Day of Atonement

Humans are a forgiving species. Whether this is some innate characteristic or if it's learned through religion or some secular principle, we, the people, forgive one another and move forward.

Unfortunately, some people -- and for whatever reason, many in the Philadelphia metropolitan area -- let preconceptions or narrow-mindedness skew their outlook. Not only is this unfair, but it also goes against any line of progressive thinking.

Michael Vick was raised in a culture of poor decision-makers. And before going to prison for killing dogs, he surrounded himself with poor decision-makers. Consequently, Mike Vick made many bad choices of his own.

Does that mean he's bound to do so for the rest of his time on Earth? Not necessarily. No one knows what lies ahead for Michael Vick except Michael Vick. But he does appear to have honest intentions.

Before his prison sentence, Vick was an overpaid athlete who acted like a thug and financed a dogfighting ring for fun. Today he's soft-spoken, humbled by the experience, as he should be.

His tone has changed. His ego is gone. He's ready to make a change for the better. What more can be asked of him? If you were a high-profile citizen found guilty of a crime, served the time, and vowed to come out a stronger person, wouldn't you expect to be accepted back into society?

Wouldn't you want to continue your career? Should the man be forced to do something other than play football, the one profession at which he excels, the one thing he's trained his entire life for?

Unfortunately, those that cannot -- or really, do not -- want Michael Vick to turn his life around (let alone return to the NFL) don't know about the rough childhood he experienced. The psychological toll that Vick's childhood took on him may have contributed to his violent dogfighting history.

Every year there are cases of rape, domestic violence, and substance abuse around the NFL and beyond. These, too, are premeditated crimes that may be rooted in a rough childhood that lacked stability. But charges such as these are often dropped.

Vick, on the other hand, was used to set an example. In fact, the average dog-loving sports fans thought that his 23-month sentence was a bit harsh. Vick did the time, though. And for one reason or another, other criminals have not.

But before anyone knew about Michael Vick's dogfighting ways, many sports fans disliked him for his appearance, or for the way he presented himself. They didn't like the way he spoke. They didn't like the way he dressed. They didn't even like the way he walked.

We don't know the Mike Vick of today, though. He may be a different person. He can't be discounted for the way he appeared more than two years ago.

A big reason for the anti-Vick sentiment in the two days since his signing is envy. People have a hard time understanding why Michael Vick is going to earn millions of dollars again. Or why he's going to get his time in the spotlight.

For one thing, Vick has loads of debt to pay off. So he certainly isn't "netting" millions. And any time he's going to see in the spotlight will be spent answering tough questions from relentless reporters. So it's not exactly a walk in the park. But it comes with the territory.

Some people -- and especially any football-hating dog-lovers out there -- will resent Vick's $1.6 million contract. They'll see it as, 'I'm a good person. Michael Vick isn't. Where's my million-dollar contract?'.

That's America for you. This hypocritical, predominantly-Christian nation can tell Mike Vick, 'You shall not kill. It's wrong. It's unethical. It goes against the Ten Commandments, our list of moral imperatives.'

Meanwhile, they, too, are sinners. What happened to, 'You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor'?

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Michael Vick to a non-guaranteed one-year contract worth $1.6 million with a team option for a second season at $5.2 million. From a business aspect, this is a great move.

Vick was once the highest-paid player in the NFL. If his skills are anywhere close to where they were in 2006, the Eagles have hit the jackpot.

Therefore, football-wise, this signing can't hurt. But it may help. Vick is a world-class athlete and a decent quarterback that will not be asked to start or contribute significantly at all this season. Plus, he is one hell of an insurance policy for the Eagles' injured-riddled starting quarterback, Donovan McNabb.

The Eagles made this move for another reason, though. It's not just about football. Non-football fans will tell you it is -- but it isn't. Owner Jeffery Lurie wanted to give Michael Vick a chance at re-establishing his career.

If Michael Vick was your child, wouldn't you want him to be given a second chance? If your answer is no, then you're lying to yourself.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Philadelphia Eagles organization, they value character and have high expectations for their players. Do you think the Eagles would agree to signing someone they thought couldn't meet those expectations?

With the blessing of Lurie, head coach Andy Reid, team captain Donovan McNabb, as well as Tony Dungy, one of the most respected men involved with the NFL, Michael Vick began his journey back to the league yesterday.

He spoke softly, answered questions directly, and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to resume his career. At this stage, not much else can be asked of him.

So we now know that Michael Vick will touch an NFL field again. What we don't know is how he's changed in the two years he's been away -- or how the public will respond to him in weeks, months, or a year from now.

Hopefully people will give him a chance. Hopefully they can put the past behind them, focus on the ever-changing present, and know that Michael Vick is working hard to become a better person.