Vick wins Ed Block Courage Award
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Vick wins Ed Block Courage Award
Bob Brookover and Jeff McLane
Michael Vick has won an award.
The Eagles announced this morning that Vick's teammates have voted him as this year's recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, which is given annually to a player who exemplifies commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.
"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."
Eagles coach Andy Reid said the vote was a unanimous one. Actually, it wasn't. Vick said he had a vote and that he didn't cast his for himself.
"I won't say who I voted for," Vick said.
Reid was asked if he was worried about how the award would be interpreted in light of Vick's past. In case you just awoke from a 3-year coma, Vick served 18 months in a federal prison for his role in running a dogfighting ring, was released in the summer and signed not long after by the Eagles amid a storm of controversy.
"I'm not sure you can explain it, unless you've kind of gone through it here with him," Reid said. "Everybody is going to have their opinion on it I'm sure. Until you've been with him for the hours that his teammates have been with him and seen him through all these different things that he's had to go through, that time-tested part of it, you can't appreciate it.
"I don't expect everybody to understand it. I think it's a tribute when it's a slam dunk by his teammates voting him that. It was an unanimous vote. It's not something that we as coaches ... or anybody else promotes. We don't sit there and promote a player to win the award. It's picked by the players and only by the players."
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals released a statement criticizing the award.
"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," the statement from PETA read. "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 said that he has come to accept the criticism that goes with his past.
"People are going to criticize," he said. "People are going to say what they're going to say in any given situation whether you are doing good or bad. That's something I've learned to deal with, something I've tried to avoid. Just try to move on and be positive in everything that I do in my life. You can't get caught up in what people are saying and what people are saying in newspapers. It only hurts your mindset."
Quarterback Donovan McNabb said that he didn't care how the team's vote would be interpreted.
"You guys know me by now, I don't care what people say on the outside," McNabb said. "That was something voted on by his peers and teammates and by the coaching staff. Well deserved."
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 March 9, 2010, in Baltimore, MD. For more information on this award and the banquet, please contact the Ed Block office at (410-821-6252) or log on to www.EdBlock.org.
"Vick said he had a vote and that he didn't cast his for himself." Wow, what a great guy! When are we going to put Mcnabb, Reid and Vick on a fast boat outta here? These 3 together will NEVER win any superbowl. The sooner they're gone, the sooner we will have a legit chance at something more than the lowly NFC east title...— pirateradio- I think that this is great. Keep your head up Mr. Vick remember you already served your time. The only person you will have to stand before on judgement day is GOD. Trust me the people that judged you will to be judged by the same GOD.— tbear05
- LMAO - what a joke. This team is pathetic and I cannot believe the people who support him because they want to win. Whatever happened to standing up for the right thing?— msvndy
- vick's own words in this story prove he is out of touch with reality. the players defending him are also displaying just how out of touch from reality they are. I guess getting paid millions and treated like gods on sunday will do that..........still waiting for that disabled employee the eagles fired over the summer to get his second chance from the eagles. he did not kill dogs, just was critical of the organization for letting dawkins go. arrogant organization. LEARN WHO ED BLOCK IS AND WHAT HE STOOD FOR AND THEN LOOK AT VICK, THERE IS NO COURAGE, HE KEPT QUIET AND ONLY TALKED WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT HAD A IRON CLAD CASE AGAINST HIM. HE ONLY TALKED WHEN HE KNEW HE WAS BUSTED. HE HAS DONE NOTHING MUCH SINCE HE GOT A SECOND CHANCE. WHAT LITTLE HE HAS DONE IS STRICTLY A PUBLIC RELATIONS MOVE. ORGANIZATIONS ARROGANCE MEANS THE ORGANIZATION IS COWARDLY. PLAYERS AND MANAGEMENT ARE WRONG.— bill on the hill
Comment removed.- that michael vick should be awarded a courage award for anything is a joke. that he and his teammates feel he deserves the award, is just sad. it's too bad the ed block foundation didn't have the courage to refuse to accept him as an honoree despite the poor judgment of the philadelphia eagles. i have yet to hear about him making good on his promises to give financial support to animal shelters and the care of abused animals.— lajoie
- tbear05, careful what you wish for your idol Vick. After all, God spelled backwards spells DOG.— AEDuval
- Vick has endured sooooomuch..... yeah, like being attached to battery cables and thrown in a pool? ... what a hero...more like a walking joke! Oh yeah.... and so is your third string QB position.... a joke! Vick has done nothing to educate youth on the evils of dogfighting...just made excuses for his "bad judgement".... hey vick...if you want to show courage...give us your contact info...that will be courageous...once a loser...always a loser!— genevalove
- You mean, he got a courage award for dog fighting and then having to serve prison time? An award for making bad decisions and then having to "endure" the consequences? That makes me sick. Oh you poor baby, you had to serve time for torturing and killing all those defenseless dogs.. so you should get an award! what are those idiots thinking?— northernlight
- What a publicity stunt snow job. I blame the coaching staff and owners primarily for even hiring this felon in the first place. Your priorities and love of the game are completely screwed up. To put it more bluntly...if I had been arrested, tried and convicted of the felonies that Michael Vick was found guilty of, I would never ever have a career again and deservedly so. Some things don't deserve a second chance, and Michael Vick is one of them. He made those choices, no one made them for him. His mewling quotes in the article make me want to puke. I refused to watch this organization play ball this season and will continue to after this vote of confidence by his team mates, supported by his coach and the owners.— nannette.newbury
- What’s “pathetic” is that people won’t let this go. He funded dog fighting, okay, he did his time and took all the scrutiny that came with it. This is a good life lesson to show you can get up when you fall. Leave the man alone. People protested this guy over some dogs, and call him EVERY name in the book, because trust me I heard them. But it’s okay for John Mayer to insult an entire race of people, and have his concert in Philly, and no protest? Children get killed on their way to school by violence; I don’t see any outrage or protest there. There are people on the street hungry and dying, no protest there either. It just goes to show you just how much humans respect and care for their fellow man, but let something happen to fido, you’ll never hear the end of it. When someone falls, we’re supposed to help them up, not keep kicking them down because you want to play judge, jury and executioner. Just to say you're better then someone, so YOU can sleep at night. Seriously, grow up and prioritize. The arrogance is amazing here…— Event Status
