Missing the Point on Vick
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Missing the Point on Vick
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH -- Now that I've had time to read the GQ Michael Vick article, while loitering endlessly about the tarmac on a USAirways regional jet, I'm surprised.
Surprised that the fuss, as far as I can tell from Twitter and a few emails, is about the part where Vick said he initially didn't want to come to the Eagles, where he would be the third quarterback in that 2009 season, that he thought Cincinnati and Buffalo might be better options.
In some quarters, this is being taken as Roger Goodell taking a Pro Bowl quarterback away from the poor Bengals or Bills. I think that's silly.
First, as Vick said in the statement he was forced to release today, he never said in the story that Goodell insisted he sign with the Eagles. If you recall the situation in '09, Vick's primary advisor was Tony Dungy, who had a relationship with Andy Reid he might not have had with a lot of other coaches. Other key advice came from agent Joel Segal, who also is pretty close to Eagles management. Also, Vick was not a hot commodity, coming out of prison. There was talk he might have to play in the UFL to get another NFL opportunity.
"I did speak with many people, but the decision to sign in Philadelphia was based on my discussions with my agent, my family, and with coach Reid," Vick's statement today said. "After those discussions, it became clear to me that this was the place I wanted to play ... The commissioner never told me to sign or not sign with particular teams."
The NFL also released a statement, from spokesman Greg Aiello: "Michael Vick's decision on where to play to put himself in the best position to succeeed was entirely his own. Commissioner Goodell obviously met and spoke to Michael and his representatives as part of his decision on whether to reinstate Michael and on what terms. But the commissioner would never steer players to or away from particular teams and did not do so in this case."
OK, now that's settled, on to the real reason I'm surprised. It's because this piece in GQ is not a story about whether Vick could have ended up with the Bengals or the Bills. It's a story about how blacks and whites interpret the Vick saga differently -- a topic I have addressed, as well -- and beyond that, how Vick's public contrition might not be the entire scope of his complicated feelings about the dogfighting conviction that landed him in federal prison.
That's way more interesting to me than who might have had a hand in what decision two years ago. Especially since I still say, any team that wanted Michael Vick could've had him after the '09 season for any kind of decent offer, like, a third-round draft pick, whether the Eagles are willing to admit that now or not.
If you've ever been to any of those inner city rec centers where Vick often speaks, the vibe is not "let's listen to this man explain to us why he hurt those dogs." Vick doesn't spend a lot of time on that. The centers are usually packed to the rafters with people who've come to celebrate Vick as a beacon of hope for them -- a black man the whites sent to prison, whose money was taken away, but who has persevered and triumphed. Frankly, that's the storyline that netted Vick the Eagles' Ed Block Courage Award, voted by his (mostly black) teammates) in '09, that white folks were so upset about.
What Will Leitch, the author of the GQ piece, gets at better than anyone else has so far is how this might also be ithe storyline Vick believes, more or less, and not so much the one about how he had to be shown the error of his ways and taught a painful lesson.
I'm willing to bet we have not seen the end of the exploring of this topic, as Vick prepares to lead the new-look Eagles onto centerstage in the NFL of 2011. And hey, if we're going to have a controversy, let's have a controversy over stuff that matters, not over "what ifs."
The most important piece of information that came out of his interview with GQ is that the top administrator of the most profitable and powerful sports league in America is using his influence to "steer" players away from small-market teams. You can try to spin the story however you want, but the fact is that there is an appearance of impropriety on the part of Goddell with how Vick ended up in Philly. When the most powerful person in the NFL, who incidentally has the ability to permit you to play/not play that year, recommends that you go to one team over another, you're probably going to let him "steer" you.— drkennethnoisewater- Why so angry.....Vick is a good story all around... just enjoy it...— Fred B.
- There are haters of every color! It's why the world is so messed up!— fred13
Comment removed.- @allworld2: agreed. With some type of accountability the Internet would be a better place.— gho_matt
- you will never know what/how Vick feels unless you been in his shoes. But from a society standpoint, he did the crime and paid his time. Why do people care so much about what Vick is as a human being (as if they are all perfect)? He is a football player, what he does off the field means very little to me. As long as he is electric on Sundays (Occasionally on Sat, Mon and Thur), then I am satisfied.— penncrow19
- I am so tired of all this...JUST WIN SOMETHING ALREADY!!! The NFL figured the smoke and mirrors out at the end of the year and the Eagles better adjust or they are cooked. I just read that King Dunlap is starting tonight at LT??? Are you kidding me??? A rookie MLB??? I dont care what his last name is, that is dangerous. Will Samuel be the nickel corner??? He cant tackle my 11 year old daughter. Tight ends are going to eat this team alive. The heat is on and Andy doesnt really make in game decisions very well. Washburn might be God, but the reason they dont pay line coaches all that much is because they dont win superbowls. Dream Team??? Does anyone else see the holes in this roster besides me??? Do I like what Vick has done personally, hell no, but someone much higher than me is going to ultimatley judge him. I will never root for him, and if the Eagles do win SOMETHING, my joy will be very much tempered. I am a rabid Phillies and Flyers fan, and football has been taken from me because of this. But for all of you that still sit in 15 degrees watching these games, I hope you get what you want out of it all.— amass1972
- Vick belongs behind bars with all the other animals. Also if anybody doesn't agree with me, YOU ARE A RACIST. How do you like that!— neddyflanders
- If Ben Roethlisberger was caught doing what Vick was caught doing, and if Vick was accused of what Ben was accused of, the punishments would have been exactly the same: Ben would have been suspended four four games, and Michael Vick would have gone to prison. It's that simple.
— andrewfrombrooklyn - Fortunately for the world, you are completely incorrect. — staup640
- This comment has been deleted.— MoRacker
- Funny but I thought football was a game. Any man should have the right to play the game,if talented enough. Crime commited jail time served--end of story. With all of the severe problems in the world why not enjoy the game and leave the problems of the world behing for a while.— Bonsai Steve
- I love when WHITE suburban folks talk about how POOR URBAN BLACKS should live. Its not ok to dog fight, But it is ok to go to war and kill millions ?? And dont say you didn't want them to go cuz everyone did in 2003. So Dog fighitng is so bad that Vick served 2 years in federal prison. But sending mostly poor kids to fight a war of choice is not ??? Bush doesn't serve any time for lying us into war ??
Perhaps in this country we should get our collective priorities in line here. Some folks running a dog fighting ring which is wrong sure, but is it worse than rich white men sending poor kids to war for their own profit killing millions in the process?— andyreidisfat - UMMM without our soliders going to war you wouldnt have the freedom to do what you want to do in this country. sending soliders into war is to defend this country and provide freedom to others in countries where they need to be emancipated. Do I support war? No but there is a purpose to it and a good reason behind it.
PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME THE GREAT REASONING BEHIND DOG FIGHTING? So Vick could make some extra money? Or because it is awesome to watch? Great reasons for it. At least sending off soliders into war accomplishes a greater good. Unfortunately killing dogs for shear entertainment doesnt.
If you honestly believe that a illegal dog fighting ring doesnt deserve jail time then I do not know what to tell you. Moreover, it was not just the dog fighting ring. HE FREAKING LIED ABOUT IT TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THE NFL. Dear lord, quit with this bs, its because he was african american. If Tom Brady did it he wouldve went to jail too.
No one is telling anyone how to live EXCEPT FOF THE FREAKING GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. If you cannot abide by those laws then you don't deserve freedom. How hard is it to follow the rules that 85 percent of the country follows
— lance513
