Michael Vick: (illegal)Underdog(fighting circuit)

But seriously, let's recap.  

Back in 2000 Ray Lewis was arrested and faced trial for his (alleged) role in the killing of two dudes, but got off by testifying against his friends.  He faced zero repercussions from the NFL.  The circumstances were fishy.  The Fulton County DA at the time said the truth had been "shielded."

Travis Henry, former NFL running back and general sleazeball, was arrested for his involvement in dealing cocaine in 2008.  He also has nine children by nine different mothers. The situation is a little different in that he was actually cut from the Broncos before he got arrested for the drug dealing, but it was only 4 months after being cut, so I think we can assume he was doing it while he was still playing.

Brandon Marshall is pro-domestic abuse and has a court date himself.  Not to mention his possible role in that weird Javon Walker beating outside the nightclub in Vegas last year.  Then there's Pac-Man (linking unnecessary) and Terry Glenn and...like 2000 other guys who have been arrested for various offenses.  Fresh in all our minds is the Donte Stallworth scenario, where he drove drunk and killed a guy.  He was apologetic and honest and took it like a man, but he's technically only suspended for 1 season, and the coverage of this incident is bordering on sympathetic.  

Anyways, the point I'm getting at is in a league with a ton of thugs, murderers, sleazeoids, drug dealers, cheaters, etc. can't we ease off Michael Vick a little?  What he did was disturbing and he deserved to get punished, but let's be honest: does it compare to killing a guy or having nine kids with nine different women and not paying for them...and being a drug dealer too?  Vick went to actual prison and was completely BANKRUPTED.  I think he's paid his debt, and I hope some team signs him as a punt-returner/situational back - if he can still cut it.  To be fair, the talking heads on ESPN and other sports media have been expressing that sentiment, but you know that people from PETA are going to be showing up at games with ridiculous signs and causing a raucous.  Just another example of misplaced priorities in our society.