Published: August 06, 2009 09:13 pm      

SPRUIL: Let Vick play

According to a poll released by Angus Ried Strategies, a polling and marketing research firm based out of Canada, almost half of Americans think former Atlanta Falcons star Michael Vick should not be allowed to play in the NFL.

However, a third of NFL fans would like to see Vick play for their team.

Younger fans would like to see him play, while 52 percent of male fans believe he has paid his debt and should be allowed back in the league.

I believe the man spent 23 months in the pen and deserves a shot. I understand Vick did some terrible things, but he served his time already. His reputation is damaged, and if he wants to put himself in front of millions of fans again, and a team is willing to give him a chance, let him do it.

Maybe I’m in the minority on this, but how much is too much. If a team wants Vick to play for them, he has to serve a five-game suspension before he can even take the field.

Gee, I hope Donte Stallworth gets at least that amount when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hands down his suspension. Stallworth killed a person. Vick killed dogs. Stallworth serves 24 days for DUI manslaughter. Vick serves 23 months in prison.

Where are our priorities these days?

I’m not a fan of Vick’s. I could care less if he’s not given a chance to play again. But that should be the team’s decision, not Roger Goodell’s. The guy has served his time, let him play already.

Players get in trouble, just like everyone else. Normal people lose jobs for their mistakes, but that doesn’t stop them from being able to apply for similar jobs. Less-paying jobs, than that in the NFL, of course.

Men were forgiving of Vick, women were not. According to the poll, 57 percent of women believe he should never be allowed to play again.

I will never understand dog fighting, how anyone can be so cruel to animals, but it appears Vick has learned his lesson. And if he hasn’t, if he gets in trouble again, then ban him from the league. This is a guy that had never got into trouble before this event.

So, why are there so many people that don’t believe in second chances when it comes to Vick?

It’s the money issue. If Vick worked a nine to five, nobody would know, nobody would care. People are jealous. Jealous of how athletes can make so much money playing a game. I agree, contracts today are ridiculous. But that’s the way it is.