Hmmm, Maybe We Should Boycott Home Depot?

I am the last person who would be supporting Michael Vick. I do not personally know him, but his actions that have been displayed in public, certainly lead me to question his intelligence. Despite what he is guilty of, the man has every right to earn a living based on his skills. Vick isn't going to be a doctor or investment banker. He is a football player, a good football player, and thus he should be allowed to earn and keep money he has been given as a football player.

The Atlanta Falcons and owner Arthur Blank are seeking 20 million U.S. dollars that they gave Vick as a signing bonus when they signed him to the largest contract in NFL history-- at the time. In case you are not aware, football contracts are not guaranteed. If you are hurt in year 3 of a 5 year contract, you do not get paid the remaining 2 years. That is why you see players signing huge bonuses. It is guaranteed money upfront. Now part of that bonus is also a guarantee that they will not do anything stupid that prevents them from being on the field of play and earning the bonus.

Vick violated his terms as a player. Don't for one minute think that Blank & Co. did not know what Vick was doing with dogs before we all knew. They got him out of trouble before with the law and court of public opinion. Believe me, they had the spin doctors ready until the Feds stepped in. Now they want their money back? Anyone who is a sports fan will tell you that Atlanta is the worse professional sports town in America. The NBA Hawks for years had one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference and could only sell out games when Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls came to town. The MLB Braves have been one of baseball's best teams for over a decade, yet even in their heyday, they barely sold out Turner Field. The Falcons were never a top NFL team and you rarely saw them on national television until Vick played. Besides Deion Sanders' brief time there, did you ever see anyone wearing a Falcons' jersey prior to Vick?

Vick has made that organization it's 20 million U.S. many times over in ticket sales, tv revenue, jersey sales, merchandising, etc. We don't have to like his character. We don't have to support him. But we do have to show people like Blank that hypocrisy will not be tolerated. If you want Vick to give his money back, then you need to give all the season ticket holders their money back and refund everyone who bought a Vick jersey.