Michael Vick, the star National Football League quarterback whose career was interrupted by a dogfighting conviction, has reached an endorsement agreement with athletic equipment maker Nike.
"We have re-signed Michael Vick as a Nike athlete," Megan Saalfeld, a Nike spokeswoman, said in an e-mail to CNN.
See rare photos of Michael Vick
Vick, currently on the roster of the Philadelphia Eagles, served 20 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to bankrolling a dogfighting operation. He has since emerged as a spokesman against dogfighting.
"Michael acknowledges his past mistakes," Saalfeld said. "We do not condone those actions, but we support the positive changes he has made to better himself off the field. "
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Just like leonard little, it just goes to show if you can play ball you can do whatever the hell you want and all is forgiven, you can go right back to your life. BTW if you didn't know Leonard Little committed vehicular homicide while he was drunk when he played for the Rams, after a slap on the wrist all was forgiven and he went back to playing ball like nothing ever happened.
Leonard Little is a different story. He actually got away with a form of murder. Vick was convicted and served his time. He paid his debt to society, and returned to his career.
Little, Vick and a growing list of others. But hey.. you play well enough and all is forgiven …right?
i own two dogs and have had many in my lifetime. I can't even begin to imagine how anyone could do what Vick did. Furthermore, I can begin to imagine how anyone could hire someone that has commited the crimes against life that Vick has as a spokesman. I can't lie, I don't own iny Nikes and I never will. Just google the pictures of the dogs that came out of his ring. It will turn your stomach and if you are human make you feel the same way as me.
They are dogs... get real! I have children to feed... go Mike Vick!!!
What does that have to do with you feeding your kids?
Gross overpriced cheap junk represented by a gross overpriced cheap player. Nike isn't even popular anymore, how is this going to help them sell stuff again?
You're an idiot!
As a matter of fact, they just un-sold themselves to a LOT of people. I, for one, am never buying a NIKE product ever again.
Most of the hate towards Vick is just racism. He did some bad things towards dogs. He did his time and he payed both with is freedom and with money for his crimes. We all eat hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken, and fish all day every day. We kill animals and eat them constantly by the billions. We also have sports and zoos and abuse animals all the time. However, we only condemn Vick? Well they shoot deers and other animals on ESPN all the time for sport. I never saw a deer with a gun.
@ Stoptheracism
You know you’ve lost the argument when you have to full the race card
Will NEVER purchase NIKE again!
You're also an idiot!!
Nike doesn't want people like you purchasing their product anyway.
Well I will buy two pairs of Nike just to support Vick and Nike for showing the world that there is redemption and that we all make mistakes but that should not mean the end of the world. I never met a perfect human being, never will. How are you better than Vick. Stop the hate. Lets go Vick!
Yet another good reason to never buy anything made by Nike.
And who is signing you? That's right you are no one, so I'll put in the same club as the knuckleheads above.
I'm curious to know what your first reason was.
Well trust and believe Nike will not miss your McDonalds paycheck at all. You probably cant afford Nike anyway.
@Yo Yo..
So wait.. you have to be signed before you’re someone? Are you signed? Does your opinion matter more than his or less? And you are calling others idiots…lol
The HSUS does not speak for animal lovers – join the Animal Rights Federation's cause to BOYCOTT NIKE!!!
http://www.causes.com/causes/623481-boycott-nike?from=causes-share-facebook&%3Brecruiter_id=153883203
I hardly ever make posts on here but this is one opportunity I just couldnt resist. You all really should put your energy into something that you can actually have an impact on. No matter how much hate is spewed here, Mike Vick still receives his NIKE endorsement, he will still be the Philly Eagles STARTING QB, he will still be at the top in jersey sales and I'm sure he will be a success at whatever else life throws at him.
and @Maureen PLEASE get off your high horse..Do you really think that you and maybe two or three other mommies at bbqs planning to go on a Nike purchasing strike will really make a difference? Do you really think Nike or Mikey care? If you do then bless your heart my dear. PS while you are at the BBQ, please dont allow your sweet kiddies to eat a hot dog or a burger...I mean eating meat is considered animal cruelty as well...just some food for though.
