Vick Humbled by Courage Award, Protesters Disgusted
As Vick accepted award, protesters stood outside the ceremony fighting his selection
NBC Philadelphia
Eagles QB Michael Vick talks about the importance of receiving the courage awards from his peers.
After a tumultuous entrance back into the NFL, Michael Vick has one more thing to add to the list of positives for 2009 -- being awarded the Ed Block Courage Award.
The award is given to the players that show commitment to the principle of sportsmanship and courage.
While Vick shared the award ceremony in Baltimore with 31 peers, there were a few extras outside.
Anti-Vick protestors, as if on cue, lined up outside the hall holding signs and chanting slogans against the QB, one of which said “No Award For Dog Killers.”
“I don't think there have been enough time for him to show the proper remorse for what he's done to animals'' said Erin Marcus of Open The Cages Alliance.
Seriously? If our math is correct he has paid his debt to society already and is working double time to do his part in the fight for animal protections.
Vick served 19-months of a 23-month sentence for his participation in a dog-fighting ring. Since his release and reinstatement into the league, Vick has been speaking to youth about the perils of making one wrong decision and how in can affect your life.
Thankfully, his teammates and those close to him see that he has indeed made a change for the better.
"I feel like I've done everything that I've said I would do coming out and moving forward," Vick told reporters at the ceremony. "That's most important to me."
Vick did more than just show up to collect a piece of hardware. He spent hours Monday and Tuesday speaking to kids at a community center and at the Baltimore Ravens Courage House, which houses abused children.
The Eagles will be dedicating a Philadelphia Courage House on Vick’s behalf next year, according to Ed Block spokesman Paul Mitterneier.
“It's easy to see, when you spend a couple of days with Michael Vick, why his Philadelphia Eagles teammates picked him as the Courage Award winner; It's been that impressive,'' said Mitterneier.
Vick shares the gift of the humbling award with quite a few big names in the league like Tom Brady, Shawne Merriman and former Eagle Brian Dawkins.
“It shows I'm making strides. I'm trying to do the right thing”, said Vick at the ceremony in Baltimore.
With recent news of the Eagles picking up his option this past Sunday it looks like Vick is finally turning the page from his jaded past.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia
Posted Tuesday, Mar 9, 2010 - 11:56 PM EST
