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. "
Again with the "mistakes"! A mistake is when you miss your exit off the highway or forget to carry the "3" balancing your checkbook. Not a near decade of inhuman, pure evil behavior. Very disappointed in Nike as a guy who has loved living in Oregon the past 21 years. A total disgrace. And save the 2nd chances garbage. It's about money. End of story!
“The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them.”— Maya Angelou
He did show who is.
He went to prison for it.
He did this for 15 years; when he's done good for 15 years, I will think he's truly turned his life around.
I'm not a hater; I just dislike hypocrisy and crocodile tears.
Looks like I'll be wearing Adidas from now on.
oooh, that's too bad
Sorry – no more NIKE for me now......
When does a man or woman "truly" pay their debt to society?
The man went to jail for a period of time decided by a jury of his peers. You would think, by all the negativity, *Vick* decided his own amount of time to serve!!!
Our society isn't just!!! He committed the crime. Did the time. Now let him show the world he deserves this 2nd chance he's received!!!
Actions speak louder than words.
It will be obvious if he stubs his toe again. Camera's follow him EVERYWHERE he goes!!!
Have a fun and safe 4th of July weekend...;-)
Did you know the stole puppies form families to train his and other fight dogs. How can you explain to those people that the person responsible for the death of their dogs is walking free right now and NIKE think he is a good example for society.
@ JB, you are placing WAY to high of importance on animals. Vick is a human, the dogs he got caught up with are animals. too many people treat animals better than humans. when was the last time a dog knocked out the rent and utility bills for you? get a clue people. he did his time, he has earned this second chance. i for one am glad he is out free.
It is true he "paid his debt", as far as what courts can carry out as punishment for his actions. However, that doesn't mean he should be once again be provided huge contracts and elevated to "hero" status. He was an adult that had the ability to select his morals of right and wrong. He was punished for disobeying the law, but not for his morality. And, his morality is exactly why a role model is selected.
Nike will ultimately LOSE more than it could ever gain by this action. However, Nike is a company that has been questioned for its actions and moral choices many times. Perhaps this act of forgiveness is what they too seek.
he didn't get millions out of jail, he had to wait and pay his dues before he got a decent contract. he didn't even get back into the nfl for some time. just admit you are jealous.
Well, certainly NO more Nike for me! If they pick a dog killer to endorse their product, shame on them. You would of thought they had more sense. I guess not. Once again, shame on NIKE!!!!!
But Tiger is OK? You are ridiculous.
I love it when minorities do something or get something that WHITE people think should not be... Hey PALE PEOPLE, you 10 years left of the Majority population in this Country, when those 10 years are up, ITS PAYBACK TIME.... So you have 10 years people to vent all your frustrations with other races, get your house in order White people because 50/50 in this Country is coming soon... WHAT A BEAUTIFUL TIME TO BE AN AMERICAN.. GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Dude . . .
This isn't about race. This is about a guy who got busted for running a dogfighting ring. He lost his endorsements because he was a criminal. That Nike took him back says more about their lack of ethics than anything else.
But hey, I won't stand in the way of a good off-the-mark rant.
Seriously? It's payback time? What are you going to do? That's right...nothing.
Cool let the blacks work and pay taxes for a change and all us whites will collect welfare and sit at home getting fat, lazy and d r ug g e d out.
Sociopaths? You think the NFL is oblivious to who they sign? They were watching Vick all along but, did they stop the dogs from getting killed? NO! they wanted to give him enough rope to hang himself and to extort him and when he did not budge at first, they exposed his activities. Vick is not the only one who did a crime. There were players who killed people (DUI) PEOPLE! and got probation.
I was an Eagkes fan, and I have not watched a game since he joined the team. Now I will never buy another Nike product.
Yes you will, when they win the SB and Vick is the MVP.
nike sucks
Some people will never be able to forgive him. That is their prerogative, however wrong it may be. To me, I think he is one of the great comeback stories in sports history. He more than paid the price for his crimes. Not only does he deserve a second change, I applaud it. That is what America is all about.
Waaaahhhhhh waaaaaahhhhhhhh waaaaaaahhhhhhh
you people can whine all you want, fact is that the majority of people have forgiven vick and that is why NIKE re-sign him.
GO vick and enjoy your life.
He's not only a loser, he's not a QB either. He's a running back with minimal talent. I hope he gets sickle cell. There is no payment harsh enough for the atrocities he committed. If there is a god, I will get a chance to meet him in a dark alley with my dog. We'll then see how tough Mr. Hoodlum is.
lmao. You obviously don't watch football.
LMAO, you dont know squat about football.
I hold season tickets in two stadiums, bud. You? I also am waiting to see him paralyzed on the field so I can LMFAO.
Yeah...and then you'll watch your dog get put down after your alleyway meeting.
well you will be waiting for a long time. He will keep on getting money while you wait, LMAO.
engineer, if you met Vick in a dark alley with your dog... he'd probably beat you to a pulp if you tried to start something.
engineer, you'd probably suck him off if you met him in a dark alley
So, if he's really a running back, does that mean that all those years we watched him playing Quarterback for Virginia Tech, the Falcons and now the Eagles ... was all a dream?
What two teams are those? Browns and Bengals? You guys have not seen a QB in a long time
I am the law
Then not only are you the most ignorant football fan ever, but you are also an utter hypocrite. Sure what Vick did was extremely wrong, as I will readily acknowledge as an owner of multiple dogs, but he's also done much to rehabiliatate his image and turn his life around. What you're doing is akin to the pot calling the kettle black. You would wish ill and injury upon him – a human being – and believe that there is no wrong to that, even as you claim that what he did to dogs was wrong? Utter hypocrite.
Also, as a season ticket holder, shouldn't you know how to analyze football talent? rofl. Sucks to be you – all bitter and angry. Enjoy life!
@Judge Dredd
LOL good one
@The engineer 888 – You "claim" to hold season tickets and you don't even know who the starting Quarterback is?!?! Dude, you're a total liar and you've been caught in your lie. Just admit it; You have no clue what you're talking about.
You know if Michael Vick were a bus driver, the outcry would be different. Bus driver Vick wouldn't be viewed as a role model but what he really is, a dog-killer. He'll always be that, just like an alcoholic who doesn't drink will always be an alcoholic. He's not sorry he killed dogs, he's sorry he got caught and lost millions. He's such a coward, he wouldn't meet with the current dog owners who rescued his dogs...real sorry my butt. He did get a second chance, he's out of jail and working right? Don't expect more from people who care for the defenseless!
you care for the defenseless?? how about going to feed some homeless people?
I could be wrong but i recall reading part of his sentence was to stay away from said dogs and owners. seems to me he's pretty smart to stay away.
I don't care how many times he apologizes, he should not be in the NFL let alone selling shoes for Nike.