Michael Vick Should Be Allowed Back into the NFL

Surrounding the release of former NFL star quarterback Michael Vick, blogs, sports enthusiasts and panelists have been debating whether or not the former Atlanta Falcon superstar should be allowed back in the NFL - now or in the near future. Before I give my personal opinion, let's revisit the reason why Michael Vick was incarcerated in the first place. In 2007, Michael Vick was arrested, charged and convicted of running an illegal dogfighting enterprise at his home in Virginia in which 4 pit bulls were reportedly brutally murdered after a defeat. Subsequently, Vick was suspended then banned from the NFL following his conviction.

Since then, Michael Vick has come to the brink of bankruptcy, been forced to pay back his signing bonus to the Atlanta Falcons and has also spent a little more than a year behind bars, vital time spent off the football field. Now released, fans and sports "experts" say that Michael Vick should not be allowed back into the NFL. Why? Because he killed some dogs? Don't get me wrong, what he did was not one of the best things he could have done but is it really that serious? Do the animal control not put down "kill" dogs if they bite their owners or attack someone viciously? Maybe their heads aren't slammed into the concrete until death but yet and still, the dogs are murdered.

But it seems that public opinion likes to switch up how they feel about certain celebrities and their activities. Case and point, bad boy Tommy Lee is often praised for his alcoholism, violent acts and public sexual exploits. Former R & B sensation Bobby Brown publicly used illegal drugs, was arrested and convicted of carrying a firearm and has been in court more times that I can count, not to mention aiding in the deterioration of one of musics brightest stars, Whitney Houston. Despite Bobby Browns repeated infractions with the law, the public does not say he should not record music, have a television show or perform publicly like the recent BET Awards. In addition, the self-proclaimed pied piper of R & B, R. Kelly has been accused of a crime far more worse than Michael Vick. R. Kelly has been accused on accounts of child molestation, child pornography and endangerment to a minor. Yet, his music continues to sell out, concerts sell out and everyone in music asks to collaborate with him. In my opinion, all these crimes are far worse than the one committed by Michael Vick.

Granted, R. Kelly and Tommy Lee were never convicted, that does not mean that they did not play a role in the crimes in which they were accused of. The point is, the public did not call for them to stop doing what they do best, which is entertain. When it comes down to it, that is all that should really matters. If these performers entertain us and do their jobs on the field then what is their off field activities any business of ours? Off the field activities should not come in between on the field affairs. Michael Vick served his time, suffered the fall from the public eye and has to live with his choices the rest of his life. Is that not what justice is? So why stop this man from playing the game he loves?

I think Michael Vick should be allowed back into the NFL, not because he is broke and out of work, but because he did what he was paid for-he performed and entertained us. Michael Vick singlehandedly revitalized a team that seemed not to have a prayer in the world and Michael Vick's absence has shown just how the team struggled without him. I say let him play, let Michael Vick back into the NFL. Did we tell Michael Phelps he can't swim anymore when the picture of him smoking marijuana surfaced? Did we tell Michael Jackson he couldn't moon walk anymore when he was accused of child molestation? Did we tell DMX he could rap anymore when he led police on a chase in a crowded airport parking lot? Or did we tell Laterell Sprewell he couldn't play basketball any longer when he choked his coach? How about Ron Artest? Did the NBA ban him for life after knocking out a fan in an all out brawl? Kobe and Shaquille O'Neal both cheated on their wives, adultery is a crime people, yet they still grace the basketball courts. Dozens of baseball stars have been tested positive for steroids, also a crime, but no one is banned from play. So why all the exclusion of Michael Vick and a few dogs?

I can go on forever mentioning worse infractions by NBA, NFL, and MLB athletes but I know I have made my point. Michael Vick committed a stupid crime, he paid his debt to society in every way a person could so let the man play.