PETA criticizes Eagles for Vick award
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
PETA criticizes Eagles for Vick award
Daily News staff
Michael Vick has been named the Eagles' Ed Block Courage Award recipient for this season in a vote of his teammates. The award honors NFL players who exemplify commitment to sportsmanship and courage. They are selected by their teammates for team effort and individual performance.
The selection drew immediate criticism in some quarters.
In a statement, PETA said, "The Philadelphia Eagles fumbled when they gave Michael Vick the Ed Block Courage Award, which was named after a man who advocated in behalf of abused children. Michael Vick should not be the person anyone points to as a model of sportsmanship, even though he has now exchanged dogs for touchdowns after serving time for extreme cruelty to animals. We wish him well in educating others, but this is not appropriate and does not mark a joyous moment in NFL history."Vick has played in 12 games, completing six of 13 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. He has also rushed 24 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns. All three of his touchdowns have come in the last three games.
Coach Andy Reid said Vick was a "unanimous vote" and that he is not sure anyone can understand the situation or the vote who has not been with Vick through his struggles. The award is "for working to straighten his life and better himself as a human being," Reid said. Vick is "obviously well-respected by his teammates."
"I've had to overcome a lot, more than probably one single individual can bear," Vick said. "Take a look at what I've been through. You ask certain people to walk in my shoes, they probably couldn't do it -- probably 95 percent of the people in this world. Because nobody had to endure what I've been through, situations I've been put in, situations I've placed myself in, decisions that I've made, whether they were good or bad. There are always consequences behind certain things and there are repercussions behind them, too. Then you have to wake up every day and face the world, whether they perceive you in the right perspective or it's a totally different outlook on you.
"You just have to be strong and believe in yourself and be optimistic. That's what I've been able to do and that's what I display."
Vick returned to the NFL with the Eagles after missing nearly two years of playing time and serving 18 months in prison for his role in a dogfighting ring in Virginia.
"It means a lot to me. It means a lot to my family," Vick said of the award. "It means a lot to me because of everything I've been through and what I've come back and been able to do. Just having the chance to be back and playing again is a blessing."
"I've only been in this locker room for 3 1/2 months. For those guys to feel that way about me, it means a lot to me. The bond that I have with the players on this team and the way we've jelled has been outstanding. Like I've said before, I couldn't have been with a greater group of guys. This is a group that's special and I see why this is one of the top organizations in this league."
Previous Eagles award winners: Jon Dorenbos (2008), Montae Reagor (2007), Jerome McDougle (2006), Chad Lewis (2005), Derrick Burgess (2004), Correll Buckhalter (2003), Shawn Barber (2002), Duce Staley and Tommy Brasher (2001), Cecil Martin (2000), Mike Mamula (1999), Bobby Taylor (1998), Rhett Hall (1997), Kevin Turner (1996), Charlie Garner (1995), Fred Barnett (1994), Andre Waters (1993), Jerome Brown (1992), David Alexander (1991), Ron Solt (1990), Mike Quick (1989), Wes Hopkins (1988), Gerry Feehery (1987), Jody Schultz (1986), Ron Jaworski (1985), John Spagnola (1984).
Vick, along with one player from each of the other 31 NFL teams, will be honored at the Ed Block Courage Award Banquet on March 9 in Baltimore.
On the field, Vick will not practice today with the quad contusion suffered against San Francisco.
Nothing bothers me more than Vick continually talking about "what he's been through". What did he conquer a disease? Did a close family member die? Was he a victim of violence or a natural disaster? No, he hasn't been through anything. He willingly participated in the killing and torture of dogs and stopped only when he was caught. His actions were his own - no one forced him to do anything. Yet he speaks like he has somehow suffered. He makes me sick.— lulu- Exemplify commitment to sportsmanship and courage. And how does this apply to Vick?— Doc Graham
Comment removed.- Vick did 18 months. I would not want to do 18 hours in prison, would you? He paid the price and is part of our society. That is how it should be.— jack5225
- PETA hates it!! Ok then I like it now!!!!— sawgrass
- Comment removed.
- I think he should be nominated for a Nobel Prize,and possibly Sainthood after.I mean life's been really tough on the poor guy...wait,i'm tearing up...OK,I'm good again.It's kinda fun watching our civilization collapse,didn't Rome award alot of their inbred emperors also,for things like burning down the Library at Alexandria.— GeorgeDumbyaBush
- Not exactly a presitigious list of past recipients. Mike Mamula? Cecil Martin? Rhett Hall? BS award.— Shenkman3
- all you sinless folk out there can sure can cast a mean stone can't you? Put your perfect self in this position: you lose your job, your career, all of your money, are castigated and humiliated daily in the papers and other media, your reputation is destroyed, your freedom is taken from you, you are cast into a prison for almost two years, sharing quarters with murders, rapists, gangsters, having to worry about who wants to sodomize you. This man has paid his debt...in fact has he paid too much. Leave the man alone...he deserves a second chance just like you do.— sedale
- It funny how judgemental people are. We can kill deer for trophies. But if we kill a dog people act like they want the death penalty for Vick. Because we as the public deemed it ok to do it for some animals and not others. Its all wrong to kill animals unless you are eating them.— flyguy3
- If Vick didn't suck so much as a QB,I'd probably agree with the award.But since he's such an inaccurate passer and his brain works too slow to make split second decisions,he should be a receiver or running back.— GeorgeDumbyaBush
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- This is not the biggest issue in the world, but to me, it demeans the word "courage" to apply it to Vick's comeback. And, Vick's own comments show no humility, and very little perspective. I have never made the Eagles signing of Vick a big issue, and I've never said that he shouldn't have a chance to pursue his livelihood after serving his time. But, it is a distortion to say that he has shown any courage or provided much inspiration in the process. Can someone rationally tell me how courage applies here?— MG44
Simply courageous.... anyway, he will join the pantheon of Eagles greats such as Mike Maula and Ron Solt- a fitting legacy.— kjuggs77- Gulf- I agree with you completely...btw, how funny would this be if the award was named the Norman Braman Award for contributions to humanity?— kjuggs77
