Michael_Vick_Eagles

Will Michael Vick be getting an endorsement deal anytime soon?

He made his NFL return September 27th with limited time on the field, but most people thought his biggest opponent would be the court of public opinion. Think again. I was personally amazed at how little backlash there was surrounding his return. Sure, you had some protesters, but I was expecting him to be booed off the field. Instead, he received a standing ovation, and after being pulled back out of the game, some people even chanted, “We want Vick!”

Maybe Nike watched the way he was received closely, and decided it was safe to become involved with him again, who knows.

What we do know is that they clearly have faith in his ability to bounce back. They really got burned by him last time. Back in 2007 the company reportedly produced thousands of pairs of his Air Zoom Vick V shoe, but after he pleaded guilty they refused to release them. This move put Nike in the hole for nearly $1.5 million. So to go back into business with him seems like a major leap of faith.

This is a tough call for me. I’m a major dog lover, and I don’t think you can chalk up what he did as simply a “lack of judgment.” There was clearly some psychotic behavior involved, and I do subscribe to the statement: “People who hurt animals…usually don’t stop there.”

But on the other hand, I also believe in the American justice system. Shouldn’t people who pay their debts to society be given a fresh start when they’re released? After all, we do call it the department of corrections, meaning it’s supposed to correct something right? So was he corrected? Let’s hope so.

Consider this: even the Humane Society wants to give Vick a chance to use his celebrity as a vessel to help prevent people from getting involved in dog fighting—and they’re a non-profit organization. So why wouldn’t a major corporation jump on board with him if they have the chance to make some loot? After all, it’s the American way.