The Institute (協会)

He does a better apology than most famous people caught in sin/crime, though I wish he'd just admitted "I was awfully cruel to those poor dogs.", instead of simply noting he needs to "grow up." I like to think he's sincere, though I cannot ignore the fact that he may be angling for a lighter sentence.

What happens? Best case, he's playing with the Raiders in the fall of 2008. That assumes his repentance is real, I think. Worst case, his life falls apart like Mike Tyson's.

I don't presume to guess which, but I'm hoping his life won't become a farce like too many athletes'.

From what I am reading, there is a chance he may not do time at all, if he turns out to be the government's next big narc in the dogfighting ring (not that that's such a bad thing).

There's no question that Vick is done with the Falcons for his career. His name is too tainted, the owner is furious with him for tarnishing his team's name, and they can't take the PR blow of keeping him on longer, anyway. He will not play this season at all, and may be kept out another season.

I think his career as a player is not over, although as a moneymaker it is. He will never see another endorsement bigger than Marv's Tire store in backwoods pick your state, and no team would take him for anywhere near market value. He is not a great QB, as you say, but I would still take him over many of the guys playing in this league now. He will be spending a lot of money to clean himself up, and America loves nothing better than redemtion. I don't think he will be another Mike Tyson--much as I love dogs I still don't put Vick's crimes and sickness anywhere near a repeat rapist. In fact, I think I am rooting for him to make it back sometime. I hope he is for real.

Living down the road from the ATL, it's very obvious that Vick's career as a Falcon is done. I can't imagine him not getting another shot in the NFL though.

One thing that continues to bother me in everything that's been said about Vick is the focus on his possible incarceration as rehabilitation rather than punishment. Given our conviction as Christians that only the gospel creates deep, holistic change, I have little confidence in the ability of our criminal justice system to fix Mr. Vick.

I would hope all of us would want Vick's profession of faith to be legit.

It makes no sense for the Falcons to keep him, so yes he should be released. If someone does something this stupid, then he should pay the consequences no matter how apologetic he seems. Should he get a chance to come back? Yes he should have that chance, but people shouldn't be outraged if no owner wants to take a chance himself.

While the Raiders do make really bad choices, it's idiotic for a team to pick a QB #1 and then replace him with a guy that's a so-so QB after a year or two (but of course it's also idiotic to draft a guy knowing what he wants to get paid and then refuse to pay him that).

I wonder if he's sorry for what he did or for getting caught.

His, "I found Jesus" admission was so insincere it made me want to vomit. It was worse than when rappers thank the lord when they get an BET Award!

Paul, yeah bro, good stuff!!

I think this whole apology thing is his manager's idea. And the "I found Jesus" thing; I have no idea what that's about, but it's funny that it comes about when all this happens. (Well, not really funny, but ironic)

Everybody needs to stop ridculing Vick for his "I found Jesus" statement. The guy has been humbled by the experience and turned to Christ. We should all be celebrating. Isn't this what Christianity is all about. Or maybe its just that folks in Reformed Churches expect new Christians to be perfect immediately and have the doctrines of grace memorized before the become "real Christians".

There is no way the Falcons are going to cut Vick.

First of all, it makes sense financially to keep him. The organization is trying to recover the 22 million dollar signing bonus they gave him when he signed that massive contract in 04. Under the current laws, they can't make a legal claim of that money if they cut Vick, so he has to stay on the roster...at least until they get that money back. Personally, I think they will make some kind of deal to not cut him if he returns the money. This way the team will get the maximum amount back, avoiding more any costly proceeding, and Vick will be guaranteed a second shot when the suspension is lifted. You'll see, they will spin it to look like he is cooperating and doing everything and anything he can to help the team and "redeem" himself.

Moreover,it makes sense for the image of the Falcons. Of course they are outraged and embarassed by what Vick did, but straight up cutting him isn't going to make it any better. They need to do something to "redeem" themselves...besides sucking for the next few years. An official statement from the team on NPR said that they are keeping Vick on the roster (mostly for reason number one), and that they fully expect him to return when everything is over provided he continues on the path he begun today. Think about it, the Falcons will be the team with a heart that gives a man a second chance after he proves he is truly sorry. They are also the team that is loyal to its players, even if they mess up big. There is a made for TV movie if I've ever seen one.

More than their image or the signing bonus, the reason they will not cut Vick is because the Falcons are a better team with Vick on it. All professional sports teams are a business, and they are in the business of winning. IN the long run they know they will make more money with a winning team including Vick opposed to a really horrible one without him. This is why players like Leonard Little, Ray Lewis, Pac Man Jones, and T.O are still in the league. If the fans chose their favorite team based on the character and morality of the club this would probably be different, but it's not. Some people (me being one) won't forget what happened and will root against players like the above list, but most forget as soon as their team is winning again (how many PETA people are football fans anyway?). Besides, there will always be other scandals and controversies to take our attention away from the old news.

