Michael Vick will be eligible to play beginning third Philadelphia Eagles game of the season
Michael Vick's reinstatement in the NFL will be official -- and no longer "conditional" -- as of the Philadelphia Eagles' third game of regular-season play, our colleague Sam Farmer reports.
The announcement was made after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's meeting with Vick earlier today, which reportedly lasted the better part of an hour. After the meeting with Vick, Goodell met with the man who's acting as his mentor, former NFL coach Tony Dungy, for 45 minutes.
"Hopefully we can have a success story here, which would be good for society in general," Goodell told ESPN of Vick. "He's realistic about the challenges ahead. And anxious to play football." From ESPN:
During their meeting Thursday, the topic of Vick's past experiences and why he got involved in dog-fighting came up. One of Vick's representatives was explaining it, when Vick stepped in and took responsibility. "He was genuinely remorseful," Goodell said.
Goodell said he did discuss with Vick the report that he was seen drinking an alcoholic beverage in a restaurant at the hotel where he was staying. Goodell said it was not a violation of his probation.
"It highlights the tremendous microscope this man is under," Goodell said. "He understands he has little margin for error. It served as a useful lesson."
When Goodell first announced that Vick would be allowed to return to the NFL, he said he wouldn't consider offering him full reinstatement until the sixth week of league play, in mid-October. It's unclear what caused him to change his mind and push up the date of his official reinstatement.
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-- Lindsay Barnett
Photo: Vick smiles after the Eagles win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on Aug. 27. Credit: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images
NO football in this household, NO pepsi, NO beer, NO dunkin donuts etc....
Posted by: Dawn | September 03, 2009 at 07:46 PM
Lets face it. The whole Vick comeback is like a made for TV movie. He didn't have to do anything, ANYTHING. The NFL, Tony Dungy, CBS execs and the Humane Society made him the successful comback that he is. Left to his own devices, Vick would be still trying to put a sentence together in English. He is a pitiful waste who can play football. That's all. I have never felt good, bad or indifferent about professional football, but now I literally have no use for it. It is a fraud that hires numskulls to play a game. They are not our heros. They are, for the most part, dim-witted little boys. They are all acting like Vick got seriously injured trying to save someones life and is making a grand comeback. That is not the case at all. He is a pitiful excuse for a human being.
Posted by: Barbara | September 03, 2009 at 08:18 PM
Did I fall asleep, or misunderstand, or what happened??? Did I not hear before this murderer was reinstated to the NFL, which is of itself, a disgrace, that he would not be permitted to play until the sixth game....the season is not even open yet, and he's already playing. Way to go, Goodell. You suspended him indefitiely, which to me, seems to be, maybe not even returning. Now you have him playing already. Wayne Pacelle, I am disappointed in you. You assured me you would be ever watchful of his behavior. Well I guess that means, you're watchful of his plays.
Why am I committed to a monthly contribution from my small fixed income? So murderers can be returned untouched to their ridiculously lucrative salaries? How much of that multimillion contract is vick contributing to animal well being? I have yet to see a public service announcement by him opposing dogfighting and other animal cruelty.
Posted by: clara | September 04, 2009 at 08:41 AM
hmmmm Sick Vic playing? I think if he is at all remorseful, he would donate his entire salary to the prevention of animal cruelty.
Posted by: claudia | September 05, 2009 at 07:12 AM
Why can we not put someone on the field who all can look up to???? Vick, come on he is a total messed person i won't call him human not after what he did and did for many yrs.
Professional football has gone downhill in my estimation, can our kids not look up to someone anymore, having Vick re-instated makes we wonder Goodell about you..
give me hockey any day of the week as far as i am concerned the Eagles can loose every game and i would be smiling. what goes around comes around....Vic should be working in walmart or some other low paying place not making millions watch him you could be disappointed...
If he is such a comeback kid and is sorry for his torture of God's creations let him give a big chuck of his salary to public service announcements declaring how wrong he was and that he is sorry..never hAPPEN AS HE IS A MORON.
Posted by: teresa | September 05, 2009 at 10:38 AM