Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

In an interview with the New York Daily News, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Michael Vick is playing football in prison to keep himself in shape.

“Apparently, there was a prison football team and he played quarterback for both sides ….. He’s written me a couple of times. I’ve written him back, he’s stayed in touch ….. I just try to be supportive and as understanding as I can be. He talks about the process he is going through and what he has learned, the lessons of life, how he’s going to come out a different person. He’s sorry he has affected so many people in a negative way — the league, our club, our fans. He feels awful about that. The letters sound quite sincere to me. From a mental standpoint, he sounds good.”

At least this is good news, but the whole situation is a sad state of affairs. Michael is at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, KS (the minimum security satellite prison camp), serving a 23-month term after pleading guilty last August to a federal dogfighting conspiracy. Even if he is released in July 2009 (keep in mind Michael will go to trial on state dogfighting charges in Virginia this June), he will have lost several seasons in the prime of his career — or what’s left of it. The bottom line here is hoping Michael comes out of this experience a changed man for the better. And it looks as though that is happening. If he can get back into the National Football League on top of turning his life around, it will be the best possible scenario. I hope both of those things happen.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Michael Vick Playing Football in Prison