Michael Vick's agent "hopes Vick can return to the NFL by September"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Suspended NFL star Michael Vick told a bankruptcy court on Friday that his time in prison has given him a chance to think, and he's realized he needs to make some changes.

***

Vick is expected to be released from custody in July, and traveled from a federal prison in Kansas to attend the hearing. He could be transferred to home confinement at his eastern Virginia home by late May, and his agent testified Thursday that he hopes Vick can return to the NFL by September.

In order for that to happen, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would have to reinstate Vick, who was suspended indefinitely after he was indicted on the dogfighting conspiracy charge in 2007. Goodell has said he would consider Vick's case after his release.

Vick's agent, Joel Segal, said on the stand Thursday that he would try to negotiate a short-term contract filled with incentives for playing time and starts that could bring in millions. He also said Vick has agreed to plans for a television documentary that will pay him $600,000.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,512426,00.html

[Kalyke]

1. If any team picks him up, I suggest fans take their dogs to the

game and turn them loose on the field when he walks on.

[pettypace]

7. Great point there

I definitely believe criminals should still be punished even after they pay their debt to society.

They should be banned from every voting again.
They shouldn't be considered for any employment making more than minimum wage.

Ok, so that may be too extreme, so lets just stick to them being mauled by vicious dogs.

[Critters2]

12. The public has a right to form and hold an opinion.

I know what my opinion is. If he wanted me to think well of him, wanted employers to consider him for any position, he probably shouldn't have started torturing dogs. I find that sort of behavior troubling.

But that's me.

[Solomon]

14. At what point can he ever redeem himself though. Should he have

been executed? I would agree with you if he hadn't been convicted as was still enjoying his riches, but he served his time, paid his debt, lost his fortune, and he's trying to get a job.

Kills me how certain types commit a crime, get convicted, but wind up making a fortune afterward with nobody complaining. But then there are other types that shouldn't ever be able to work again. I won't bother pointing out the difference to you.

[Critters2]

23. No, please. Tell me whose apparent lack of well-deserved

punishment has been okay with me.

[lpbk2713]

2. He's really sorry.

AND HE NEEDS THE MONEY


:eyes:

[MadBadger]

3. Well, Denver does need a QB.

Michael Vick or Kyle Orton. Id be interested to see what Denver fans thought of this.

[backscatter712]

19. I don't care how sucky the alternatives are - NO VICK!!!

As far as I'm concerned, he's persona non grata in Denver!

[Wetzelbill]

4. I wish the guy luck and hope he can move on with his life

and become a better person. He did some awful things and will have paid his debt for them. He'll never escape the stigma of what he's done and he'll always be looked upon in a negative light, he can't change that, but he can strive to become a better person in the end.

[wyldwolf]

5. in pro sports (unfortunately) all if forgiven if you're a winner.

If he leads a team to a string of victories, no one will remember he's a convict.

I just hope Atlanta plays him and whips him like a dog.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. I am sure his agent does wish that

what the league thinks might be different.

[flvegan]

8. ...and we see a linebacker pretty much take his head off by October.

Ah, dreams.

[montanacowboy]

9. there is NO forgiveness for the cruelty

he put those poor creatures through; he is a fucking scum

[emilyg]

10. I hope he vanishes from my mind.

[Johonny]

11. The problem with Vick as a QB is

(aside from any negative PR) he simply wasn't a very good passing QB. His major asset was his ability to run the football. As a passer he was simply not very good to horrible. After spending time in jail is unlikely he's become any better. He's also likely to not be as athletic when he comes out. As running back tend to lose their edge at age 30. So it's hard to imagine a team taking a flier out on him with anything more than the league minimum. Particularly when you consider even if he made the team he would spend his first year likely suspended.

[underpants]

13. Rozelle would never let this happen

One of the core elements at the beginning of the NFL under Rozelle was to remove ANY doubt about the involvement of gamblers. He knew he could never get the league accepted by the mainstream if there were hints of fixed games.

Alex KArras and Paul Hornung missed an entire season each due to "involvement" with people "involved" in gambling

Joe Namath was given the choice of being out of the league OR selling off his portion of a restaurant "frequented by gambling elements"

Rozelle would NEVER let this happen.

