by Patrick Corcoran

Created on: August 18, 2009   Last Updated: August 19, 2009

Let's put it right out there in the beginning, "I don't like Michael Vick." The question here is, "Does Michael Vick deserve a second chance to play in the NFL?" Not, "Do you like him or agree with what he did?"

No one or practically no one could abide with the acts he committed but can a person ever redeem themselves for past acts? I'd like to think that everyone can with just a few exceptions.

Anyone like myself who argues that Mr. Vick should get a second chance at football is not advocating he be completely forgiven or his misdeeds be forgotten, just let him play football!

I believe that not many of us will ever forget his crime and I doubt he will. But should he play football? "Yes!"

In almost any other profession a person who paid their debt to society would be allowed back in their old job. Civil servants would be one of the few exceptions.

Michael Vick spent almost two years of his life in a federal prison, paid an enormous fine and was ridiculed by animal rights activists, the public and the media. And he deserved every bit of it. But at what point has a person paid their debt for their actions? Is there not anything one can do to redeem them self?

One of the things Michael Vick has done to atone is to be an animals rights activist. He has pledged to the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL that he will continue to be proactive in that area. Mr. Lurie, the Eagle's owner said that Michael has to make a "substantial" effort in that regard or else he will not get the second half of his contract honored.

The Eagles administrative office had contacted the animal right groups in the Philly area before signing Vick and those groups were satisfied with what they heard. Trust me, if the Eagles thought for one second the backlash from these groups was going to be overwhelmingly negative, they would not have signed Vick.

Michael Vick received plenty of national media attention when he played football. That attention escalated to international infamy when the news of the dog fighting story broke. Even more media is crazed over his return to the NFL. Mr. Vick has vowed to use his status, notoriety and recognition to raise money for the Philadelphia animal groups and bring attention to the plight of abused animals. The good he can do for animals at this time in his life is something that he and the animals need very badly and arguably he will have the biggest impact for animals causes than just about any other celebrity at this time. Let these groups use this

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