I'm a moderate NFL fan. I watch when I can, but I don't have my cheese-head and lucky jersey on when the Packers play. But do not take the following statements as a Pro-NFL rant.
Michael Vick should be allowed to resume playing in the NFL as an athlete under normal conditions. Why?
The judicial system sought fit to punish him by imprisonment for 2 years. I'm not going to argue whether or not the sentence was fair, but he served the time he was given. When someone goes to prison, we (the people) put justice in the hands of the courts. The courts decided that 2 years was due for Vick's involvement in the dog-fighting conspiracy.
So then why does the NFL deem it neccessary to suspend Vick for the first 4 games?
Public response. The people didn't get to make an impact on how long Vick was imprisoned, else he may have received more/less time. So the NFL attempts to save face by allowing Vick to play (making sports fans happy), but stifling his opportunity (making animal endorsers happy).
At the end of the day, the man served his time, now let him serve a team, as an athlete. All the hate and infamy is not going to erase what he has done, how he has paid for it, and what he plans to do to continue his longevity as a sports entertainer.
Live.In.Peace.
