<p>When he was convicted and sent off to prison, the only question I had was whether Michael Vick would EVERY play in the NFL again. And now Terrell Owens is saying that suspending Vick for four games this season is "unfair." Help me out here ... what am I missing? </p>
<p>Terrell</a> Owens wants Michael Vick reinstated to NFL - NFL - SI.com</p>
<p>He's paid his debt to society at this point. I didn't read the article, but I agree that he should be allowed to come back into the league and play if there are teams that want him.</p>
<p>"He's paid his debt to society at this point."</p>
<p>If being convicted of a felony isn't basis for a suspension, what does that say about all the suspensions Goodell has handed out to players who HAVEN'T had a felony conviction?</p>
<p>Minnesota should sign him and Farve. When Farve's arm falls off after 5 or 8 games vick will be back in playing condition.</p>
<p>Vick should have received a $10,000 fine and 200 hours of community service. Sending him to prison was way over the top.</p>
<p>Well I will probably get flamed for this but here goes...I wish Vick had been put in prison a lot longer than he was for what he did, and I wish he has barred from ever being in the NFL again. Suspension is just BS but there is a good chance that no one wants him associated with their team. What he did was very cruel, inhumane, and just plain wrong. Why the heck should he get a second chance with the NFL he done messed that up when he committed a felony. Dog fighting is a disgusting sport that was banned for good reason. If any NFL team signs him I hope they get boycotted until they boot him.</p>
<p>Yep, why should anyone get a second chance? Once a felon, always a felon. A bane to society.</p>
<p>Let it go, he paid dearly in many ways.</p>
<p>What he did was appalling, but he has paid his debt to society and deserves to be reinstated immediately. What would people want him to do, stand on the corner with a cup and a sign saying, "Hungry"?</p>
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there is a good chance that no one wants him associated with their team
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<p>To some extent if Vick is given a suspension, a team could argue he is acceptable to us because he has paid his debt to society and he has paid his debt to the league, thus, there is no basis for us to deny him membership on our team.</p>
<p>Vick has paid his debt. What about Placido who takes a loaded gun into a crowded NYC club? What about other NFL players involved in gun charges? I personally would support a team that says publicly, yes he made a mistake, he paid for it, and is a changed man. This is a man who grew up in a difficult home life. Who here knows what there child would have done in that environment.</p>
<p>"I personally would support a team that says publicly, yes he made a mistake, he paid for it, and is a changed man."</p>
<p>I would support that team, too. I don't even like contact sports, but if a team said the above, I would become a fan.</p>
<p>I would like it better if nobody used the word "mistake." I would support a team that said: he did something wrong, and he paid the price. Now that he's paid, he should be rehabilitated like anybody else.</p>
<p>I agree with your assessment, Hunt. Vick's crime wasn't a mistake, but he has paid the price. He should be allowed to go back to football now.</p>
<p>The question's a valid one for discussion, but why does SI think any of us give a rip about what Terrell Owens thinks should be done?</p>
<p>Mr. Vick should not play in the NFL, I contend. In the first place, his documented cruelty to animals should outrage decent people everywhere, regardless of how well he can run or pass a football. If that is not enough for you, do not forget that Mr. Vick not only participated in the torture and death of dogs for sport, but set and and ran a gambling ring for the express purpose or promoting the torture. The appropriate phrase here is "organized crime", because that is what was going on. </p>
<p>And to those who say Michael Vick paid his debt, I would counter that no, he merely served his sentence to the state. The debt he owes to the community that gave him the chance to live a privileged life of luxury simply because he could play a game remains unpaid, because he is not in fact contrite for staining his family honor, his team, or the integrity he claimed to own as a professional. The debt he owes to the animals he slaughtered for perverse amusement remains very much untouched.</p>
<p>There are consequences to every decision, and while I can accept that he will not spend more time in jail, it is not correct to say he "deserves" to get what he had before. A drug addict throws away his career without many people supporting him to get another chance, a drunk driver throws away his future and few indeed would pity him. Vick coldly chose to torment innocent animals for no better reason than a desire to enjoy their pain - in my book such a man is no man at all.</p>
<p>I would submit that there are a few known drug abusers and drunk drivers playing for the NFL. He who without sin can cast the first stone. It wont be me.</p>
<p>Is there some evidence that he's not contrite?</p>
<p>Casting stones would mean to punish Vick. I am not trying to punish him, but saying he does not deserve the privilege he threw away by acting the thug. In a way, Vick threw the first stone and is hoping it will not come back on him.</p>
<p>He endured the punishment that the law mandates. The NFL's problem in the Vick case is that the Commissioner has "forgiven" greater transgressions by players against society (namely, guns, assaults etc). Vick's crimes were awful and he initially lied about them. I'll probably not ever cheer for him but I don't support perpetual punishment just because my sensibilities were offended.</p>
<p>But it's not punishment, LakeWashington, to simply say - finally - 'no, you can be free and go about your life, but we choose not to bring you aboard this league again'. Vick does not deserve privilege and luxury, he certainly should not expect it.</p>