Michael Vick: No Hero | Teen Ink

Michael Vick: No Hero MAG

By Anonymous

The Michael Vick saga is the story of a man who had everything and lost it all. And I cannot remember a tale more atrocious than his.

In 2001, the Atlanta Falcons selected Vick to be their franchise quarterback. He was seen as the savior of the team. The Falcons were so sure about Vick, they traded a shot at getting LaDainian Tomlinson, who many ­considered the best running back in the NFL. After the 2002 season, when Vick led the Falcons to the playoffs with a 9-6-1 record and beat Brett Favre in Lambeau Field, he received the biggest contract in NFL history: $130 million for 10 years. The following year, Vick missed most of the season with a broken ankle. In 2004, he led Atlanta to the NFC Championship but fell short.

Last year, Vick’s legal issues began to mount. In January, he was held at an airport on possession of marijuana, but tests revealed no illegal substances and he was never charged. In April, Vick was charged and convicted of dogfighting. His sentencing date – December 10th – was the same day the Falcons would play the Saints on Monday Night Football. He was sentenced to 23 months in prison.

In my opinion, this penalty is not harsh enough. By forcing innocent dogs to fight to the death, Vick has disgraced his family, the Falcons, and the city of Atlanta. Vick had a dogfighting ring on his property and mass graves for the burial of these dogs yet he initially pleaded not guilty. This is a testament to how immature Michael Vick really is.

Vick himself made me mad enough, but then I watched the Monday Night game. “Free Vick” signs were visible around the stadium. When Roddy White scored a touchdown, he displayed a “Free Mike Vick” T-shirt. I could only think, Do they know what this man did? He killed innocent animals for his own amusement. And, to me, the reaction by the Falcon fans was distasteful and atrocious. Vick deserved to be disciplined. Atlanta must realize the severity of his actions.

The Falcons and their fans need to move on. To me, Vick has played his last down in the National Football League. And rightfully so.

Michael Vick is no hero. He was an average quarterback who could run. But it’s time for the Falcons to move on and forget him.



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This article has 365 comments.


james said...
on Mar. 1 2011 at 9:32 am
well you need to know how to say his name because  he is a best

on Mar. 1 2011 at 9:29 am
LEAVE EM ALONE HES A CHANGED MAN HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IF I KEPT TALKING ABOUT YOU PAST

bmac2356 said...
on Feb. 28 2011 at 8:25 am
give the guy a break, he messed up, nobodys perfect but more importantly he has changed his life and become such a better person that has learned from his mistakes so you need grow up and you are the immature one

on Feb. 23 2011 at 9:04 am
Hawthorn BRONZE, Nowheresville, Maine
3 articles 0 photos 55 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Know Thy Enemy" Sun Tzu

Hunting can help people understand and appreciate nature. Also eating fresh deer meat is probably a lot better for the environment than eating a commercially raised steak not to mention healthier.

on Feb. 17 2011 at 7:56 pm
WerewolfWriting BRONZE, Eerie, Nevada
4 articles 0 photos 32 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Life is not about the breaths we take but about the people who take our breath away."

I've read all the books on that man and I can't even say his name without spitting. The world shames him on his past but forgets the moment he steps onto the football field. You can NOT seperate Michael Vick from his past and you can NOT untangle the souls he will forever carry. Your writing style is very good. Well done.

on Feb. 17 2011 at 4:43 pm
loulou16 BRONZE, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania
3 articles 0 photos 8 comments
I think what vick did was wrong but he got time in prison and he got what he deserved. Everyone deserves a second chance in life.  How would you like it if you were sentenced for life because of one mistake? He did it and got punished. End of story.  He should be allowed to live a life just like the rest of us.

anon said...
on Feb. 6 2011 at 3:14 pm
oh my goodness, i cant belive some of the comments. its obvious that alot of these people are football fans, saying that he only deserved a slap on the wrist is an excuse because they want him to play again. animals can feel and have a life to, let them enjoy it! vick deserves so much more prison time.

