Arena football team offers Vick a job...but not really

(AP) Vick answering press questions pre-conviction

The once idolized Atlanta Falcons player, Michael Vick, has had a rude awakening in more than one way while serving his 23 month prison term, and preparing for his 3 year probation. Vick is now a convicted, admitted felon and has been widely ridiculed for his involvement in a dog fighting ring where he participated in the hanging, drowning, beating, and electrocution of Pit Bulls that did not perform up to his standards.

The question has remained as to whether Vick will be able to play in the National Football League, (NFL) again. Roger Goodell, League commissioner has placed Vick on indefinite suspension and it is no secret that the Atlanta Falcons are trying to trade him.  

 
(AP) two of the rescued Pit Bulls from Vick's estate

An announcement was made that the arena2football franchise, the Albany Firebirds, would offer Vick a salary of $200 per week with a $50 bonus for each win to play for the team. Quite the slap in the face considering Vick's base salary with the Falcons was 9 million dollars with up to 6 million in bonuses per year. The Firebirds also included in their "contract" that Vick would be required to donate $100,000 to a local Humane Society. 

The laughable offer quickly became no laughing matter when the word got out that the announcement was nothing more than a publicity stunt generated by the team's marketing department. To rub salt into the wound, the owner of the Firebirds, Walter Robb, who was unaware of the stunt, stated “I’m a dog lover and I don’t want anything to do with (Vick).” 

Vick's chances of playing for an NFL team anytime in the near future are probably fairly slim if even an arena football team will not take him seriously. Many people have said, deservingly so. After all, as Dan Taylor, founder of the American Pet Cross has stated, "I can't imagine that dog fighters are great husbands, fathers, or Rotary presidents." 

Aside from Michael Vick's prison sentence, he was ordered to pay back $19.97 million dollars to the Falcons in signing bonuses for violating his contract. Vick agreed during his plea bargain to pay "restitution for the full amount of the costs associated with the disposition of all dogs" (involved in the case). He has since paid over $900,000 for the permanent care and rehabilitation of the Pit Bulls rescued from the fighting franchise. 

For more info: Visit The Redemption of Michael Vick, and more on the More on the Michael Vick Case.Email your questions and comments to dogexaminer@yahoo.com.