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Michael Vick wants to disprove the theory that was proposed by the author who penned “The Great Gatsby.”
After serving 23 months in federal prison for dog fighting, Vick wakes up today as a free man. He hopes to get a second chance to play the game that he loves, but he must first find a way to put his life back in order, off the field.
Vick never expected his life to take such a dramatic turn. Arguably the most exciting player to ever lace up cleats in the NFL, Vick should have spent the last three years dazzling crowds while positioning his former team, the Atlanta Falcons, for a Super Bowl berth. Instead, he sat idle in a Kansas prison while losing $70 million and building more than $20 million in debt. Such a catastrophic loss could lead to low self-worth and severe depression.
Before signing his next NFL contract, if Commissioner Roger Goodell allows it, Vick must spend time with his family and trusted mentors to regain his confidence. He has to speak to his kids about making good decisions and understand that they will be affected by everything that he does. Currently, Vick should not worry about pleasing PETA, Goodell, or other detractors who will continue to crucify him for his mistake. He must, alternatively, be a leader for his family and a listener to those who can guide him in life.
With his sentence served, Vick could be eligible for return to the NFL within the next two years. But there will be a day when Vick will not be able to play again, so he has to prepare for life after football, now.
Cleveland Browns’ running back Jamal Lewis, who served four months in prison on drug trafficking charges in 2004, understands what Vick has to do in the near future.
“Everybody talks about football, but Michael Vick is a human being first,” says Lewis. “Football is just a means to the end. Now he’s not with a team. It’s not about him playing football; it’s about what’s going to be his next step. I think his focus should be to get his life together and recovering from a situation. He has been put into tough situations on the field, so hopefully he can learn from that adversity and continue.”-amir shaw