Vick's comment about Jesus seemed to be strategically placed in that apology. I'm not God and I really hope it is sincere, but it wasn't very convincing to me. It's been my experience that people who "find" Jesus seem to be a bit more affected by it...where it would be kind of a big deal instead of a quick side comment towards the end. Vick made it sound like he was sorry he got caught and he'd better grow up now (oh and I found Jesus too), rather than a heartfelt life changing apology. Its like when your mom makes you apologize to someone when you are growing up...you can say whatever you want, but something isn't quite right. Maybe it's the attitude? Maybe it's following the statement with "it's the right thing to do right now."? I dunno. I'm sure he was nervous apologizing to the whole nation for lying...I can't imagine too many things came out the way he rehearsed. I can say he did a better job with everything than his brother Marcus....

rooy, you raise some good points, but if the Falcons keep him until they get their money and then release him, well that's the same thing as releasing him. The timing doesn't really matter.

They're going to be terrible this year anyway unless Harrington can all the sudden do this year what he couldn't do in Detroit or Miami. If they're terrible, then they'll get a high draft pick. There's a good chance they could just draft a top QB and start all over at the position (to the relief of many in Atlanta that already gave up on Vick because he's just not that great of a QB).

Anyone think the Falcons are kicking themselves for getting rid of Schaub?

The Jesus thing is an old dodge. Have you ever listened to Zach Wamp vis-a-vis his check kiting and cocaine dealing? Or basically anyone in the Bush administration? They all pull the same schtick. Every time they get caught, they start singing a refrain about Jesus, and the holy rollers are only too eager to call these evil-doers "good Christian men".

Paul said, "Anyone think the Falcons are kicking themselves for getting rid of Schaub?"

Haha, yep!!

I think as Christians we ought to be positive and hold out a sincere hope that someone's profession of conversion is real, rather than immediately doubting it, tearing it down, and assuming it's a ploy. What if we're wrong? What have we then said about Jesus and one of His lambs?

However, that doesn't mean we have to be gullible. Time usually tells, and usually it isn't a whole lot of time when it's a high-profile situation. We don't need to turn our brains off and ignore the possibility that the conversion might not be real, but somehow it seems less than Christian to immediately assume it's fake. Dramatic conversions do happen, and a five years from now I'd far rather be saying, "Guess Vick's conversion wasn't very sincere after all" than "Oops, I slandered one of the brethren and mocked a profession of genuine faith."

I don't think he should permanently lose his job. Vick should serve his sentence for his crimes, and then get back to work. He's a football player, let him do his job. I'm not so sure why he shouldn't be allowed back to work. Do his crimes have something to do with Football? IF not, let him play. I think he has great touch on the ball and don't want to see him go.

Very interesting apology. I'm not sure how much Vick will benefit by dropping the name of Jesus in a press conference. What a crazy twist to the whole situation.

When all I see are "conversions" to Christ by celebs once they get into trouble in the public spotlight, it's difficult for me to accept that the so-called conversions are heartfelt. Are they ashamed of their public humility or do they really know they've offended a Holy and just God? And are they repentant at all?

If Vick came to Christ, GREAT! I would have been more impressed if he would've come to Christ without all the scandal.

I would love think that he was sincere. I think Christian should be discerning, and loving. But let's be real. If he's laying hold to Christ in Atlanta he's not going to church with a Michael Leach, he'd show with a Creflo Dollar or a Bishop Eddie Long "Money".

It's the timing of the whole deal. I need to grow up, I found God. Where's the fruit of Repentance, from a biblical stand point.

Where are the modern day John the Baptist, that are going to say, "You brood vipers, who warned you to flee the wrath to come?"

Where are the James' of our day that will say to the rich, Come now!

Where's the grace and truth christian friends?

Like the quick said, I would be more impressed if it was without the scandal!

Tyler:

Many--if not most--people who convert as adults do it at extremely low points in their lives; it's not just celebrities. It takes an extraordinary amount of humility to reverse one's whole view on life, God, and the world. Often, that kind of humility can only come under the most shameful of circumstances. For a celebrity who has every material thing a man could hope for and the adoration of thousands, what kind of event could bring that about, other than public humiliation and imprisonment? It seems natural, then, that the famous tend to convert when their sins are public, embarrassing, and punishable by law.

I very much doubt that all of them are genuine, but, on an individual basis, I'd rather say, "I hope it's real; time will tell," than call him a liar who is trying to weasel his way out of justice. Now, even if he has been brought to repentance, that doesn't mean he ought to get out of serving the punishment due. I think one of the most telling signs of true conversion is that the person not try to use his Jesus moment as a get-out-of-jail-free card. I guess we'll see.

Jesus would just like to say, "Don't drag me into this!"

I agree dave. Glad we see eye to eye on this one.

If Jesus doesn't want to be dragged into this, then exactly what does the episode on the Cross mean?

Yes, He does want to be brought into this--and my prayer is that Michael Vick did so, instead of merely invoking His name.