For the longest I thought that only God could judge....I guess I was wrong.
Well said Shane Wright
Cheers...
YoYo...you're an idiot. Thought I'd toss that back atcha, homie.
Really, becasue he lost his tv show and Subway isn't going to sponser an award anymore due to his nomination and how about all of those sponsers that backed out becasue of the backlash that was caused from people complaining about him. Just becasue he is an athlete doesn't make him superman and it doesn't make what he did wrong.
How did VIck handle the situation: well, let's see...he lied to the public and said he wasn't involved and then got caught lying and plead guilty and went to jail. SInce he's been out of jail he's done everything he can to earn back money, earn back sponsorships and hasn't paid a dime to help the dogs that were left in re-hab (other then what was court ordered – and even then it was after a judge froze all of his accounts until he paid). Sure, lots of people have done stuff...it doesn't make it anymore right then what he did, but when you are in the media spotlight and you screw up then you are held to different standards. That's part of being in the spotlight.
@Shane Wright
Well there is the obvious fact we have a legal system with judges and juries.(of which convicted this Dbag)
But hey.. common sense and facts just aren’t the strong suit for ‘true believers’.
To WOW,
Unborn aborted babies are defenseless, too! Why don't you channel some of that hatred and outrage you have for Michael Vick toward these heartless abortionists who murder babies daily by the hour. That's what you should be more outraged about! – not murdered and abused dogs.
You are assuming that we can't be outraged about both? Vick is a thug. If he weren't blessed with athletic ability, he'd be in jail right now. If Nike chooses to waste their money on him, that is their choice. But it is also my choice to purchase from another retailer who doesn't have an endorsement deal with him. That is what is wrong with this country. People want to put athletic ability and earning potential above character and common decency. It is no wonder the US is in moral decline.
I'm not a Nike or Eagles fan so I really don't give a s@#t either way. The one pair of Nikes I bought sucked, but my pit bulls love to use them as chew toys.
thats animal cruelty because the shoes is a choke hazard for the dog. You sir should be in jail.
@Done I must have struck the wrong chord with you. You're either a fan of overpaying for crappy shoes made by underpayed workers or you just don't have a sense of humor.
@disapointed: sorry to say but you thinks wrong there are plenty of white and hispanic ghetto trash out there too. Sorry to go and burst your bubble.
Aww... poor guy. He lost some money and spent 20 months in prison. Rough time, huh? He tortured a suffering living thing with his hand. He looked into the eyes of a living thing and thought it would be fun to hurt it until it died. Thought it would be enjoyable to cause pain and suffering. There is something wrong with him on a basic level. Why should he have money thrown at him now because his lawyers and PR people did a good job of telling him the right things to say? He's still the same callous sicko inside. Making him the face of a brand makes him a role model to kids who want to grow up to be athletes. It says "hey, it doesn't matter if you are a psychopath as long as you are good at sports."
Thank you Jenn! Well put! No Nike products for my family. Not contributing to him or this thug brother.
you are sick and disillusioned....mental slavery is whats wrong with you!!!
Nice try, but you actually don't know the truth of any of the phrases you just wrote. And what skeletons are you hiding to feel the need to pile on like that?
this person is sick and has no heart, kinda like Nike!
I feel sorry for you and i hope you dont have any kids that look up to you.
What person could drown an animal????? REALLY?
He is sorry because he was caught treating these dogs with such cruelty. He is an idiot!
I promised myself that I would not follow the team that hired him. I certainly will not purchase another Nike product.
He is sorry because he was caught, sorry that he lost everything and sorry that he had to spend time in jail.
And while we are at this….how’s that criminal brother of his?
guess what..no one gives a rats a**..and i know dats what hurts you the most added to the fact that mike vick is a black man!!
responding to stretfordend
Black man, red man, white man.....IT"S ABOUT MORAL'S......
@rob: as I stated before, Vick got off easy and there isn't any difference little was convicted he was just given a slap on the wrist like Vick and allowed to continue on as though nothing happened.