A Second Chance For Michael Vick?

Ex-NFL Player Tony Mandarich Weighs Into The Debate

(CBS)  This column was written by Tony Mandarich, who, after a highly successful college football career at Michigan State University, was the second player selected in the 1989 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers. He now co-owns Mandarich LLC, a national Internet marketing services company.

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In the NFL, you can't take things for granted. You shouldn't expect to coast along on past glories or some bloated sense of your ego or your own abilities. There are no shortcuts to the end zone. Sometimes, just as you're running down what you think is an open field, a hard hit from a defensive back sends you limping to the sidelines.

The same things are true in life, and Michael Vick is learning that the hard way. Well, I certainly hope he is learning.

Michael Vick was just released from his 23 month prison sentence, a just punishment for a cruel and inhumane crime. As a longtime pet owner, I was personally offended at the brutal acts he committed. As a former NFL player and, more importantly, a human being who has made plenty of mistakes myself, I wish him the best of luck on his journey to redemption.

Certainly no one would dispute that Michael Vick's actions were unconscionable and illegal. People all across the country were rightly outraged - my wife would certainly never allow him near our dogs.

As time passed, and as the end of his sentence approached, an inevitable question began to be asked more and more often: "Should Vick be allowed to play in the NFL again?"

I don't believe you can separate the athlete from the man. Deciding whether he deserves another chance as a football player is tied to deciding whether he deserves another chance to be a functioning member of society. I believe he should be given the chance to be both.

My struggles with steroids, drugs, and alcohol precipitated my own downfall in the NFL. While I didn't have to be incarcerated, on a personal level I am just as guilty of violating a sense of decency toward the league, the fans, and, most importantly, myself and my loved ones.

Atoning for my mistakes in my own mind and heart, and to my family, were the first things I did. I believe that should be a priority for Michael as well. You can't rebuild a house on a shaky foundation, so moving ahead, Michael Vick will only have a chance at football if he secures his own identity as a grounded, humble human being first. A fall from grace in professional sports often ends in a debilitating thud.

Climbing back up was no easy task for me, but with perseverance and the support of others I was able to do so. Making the return back onto the field was one of the greatest accomplishments of my life. After all, what people accomplish can be impressive, but what they overcome is the true measure of the being.

Don't get me wrong; I’m not saying we should give Michael Vick a free pass. To the person that much is given, much is expected. To the person that much is given, and by whom much has been spoiled, even more should be expected. Professional athletes are larger than life, both in their physical and social stature, and they seem to do things physically impossible for most people. Every touchdown pass Michael Vick has thrown was viewed by millions and recorded for posterity in the ESPN archives.

And, just as his every achievement was magnified, his mistakes off the field will be more scrutinized. There will continue to be a magnifying glass held over his actions. He now has an opportunity to redeem himself and serve his community in a way most others who have made the same mistakes cannot.

I believe it's not just an opportunity for him, but a responsibility.

Football players are just like everybody else - we put our pants on one leg at a time.

So what do you do when you're knocked down and on the sidelines, feeling like you've disappointed yourself and the people around you, with a chorus of boos raining down from the crowd? You get up, line up with your team, work hard on the next play and do it right. Then, just maybe, the fans will come around, your teammates will rally around you, and you'll start to make a difference. That's the best Michael Vick can expect and, at the very least, we should give him the opportunity to expect that of himself.

He has influenced millions by his play on the field; he has the opportunity to influence many more millions by doing the right things now.

[displeased]

Vick will walk just like many child predators do!!! Our justice system sucks!
Posted by 1966-1967

I agree that our justice system sucks but Vick isn't just walking away. He spent two years in jail, more time than most entertainers get.

[1966-1967]

You have how much money? Enough to kill dogs for fun! How about hurting humans for fun? Vick will walk just like many child predators do!!! Our justice system sucks!

[dwilson59]

I remember watching Tony every week and waht he is saying is true. Vic has the opertunity to teach so many young kids and others. I see him going to the Raiders

[displeased]

we're supposed to forgive and forget, and let him get on with the life he, by his own actions, screwed up?
Posted by whatsup49

That is the purpose of the justice system. I respect pro's athletic abilities, but I certainly don't idolize them, even when I was a child. I'm not sure if that's normal behavior or not. And playing sports has been a huge part of my life.

[whatsup49]

your actions did not cause the deaths of anyone or anything. vick's actions did. he used dogs to quench his thirst for blood. we're supposed to forgive and forget, and let him get on with the life he, by his own actions, screwed up? no no no no no. AND NO. if vick returns to the nfl, i'm sure the team he lands on will find itself with a media/public relations fiasco. there will be people protesting his return, and people will boycot companies who advertise their goods during games he plays in. vick needs to find another line of work. if he has an education, he needs to use that to find something other that football, where jocks are idolized by fans, including children. if he has no education to fall back on, go back to school, get a degree and find something else to do. he does not deserve the life he once had, he threw it all away when he started fighting dogs, and then lied about it.

[ajptdad]

Penalties for breaking laws typically do not include restrictions that you can not return to your former line of work. Vick is a professional football player. Public opinion has already established the punishment he had to pay to society. Is it not a violation of constitutional rights for his employer (the NFL) to use his criminal record as a means to prohibit him from continuing his profession? Unless I am mistaken there is no other professional football league for Mr. Vick to participate in and the NFL is located in the United States. Public opinion may not favor a person who profits from the slaughter of dogs participating in professional football, but professional football may not be able to legally stop any member team from lawfully hiring Mr. Vick.
In the end, if Mr. Vick ceases to participate in dog fights there is no evidence that he has changed his values...Judging Mr. Vick by what he does, good or otherwise, is wrong. Accepting him for what he is, what he be, is all we can do as equally capable humans.

[kerry4ever]

What I always dislike about these tales of redemption is the acting that eveyone has to go along with. Most of the statements are drafted by lawyers, on a nice retainer, and then we have the various sports figures and animal rights groups showboating to get their pictures in the paper and moralise about Vick. I would like if just once someone would say "I've served my sentence. Please spare me having to express false contrition as part of my parole. I will never do such an offence again but I'm not going to turn into Mother Theresa. Now hand me the Jack Daniels!"

[kennyrodgers]

I just feel that very few teams are going to take that big a risk by antagonizing PETA and having a public relations disaster to go out and hire a quarterback who wasn't really that good in Atlanta.

[Henri_Rochard]

Anyone who wants can hire Michael Vick. If an NFL team hires him, I'll stop watching the NFL.

My beef with Vick is not so much about fighting dogs against other fighting dogs.

I deplore Michael Vick for throwing family pet-type dogs in the ring with fighting dogs and laughing as the family pets were mauled to death. I think of my Springer Spaniel getting mauled like that and it makes me sick.

So go ahead Oakland Raiders (or whomever) and put Vick on your roster. I'll be tuning the NFL out for good. And maybe even write a letter or two to some of its more responsible sponsors.

[CenturionPilot]

I hated what Michael Vick did to those dogs. But the whole basis of our justice system is that when a person has paid his or her debt to society, they deserve a chance to put mistakes behind them. So as long as Vick has served his prison time (which he has) and does not own dogs (I presume he doesn't), then his debt is paid and he deserves to get on with his life. If that includes the NFL, so be it.

[6jadins]

Tony,
I was born and raised in Green Bay, so I was one of those fans who was disappointed by your steroid use. But I am thrilled to read this article and see that you've rebounded from all that. I'm very proud of what you've overcome and accomplished, and I agree that we ought to give Vick a chance to redeem himself and become a positive influence for others. I pray that he seizes the opportunity to turn himself around whether it's on the field or not.