Reaction to Vick signing
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Reaction to Vick signing
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Here's some reaction from the signing of Michael Vick:
COACH ANDY REID:
"I'm a believer that as long as people go through the right process, they deserve a second chance. He's got great people on his side; there isn't a finer person than Tony Dungy. He's proven he's on the right track."
PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS:
"PETA and millions of decent football fans around the world are disappointed that the Eagles decided to sign a guy who hung dogs from trees. He electrocuted them with jumper cables and held them under water. You have to wonder what sort of message this sends to young fans who care about animals and don't want them to be harmed."
QUARTERBACK DONOVAN MCNABB:
"I pretty much lobbied to get him here because everybody deserves a second chance. What a better place than to come here with this group that continues to stay together and bond together through times. ... For a guy that has spoken the truth in front of the nation, has served his time, and for a guy who was just looking for an opportunity to kind of get his feet back on the ground. I think he deserves it."
FORMER EAGLES LINEBACKER, FORMER TEAMMATE OF VICK AND CURRENT 610-WIP HOST IKE RESSE:
"It's not going to go over smooth. ... But one thing I know about these fans -- they love this team. Players come and go. Not everybody is a high-character guy. Some guys are going to make you pull your hair out, some guys are distasteful to look at, or what have you, but they love this team. This team remains here after the players leave. Michael Vick is going to be a small part of our lives."
WIDE RECEIVER DESEAN JACKSON:
"Oh man, definitely it is [exciting]. He is a great player. He has a lot to prove to everybody and try to get back on the right track. On the field, he is very explosive. We got some things on this offense now, man."
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED'S PETER KING (via Twitter):
"A fantastic move for Vick. Believe me when I tell you he wanted stability as much as anything, and Reid/Heckert/Banner define stable."
BRIAN BALDINGER, NFL NETWORK:
"When the Eagles signed T.O. that wasn't the most popular thing to do. But that was the best year Donovan McNabb has had as an Eagle and it was the year they went to the Super Bowl (2004). I think Andy recognizes this league is all about integrating the most talent you can. They're just bringing Michael Vick in to create a Wildcat package. They had (second-year wideout) DeSean Jackson running their Wildcat package last year. But he can't throw the ball the way Mike Vick can."
CORNERBACK SHELDON BROWN:
"I think the signing of Vick is great because someone is giving him an opportunity to redeem his career and let his play speak for itself so I have a lot of respect for that."
SAFETY QUINTIN MIKELL:
"He's a great player, a good person, and everybody deserves a second chance. Everybody has been talking about what happened but at the end of the day, he paid his debt. We're going to welcome him here and hope that he can put everything back together by putting the right people around him and love him up."
QUARTERBACK A.J. FEELEY ON HIS PLACE ON THE TEAM NOW:
“I can’t get caught up in that. You can’t control what you can’t control. … I will say that there’s not a guy I trust more in this world than Andy.”
PATRIOTS QB TOM BRADY ON WHETHER HE WAS SURPRISED BY THE MOVE:
"No, he's a really good player."
BENGALS RECEIVER OCHOCINCO (per Twitter):
"Mike Vick and McNabb on the same team, damn!!!!! Glad I don't play defense, good luck game planning to stop that shh!!"
John&U... Paid his debt to society and that is all, huh? I'm a teacher. If I commit a crime like this and pay my "debt to society" do I *deserve* to get my job back? does it happen?— Bagels- A comment to all the MORONS who use the phrase "second chance". A second chance is some job training and a low level job. A 2nd chance is not 1.6 million. Most felons will not make that much in 30 years. This is humiliating. I will dropping off my Eagles Jerseys on the front yard of the LINC.— Kruntz
- mlb4203....you're ignorance is showing.— jy12
- This is a bold move for a normally conservative franchise. I think this move is gonna payoff in a big way. Imagine Vick, Jackson, Maclin, Curtis and Westbrook on the field at the same time. This is still D-Mac's team by all means...but know I feel alot better if something were to happen. Where does this leave Corn on the Kolb?!!!lol— TonyTestarossa
- Vick did his time in jail. He deserves a second chance, but I still can't stand the little punk. I hope the Beagles know what they've created with this move.— feudi
- vick has done his time. he has 'paid his debt' to society. it is ridiculous to demand some sort of public penance too. is he never to be allowed reconstruct his life? amazing that moral outrage is always directed at others. people are concerned w/ morals...YOURS... not their own.— endowizz
Comment removed.- Michael Vick is welcome to live in society and have a normal life. He is NOT welcome to a million dollar contract and a new chance at the NFL. He needs to start at the bottom and work his way back up. Since when do felons get handed their old life back on a silver platter?— seamunkies
- perhaps 1,000,000 million have lost there lifes in iraq,countless others with horrific life long injuries.all for a war based on lies.were those liars held accountable? no way, they are busy building a presidental library and writing books for millions.how many thousands of unwanted dogs and cats over the past 40 years have you killed in your animal shelters? how many humans every week are killed with the guns you keep in your hands? hypocrits and fools ye be..— border collie
- Comment removed.
- Andy Reed needs his head checked! I saw a post earlier that says it all. Pet Rose was banned from baseball for LIFE. Can you even equate inside betting to the torture, drowning, and murdering of innocent animals lives. NFL players should be held to a higher moral standard than everyday citizens. I know of very few jobs these days that will even hire you with ANY felony, let alone one of this magnitude. Who could look in the eyes of man's best friend a commit such an atrocity. What a disgrace for the Philadelphia Eagles and their organization. Instead of comparing Michael to athletes ‘who have done worse’ why don’t we say ‘Michael should be held to a higher moral standard’ a poor, poor, poor choice for Philadelphia. Regardless whether he served his time or not, there is still a moral basis to this story! This move is going to certainly cost the Eagles a large fan base.— higginsfamily2008
- I've been rooting for the Eagles since their Franklin Field days, so I've been there for all the bad times. This however, is completely different, and don't think I can continue my support. Hey, being involved with dog fighting is bad enough on it's own, but can you imagine looking into a dog's face while you're holding it under water until it's dead? Or pulling a dog up over a tree limb until it chokes to death? Someone who can do it is seriously flawed! Why does his 'second chance' have to be with the NFL? They released him from prison. That should be enough second chance. Picking him up sends a bad message. Winning at any cost!— speed12
- Go vote for the Giants then!!! Philly will surely get more fans from this move!!! I love it!!! I thought for sure that the Cowgirls were gonna get him and destroy the Eagles with him. This was an awesome move!!! Now we have a legit threat at backup because we all know that Kolb should play in Europe or the Canadian League!!! Vick 07 Somebody tell me where to find a jersey!!!!— Philly_Dude03
- Vickening. Makes me throw up in my mouth a little.— BudSelig_isthenext_MrBurns
- i bet u if this guy was white no one will be upset— poizon61
