PFT: Words of wisdom from... M. Irvin? Vick should be given another chance to play

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by Mike Florio on July 21, 2009 9:04 AM ET
We'll admit that we gave Michael Irvin a hard time during his stint at ESPN. But we'll also admit that we were moved by his Hall of Fame acceptance speech from 2007, and that we have viewed him in a much different light since then.

He is now in danger of making it onto our short list of living heroes, based on his recent appearance on NFL Network's Total Access.

Despite his own bad behavior during his playing days (or possibly because of it), Irvin speaks with authority and wisdom when he discusses the current state of bad behavior in the NFL, and Commissioner Roger Goodell's role in trying to minimize it.

Irvin particularly is close to earning a spot on the list of men we deeply admire because, unlike so many other former players, he understands the difference between a mistake and a lifestyle.

Irvin pointed out that he uses the term "bad decisions," not "mistakes," because no one accidentally does something they shouldn't do.

And he's right. And we hope he keeps sending that message to anyone who'll listen, regardless of whether they play in the NFL.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Irvin: Vick should be given another chance to play in NFL
Associated Press


Video Link: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d81163ba2/Should-Vick-be-reinstated


Now that Michael Vick has finished a 23-month federal sentence for dogfighting, he shouldn't have to wait too much longer to return to the NFL, Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin said Monday.

"The law has spoken and spoken severely," Irvin told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "If the commissioner says he's not allowed back in, then how is that fair?"

To emphasize his point, Irvin compared the NFL's indefinite suspensions of Vick and Cleveland Browns receiver Donte' Stallworth. While Vick was punished for nearly two years, Stallworth served 24 days of a 30-day jail sentence for pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter.



"The law spoke with Donte', but he's already been in and out of jail," said Irvin, who also appeared on NFL Network's NFL Total Access on Monday. "There still has to be a penalty with Donte' when it comes to the NFL. ... Michael Vick has already served his penalty."

Irvin understands Stallworth's plight because something similar happened to him. In 1996, Irvin pleaded no contest to drug charges and avoided any jail time, but he still was suspended for five games.

Vick must convince NFL commissioner Roger Goodell of his readiness to return. Irvin said there should be a series of well-publicized meetings and, if all goes well, the suspension should be lifted a few weeks before the regular season opens.

"I don't think it should happen right away because you don't want to taint the beginning of the football season with the comeback of Michael Vick," said Irvin, who hosts a radio show in Dallas and a reality television show that concluded Monday night. "Right now you've got the comeback of Brett Favre, and you've got the comeback of Tom Brady. You've got to allow that stuff time to pass through. Then, sometime in mid-August, then you work Michael Vick in."

Vick will need to find a team because the Atlanta Falcons let him go in June. Irvin suggested that Vick would fit in great as a Wildcat specialist for the New England Patriots, working under the watchful eye of coach Bill Belichick.

'Wildcat' a wild card for Vick
Patriots coach Bill Belichick is looking at the spread offense, so could QB Michael Vick be part of the equation? Jamie Dukes explores how Vick might fit in New England. More ... "For Michael Vick's sake, he needs to be on a strong team with strong leadership ability -- a Belichick team, a (Bill) Parcells team," Irvin said, noting that wide receiver Randy Moss hasn't drawn many bad headlines since he began playing for Belichick in New England.

As for that Wildcat role, Irvin said Belichick likely will be hatching something like that anyway to spring on the Miami Dolphins in revenge for their success with the Wildcat against the Patriots last season.

"Belichick is not the kind of guy who says, 'You got me. I'll forget it.'" Irvin said. "How better to get back at them than to split Tom Brady out wide and let Michael Vick take the snap?"

Irvin also expects Vick to still be elusive -- maybe not as much as before but still better than anyone else.

"Michael Vick was 10 steps ahead of every quarterback when it came to running the ball. Maybe now he's only three steps ahead," Irvin said. "He's still enormously different."

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

 

[tunahelper]

Posted by Mike Florio on July 21, 2009 9:04 AM ET
We'll admit that we gave Michael Irvin a hard time during his stint at ESPN. But we'll also admit that we were moved by his Hall of Fame acceptance speech from 2007, and that we have viewed him in a much different light since then.

