Michael Vick conditionally reinstated

[elcheato]

NEW YORK -- Michael Vick was conditionally reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday and could play in regular season games as early as October.

Vick can immediately participate in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games -- if he can find a team that will sign him. A number of teams have already said they would not.

Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely in August 2007 after the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback admitted bankrolling the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting operation. Goodell said then that Vick must show remorse and signs that he has changed before he would consider reinstating him.

Once the season begins, Vick may participate in all team activities except games, and Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6 (Oct. 18-19).

Goodell called a news conference for late Monday afternoon.

The announcement came after a busy first week of freedom for Vick, who met with union leaders and Goodell on consecutive days last week. His 23-month federal sentence ended when an electronic monitor was removed from his ankle early on July 20 at his home in Hampton, Va.

He met with DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association, last Tuesday and, on Wednesday, he sat down with Goodell at a security firm in Allendale, N.J.

Vick released a statement through agent Joel Segal.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to commissioner Goodell for allowing me to be readmitted to the National Football League," Vick said. "I fully understand that playing football in the NFL is a privilege, not a right, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity I have been given.

"As you can imagine, the last two years have given me time to re-evaluate my life, mature as an individual and fully understand the terrible mistakes I have made in the past and what type of life I must lead moving forward."

 

[playmaker7]

Now the question is...who signs him

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

Knowing my luck probably the Bengals but naww I don't think that'll happen but they have a tendency to sign players who like to visit jail which in Vicks case that was a bit different. It's hard saying who will sign him. Some team will and it's quite obvious Godell didn't care what Terrell Owens had to say.

 

[dez]

I heard the Pats where interested

But its good to see him get another chance

 

[.GR]

Miami? Wildcat?

 

[The Young One]

I hope he lands on NE and gets a ring.

 

[yezzir]

I hope he lands on NE and gets a ring.

thats a joke, NE will never sign him.

 

[The Young One]

And you know this how?

 

[yezzir]

i doubt any team gets him unless they're desperate. NE isn't desperate.

 

[dez]

Theyve already been said to be interested

 

[Lake Louise]

I actually agree with what TO said, for once. I see him going to a team. NE or Miami is what i`m thinking. Although, i`d rather see him in NE, because Miami has Henne, and he is close to getting his chance there.

 

[kplayer4sure]

i think this is a good move for him

 

[A.E]

Wake up & smell the doggy doo people...he can't play until Week 6? Clearly Goodell found a way to re-instate the man but keep him out of the league for another season. Not only is Vick already a pretty 'ballsy' signing as it is...but knowing you can't even utilize him until the 6th week of the season!

Vick had better keep working out & head North of the border. Take some snaps in the CFL and show something. I really cannot picture any team in the NFL that sees any value in Michael Vick right now. I also cannot picture any team that wants all of the negative attention that would come along with him.

 

[RipCity32]

A 6 game suspension is VERY unfair in my books.

I agree with what TO said on this the other day.

 

[A.E]

A 6 game suspension is VERY unfair in my books.

I agree with what TO said on this the other day.

Again, Goodell doesn't look the bad guy anymore but Vick can't play until week 6...which is a really weird number for a suspension. Typically 4 games is the one. Oh well, I didn't think Vick would see the NFL field in 2009 either way.

At this point Vick is like free agent Barry Bonds. The negativity & press surrounding him just outweighs anything positive he may be able to contribute to your team.

 

[The Young One]

He's gonna get signed. First off I could see some team signing him just for pr. Because wherever he plays their will be the anti vick fans attending games as well as the vick supporters.

 

[RipCity32]

It's sad to see this dog fighting thing completely blown out of proportion.

 

[A.E]

He's gonna get signed. First off I could see some team signing him just for pr. Because wherever he plays their will be the anti vick fans attending games as well as the vick supporters.

What franchise out there is wishing for negative PR? At the same time, I don't even think Vick is going to play if he does get signed. Forget about the Michael Vick that once beat Brett Farve in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, that guy is gone. The Michael Vick we will see is going to be much different than the one of old. Don't forget how much Vick's production & effectiveness sloped off after he was forced to throw more from the pocket.

We are talking about the NFL, the American 'juggernaut' of all Pro Sports. Not 1 of the 32 teams in the league needs Vick to attract attention in order to sell tickets.

 

[Rios15]

Vikings would be a possible destination I believe, he served his time and learned his lesson. He's sorry, move on. We've all done something bad we regret, right?

 

[o.0]

I'm just going to play devil's advocate here, considering that I have a fairly neutral stance on this whole Vick drama.

How does one know he's sorry? As far as everybody not named Michael Vick is concerned, all that we can gather from this is that he is sorry that he got caught, and sorry that he was punished - not for committing the crimes.

The fact that it was "just" dogfighting as some of you may look at it does NOT change the fact that it is a federal crime, and committing the crime led him to serve time behind bars.

With that said - Goodell's punishment is just, and if anything, it is simply a precautionary measure to give time for cooler heads to prevail.

As for him finding a team - he won't until 2010. What owner could possibly sell the idea to his wife/girlfriend? How about his kids? It's exactly a PR move, but the wrong way theyoungone. It's not as simple as saying it'll bring in more fans - because quite frankly plenty of fans come anyway (except for a few cases, and most/all of those have their franchise QBs) and simply getting a player does not bring in the extra "haters" as you might think.

So as far as I'm concerned, I agree with AE on his verdict that Vick should/will go to the CFL for at least this season, and only after that can he even seek to sign with an NFL team.

Now for some lightheartedness - I know one team it'd be funny to see him play for; the dog pound in Cleveland