. I don't necessarily agree with the "lifetime" ban. The big gripe about pete is his exclusion from the hall of fame. That is definitely a privilege but there are those that argue some already in there would not be if they had been held to the same standards as rose.
If you go on game statistics only, how can you keep pete out?
With vick, you're talking about a young guy.
Honestly, the decision won't affect me one way or another, it was just something I was thinking about.

[quote=justme;210522]Change his name to john smith and his occupation to accountant, everything else the same. Is john smith to be forever banned from accounting?
The NFL, after all, is a business. What elevates the NFL to the status of a special privilege?
Remember, I'm not excusing him. I'd kinda like to think the fans of football would never allow him back. But reality tells me somebody will take him back and their fans will be ok with it, as long as he's winning. [/quote are you talking about john claton smith the fact that vick tortured and killed shows no respect for life or compasion or humanity this is the kind of personality that allows such things as what was done to the jews in WWII and the slaves in our shameful past if it was legal he would still be doing it now and if he did not get caught he would be still doing it. What is the message that is sent if they allow him back after he gets out well you got caught. He is doing damage control in hopes that his sponsors and the NFL will take him back after. I say no you pay your debt and then go back to the world and make your living another way because the one you lost comes with the reponsability to the public and children etc. and you failed be glad you are allowed to work at all and if you surely have found god then he will help you in life after football . Good luck

__________________
When you came into this world you cried.
Live your life so that when you die.
The world cries. the shadow