Vick Apology

[crazyraven]

What do most of you guys think? I just saw the apology and Feel he is sincere and is owning up to what he has done. If the league can look past the gambling issue of this, i believe that he maybe able to redeem himself in the public eye if he does the right things.

Do you think it was a good snow job? Sounds like he has accepted the fact that he will have a lot of time to think about what he has done.

If you havent seen the video, the link is below.

http://sports.aol.com/story/ar/_a/vick-apologizes-from-the-heart/20070827094209990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

[POPSinPA]

He said exactly what he was told to say by his lawyers and public relations people. What the heck did you expect him to say, he did after all get caught with his hand in the cookie jar and then bold face lied about it. This nation is fickle and very forgiving, but this scumbag tortured and murdered puppies, that will hang over his head forever. I don't see people forgiving that. Murder, Rape, Gambling, Drugs, sure, but not puppies.

[RavenFanatic2k6]

I don't care what his PR people told him to say, whats done is done, no matter what he does or says he will always be scum to me.

Really don't care what happens to him at this point, as long as the Ravens don't get involved with him if he gets reinstated. If he gets reinstated, whatever, he's not a good player and won't be in 2-3 years when he's starting to slow, if he doesn't get back in the NFL, good, let him go play in the AFL or CFL.

[Galen Sevinne]

Do you think it was a good snow job?

Certainly the timing of his press conference and what he had to say was very planned. Maybe there was some sincerity it what he had to say but the truly disturbing thing is that Vick and his supporters just do not have any clue about how inhumane his actions were. Borderline sociopathic behavior...it will be interesting to see how his legal and PR team try to repair this guy's image.

If he is sentenced in December as planned he will miss this season and next season for jail time and then at least a third season with an NFL suspension. After being out three seasons who knows what will happen. I can't image he will be half the player he is now and even that is argueably overrated.

I think he is toast.

[camdenyard]

Sincere?

He sounded rehearsed and wooden. Yeah, he said exactly what he was told to say. I'd bet that he doesn't believe a word of it. He's sorry all right - sorry he got caught.

"Dogfighting is a terrible thing, I reject it". Blah blah. It was his hobby for 6 years, and all of a sudden he's done a 180? You believe that, you are an idiot.

Vick is a thug POS. He's apparently always been one. I hope his ass is never seen on an NFL field again, although with Sherriff Goodell in charge that is very unlikely anway.

[blitzin_ravin]

all fun and games till you kill a few puppies and are looking at 18months in the ole jail cell.

of course its completely rehearsed and lawyer-ized. he wants to play again in 3 years so he has to make himself sound completely regretful for his actions so that the commish will let him back in when its time.

the only saving grace here is that the judge has a history of harsh penalties and that he is particularly aggravated by vick's crimes. hopefully he will throw the 12 - 18 month suggestion out and go for at least 24 - 30 months. it wouldn't bother me in the least if we never see this guy in the NFL ever again.

question though... does this include the rico stuff or just the dog fighting?

[crazyraven]

I didnt see him reading from a script or anything prepared. I understand your sentiment, you want to see him pay for what he did. thats very understandable. But Sincere, yes.

Usually when someone asks for forgiveness I tend to give it. He has it from me, if he means it. But I also want to see action as well.

He'll have jail time to reflect on what he did and I think he is really starting to understand that he truly F'd up. With the idea of him facing so many years of prison time when he should have the world by the balls is finally setting in with him.


What he is saying to the media, IMO will not reduce his sentence. So it doesnt matter. to me it sounded as if it came from the heart but I havent ruled out the idea that he is snowing us. after his sentence I want to see him do the things he said he would do particularly redeem himself, its possible.

[ClericBlackDave]

It was rehearsed.

Doesn't mean it wasn't heartfelt.


But it also doesn't mean anything yet. Words are words. This society gets so hung up over words, because words do have power. But at some point, something has to back them up.


When Vick does his 1-5 years and comes out as a champion against animal cruelty or something, or ever just comes out to champion a real cause, I'll be impressed.


His charity work seemed very lacking before the dogfighting problem. I want to see what he can do when he gets out.


Vick's problem is that I still have the impression that he doesn't understand just how bad his behavior was. Thats one reason why I do think that the speech was heartfelt, because it still wasn't as apologetic as it could have been.

[blitzin_ravin]

I doubt his sincerity because of the fact that he has been participating in this sub-culture of dog fighting for over six years. He only thinks what he has done is wrong because he is facing significant financial losses.

For me, he has to prove himself worthy for forgiveness. He not only disgraced himself, but the the face of the game that we all on this board love. While not directly impacting the NFL, he has furthered the barbaric image of NFL athletes that some people have. Whether thats fair or not, it is what it is. Same thing happened when Ray got nailed in Atlanta. He wasn't a part of what happened, but he was there and had to face the consequences. I was skeptical for awhile until it was apparent that he had changed his lifestyle to a certain extent. Since then, we haven't heard his name mentioned in connection with any serious charges.

So with Vick, it will just be a matter of time. Though, I would never have let him run my franchise because I don't trust him as a Quarterback... now I just don't trust him as a person.

Like Cleric said, I don't get the impression that he truly understands how heinous his crimes are. The more disturbing aspect is the other athletes that have come out saying that dogfighting is no big thing, only to run away from their statements when the GM and Owner are on the phone the next day.