He is now in danger of making it onto our short list of living heroes, based on his recent appearance on NFL Network's Total Access.

Despite his own bad behavior during his playing days (or possibly because of it), Irvin speaks with authority and wisdom when he discusses the current state of bad behavior in the NFL, and Commissioner Roger Goodell's role in trying to minimize it.

Irvin particularly is close to earning a spot on the list of men we deeply admire because, unlike so many other former players, he understands the difference between a mistake and a lifestyle.

Irvin pointed out that he uses the term "bad decisions," not "mistakes," because no one accidentally does something they shouldn't do.

And he's right. And we hope he keeps sending that message to anyone who'll listen, regardless of whether they play in the NFL.

Irvin I am glad he was a Cowboy, its I think he is marketing himself. I also dont blame him, but I am not going to be dumb enough to buy it.

 

[Alexander]

Irvin pointed out that he uses the term "bad decisions," not "mistakes," because no one accidentally does something they shouldn't do.

He's absolutely right.

There is always a choice.

I hope Matt Jones was listening.

 

[Hostile]

I can't stand Michael Vick, but Irvin is right.

I wouldn't sign him if I were an NFL Owner though. It will be a PR nightmare. You think the animal rights special interest groups are done with him? You don't know the real world. He's the perfect foil. If he had been an O-lineman instead of a QB they wouldn't be near as amped to go on the attack. High profile player means spotlight on their cause.

 

[THUMPER]

People do not have a "RIGHT" to play in the NFL, it is a privilege. No one is keeping Michael Vick from pursuing a professional football career in the CFL, Arena League, the new UFL, or any of a hundred semi-pro leagues around the country.

He has all kinds of opportunities if he wants to pursue them but no one in the NFL is going to offer him millions of dollars when he has shown such an utter lack of character, it is too big a risk.

If I had a felony conviction on my record it would be pretty darn difficult, if not impossible, for me to get a counseling job with a church or an PM job with a major corporation, yet people have the idea that because Vick is such an exceptional athlete that the NFL teams are somehow obligated to hire him regardless of the fact that he would be a HUGE financial risk to them.

Vick needs to humble himself and play in a lesser league for a while before any NFL team is going to seriously consider signing him. Being sorry for getting caught and wanting to get right back into the big money that set you up in the first place is NOT the way to go about getting healthy.

"I did my time and I'm all better now, I promise I'll never do it again. Now, give me millions of dollars." That is NOT how people get healthy. Go be humbled for a while, play in a lesser league or better yet go work in some other field for a while and learn what it means to be a man in this world.

Vick needs humility not millions of dollars.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I disagree.

I don't think anyone "deserves" a second chance.

I think would should be stated, is that Michael Vick and most people who make a mistake should be allowed to "accept" a second chance, if one is offered.

Right now, you have a lot of people who feel he shouldn't have the opportunity to accept a second chance by Roger Goodell and that is completely wrong.

I didn't think Michael Vick would ever play in the NFL but if he could get himself back into shape, I think he is better than some starters and definately better than alot of backups in the NFL.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

No, PETA is not done with Michael Vick. Michael Vick is the best thing that ever happened to PETA and these often times overzealous clowns are going to milk this for everything it is worth.

**Dang 11K posts FTW**

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

I can't stand PETA but in this case I hope they continue to go after Vick. What Vick did was disgusting. I think he'll get back into the NFL and I'll boo him every chance I get. Maybe he'll go to the Commanders. lol

 

[zrinkill]

Maybe he'll go to the Commanders. lol

I actually think that is real likely. I believe they will dump their guy after this year.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Uh oh. Michael called them bad decisions, and not mistakes. We better lock this topic up before a few posters wind up in this topic that were really upset over the fact that someone pointed out that bad decisions are not mistakes in another thread recently. We'll be back into one of those long debates about that one again.

 

[Doomsday101]

Vick paid his dues and I expect he will get reinstated I think 1 issue will be which team is willing to take the bad press for signing him. Face it in a country where people spend lots of money on pets and spoil pets who ever signs Vick will take some heat. I also think Vick may have to be willing to play another position because I don't see teams looking to him as QB given the fact he was having issues at the position before he got into trouble and now with a couple of years missed he will be that much further behind in his development as a QB.

