Some of our most iconic players have had mind blunders which caused run-ins with the law: Michael Vick, Ben Roethlisberger, Ray Lewis, Randy Moss, and more. We often hear the courts say no crime is greater than another, but I beg to differ. Is murder the same as petty theft? Is arson the same as open container law? Is killing an animal the same as killing another human being? No! Some crimes are petty and some are more serious than others which requires a stiffer punishment. So, should an NFL player be banned for killing an animal?
In 2007, according to USA Today Sports, Michael Vick, Quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons was convicted in Surry County, Virginia on animal cruelty charges and served a 23 month prison sentence, plus 3 years’ probation, as well as indefinite suspension by the NFL for owning a dog fighting operation which housed and trained over 50 pit bull, staged for dog fights and housed high stake gambling with bets and purchases up to $26,000. Can this constitute as a major crime and require banning forever? Some may argue yes, he is inhumane for doing that to innocent animals and others argue no, human lives are worth more than animal lives and he didn’t commit a crime that harmed another human.