Many years ago, NFL quarterback Michael Vick did very bad things to dogs. He ran a dogfighting ring, hanging or drowning animals who didn’t perform well, and served 21 months in federal prison.
“I want to apologize to all the young kids out there for my immature acts,” he said when he pleaded guilty to related charges in 2007. “If I’m more disappointed with myself than anything, it’s because of all the young people, young kids that I’ve let down, who look at Michael Vick as a role model.”
Vick’s career was resurrected with the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Jets. But now that he’s signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, criticism of his past misdeeds has left the City of Bridges discontented.
Slightly.
When announcing the signing, Pittsburgh appeared to gird itself against criticism.
“Obviously we’re sensitive to those potential things but we are going to do our due diligence,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said, as The Washington Post reported. “Rest assured that we’ve done that, but rest assured he’s done a lot since he’s gone through some of the things he’s gone through and his track record at this point in that regard speaks for itself.”
[Michael Vick signs with Steelers as a backup quarterback]
That criticism came. There wasn’t just the dog-themed Facebook page “Pittsburghers Against Michael Vick” — there was an online petition.
“Michael Vick is a convicted felon and no-class piece of crap,” an online petition — one of many anti-Vick efforts — signed by more than 8,000 at press time read. “He is also a terrible QB which is why he has no team. Let’s unite as Steeler fans — as NFL fans — and stop him from playing on our team!”
Some on Twitter also voiced discontent.
“I am a steelers fan but I will not cheer for Michael Vick,” one user wrote. “I’m disappointed that he is still playing for the NFL let alone my team.”
But no matter how badly a new prospect behaved a decade ago, there is always another season to think about. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Ron Cook had some advice for fans targeting Vick and the family that owns the Steelers: “Get over it.”
“You have doubts about Vick, at 35, being able to help the Steelers as a backup quarterback with Bruce Gradkowski out after finger surgery?” Cook wrote. “That’s fair. But spare me the nonsense about his baggage from eight years ago. And, please, spare me your outrage at the Rooneys for this perceived violation of the so-called Steeler Way. There is no Steeler Way, never has been.”
Cook also pointed out the short memories of Steelers fans, who have previously embraced players accused of doing evil.
“You were quick to overlook James Harrison’s domestic-abuse incident in 2008, the sexual-assault allegations against [Ben] Roethlisberger in Milledgeville, Ga., in 2010 and Le’Veon Bell’s arrest on marijuana charges a year ago,” he wrote. “You will be quick to embrace Vick if he helps the Steelers win. You will give him a standing ovation the first time he throws a touchdown pass.”
Cook was not alone in defending Vick.
“Vick paid for his crimes already,” one Twitter user wrote. “I hate what he did, but it’s done and he’s served the consequences. He’s owned it and has done everything.”
Then there was the vegetarian angle — particularly cutting in a city that’s home to this famous sandwich.
“Ready for an unpopular opinion?” one Twitter user wrote. “I’m not happy Vick is a Steeler either, but if you really care about animals maybe you shouldn’t eat them.”
Also, wherever Vick treads, he has an endorsement perhaps unique in the annals of football: that of President Obama. In 2010, the president called the Philadelphia Eagles to praise the team for giving the quarterback another shot.
“He said, ‘So many people who serve time never get a fair second chance,'” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said at the time. “He said, ‘It’s never a level playing field for prisoners when they get out of jail.’ And he was happy that we did something on such a national stage that showed our faith in giving someone a second chance after such a major downfall.”