 

[tyke1doe]

To some degree, these arguments about whether Vick deserves another chance are pointless. Either a team will take a chance on him or it won't.

That will solve the issue right there, unless Goodell says, "No, Michael, you cannot play anymore."

 

[tunahelper]

No, PETA is not done with Michael Vick. Michael Vick is the best thing that ever happened to PETA and these often times overzealous clowns are going to milk this for everything it is worth.

**Dang 11K posts FTW**

Vick's actions dont desrve a second opportunity to make millions.

He is a ignorant, dumb and cruel punk who should still be locked up. The two Vick brothers have proven themselves to be scum bags.

 

[Aikbach]

Vick won't quarterback again, he and Vince Young represent that simply putting an impressive athlete at quarterback will not mean victory at the NFL level.

 

[Doomsday101]

Vick won't quarterback again, he and Vince Young represent that simply putting an impressive athlete at quarterback will not mean victory at the NFL level.

True. Before Vick got in trouble I felt he was the best athlete in the NFL but less than a great QB. I think if he gets a chance back in the league it will be at another position

 

[Yeagermeister]

I couldn't care less if Vick gets back in to the NFL. Let him go to Canada and play.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Vick's actions dont desrve a second opportunity to make millions.

He is a ignorant, dumb and cruel punk who should still be locked up. The two Vick brothers have proven themselves to be scum bags.

Roger Goodell will decide that, not you.

 

[MaineBoy]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090720/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_vick_irvin_1

Nice one, Michael...obviously not a pet owner.....


"By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer Jaime Aron, Ap Sports Writer – Mon Jul 20, 7:59 pm ET
Now that Michael Vick has finished a 23-month federal sentence for dogfighting, he shouldn't have to wait too much longer to return to the NFL, Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin said Monday.

"The law has spoken and spoken severely," Irvin told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "If the commissioner says he's not allowed back in, then how is that fair?"

To emphasize his point, Irvin compared the NFL's indefinite suspensions of Vick and Browns receiver Donte' Stallworth. While Vick was punished for nearly two years, Stallworth served 24 days of a 30-day jail sentence for pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter.

"The law spoke with Donte', but he's already been in and out of jail," Irvin said. "There still has to be a penalty with Donte' when it comes to the NFL. ... Michael Vick has already served his penalty."

Irvin understands Stallworth's plight because something similar happened to him. In 1996, Irvin pleaded no contest to drug charges and avoided any jail time, but was still suspended for five games.

Vick must convince NFL commissioner Roger Goodell of his readiness to return. Irvin said there should be a series of well-publicized meetings and, if all goes well, the suspension should be lifted a few weeks before the regular season opens.

"I don't think it should happen right away because you don't want to taint the beginning of the football season with the comeback of Michael Vick," said Irvin, who hosts a radio show in Dallas and a reality television show that concluded Monday night. "Right now you've got the comeback of Brett Favre and you've got the comeback of Tom Brady. You've got to allow that stuff time to pass through. Then, sometime in mid-August, then you work Michael Vick in."

Vick will need to find a team because the Atlanta Falcons let him go in June. Irvin suggested that Vick would fit in great as a Wildcat specialist for the New England Patriots, working under the watchful eye of coach Bill Belichick.

"For Michael Vick's sake, he needs to be on a strong team with strong leadership ability — a Belichick team, a (Bill) Parcells team," Irvin said, noting that Randy Moss hasn't drawn many bad headlines since he began playing for Belichick.

As for that Wildcat role, Irvin said Belichick is likely to be hatching something like that anyway to spring on the Miami Dolphins in revenge for their success with the Wildcat against New England last season.

"Belichick is not the kind of guy who says, `You got me. I'll forget it.' How better to get back at them than to split Tom Brady out wide and let Michael Vick take the snap?" Irvin said.

Irvin also expects Vick to still be elusive. Maybe not as much as before, but still better than anyone else.

"Michael Vick was 10 steps ahead of every quarterback when it came to running the ball. Maybe now he's only three steps ahead," Irvin said. "He's still enormously different."

 

[DFWJC]

After a suspension, I would let him back in under a last chance scenerio. But we can let both Goodell and the market decide. I'm fine either way.