Terence Moore is Wrong

AJC author and blogger, Terence Moore wrote a blog titled, "No Way Vick Plays for Falcons Again". Click HERE to read his article. I completely disagree with Moore's take because if Vick remains innocent, since our criminal justice system is built on the foundation that a person is innocent until proven guilty, he’ll be playing in a Falcons uniform this season. Moreover, as soon as Vick single-handily wins a game for the Birds, by either rushing for a big touchdown or throwing an amazing touchdown pass, the same fans condemning him will by praising him and claiming that they supported Vick the whole time.

Falcons fans need to be honest with themselves; if the Falcons fortunes over the past two seasons had been good, i.e. we had continue to make the playoffs and Vick had continued to show promise, then half the stories circulating around Vick would not be nearly as publicized, especially by those in the AJC who have oftentimes shown a propensity to leave their “journalistic neutrality” at home. When the home team starts to lose, fans and journalist alike often start criticize major and minor defects alike.

Don’t get me wrong, if Vick is found guilty, then he should get what he deserves, but since he’s still innocent, the Falcons should honor their contract with him, letting him practice and play, and the fans should hold off on judgment until the criminal justice system adjudicates him guilty.

In conclusion, the Vick situation, assuming that he stays innocent, should and probably play out like the Kobe Bryant situation from several years back. The Falcons should let him play and not comment on the legal proceedings, when Vick needs to go to court, they should let him go to court, and when the verdict and/or settlement comes through, Vick should be fully re-embraced by the team, and if the fans want to support him, they should. If Kobe can keep his Lakers purple and gold, after being charged with rape, a more serious crime than dog-fighting, then Vick should be able to keep his red and black.