[frebrd]

15. A person who has treated animals the way he has......

is not going to change. That sort of cruelty is a fundamental part of his personality. It's only a matter of time before he commits a heinous crime against some human (which of course will be taken more seriously).

:(

[Mr. Ected]

16. Roger Goodell May Have His Own Opinion on This

Vick bald-faced lied to the NFL commish when queried about the dog-fighting allegations, before the criminal charges were lodged.

Goodell might suspend Vick himself for at least a season as retribution for his mendacity.

That being said...when Vick returns to the NFL...and he WILL return to the NFL...then let the fans of that city vote with their dollars as to whether Vick's presence on the team is enough to keep them from buying tickets.

Something tells me that the stadiums will sell out...in more ways than one.

[williesgirl]

17. We need to start lobbying the NFL Commissioner NOW to keep him out forever. He is a disgrace to

humankind. rec'd

[hamsterjill]

18. Why would any team want the baggage?

I can't imagine why any team would want to sign Vick, and take all of the baggage that will undoubtedly come with him wherever he goes.

Yes, he's paid his little light-duty debt to society, but there are going to be a lot of people who aren't ever going to forget what he did. You have only to have seen the clips from the Animal Planet Shows about the dogs that were confiscated from his kennels to see some of the cruelties inflicted on those poor animals. I'm sure there will be protests, etc. at any football game where he is a player.

During the time that Vick has been in "prison", hasn't some other young, up-and-coming football star proven himself? Perhaps someone who might actually be a little thankful for the good fortune that has befallen him allowing him to play pro ball and be well compensated for it. Isn't there someone out there who could simply take Vick's place in professional football? Someone else who young children could look up to?

I wish Vick well - as an insurance salesman, or whatever other private career he might choose to earn a living in the future. But in my opinion, he squandered the right to have a public career when he treated those dogs the way he did.

[Forkboy]

20. I hope he rots away and dies a slow lingering death.

[Maru Kitteh]

27. Dear God. I hope somebody does THAT to his face and then

he can go away and die a slow, lingering death.

[Blackhatjack]

21. I believe in redemption... But he should do more than a short prison stint to oppose cruelty...

He needs to be donating a huge amount of his time and money to helping end the cruelty of which he once participated. Let him use his celebrity to fund raise... appear in PSAs admitting his wrongs and asking people to participate in efforts to end these practices ... etc.

He is going to have to face this headon if he ever wants to regain a legitimate place in society.

He holds the potential to do a lot of good still, even though he can never wipe away the horrible things he did in his past.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

24. I believe in redemption too...

...and it does not necessarily take the form of picking up at the exact moment where you were busted and immediately filling up the bank account.

Yeah, Vick "might have" seen the light.

Maybe he can see it a while without multi-million dollar paydays. He doesn't "deserve" it...he just "wants" it.

A rehabilitated monster? Is that better than a monster, or still a monster at heart? Seems to me like he's been behind bars for about five frigging MINUTES and he wants to be a multi-millionaire again. Fuck him.

:shrug:

[Missy Vixen]

22. Vick should never be reinstated, and Roger Goodell is a hypocrite

Goodell has touted his "player conduct policy" repeatedly, while ignoring players who commit crimes. After all, if the guy's a starter or a Pro Bowler, the league just can't do without him!

The only thing that's going to mean anything to him, or to the league, are organized boycotts. According to the articles I've been reading over the past few months, the NFL may have a significant cash drain this season due to the recession. If reinstating Vick costs any club a significant amount of season ticket or merchandising revenues, he may grow a set and ban him, once and for all. Maybe.

[Renew Deal]

25. He served his time.

They should let him play if he's capable. I don't know which team will be willing to take him though.

[Maru Kitteh]

28. Fuck Vickie Poo. He should be mauled by some dogs and then spend his remaining days in obscurity

I hope he rots in hell.

[Omaha Steve]

26. Vick had it all.

No way he should be allowed to play again. I hope the NFL figures that out.

[sampsonblk]

29. I will boycott any team that picks him up - nt