Lincoln Lincoln Lincoln Vick

Pic: Vick's Jury by Gary Varvel

I.e. my three cents on Michael Vick getting back into the NFL:

1. I'm tired of hearing talking head cheesedoodle say something along the lines of "Playing in the NFL is not a right, it's a privilege" as some goofy non-argument, usually followed by "and he abused that privilege" or "and that means he isn't guaranteed getting back in." First of all, if you look up privilege, the first two words in the definition is "a right", so cheesedoodle is actually saying "it's not a right, it's a right":

: a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor ; especially :such a right or immunity attached specifically to a position or an office

Second of all, a privilege is generally something you get by virtue of your position. So it's not a privilege to play in the NFL any more than it's a privilege to bag groceries at the Red Owl or hammer a cow on the head at the slaughterhouse (well, maybe some people would count that, but only after getting hired). Playing in the NFL is a job, which accords you privileges just like any other job, e.g. pen-stealing, boss-mocking, bathroom-scenting (hi JP), etc. In addition, having a job in the NFL usually allows you to use the team's facilities for whatever you need to use them for.

But, it's a JOB.

2. There also seems to be a trend to mention that he's broke. How in Geezer's left kidney does that relate to whether he should be reinstated? It isn't specifically stated, so I don't know if this means "he's broke and should get a chance to earn millions to pay his creditors and return to his former lifestyle" or if it means "he's broke so he's paid an additional sacrifice in addition to his jail sentence".

Maybe there's another meaning that I haven't figured out, but neither one of these should influence diddly. He should be broke after being fined and not earning anything for a couple years and (as far as I know) having noone to liquidate his possessions and pile up the money for his return to society. I certainly don't have extra pity for anyone that loses all their money while in jail, and the first option would indicate that if I go to jail for stealing a sweet juicy monkey, then when I get out I should get to get a job that pays buttloads so I can pay my creditors. But that's not how it works. I get whatever job I can and I have to prove myself.

3. Remorse. I read from random journalist blah blah that Roger Goodell needs to look in his eyes and determine if he's truly remorseful. For what? Of course he's remorseful that he was caught and had his life detonated. But is he remorseful for dog fighting? He** no! Why should he be? I don't support any animal fighting, but he believed there was nothing wrong with it (other than being illegal), otherwise he wouldn't have been doing it (in a nice quiet area). There is almost no way that he doesn't still think it's okay to fight dogs and that the laws should just be repealed. He lied last year to Arthur Blank's and Goodell's faces and he'll do it again.

As far as I can tell, he's paid what debt he was forced to by our lawmakers and if someone wants to hire him they can. But he doesn't deserve to get back in the NFL and he shouldn't be given a break because he's suffered. Apply for the job and see what happens.