Vick Takes Flight From Falcon To Eagle

A leopard can't change his spots can a Falcon change his feathers?

Michael Vick has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Is this a good thing, a bad thing or nothing? At this point should it be more of a football issue then a society issue? I say yes.

Since we all found out about his involvement in the underworld dog fighting scene, it has been "what a terrible thing he did, how could he?" Everyone knows what he did was wrong and it was cruel but there comes a time when you just have to let it go. I am not saying to forget and maybe not exactly forgive but just not let it fester anymore. He has paid his debt to society he has done significant time in a federal prison. He got a lot more then Dante Stallworth got for killing a human being. That is one big issue I have, All living thing has great value but rightly or wrongly there is a class system that comes into play. I am on the side of the fence that places a far greater value on a human life then a dog. Sure it is not like an extreme thing like a mosquito versus a cat but the parallel is there.

Vick will begin practicing with the Eagles soon, doing what is unsure. Does he get a lot of reps as a QB, do they use some Wildcat setup, does he line up as a wide receiver, a running back, slot type player that should be more of a burning question at this point. It could be an interesting look with Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook if they are all on the field together. He’s got a good QB to help get things going in the right direction and one that is willing to help him in his transition onto the field. Now it is just a question of how well can an athlete come back after 2 years removed from not only the physical game but the mental part and the prep that goes into being a professional football player.

I don’t agree that there should be a lot of negative reaction to the signing but it is Philadalphia and it is a huge storey so that won’t help stay under any radar. If it is negative I hope that they focus on the fact that he was signed sight unseen...no workouts or anything. Any backlash should be on the merits as they relate to football and not outside factors.
People always say that people deserve a second chance, lets see how hypocritical that these people are.

Vick and Heatley - Who Will Be More Welcome?

Is there that much of a difference between the Michael Vick situation and the Dany Heatley situation? Both are players that are looking to come back the their respective leagues and resume playing their sport. The difference is Vick is trying to come back to a league that needs to embrace him where Heatley may need to come back to a team and a fan base (baring an unlikely trade) that will have to forgive and, well, maybe not forget, but not hold a grudge.

Michael Vick has paid his debt to society, is that enough? Probably it is for fans, it is just the extreme protesters that will be the big hurdle now. Dany will have to pay a debt to merely a city and a fan base. A tough task but a sincere apology or simple admittance that an error was made can go a long way toward the healing process. In all truth what has he done so far that is so bad that we can’t forgive and forget? He is not the first and surely not the last to make a request (we still don’t know if it was a request or a demand to be moved). Fans of teams are, by nature, a very forgiving bunch. Many a flaw can be covered by team colours a helmet and a number. A what have you done for me lately mentality is usually out there.

In both instances it is a player having to go into a locker room that may strongly disagree with the situation and guys that are indifferent to the whole thing. In probably every locker room there are players that don’t like each other, just like any other job place, but that doesn’t mean you can’t co-exist. Players may be dog owners or lovers but when you get right down to it winning football games and getting paid probably are more important than principals or position on the subject. One only has to look as far as the amount of players using performance enhancing drugs. They all know it is wrong but that is a little deterrent.

In Heatley’s case everyone associated with the team of late that has said anything says that he is a great teammate and a good guy and that is why it was so shocking. All would want an explanation but seem willing to take him back. Vick also may be a good guy a good teammate, but a guy that made a major mistake. Most would say he already done enough to be allowed to move on and try to get not only his career but his life turned around.

Vick looks poised to sign on with a team soon and Team Canada will be having its summer camp soon so both, one would think/hope they will have something to say and prove to help start up the healing process among Teams, players and fans alike.

Around The Horn

Helio Castroneves won the Indianapolis 500 and was able to take a drink of that delicious victory milk. This was the 3rd time he has won the historic race.
This was a great win for Castroneves, just the fact that he was available to participate after avoiding a possible 6 year jail term for tax evasion only a week or so before and survived a stint on Dancing with the Stars (which he won). Just goes to show that a good team and a fast car can beat the field and the IRS.

