What Were the Philadelphia Eagles Thinking in Signing Michael Vick ?
I know this topic is not related to real estate, but it is such a sensitive topic for both myself and the City of
Philadelphia, I felt compelled to write this. I am still in shock as are many folks about this decision from the Eagles Management to sign Micheal Vick. I was on Facebook that night when it was announced and saw the stream of posts of many folks indicating they were not going to support the Eagles this year, selling their season tickets, or were just in disgust and shock. Many of the people at the preseason game left when it was announced that night.
What was the management thinking ? Did they not learn anything from the media circus show with Terrell Owens ? If that was a circus show, I can only imagine what this will be. More importantly though and the heart of this post is "WHY"? . Why sign this guy ? His actions were horrid and despicable. There are consequences to those actions. From a morality view, what kind of message does this send to the children in Philadelphia and all of society ? That you can live the violent, criminal life, go to jail and become a felon and still come out and make $1.6 million your first year and then over $5 million the second ?
"Everyone deserves a second chance" is the broken record rationalization chant to support Vick. I agree with second chances. But you know what ? He has a second chance... he is out of jail !!! He has his whole life to grow and build his character. Sometimes though you do not get that second chance in a particular career. So maybe this post should have been "What was the NFL thinking ? " . Is it so much about money and selling tickets and number 7 jerseys that they reinstated him ? Pete Rose is still banned from baseball and his crime was victimless. What about doctors, stockbrokers, realtors, lawyers who screw up and lose their license ? Chances are they can never come back to the industry. So with the crimes that this felon has committed, why did the NFL reinstate him in the first place ? Will the NFL become the next rehabilitation clinic ?
Winning ! Is it all about winning for the Eagles ? If so, how come they did not keep Terrell Owens ? Yes, he was a major distraction, but he was not a felon or a murderer or God's creatures. Is Michael Vick so fantastic that you must sign him in the pursuit of winning ? Does Andy Reid really want another project ? Not to be harsh, but even his sons have had a number of chances and are in and out of the legal system for their own issues with drugs and the law. Would the Eagles sign his sons to a management position ?
The Eagles management really lowered the bar on this one and sent a horrible message to our youth. Our City is already going through enough turmoil as it is. Why not just pass ? Let some other team deal with it. And so close to his criminal ways in Virgina ? The best team may have been on the West Coast away from where he committed his crimes. Or in reality, the best team would have been in Europe. There are plenty of second chances there.
My wife Stephanie has already decided to not watch the Eagles at all this year. It will be interesting to see if other commentors and the media are right in that "over time, they will forget about the dogs".
I know I will not forget. Will you ?
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