Give Michael Vick Another Chance

Being a native of Atlanta I have always been passionate about its sports teams. I have always been a fan of the Atlanta Falcons more than anything. In the early '80s under the coaching of Leman Bennett, the Falcons had a decent team, yet there was something missing. From around 1981 to about 1998, the Atlanta Falcons performance lacked the flare that would hold on to what was left of its dwindling fan base. All of this changed in 1999 when the Falcons signed then the first round drafts pick Michael Vick. This guy had the look, the talent, and the speed. He possessed all of the necessary attributes that the Falcons needed to emerge from worst to first. Michael Vick did not just become a household name but he also rekindled Atlanta fans lost team spirit.

In 2007, no fans were prepared for the events that would change the Atlanta Falcon organization forever. Michael Vick, the Atlanta Falcons young star quarterback was now facing federal dog fighting charges. All media outlets were overwhelming fans with information regarding the severity of his Michael Vicks's charges. It was almost as if the media had made him guilty until proven innocent. He was tried and convicted on the dog fighting charges. Michael Vick was sentenced to serve 2 years in a federal prison. After he completed his sentence at a federal halfway house, he was conditionally reinstated back in the NFL. The big question was who will take a chance signing Michael Vick? Many organizations considered him a major liability. The question was answered several weeks ago when newsbreaks informed all of us that Michael Vick would be going to the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia. Now many critics have surfaced.

Many of them believe that he does not deserve to play in the NFL. Now we cannot minimize the many horrifying acts of cruelty that were done to all of those dogs involved in the fighting ring, but everybody deserves a second chance including Michael Vick. All of us have done things that could have landed us in jail and hell but we were spared. We too were given second chances. Michael Vick has said on many occasions that he is regretful for the events that took place. We forgave Oliver North, Patty Hearst, Bill Clinton, and Bill Imus only to name a few. Now that Michael Vick has been given a second chance, it is up to him to prove his critics wrong. If he does something to jeopardize this opportunity that he has been given to redefine himself I am almost certain that he will not be given a third chance.