Roger Goodell Says Michael Vick Will Keep His Role In Pro Bowl Despite Petitions

Michael Vick
Photo credit Kevin C. Cox / Staff

In the last month, there has been several online petitions calling for Michael Vick to be removed from the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl for his dogfighting past.

The petitions have gained serious momentum in the past two weeks, with the main one receiving more than 560,000 signatures at Change.org. 

Despite the pleas of animal lovers around the world, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he has no plans to remove him from the roster.

Goodell said in a news conference Thursday, “He’s paid a heavy price for that. He’s been accountable for it. He’s worked aggressively with the humane society and other institutions to deal with animal rights and to make sure people don’t make the same mistake he made, and I admire that.”
Goodell said that Michael Vick has made serious progress since his 2007 conviction for illegal dog fighting. "Over the last, what is it, nine years or so, we have supported Michael in his recognition of the mistake he made."

According to Goodell, Michael Vick has been volunteering his efforts to animal rights since his release from prison, where he served seventeen months only for racketeering; Vick has never served time for animal cruelty. 

In 2014, Vick supported a bill later signed into law that made it illegal to attend an organized animal fight and a year later, Vick met with lawmakers in Pennsylvania to support a bill that gave police officers the right to break into cars to free dogs and cats.

Goodell also said at the news conference, "I know there are people out there who will never forgive him. He knows that. But I think this is a young man who's really taken his life in a positive direction, and we support that, so I don't anticipate any change, no."