The introduction press conference starring Andy Reid, Tony Dungy and Michael Vick was less than spectacular. The “second chances” card was tossed out at every occasion. Vick declared himself a changed man, wants to be part of the solution, is starting anew, feels the need to be an ambassador and realizes his actions will speak louder. In other words, he put on his best mask of contrition and seemed apologetic, on the surface anyway. I’m certain two years in Leavenworth will cause a person to reevaluate their life choices.
The real excitement kicked off when Jeff Lurie took the podium, alone. Vick had been shuffled off the stage to a secure location in the bowels of NovaCare to hang with Dick Cheney, Andy Kaufman, Tupac and Al Capone. After listening to Jeff expound his disgust with Vick’s deplorable actions, it seems obvious that Gold Standard Lurie isn’t ready to sit next to Vick.
Words like “counterintuitive” and “inexcusable” and “murderous” flowed freely from a visibly shaken Lurie. If his intent was to sell the media, fans and the public on the move, he failed miserably. The majority of his speech served to castigate Vick’s foul treatment of animals and reprehensible behavior as a human being. It played as an apology rather than an explanation.
Lurie had several lengthy sit-downs with Vick, which we are led to believe softened his stance. I’m not buying it. It sounds like Lurie still isn’t convinced the decision was the right one. He repeatedly said it’s difficult to “evaluate remorse.” And yet, he signed off on the deal, due in large part, to the words of Reid, Dungy, Goodell and McNabb. Not Vick.
Lurie made his fortune in Hollywood, so let’s cut to the chase. Michael Vick in an Eagle for one reason: To help the franchise capture the elusive Lombardi Trophy. Forget about all the second chances Mumbo Jumbo; that’s secondary to Vick’s on the field potential. Problems like Pacman Jones, Lawrence Phillips, Chris Henry and Michael Vick are given multiple opportunities because winning is the only thing that matters. Talent wins championships, not charity work. Sub 4.3 40-times win championships, not partnerships with the Humane Society.
Do I believe Michael Vick is remorseful? Yeah, I kinda do. Do I believe Jeff Lurie wants him wearing midnight green? No, not for a second.
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I like Vick and I hope he get back on his feet!! Melissa from Philly
I hope that the first defensive lineman that sacks Vick piledrives him into some nice hard turf. Then again, and again and again until the vermin’s worthless body is more broken than the poor dogs he so viciously tortured. A career-ending injury would be true justice.
I am somewhere in the middle of the above two responses…
I wish I could have seen the press conference. I am intrigued by your assessment of Lurie.
You think maybe he gauged the reaction incorrectly? The media has been negative, particularly the Inquirer and the Daily News.
Seems strange that an owner would come out and do this.
That is the amazing thing about sports. If you are talented you will get “compassion and a second chance” and if you are marginal you will be “released for the moral stance, harmony, and positive face of the ballclub”
Either way, the club claims it is doing the right thing. lol
Steve Howe regards…
Freak – Here’s the PE.com link to Lurie’s presser. Judge for yourself.
http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/multimedia/index.html#
Just click Daily Video News on the right.
Are you serious! ! !? ? This guy will be nothing but trouble. His off the field antics will carry over the the field. Instead of vomit, our quarterback will be leaving dog poop.
Thanks Scott. Holy cow, he did compare it to the atomic bomb.
It was tough to watch.
couple things
Anyone else hear Jeff Lurie reference “pedal to the metal?”
why is everyone saying that brady picked apart our d? was i watching a different game. the pats starters had a three an out, a td largely due to a 46 yard pass interefernce penalty that was slightly questionable, a sheldon brown int, and a easy walk down the field against the second stringers. i think our boys held up pretty well
bula – You’re right about the defense. Without Cole and Abiamiri they held up okay. However, the LBs were horrible covering tight ends. Jordan, who looked good at camp, got beat twice by Chris Baker.
To traffic in the ugly human condition to achieve a Lombardy trophy. Good damn luck Filthy Dephia.
Your article is disingenuous.
Lurie is simply being cautious in a potential firestorm of criticism.
He’s made very clear that he is appalled by Vick’s ACTIONS and will reserve any praise until he sees a marked commitment on Vick’s part to make an impact in the community and in taking strides as the most visible face in the movement to end animal fighting, a far more common practice than a large portion of the population would care to admit.
He knows Vick’s potential both on and off the field and he wants to ensure he’s going to live up to that potential.
I’m not saying there is no business to this, but I can assure you, Jeff Lurie is HAPPY to have Vick wearing midnight green.
Vick does not deserve a second chance. The dogs that he killed did not get a second chance. How could the NFL let him back on he field! I will no longer watch or have anything to do with the NFL & I will make sure that I encourage my friends and family to do the same. With you guys it is all about the money. He is a murderer of poor defenseless animals that do not have a voice and you are condoning his actions by allowing him to play. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED!!!!!!
You know, I never wanted Vick to be an Eagle but I am getting very tired of hearing all this sanctimonious bullshit.
I wish Vick well. I hope he turns it around and makes good on everything he’s promised.
Lauren, you say that this is the last straw that will ensure that you’ll never watch an nfl game again, however, you continued to watch after Leonard Little killed a woman while driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content level nearly twice the legal limit, and then was arrested for dui again several years later, and continued to play in the nfl.
Very hypocritical.
I understand your feelings on his crime, and no one can defend what he did, but taking a human life is exponentially worse than killing dogs. I LOVE dogs. But you can’t equate that to taking a human life.
