ESPN: Vick to be reinstated, suspended 4 games

It will not affect the 2009 season at all because he is going to go to a desperate team who doesn't have a real chance anyways. He will come, sell some tickets, and play at his same mediocre caliber. LOSER

Fine by me...obviously what he did was horrible... but he lost all of his money, possessions, completely in debt and spent time in prison, he will have to prove himself for the rest of his life in the public eye...etc etc etc He's been punished and I believe he should be able to play this season.

I think that more than likely a team is going to pick him up and use him in a wild cat system. Raiders here he comes. Either this or he is going to become an "Slash" player that isn't going to have a role. Al'a Kordel Stewart. Thank goodness the Seahawks value character! I would not be happy if they picked him up. The real issue though with Vick, is going to be "Is he willing to play for league minimum?" I really can't see him settling. I can see him wanting to get another 100 million dollar contract and not wanting to listen to any one tell him other wise. Poor diluted man. *Wispers* Perfect for Al and the Raiders!

The event is now behind him, he has paid more dues than most of us would endure in a life time.

He deserves a second chance not only because he paid his dues, but also because the NFL says it values character and fairness. There is no higher measure of character and fairness than allowing an opportunity for recovery.

Also being a Miami fan, I've seen years of FUD on Ricky Williams. He's shown folks can change and salvage their career. He's now back in the graces of the fan base and an inspiration story.

Who's to say Michael Vick can't do the same.

Tom, I think you see Vick as you want to see him... I seriously doubt he will decide NOT to play if the contact isn't a big one.

I do foresee him getting more than the league minimum, but in an incentive laden contract.

People do make mistakes, and they do learn from their pasts. I believe he has and will, and is a better man for it than many Seahawks and many of us wearing #12, though the transgressions of many of us are not nearly as blatantly placed in the public eye.

That isn't to say what he did was right. But his words and actions since then have appeared to be sincere.

Do you know who Susan Gutweiler was? Ask her son, Michael. She was the lady struck and killed by a drunk Leonard Little.

Little later got tagged with a 2nd DUI. Here's the thing. How long has Vick been in jail? Here is Little's punishment: "after copping a plea to involuntary manslaughter, he drew a 90-day sentence in the city workhouse, four years probation and 1,000 hours of community service. The NFL suspended him for eight games in 1999, but life went on and in 2002 the St. Louis Rams re-worked Little's contract, signing him to a five-year, $17.5 million deal." --Mike Fish SI

In other words, Michael Vick, raised where dog fighting is a prevalent pastime by many folks (right or wrong) was punished by a broader sense of cultural anger. But Leonard Little sat 8 games and spent less time in jail.

For broadsiding someone.

I'm not saying what Vick did is right. I am saying what happened in regard to Little was pretty minimal in comparison, and yet I think the crime was much more significant.

Be a celebrity athlete and treat animals (horribly) wrong? Spend 2 years in jail and have the hatred of a nation.

"Accidentally" kill someone while drunk? Get 90 days in jail.

The man deserves a 2nd chance, and if we didn't have Seneca and Hass and too many other "new" things happening, I would strongly consider him here... if-- BIG IF-- he passed his interviews and meet-and-greet's with Mora, Ruskell and his teammates...

whiskey - well said my man, i am in your corner, couldnt havent said any better. the man paid his dues, so why all the anger against him.

he paid his dues to society, the guy deserves a second chance

F' him!!!I don't care how munch money he lost. He killed dogs by slamming them to the ground. He had his chance and BLEW IT! Mike Vick has/should leave the building...Heartless D'bag. :angry:

Whiskey,
I guess I don't have a problem with him being in the NFL. In fact I love watching him play. I would just rather not have him with the seahawks. I also believe that he has paid his dues to society. Granted, I have a strong feeling that this won't be the last time he gets in trouble with the law.
as for leonard little. I do believe that he should have had considerable more time in jail for his actions. I also think that any one that is dumb enough to get a second DUI after killing some one deserves to stay in prison for a very long time.

I still think he will land in
Seattle sooner or later.

Ruskell does have a soft spot for talent.

Two words.....return specialist.

I agree with Whiskey on Vick time served time for a second chance.im not gonna condone what happened with Donte Stallworth either but after reading the police report if Stallworth wouldn't of had alcohol in his system the whole accident would of been the victims fault that man screwed up and ran in front of his vehicle recklessly that is why his family settled cause if Stallworth or you me or anybody had hit him in the circumstances all of us would be cleared.What Lenornard Little did was form of murder and what Lenoard Little did was a form of murder and second he almost did it twice so i think with Vick serving his time and staying out of trouble he ultimately deserves a second chance possibly with the Rams you heard it here first...

my new nickname is repeat...

