The Rome report

Earlier this week, a deal between Michael Vick and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals fell through. The deal called for Vick to do a public service announcement warning people against dog fighting. The deal fell through when Vick and his representatives asked PETA to not stand in his way if he got a chance to return to the NFL. PETA said it could not agree to that stipulation. and will protest Vick’s return to the NFL. PETA even asked Vick to get a brain scan and a psychological evaluation.
I am tired of PETA. It has gotten enough airtime on radio and TV. PETA is in no position to be asking Vick to get a brain scan and psychological testing. When Vick gets out of jail, he will have served his prison time and repaid his debt to society. Whether he returns to the NFL is the decision of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and any team that is interested. That is all Vick owes anyone. He doesn’t owe PETA anything.

In an interview, PETA’s Daphna Nachminovitch said she doesn’t think Vick is remorseful for what he did. Guess what, Nachminovitch? He doesn’t have to be remorseful for his role in the dog fighting. All he has to do is serve his time.

Vick should be remorseful and do the public service announcement. Apologizing would help a little with the people who are still angry about the dog fighting. But he doesn’t have to do it. Once his prison sentence is over, he has fulfilled his obligation.

PETA just wants to get more press. I know they really do care about the treatment of animals, but they love the publicity they have gotten from this story. If Vick wasn’t a famous athlete, PETA wouldn’t care what happened to him after his jail time is served. Nachminovitch also said PETA is worried about what message would be sent if Vick is allowed to resume his football career. PETA doesn’t care about what message it sends to the kids. There are drunks, wife beaters and drug users all throughout the NFL. I seriously doubt a dog fighter would be the worst human being in the NFL if Vick returned.

I don’t condone what Vick did. It was disgusting, inhumane and cruel. But he has been disciplined much more than someone else would. He has been suspended from his league and doesn’t know whether he will be allowed back in. He has lost all of his endorsements. He has had to file for bankruptcy. Vick’s status as a famous athlete actually hurt him in this case. What more does PETA want?

I hope Vick gets a second chance in the NFL. He has done enough to be allowed to play if someone wants to give him a chance. I just don’t want PETA to get what it wants.

And the next time PETA wants someone to get their brain scanned, maybe it should start with itself.