In an unexpected move, Michael Vick might not be feeling venom outside of Lincoln Financial Field Thursday night but rather he will be feeling some puppy love as supporters planned to march the night that the controversial QB returns to the NFL.
The Philadelphia Chapter of the NAACP, the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and other Philly-area civil rights groups were planning a “massive demonstration” outside of the Eagles preseason game against Jacksonville -- the game where Vick is expected to make his Eagles’ debut, according to ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio.
The plan was for the groups to march around the stadium, ESPN reported. But as of Wednesday afternoon there were no official announcements from the groups confirming a protest.
Support for Vick may come as a surprise because protests by animals groups were more likely expected after Vick served time for his involvement in a dogfighting ring where he allegedly killed dogs.
But animal groups didn’t plan on protesting Thursday night at the stadium instead opting for other means.
The Pennsylvania SPCA will hold the “2nd Chance Dogs” event for rescued pit bulls at their Erie Avenue location.
PETA had nothing planned but they “aren’t ruling anything out,” they told NBC Philadelphia.
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Neither the Black Clergy nor the Philly NAACP returned calls for comments.
But they did speak out in the sports media. "We believe Michael Vick has served his time, paid his debt to society and deserves a second chance and the animal rights groups want to hold him hostage for the rest of his life," Philly-branch President of the NAACP J. Whyatt Mondesire told ESPN.
But then Mondesire put the entire plan of a pro-Vick protest into limbo Wednesday.
It was revealed that the march might not happen after all because animal rights groups didn’t plan on protesting. The demonstration "might not happen" and the situation was "fluid," said Mondesire on 950 ESPN’s Mike Missanelli’s radio show.
Mondesire told Mikey Miss that there was a three out of seven chance that the march would happen.
Whether the protest happens or not who knows what the tailgaters and fans will bark out at Vick takes the field but some of it is surely going to be to risqué to publish here.
