As the World of Michael Vick Turns

The Michael Vick saga has taken yet another odd turn this week. Just a week after a whole flurry of news regarding Vick’s transfer to another federal penitentiary, the former all star is making news again. Rumor has it that the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League have tendered a contract offer to the current convict. While this was big enough news as it is, the soap opera that involves Vick continued. Team owner Walter Robb fired back at the media and stated that he was completely unaware of the publicity stunt. Robb reiterated the he was an avid dog lover and would not allow his team to have anything to do with Vick and his convictions.

Probably the most comical part of the whole story was the contract offer itself. The contract offer made was a one year offered that followed the league standard. It was a simple $200 a week with a $50 bonus for each victory. We all know that Vick may be desperate to get back into football. We all know that he has lost all his wealth and his reputation is tarnished. Yet can you possibly imagine him playing football for less money than you can make pumping gas? There is a better chance that Vick will start his own Humane Treatment for Dogs charity before he starts playing for that kind of money. That is without even discussing whether or not Vick is still worth that kind of money.

Needless to say the offer has since been removed and Vick’s agents have refused to discuss the matter with the media or the Firebirds organization. Of course the Arena Football League is in some turmoil but how low can you go when it comes to trying to invoke some sort of publicity stunt? Let’s let the game speak for itself and leave football to what it should be; A game of passion and competition not a media circus. Michael Vick was an elite star just a few years ago. The Atlanta Falcons have moved on, the NFL has moved on and thus everyone else needs to follow. Vick needs to complete his prison term, donate time to charity and make more formal apologies for the mistakes he made. Only then should any team consider giving him the opportunity to prove his worth again on the football field.