[BertJonesMyHero]

It isn't the dogfighting that could prove the final nail in the coffin. It is the gambling. Many of the talking heads fail to even mention that when they speculate on his return. I think Goodell is gonna go Black Sox on him.

As for the apology, who knows. I have trouble being sympathetic because people that get into trouble are never sorry until after they get caught. And this was not a one time deal. It went on for 5 long years as mentioned in the post above.

[ravenwoman]

In order to be forgiven, you need the 3 R's, 1) Remorse--Meaning you are truly sorry for your actions and be willing to suffer the consequences of your actions 2) Repent--Meaning you must turn your life around and dedicate your life to good deeds and lastly 3)Repair--He must repair the damage that he has done. This is a difficult one, because I am not sure how he can repair the damage to the dogs he murdered, the lies he told to Commissioner Goodell, Arthur Blank and mostly the fans. He hurt his family, broke Federal Laws, bankrolled a gambling operation, broke state laws, avoided paying income tax on his illegal earnings (which you must do, even if it is illegal), etc., etc.

His best bet is to go to jail, serve his time, and find a different profession when he is released. He never should enjoy the accolades and fame and fortune that is afforded an NFL player. He squandered his chance.

[yeahravens]

It's hard to say whether or not he was sincere as none of us know him personally. Of course he had to say what he said, and of course he was coached.

He said he found Jesus, good, if so than Jesus will forgive him but expect him not to commit the same sin again, ala Leonard Little.

For me, if he wants to show he is sorry, donate a few million to the Humane Society or to SPCA's to help dogs without homes survive to make up for those you killed.

Other than that, it is all window dressing.

[flraven]

Like Ravenwoman said, the third R, Repair. He can help himself a good bit from now until December when he is sentenced by doing things to show that he truly is sorry and is willing to repent.

That being said, I don't think he plays again in the NFL, and most certainly not on the Ravens.

[Losac]

Unbelievable. People are so gullable. Bankroll and fund a complicated multi-state dogfighting operation for 6 years, murder possibly a dozen dogs in brutal ways, then get caught. Then all you have to do is say you're sorry and you found Jesus and suddenly all is well.

No one knows what is in Vick's heart, but come on now, do you really think he is rejecting a culture he was embedded in for 6 years all of the sudden? Hell, you still hear idiots like Clinton Portis defending dogfighting as ok because after all, it's just a dog and just Vick's property. He is sorry he got caught. Ookie would still be drowning puppies if he hadn't been.

[highwater]

I actually thought he presented himself fairly well under the circumstances, but some of what he said bothered me. I didn't like him saying "I made a mistake," as if he was apologizing for some one-time, heat of the moment incident. It wasn't a "mistake," it was six years of criminal activity, premeditated and well thought out. He did it because he wanted to do it.

Which leads me to doubt his "Dog fighting is a terrible thing" comment. Did he really, finally just figure this out? Or does he still not get it?

And would he really be acting contrite and apologetic if he hadn't been nailed, with no way out? After all, he could have plead guilty long ago, instead of having his attorney read a statement that he was innocent and looked forward to clearing his good name. Once it became clear that he had no realistic shot to beat this in court, then he became sincere.

[ChrisQ]

He said "dog fighting is a terrible thing" and "I reject it".

Bullshit. He didn't think it was terrible BEFORE he got caught. He thought it was great.

And then to say that he found Jesus? If he wanted to come across as believable, that was the stupidest thing he could have said.

[BlackOutD]

I don't buy it yet, if he comes out and shows that same stuff he talked, maybe...

[festivus]

I have heard countless people stand there, after the guilty plea, and lament the 'mistake' they made, and lament how poorly they treated those around them.

Really, it's *very* thin, whether it comes from some 2 bit drug dealing hoodlum or some chronic drunk caught with his 4th DWI.

Where was the Man of Principle before? You want me to believe you're a better man, show me don't tell me. Cuz I've heard the speech before, from men who sounded just as sincere under the proverbial gun.

[Baltoman07]

What exactly is he sorry for? He is still not telling the whole truth. He admits to what he needed to for the plea bargain. If he is really sorry why doesn't he come clean and tell the whole story? Then I may change my mind.

[crazyraven]

Really, it's *very* thin, whether it comes from some 2 bit drug dealing hoodlum or some chronic drunk caught with his 4th DWI.
Absolutely. It is very thin right now but the first step is admitting that you did something wrong. You cant help that drunk if he doesn't understand he has a problem. You have to start somewhere. I think the same thing has to apply to Vick and this situation. Its Ground zero, if you will.


He admits to what he needed to for the plea bargain.
THe plea bargain states that he had a dog fighting gambling ring and was invovled with killing dogs that did win. Isnt that what everyone is pissed at him about?

[Sports Steve]

I really don't care to hear anything from Mr. Vick.

It is amazing how fans are already saying he should be able to come back to the NFL soon. I guess only in America :usa:

:jester: :jester:

[Greg]

AFAIAC, he shouldn't see an NFL football field again. That's his punishment, and all of the change he may or may not have shouldn't change that. I hope he is sincere with his repentance. Maybe he can get himself straight with God, I don't want to ever see him on the field again.

[psuasskicker]

I'm sure he's very sorry for having gotten caught and having to go to jail. He didn't sound too sorry a couple months ago when he was telling everyone he had nothing to do with anything and couldn't wait to clear his name.

I hope he goes the same way Marcus goes...with a whimper, and no one ever hears from him again.

- C -