Yes

by K.C. Neal

Created on: September 14, 2007

Even as I sit at my computer typing, my 2 sons are in the yard playing football. My oldest is 13 and my younger son is 8. They will have 10 children in our yard within the hour playing football with them. As they play, they will all dream of being an NFL star one day.

This one simple fact in itself is reason enough to suspend Michael Vick from the NFL and add cruelty to animals to their personal conduct policy. It is a crime of the highest nature to excuse an illegal activity such as dog fighting for role models such as Vick. This may be done since there is not a specific clause in the conduct policies regarding animal cruelty. Accountability is as much, if not more, a part of being a role model as is the talent that brought him into the positions of the fame that he has earned.

But, the fact that he has let down millions of fans down is not a concrete reason to suspend Vick from the NFL. After all, he is only human, and we all make mistakes. But, the fact that he has broken the law in such an especially heinous way, over an extended amount of time, is reason. This is a cruelty issue that must be addressed.
And a precedent decision must be made by the NFL, regardless of how it may effect the league or the Atlanta Falcons financially. Only by being very specific with issues can appropriate action be taken in future cases.

Commissioner Robert Goodell, no doubt, has a big decision on his hands, as this will effect so many people. The fans, the team, the league, the endorsement companies, and Michael Vick himself will all have to realize the extent of the crime of dogfighting once Goodell's decision is made. Had there been a policy already in place, the issue of what to do in this case of animal cruelty would not be so disputable.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) have issued numerous statements regarding the issue and brought it to the forefront of the press. They organized a peaceful demonstration outside the league's headquarters as Goodell was trying to meet with officials of the ASPCA chanting "Sack Vick". PETA is a very strong organization that will put the pressure on the NFL in an extremely negative way if the appropriate actions are not taken against Vick, and policies are not put into the personal conduct portion of the league's agreements.

Because no sanctions have already been imposed on Vick, PETA and the Humane Society of the United States have already begun to issue statements to the press against the NFL. They are frustrated with the "let's wait and see" attitude that is being taken by the league. And they are simply speaking out for the millions of dog (and other animal) owners within this country, if not the world.

It is such a shame that some adults do not yet realize the severity of cruelty to animals, but as we have seen over the past few months, not only is cruelty done in the privacy of homes, but for actual financial gain in a public sector. The NFL, earlier this year, actually was working with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals. So, if the NFL is actually working to prevent the cruelty to animals, then why counteract that with ALLOWING the actual promotion of animal cruelty such as dogfighting? And only with written policies can these allowances be deemed unacceptable and intolerable, as far as further NFL play is considered.

And it IS a fact that Vick was not alone in this ordeal, and that he is not the only one in the country to commit this crime. But, he WAS caught, and no matter how many other people are involved, he should be held accountable. That is not to say he should be held accountable all alone, but the debate that is in question around the country concerns Michael Vick and his actions. And the NFL need only be concerned with their player in question. And they must know that whatever action is taken will effect further incidences similar to this particular injustice against animals. Therefore, putting a "Cruelty to Animals" clause in their personal conduct policy is more than warranted.

Michael Vick is an adult who made it to the top with determination and drive and countless hours of hard work. He is to be commended for that. But, in those moments when he had to make a decision to fund this type of criminal behavior, he had to consider that if he was caught, it could be the end of his career. But, without a clause specifically speaking to the crime at hand, was he just tempting the system?

The NFL needs to be grown-up about this issue, and realize that grown-ups need guidelines too. It is sad to acknowledge that this type of behavior needs to be in writing in order to get the point across that it is wrong. You would think that the whimpers of the animals being abused would be enough.

But, as we have seen in astonishment, that it was not. So, let's put the pressure on the NFL. You write out their plays on a chalkboard, so write out their morals in a contract so that they can realize what is right and what is wrong.

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