Vick’s return should not involve Goodell

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday allowed former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick to return to the pro footfall, conditionally. NFL teams have begun returning to training camp. Vick can join one and play in the final two preseason games. He could be cleared to play in the opening week of the regular season or forced to wait for a decision from Goodell until Week 6.

I have a problem with Goodell’s decision, the length of time he took to make it and even with him having a say-so in the first place.

Before Goodell made his decision, Vick already had forfeited a $130-million contract plus millions of dollars more in promotional fees. In addition, he was suspended from playing in the league and spent 23 months in prison and under house arrest.

I understand the commissioner wanting to protect the league’s image but disagree that he can determine when and under what conditions Vick can return. When and under what conditions Vick returns should be left to whichever NFL owner wants to sign him.

If no team chooses to sign Vick, it’s OK with me. But if one or more wishes to, then it should be up to the respective teams’ lawyers and Vick (or his agent) to negotiate the details.

I wonder too what took Goodell so long to make up his mind? He had the same amount of time to come to a decision as Vick had while in prison and under home confinement. I suspect the commissioner used the extra time to gauge public opinion.

Public outrage over Vick’s involvement in a dog-fighting operation appears to have subsided. It appears his losing millions of dollars and spending time in prison have satisfied many animal rights people.

Nobody will know the effect Vick’s return to football will have until he signs with a new team, returns to the field and goes on the road to play the competition. That may also explain why Goodell left himself some wiggle room.

It’s not only about Goodell and the NFL but also other commissioners, in and out of sports, that have wielded similar power.

Vick lost millions, his on-field edge (skill level), paid his debt to society (jail time), his livelihood and still his future is beyond his control.

I tried to think of someone in similar circumstances and only Martha Stewart came to mind. Like Vick, she was convicted and sentenced to prison, lost millions of dollars in investment income and paid heavy fines.

But unlike Vick, she was charged with stock fraud or manipulation. After serving her time, she returned to her former way of making a living. Stewart’s future rested entirely with how the public received her, not with a commissioner.

That’s my gripe. Vick’s return should be predicated on his skills on the field and with the public’s reception of him, not with the NFL commissioner.

Nelson Graves, of Augusta County, is a columnist for The News Virginian. E-mail him at