Ever.
if everyone is saying that he doesnt deserve a second chance because he killed some dogs (not saying that is isnt a terrible thing) but what about stallworth he killed a HUMAN and all he got 23 days as compated to vicked 24 months in jail…so does stallworth deserve a second chance
Eagles fans are now Vick fans by default. Cant cheer for or against the dog killer can you??? Pot smoking thug! Nice job Lurie you bum!!
If a guy in your neighborhood did the same thing that vick did you would not be wanting to line him up a new job for millions a soon as he got out. These jocks should be held to a higher standered do to the amount of money they get paid. Pay me that amount and i will go to bed when you tell me and clean my room just like i am told. Beats working for thirty years for a fraction of what they make. Second chance my ass. Two other guys got caught for the same crime as vick right before him and they got six years in the federal pen. I think he has had his chance. I say make room for the upcomming college kids that actually want to play by the rules.
Read Jeff L’s eyes while he is talking about the decision…They scream that he (honestly) didn’t want to be picking up Vick. It is clear he isn’t running the show at the Eagles….McNabb and Reid are. Furthermore, anyone who thinks Vick’s lawyers didn’t put words in Vick’s mouth for the Press Conference ought to look at it again. Vick doesn’t use words and phrases like “Our country is a country of seconed chances”, “I wont disappoint”, “unnecessary and wrong”, “pointless activity”, “I was nieave”, “I’m contributing”, “inhumane and unethical”……These are catch phrases from the educated….and he is acting. This didn’t come from the heart…It’s Bull!
Brian, it’s awesome to have an expert on body language and diction in our midst, but to be honest most of the “Bull” I’m smelling is coming from your post.
Lurie is a smart man. He made a wise football decision which, just like getting McNabb, or TO, isn’t going to be the most popular acquisition.
So far as Vick’s speech… The man was never very good in press conferences. And yeah, I promise you everyone one of those phrases was written for him. But he can’t go one tv and be like “Yo, I fvcked up. I’m trying to get my sh!t straight here.”
Actions speak louder than words, and going around the country and talking to inner city kids, the next generation of people who could fall into the lifestyle that he was brought up in, is the greatest contribution one could make in that area. A visible face, who got wrapped up in a horrible world, who got busted, nearly lost it all, but fought to get back into the game is a walking billboard saying, look, people who are already caught up in this stuff can get out and get on the right track.
Its the national FOOTBALL league…mike vick is a FOOTBALL player…he did do a terrible thing, but the bottom line is that when he was playing he was one of the best in the league and as a FOOTBALL player he would have been a great addition to any team
Lurie, I just want to tell you what a rotten, stinking human being you are. What that criminal Vick did was sickening and beyond all beyonds. For you to approve hiring him back into pro football is the lowest action I’ve heard in a long time. You are just like him and would probably do the same thing to dogs if you had a chance! You stink and I hope this comes around to get you!!!!!!!!!
Agree or disagree, this is an interesting take. His term “Pacifist puppies” was unique :/
http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/cohen/article_fbf7b314-cb49-5f94-943e-677fbf96554c.html
There is something about this situation that makes people spout some of the most unintelligent babble I’ve ever seen.
-From Twitter (user @freelancejourny): “Michael Vick should be a spokesman for serial killers, pedophiles, perverts, rapists & murders, since they start out as animal abusers, too.”
wat.
-K9Magazine.com had an article suggesting the Eagles could continue on this same path by hiring OJ Simpson, Charles Manson, and… get this… Osama Bin Laden. Vick’s actions were more than reprehensible… but even mentioning Mike Vick and Osama Bin Laden (remember- he masterminded a plan that included FLYING PLANES [containing human beings] INTO BUILDINGS [containing human beings]).
-And from Mary L. Bryden above: “You are just like him and would probably do the same thing to dogs if you had a chance!”
Are you serious? You can’t be serious. I can understand being angry that the Eagles hired Michael Vick. I can understand condemning Michael Vick’s actions. But to define Jeffrey Lurie by this single action and ignore both his comments at the press conference AND the past community outreach efforts of the Eagles organization is a whole other matter. It extends beyond a logical anger into an illogical fanaticism.
Hey if Vick is truly sorry for what he did, his high visibility may turn out to be positive in the long term. Maybe he can stop other people from doing what he did by his high profile. An ambassador to not follow in his footsteps
Give him an opportunity to do that. Maybe some good can come out of this.
What is the cliche’? Forgive but not forget
As the daughter of a former Eagle coach, I am embarassed and disappointed that a franchise such as the Eagles would sign a convicted criminal. Regardless that he has “served his time” or how “sorry” he may claim to be, what he did and allowed to be done to the animals defines a complete lack of moral character.
I have ripped up all my Eagle clothes
and destroyed all my mugs, flags, and other stuff
I intend on boxing it all up and mailing it to Lurie with a letter telling him what a phoney he is
They think Vick is going to take them to the Superbowl
NEVER
Best Friends of Kanab, Utah are the true heroes! Michael Vick, the Eagles, and the NFL should be ashamed of themselves. Best Friends has taken the time to love, care for, and rehabilitate 22 of the poor little souls that Michael Vick tortured, maimed, and ruined. They are now loving, adorable and playful animals all thanks to Best Friends. Michael should put his money where his mouth is, and not keep one single penny of his salary – he should donate it all to the organizations that saved the lives of the animals he tried to murder. Would you consider that Michael? If you do… I might actually believe you are “remorseful” for what you have done…
Lurie, you are an idiot. Anyone who would employ someone like Dog Killer Vick has got a screw loose in their head. Their couldn’t be any worse role model for our youth. It’s all about the money. GREED!! Just remember, what goes around comes around.