HISTORY of Michael Dwayne Vick:
| Michael Dwayne Vick (born June 26, 1980, in Newport News, Virginia) is a professional American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. He previously played for the Atlanta Falcons for six seasons before serving 18 months of a 23-month sentence in prison for his involvement in an illegal dog fighting ring. Vick was released from prison to home confinement on May 20, 2009. Falcons owner Arthur Blank stated that he did not want Vick on the Falcons, and after attempts to trade him failed, Vick was released. On July 27, 2009, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally reinstated Vick, and will consider him for full reinstatement by Week 6 of the 2009 season at the latest, and possibly as soon as Week 1. |
Life after Prison
Even though Michael Vick is on the slow road to finding acceptance after his release, one prison ministry leader said most paroled ex-cons have a harder time finding forgiveness, let alone a job.
Since serving 18 months in prison, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has been conditionally reinstated by the NFL commissioner, signed a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, and could be making his preseason debut later this week in a pre-season game.
Vick is in a far better position
Although Vick still faces ridicule for his role in an extensive unlawful interstate dog fighting ring, which led his incarceration, the president and CEO of Prison Fellowship is reminding the public that Vick is in a far better position than nearly all the other estimated 700,000 prisoners who will be released this year.
Talent
“For one thing, Vick possesses a very rare and, thus, very marketable set of skills. At any given moment, only 32 men are good enough to start at quarterback in the NFL. Add Vick’s previous success and it’s not difficult to share his agent’s assessment that his signing was a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if,’” Mark Earley told the Christian Post Reporter.
75 percent of ex-offenders remain unemployed
A majority of ex-prisoners does not get a second chance and often have trouble finding work after their release from prison. In some communities, 75 percent of ex-offenders remain unemployed a year after their release – and that’s in good economic times.
The current recession has made it even more difficult for ex-offenders to find work and is expected to make it even more likely for them to return to prison.
Let us Pray with JClondon
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Luke 23:34:
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do