ALB99 BRONZE said...
on Feb. 2 2011 at 12:23 pm
ALB99 BRONZE, Houston, Texas
4 articles 0 photos 7 comments
typo, meant to say stallworth didnt get jail time

ALB99 BRONZE said...
on Feb. 2 2011 at 12:22 pm
ALB99 BRONZE, Houston, Texas
4 articles 0 photos 7 comments
good story, but he proved you wrong on the whole last down in the nfl situation. also the penalty was too harsh, vick gets 23 months for killing a dog but stallworth got more over a peerson

dnfundela said...
on Jan. 16 2011 at 6:29 pm
I happen to know, and associate with, many hunters and fishers.  The majority of which have the interests of the animals and conservation in mind.  As a full-on vegan, clearly you should understand the horrific impact the world and animals would suffer if all humans took your approach.  The devastation through loss of animal habitat for your farms, the pesticides and herbicides being sprayed, the huge carbon footprint left by farming, not to mention the horrors that would inflicted by GMOs that would be planted would destroy all life on our planet.  If you do some research, I think you'll find the greatest group of conservationists and habitat defenders, as well as those causing positive changes to be made are hunters and fishers.  I think you know people who kill animals, but you don't know hunters.  Hunters learn to respect life and the beauty it brings.  Maybe you need to examine who you know and not paint others with such a broad brush.

on Jan. 8 2011 at 1:09 am
AliceLevene BRONZE, Vancouver, Other
1 article 27 photos 48 comments

Favorite Quote:
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after
- Mark Twain

Oh yes! The government is a disaster!! Did you hear?? They put murderers in jail! This is a free country!! What is the world coming to?!! 

You make me laugh. 


on Jan. 8 2011 at 1:06 am
AliceLevene BRONZE, Vancouver, Other
1 article 27 photos 48 comments

Favorite Quote:
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after
- Mark Twain

Actually yes, I am a full on vegan. I do not associate myself with any animal products. I am not a animal activist but I can get annoyed by non-vegan/vegetarian people making ridiculous fusses about other people hurting animals! The author might be vegan, but I don't think all the commenters who agree with her/him are! And that is hypocritical!

I don't know how many hunters you know but pull-ezze! I know several hunters. Hunters do not hunt for the sake of putting animals to quick deaths! They hunt for the fun of taking lives, to feel superior. The top of the food chain! No matter what excuses they make up, hunting is not innocent. And it is not okay. 


dnfundela said...
on Jan. 7 2011 at 7:56 pm
Wow....really?!  You actually think his apologies are sincere?!  He's only sorry that he got caught and he's trying to look good for his image.  Get your head out of the sand.

dnfundela said...
on Jan. 7 2011 at 7:54 pm
Six years of repeated behavior is not a mistake, that's a personality trait and in his case, it's sick and twisted.

dnfundela said...
on Jan. 7 2011 at 7:52 pm
I hate to break it to you, but hunting is not someone gaining pleasure from the torture and suffering of other animals as Vick did.  Hunters, in general, respect the creatures for what they are, living beings, and do their best to provide a quick death.  Unless you are a complete vegetarian and wear no leather, drink no milk and eat not eggs, you are a hypocrite.  Your killing is done by proxy, but you are still responsible.

MickelHunt said...
on Jan. 7 2011 at 9:36 am
MickelHunt, Palm Coast, Florida
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
Wow this story is just idk Vick got 2 years for killing a dog but Donte Stallworth didn't go to jail and he killed a man for drunk driving so aparrently dogs are more important then humans

Skywalker42 said...
on Jan. 6 2011 at 7:22 am
bean123 Your right people need to just forget about this and move on,like honestly when the white man does it it's called sporting. But when a black man does it it's called murder.That goes to show that racism is still alive.

sandralek said...
on Jan. 4 2011 at 7:32 pm
Are you kidding me? This is not a good article. I completely disagree. Yes, it may be wrong dog fighting, but the government is making this country NOT a free country by making laws like this. He should NOT be put in jail and I completely understand and agree with the falcons’ players and the organization. This post is a disgrace. Mike Vick was just exercising something that should of been free, but wasn't. Our government has turned into an oligarchy. And this is a disgrace. I cannot believe my eyes. Go Eagles plus Mike Vick I am proud of him and I look up to him for this. Even though dog fighting is not good and inhumane still should not get him into jail. This is not what I look up to him for he has changed and is way better.

on Dec. 16 2010 at 11:02 am
therezzyman BRONZE, Fairfield, Connecticut
1 article 0 photos 1 comment
ik plax is the best

on Dec. 14 2010 at 8:15 am
CatherineK SILVER, Omaha, Nebraska
7 articles 4 photos 19 comments

Favorite Quote:
“In all things it is better to hope than to despair”

actually in some places hunting it legal because it helps with animal population control. But I completely agree with the author. People need to accept the fact that he did something wrong and move on.