Lisa Lange, the Senior VP for PETA, was on the Larry King Live television program discussing Michael Vick and his sigining with the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL. She discussed how Michael Vick had lied to PETA about his involvement and she even stated that PETA would consider picketing the Philadelphia Eagles. She further stated that she did not believe that Michael Vick deserved to sign a mutlimillion dollar contract with an NFL team.
Now for my commentary. What is Michael Vick supposed to do? Michael Vick went through the criminal justice system. He was sentenced to a prison term. He served 18 months in a prison, and then he finished his 23 month sentence by being on house arrest. Vick received no pay during all of this. He was forced to go into bankruptcy to help pay off his financial obligations.The man has paid his debt to society. Dogfighting is brutal, but come on. We are talking about the death of animals, not humans. If it had been a human he had mudered, he would hopefully still be in prison.
When someone commits a crime, once their debt is paid to society he or she should be allowed to seek an honest living. Vick has done this. He is a football player. He was involved in dogfighting. It isn’t as if he was a veterinarian. It may make sense that he would not be allowed to go back to that.
I am not a Philly fan by any stretch of the imagination. My Bucs have faced them several times in important games. I cannot stand the Eagles. I have a new respect for them though. They are doing what they feel could make them better. The NFC, especially the NFC East, is strong. The Cowboys and Giants will be difficult to beat. The Redskins could be tough, too. The division should be a real dog fight.