Rodger Goodell, NFL commisioner has a decision to make. In many ways its a tough decision, should he allow Michael Vick who was convicted on bankrolling a dog-fighting organization, the chance to resume what he is most gifted at doing, playing football. The fact Vick served a 20 month sentence should be enough incentive that he has “learned his lesson”, but Rodger Goodell wants to rid the NFL of any headcases. But lets not forget it is FOOTBALL we are talking about, a sport where concussions and strecthers run rampant. If 20 months in prison isnt enough time to be fully exonerated by the public for dog-fighting, how much time is nessecary. And if reinstated Vick faces protesters that feel it nessecary to berate an ex-con, but sadly where absent when other NFL players had run-ins with law enforcement….example
St. Louis Rams linebacker Leonard Little for instance. After leaving a birthday party drunk in 1998, Little crashed into and killed Susan Gutweiler in St. Louis, MO. When tested, his blood alcohol level measured 0.19 percent, a level that exceeds the statutory level of intoxication of 0.08 in the state of Missouri. Little received 90 days in jail, four years probation and 1000 hours of community service.
Six years later, in 2004, Little was again arrested for drunk driving and speeding. The probable cause statement filed by police said Little had bloodshot and watery eyes, smelled of alcohol and failed three sobriety tests. Because of Little’s 1999 guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter in his drunken-driving crash case, prosecutors charged him as a persistent offender. This made it a felony case. Little was acquitted of driving while intoxicated, but was convicted only of the misdemeanor speeding charge.
This example isnt to compare the killing of a human to a killing of a dog, but the scrutiny that falls on Vick far outweighs what Little dealt with. Of course Michael Vick was a much more popular figure and the fact he played a posistion(quarterback) that was always surrounded by a racial cloud, could be the reason for so much negativity. But he served his time, he has kids, and a huge debt to the Atlanta Falcons. Let Vick play, and when he does get the chance lets all focus on the present and not what he has already paid dearly for.