He should rely on his "college education". He must know more than dog fighting and football....He's a
D'BAG!!

I for one, i'm pretty excited to see Vick return to the NFL (seeing him play is another thing). There's always been a buzz surrounding Michael Vick whenever he and the falcons came to town. He's an incredible talent with skill sets all his own.

He's paid his dues more than anybody else would in his same situation. The world is ready to see what kind of man Michael Vick can be through humility and regret. Hopefully he can capitalize on this golden second chance and make the best of it. I'm rooting for the guy.

he'd be ten folds a better half back then the ones we got now

I wouldn't mind seeing him in Seattle, Vick is probably still better now than Hass ever was during his prime. Mora could put the band back together, Atlanta was not as lucky as the Hawks were this decade where the West title comes delivered on a silver platter, Mora's Falcons were in a tough division.

I don't understand the four game suspension. He is currently under indefinite suspension, so when he is deemed to have paid his debt to society and the league you reinstate him and there you go. The four games seem pointless.

Steve -- I agree with you; its just another case of Goodell playing the PR game. I'd be shocked if he didn't announce a 36 game suspension, with 32 of those already served...

HawkOn -- Vick better than Hass in his prime?

Vick's career completion percentage is 53.8%, never had more than 3,000 yards passing, averaged 171 passing yards per start over his career... Add in rushing and he averages 229 yards from scrimmage per game. That's below Hasselbeck's 253 / game in 2007.

Outside of the stats, Vick lacks the ability to run a game. He is not the leader of the team, he is the team. Hasselbeck can put the team on his back, as he did in 2007, and carry them where they need to go.

Vick is fun to watch and exciting to see do his thing, but ultimately, he's not a true starting quarterback in the mold that we, or most teams, would want.

After missing the time he's already missed, the 4 game suspension doesn't make sense.

However, it did occur to me it would be a good way to ensure he wasn't rushed onto the field if he were signed b/w now and season start. I'd imaging the league wants to ensure there is more time for conditioning and getting him reacclimated. IDK, wild a$$ guess anyways.

He's paid his debt and served his time. If this is the line of work he chooses to pursue and that employer(the NFL) will have him, then that's that.

I do not think that Vick will be welcome in Seahawk Blue. TR is not enthusiastic about signing or retaining players with legal troubles, i.e. K-Rob and Rocky.

OTOH, Lofa and Schmitt's DUIs have not had that sort of effect. But, no one came to harm because of their poor judgement, unlike Rocky (and i feel pretty sure that it was K-Rob who was involved in the locker-room gun incident).

:dry: I'd still keep Hass in his prime,
than the booing roadshow that would be the Hawks. Chemistry people!
And also i love dogs, just because a guy can play football doesn't give you a free pass to be a marketable millionaire. Let him go back and see who his true friends are, the ones who sponged off him for years, make him have to get a real job like the rest of us.

Overall it seems like a pretty fair deal to me. I was expecting a suspension closer to half the season, but 4 games sends a pretty clear message and still allows him a fair chance to get picked up this season.

I'm pretty big on second chances, so my feeling is that he has paid his dues to society and now he pays is dues to the NFL and after that can get back to work. Whether or not any team wants him is a different question, but he will have a chance.

I agree montanamike. He had his chance. To blow it like that when so many people and fans are out of work is unforgivable. Football is better off without him. But I wish him luck in the real world.

Hass is a great guy and I definately will always support, but on the other hand will not praise every player just because their wearing Seahawk blue.
Hass has never been an elite QB and I do not believe he ever carried the Hawks on his back. Shaun Alexander is the only Seahawk who has ever carried the team and Shaun carried the Hawks to their only Super Bowl in 2005 in a weak NFC which Hasselbeck dropped the ball for the Hawks regardless of how many are still whining about the refs. Seattle has never had an "A" list quarterback but Hass has been a very popular "B" list performer. Hass has taken his talent as far as possible with respect. I don't like to see the Hawks settle for second best.
I would love to see Seattle pick up a real stud at QB in the near future. We won't enjoy the luxury of this lame division and soft NFC much longer.

I want to thank the blogger very much not only for this post but also for his all previous efforts. I found thesimpleyoga.com to be greatly interesting. May I link to your post?I will keep your article in my zenith watches replica.