Forgive and Forget?

Former Atlanta Falcolns quarterback Michael Vick is back. He’s served his two-year sentence for his maltreatment of dogs when he was organizing and participating in dog-fighting events.

The Philadelphia Eagles have announced he has signed with the team after being reinstated by the NFL with an unprecedented four-game suspension that will be served at the start of this season. It’s a one-year deal ($1.6 million) with a second-year option ($5.2 million), plus $3 million in incentives over the next two years.

No question about it. Vick is an extraordinary football talent. He’s still young (29) and can still have a productive future ahead as a professional football player.

Will the fans accept him as he is – a tarnished and often-vilified individual who says he’s contrite and extremely remorseful for what he did? Already PETA is criticizing the Eagles organization for giving him his second chance, and protesters showed up at training camp yesterday to voice their displeasure. (Albeit the television coverage showed a mere handful of supporters and detractors, but you know how the media is in playing up and exaggerating any sort of controversy.)

Here’s the way I see it. The rabid fans will make a lot of noise; the rabid animal-rights people will make a lot of noise. But they are a huge minority (an oxymoronic statement, if ever I heard one). In general societal context, the vast, vast majority don’t really care passionately enough to do anything of substance about it.

The playing field will become the courtroom. The ones who really matter to the Eagles – the fans – are the ones who will determine whether or not Michael Vick is indeed afforded his chance on and off the field to prove that he has learned his lesson and that he still has the burning desire to continue his career.

Forgive? Of course. Forget? Well, these things can never be forgotten. One can only watch in interest.