Michael Vick Lacks Character

Michael Vick has proven that today's NFL players not only lack good judgment, but they also lack good character. If you've been living under a rock for the past 24 hours, then just turn on any major news station and they'll fill you in on the federal indictments that were handed down to Michael Vick on Tuesday.

According to the indictment, the federal government believes that since 2001, Michael Vick, who went under the nickname "Ookie", ran an illegal dogfighting ring and oversaw the execution of a number of pitbulls within the last 6 years. The indictment goes on to say that he financed the operation and ordered dogs to be electrocuted and beaten to death.

The evidence is sadly overwhelming and while a person is innocent until proven guilty, he still always stands trial in the court of public opinion, and the opinion is that Michael Vick has done something that is not only illegal but also despicable. But perhaps that's the culture of NFL players in the modern era. We'd like to believe that players play for the love of the game and are honest hard working American citizens but we in the real world.

In the real world we are surrounding by athletes who come from nothing and are given riches beyond their wildest imaginations. When a young kid gets a taste of money it's often hard to be able to steer them in a responsible direction. Our own lives move fast, but with that kind of money and exposure, the NFL player moves with light speed.

So when do we place blame on Vick and how much do we do? I think the best way to answer the first question is not to place blame until someone with more access to the investigation and someone who will be able to separate fact from fiction gets there hands on this. If we've ever learned anything from the Duke LaCrosse fiasco is that we shouldn't assume based on the media reports. Behind every headline that looks good for sensationalist entertainers like Nancy Grace, there is a bigger and more accurate story and while it's certainly seems despicable what Vick has done, we can't be certain he's done anything yet.