Posted: Thursday, August 20, 2009, 8:09 AM | 42 comments |
 
options
 

As the Michael Vick story continues to unfold, we've heard opinions from just about everyone.

Columnists, ex-players, coaches, politicians -- each trying to take a stance and offer a different spin on the situation.

But as we all know, few can offer a "different spin" like former Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham.

Cunningham joined ESPN 950's Mike Missanelli yesterday to discuss Vick's addition. He said we did not create this world, and Vick's redemption is in God's hands. He also praised Jeffrey Lurie for carefully considering the move before making a decision.

"Am I for it? I'm happy that people get a second, third, fourth, fifth chance regardless to what they've done," Cunningham said. "The man [Vick] has gone, basically completely broke. He's done everything he could to reconcile himself to what he had done. There have been people who have murdered people and got a second chance."

Missanelli asked Cunningham if people who are not willing to forgive Vick are less Christian. Cunningham said he wouldn't go that far.

"I just think that people as a people, we're opinionated," he said. "We want our opinion to mean something, but if we put ourselves in the same predicament as other people, people would say Jeffrey Dahmer deserved the electric chair or whatever, and God would say, 'As long as you give me your life, I'll give you a chance to have eternal life with me.' Thank God we're not God because we would mess this world up."

That last line drew a chuckle from Missanelli, and likely 99 percent of the people who were listening.

Cunningham also discussed Vick's ability on the field, saying he fully expected the new Eagle to retain his skills despite being away from the game for more than two years. He went as far as saying Vick could play 15, 16 or 17 years in the NFL and be successful.

"I'm in the gym right now, and I can bench-press just as much as I did in the pros," Cunningham said. "I can run and throw the ball. My arm has not changed at all. Now whether I could take all of those hits, that's a whole other story. I don't think I could take the hits."

And finally, he talked about the question that will not go away. How will Vick's addition impact Donovan McNabb?

"Donovan is one of the most patient, long-suffering, consistent and committed players that I've ever played with," Cunningham said. "I never second-guess him, ever worried about anything. I think the team knows this is not about Michael Vick coming in and trying to take Donovan McNabb's position. This is about making the team better."

So there you have it. Like I said, always a different spin with Randall. No one can argue differently.

I'll be back later telling you why we care about tonight's Eagles-Colts game. And join me for a live chat at 8 p.m. for updates and commentary on the action.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia @ 8:09 AM  Permalink | 42 comments
42
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  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:53 AM, 08/20/2009
    Lonewolf, Is it difficult to clean spilled bong water off the shag carpet in your stepmother's basement?
    va philly fan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:00 AM, 08/20/2009
    va philly fan: Did it just happen to you?
    BudSelig_isthenext_MrBurns
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:05 AM, 08/20/2009
    whoa, class act? cunningham quit on the Eagles if i recall. he bailed on the team when they needed him. just disappeared the whole week before that playoff game. sure he was grumbling about being benched. and his head was on the birth of his kid, and his pregnant wife, but he was getting paid millions to be ready for the playoffs. and is it that difficult to PLAN giving birth in the offseason? the teams should give everybody a calender with april through june blacked out for excused conception. or if they do it anyway (pun)then they won't be able to attend the birth. our soldiers get screwed (pun) out of this privilege all the time, because they don't have a regular season schedule. can be deployed any time. and don't get paid millions. hell, they may never even see their families again. so waaaa. randall isn't the class act that time has seemingly remade him. people weren't egging his house because he gave it all on the field. and he did play for the cowboys, hehe. (at least harold carmichael looked like he hated being on the cowboys)
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:05 AM, 08/20/2009
    VA Philly fan, great comment. I bet he just lets it dry on its own. It blends in with the chocolate milk & cheetos all over the floor too...
    Axeman54
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:28 AM, 08/20/2009
    While playing here in Philly, Randall shared that his faith in Jesus became the key aspect of his life. Now he is a pastor. So I don't understand why Missanelli or others are surprised or would laugh when he makes comments built on that faith. I enjoy Missanelli but it seemed to me he was trying to "pick a fight" with the "not-christian" comment.
    vincemcd
  • Comment removed.
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:23 AM, 08/20/2009
    Let's not forget the "Favre will never play for the Vikings and he will sign a one day contract with the pack and retire as a Packer" prediction. Right on target with that one, as usual. I can see the #4's being burnt in effigy now.
    tpizza
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:24 AM, 08/20/2009
    ...and yet another log in? Banned again?
    tpizza
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:39 AM, 08/20/2009
    A fifth chance regardless what they did? Brilliant
    mikeyboy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:49 AM, 08/20/2009
    Evilvet...you said all that to say what? You hate that you never had the elite skills to play pro football?
    mlr710
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:52 AM, 08/20/2009
    here's some stats to chew on:the last 2 seasons..favre 22 -10 66 pct 50 tds..jason campbell 14-15 61 pct 25 tds..donovan m. 17-12-1 61 pct 42 tds..tony romo 21-8 62 pct 62 tds..brett's stats over the last 2 seasons are very respectable and make the vikings a much better team then they were 2 days ago.
    jack russell
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:02 AM, 08/20/2009
    But Brett can't actually be back. Lonewolf kept telling us how Brett was going to sign a one-day contract with the Packers and finally retire. He can't possibly be wrong yet again!
    knighn
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:05 AM, 08/20/2009
    Andy Reid 33-30-1 the last 4 years. he will be gone after this year and so will Michael Vick
    Dr. Michael


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About Sheil Kapadia
Sheil Kapadia is in his fourth season writing about the Eagles and the NFL for philly.com. His earliest memories as a sports fan include several trips to Veterans Stadium with his Dad. He's not a beat writer or an Insider, but is here to discuss the NFL 365 days a year. E-mail him at skapadia@philly.com or by clicking here

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