Whoever green-lighted the new Fox show Michael Strahan’s "Brothers" must be out on a limb, or should be on a ledge. It will be very interesting to see how this show will go but it has the potential to be a train wreck. Strahan is not your typical actor type, sure it has Darryl "Chill" Mitchell but that can’t be enough to hold this show together I wouldn’t think.
Maybe they should have waited until next year and they could have cast Strahan with Prime Time wannabe actor/dancer and occasional DE Jason Taylor, you know, after he bows out of the NFL after his recent return to Miami.

Michael Vick has been released from jail and since there was no beds in the halfway house he was placed in basically house arrest where he will be monitored.
Now the rumors can begin on if there is a team that will take a chance on him to resume his position in the NFL. We can only presume that he was already asked to assume the position at some point over the last few years in the Big House (and we aren’t talking about the Big House in Michigan).

I was saddened to see that there was soccer on my TV for a brief few seconds. I thought with the Setanta Network that I don’t have access to I could avoid it, guess not. People say that soccer is the most popular game in the world... My response to that is if it is in fact true then they don’t need me to watch it or have any interest in it.

Miami Dolphins defensive end Randy Starks has been charged with using his truck to hit a police officer.
I can’t see Bill Parcells being too happy with that behavior. Does Starks think he is a Cincinnati Bengal or something, is he wrangling for a trade perhaps? Lets hope that the rest of the ‘Fins can keep it on the straight and narrow.

Jose Canseco looking for an MMA career I guess (but more likley he needs more money). Canseco is set to fight seven-foot-two 330-pound super heavyweight Hong Man Choi of South Korea on the Dream 9 card Tuesday in Japan.
This is one of the reasons that I can’t get behind any MMA or UFC stuff. It is like WWE wrestling without the entertainment or showmanship. Canseco has already boxed Danny Bonaduce, from the Partridge Family to a draw. If that is the best you can do to Danny it may be fun to see versus a 330 pound dude.

Around The Horn

Should injured Canadian Hurdler Perdita Felicien be allowed to make the Canadian team without qualifying?
No, if the alleged worlds fastest man Tyson Gay doesn’t get to run the 200 because he cramped up at the US Trials then she shouldn’t get to run either. I guess it doesn't matter either way with the stigma of 'roids especially in track does it even matter. If a syringe is pushed and no one sees it does it indeed boost performance?

Was there anything funnier then when Felicien hit the hurdle at the 2004 Olympics and went down taking out a rival?
No, No there was not

Michael Vick Filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection while in federal prison
How bad with money can you be to have such a huge signing bonus and salary and blow it all in such little time?
The Falcons bet on the wrong dog in that race...What? Too Soon??

Gary Bettman has tried to put an end to Burke/Lowe feud after Lowe fired back at Burke this week after a year of animosity.
It may have taken a year for Lowe to come up with a comeback but when he did he did so with gusto.
I am just glad that Craig McTavish talked him out of ‘Jerk Store, I am going with Jerk Store... Jerk Store’ though "Your cranium called. It’s got some space to rent.", "The zoo called. You’re due back by six." and "Oh yeah? Well I had sex with your wife!" could also have worked

KC Chiefs Tight End Tony Gonzalez recently saved a choking man in a restaurant after he began choking on a piece of meat
This marks the first time in recent memory that an NFL Player saved a life instead of took one, good work Tony!

Is there anything more insignificant then the Tour De France right now?
No Armstrong, no testosterone laced Landis, no interest...at least from this side of the lake. France can keep their cyclist...err bike riders not steroid cycles.

Mark Martin signs on with Hendrick Motorsports for a full ride next season.
What, does he think he is a boxer? He comes out of retirement more then Leave it to Beaver....re-runs!

Justin Gimelstob fired a rant about his dislike Anna Kournikova with whom he once trained with. I will let his words tell it best.
"I’m going to serve it right at the body, about 128 [mph], right into her midriff," he said. "If she’s not crying by the time she comes off court then I did not do my job."
Asked if that meant he hated the Russian, with whom he trained as a youth player, he replied: "Hate is a very strong word. I just despise her to the maximum level just below hate." He added that he would not like to sleep with Kournikova, "because she’s such a douche". Instead, "I wouldn’t mind my brother, who is kind of a stud, nail her and then reap the benefits."