Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie's comments during Friday's press conference introducing QB Michael Vick "might've been his most impressive public moment in the decade-and-a-half he's been the Eagles' owner," according to Paul Domowitch of the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, who wrote under the header, "Lurie's Finest Public Moment." The "easy thing" for Lurie Friday would have been "to stay in his office and say nothing." Lurie could have "let Andy Reid explain why the Eagles brought Vick in," and "let him take the heat." Domowitch: "But he didn't. He came out and explained himself as well as he's explained anything in 15 years" ( PHILLY.com, 8/15 ). Also in Philadelphia, Rich Hofmann wrote Lurie "did an impeccable job of revealing just how hard this decision was for him," and it seemed "clear that if Lurie had not long held the belief that a pro sports franchise has an obligation to be an agent for social change, this signing might not have taken place." But at a time when "emotions around the city have rarely been more conflicted," Lurie was "never more eloquent." His emotions "appeared genuine and heartfelt." Hofmann: "None of us has ever heard Lurie speak so effectively, not in his 15 years of owning the team" ( PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/15 ). NATIONAL FOOTBALL POST's Michael Lombardi wrote, "I was in awe of Jeffrey Lurie’s performance. He spoke from the heart, he spoke with passion, he spoke with anger, he spoke with compassion, he spoke with concern and, most of all, he spoke the truth." Lombardi: "He was not afraid to make a tough decision, was not afraid to say no to his coach and, perhaps most important, was not afraid to have his mind changed" ( NATIONALFOOTBALLPOST.com, 8/16 ). DEALING WITH A DIFFICULT DECISION : In DC, Michael Wilbon wrote Lurie "just made the most difficult decision in his professional life." Lurie has "always seemed ... to be one of the most thoughtful owners in sports," and he is the "most important figure in the Vick story, as it turns out." He "very clearly" is "conflicted if not outright tortured by the decision, which was playing much better nationally than in Philly." Some owners "probably didn't want the hassle, and it's their right to avoid it." Others "legitimately don't feel it within themselves to offer that second chance, which also is their right," and still others "probably wanted to but didn't have the fortitude to make the call Lurie did, with the assistance of Reid" and QB Donovan McNabb ( WASHINGTON POST, 8/15 ). In N.Y., Judy Battista noted Lurie "spoke of Vick's crimes in often-harsh language and said Vick had 'disgraced' the league." Lurie said that he will "measure Vick's success not in yardage but in whether he can create social change and diminish the level of animal cruelty, particularly in the inner city" ( N.Y. TIMES, 8/15 ). Lurie said that he has "tried reassuring nervous sponsors by telling them Vick seems committed to changing his life," but in Detroit, Drew Sharp wrote he "didn't look as though he was completely sold himself" ( DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/15 ). EDITORIAL SUPPORT : A PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER editorial stated the Vick signing was "equal parts courageous and shrewd." The Eagles "took a public-relations risk in hiring Vick," and the decision "shows they believe athletes are capable of redeeming themselves." The editorial: "Kudos to the Eagles for giving Vick that opportunity" ( PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/16 ). ESPN's Sal Paolantonio said the editorial "has got to be greeted very warmly" by the Eagles organization. Paolantonio, who worked at the Inquirer for 10 years, said the paper "ceased to be the voice of the working class in Philadelphia, but they certainly are heard in the boardrooms and among business leaders and important constituents for the Philadelphia Eagles, as they move forward with their sponsors and try to convince the movers and the shakers in Philadelphia that signing Michael Vick was a good idea ( "SportsCenter," ESPN, 8/16 ). GUTSY MOVE : In Philadelphia, Elmer Smith writes of the signing, "I love what it says about the Eagles. I am not naive enough to believe that this is an act of pure altruism. ... But the Eagles made a decision that could tarnish [their] corporate logo for years, one that seems to contradict all the team's edicts about character and team chemistry." Smith added, "I applaud the team for a gutsy move. The smart move would have been to leave him alone" ( PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/17 ). In N.Y., William Rhoden wrote the signing is a "bold move and a good move for the Eagles." Vick at Friday's press conference "spoke with the humility of a man who had been publicly shamed and humbled" ( N.Y. TIMES, 8/15 ). REVERSING COURSE : In Philadelphia, Phil Sheridan noted as Vick's case was "making national headlines" in '07, Lurie "made it clear he would never tolerate having such a player on his team." And earlier this month, Lurie "reiterated his core belief that a commitment to 'high-character' players and coaches was at the foundation of the Eagles' success over the last decade." The Eagles "took pride in not being one of those teams that signed any talented miscreant who came along," as they "scoffed when the Dallas Cowboys scooped up Pacman Jones or some such villain." Sheridan: "The Eagles were different. That's gone now" ( PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/15 ). Also in Philadelphia, Bob Ford writes, "In the balance for the Eagles is a potential mess. ... If the team suffers and falls, the fall will be steep" ( PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/17 ). WHAT'S THE REAL GOAL? Eagles President Joe Banner Friday said of the signing, "We had to make sure the character aspects were good enough. Once we got past that test, it became a football decision. Can he make a difference?" ( SPORTING NEWS TODAY, 8/15 ). But Philadelphia Daily News columnist John Smallwood said, "If you really get to the bottom of it it's about a football decision" ( "Outside The Lines," ESPN, 8/16 ). In Philadelphia, Christine Flowers writes the Eagles "aren't really in the business of redemption, despite what Reid and ... Banner say." Flowers: "They want to win. The state of Vick's soul is irrelevant" ( PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/17 ). SI.com's George Dohrmann wrote, "What I hope for most of all is that we can drop the charade that Vick's return to the league is about anything more than a team believing he can help it win games. It is not about giving a felon a second chance, about helping him put his life back together or about acknowledging the debt he paid to society. It is not about some greater good, and that won't change no matter how many times Tony Dungy frames it that way" ( SI.com, 8/14 ). Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan said he is sure Lurie "means it" when he says he is going to "judge him more by what he does off the field." Ryan: "That's very high-minded. I'm sure he means it. That's not what Andy Reid is thinking. Andy Reid is thinking, 'We have a player that I need to see that he can help my team win.' The number one thing is still going to be football" ( "The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 8/16 ). Fox Business' Stuart Varney: "All will be forgiven if he's a winner" ( Fox Business, 8/14 ). AGENT OF CHANGE : A PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS editorial states, "Before we throw a parade for the Eagles organization for giving an ex-offender a second chance, remember that few other businesses thinking about hiring someone just out of prison can expect as big of a return on their investment. ... If Vick wanted to make a difference, he'd ask the Eagles organization: How many other ex-offenders do they have working within the organization?" ( PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/17 ). In Philadelphia, Kate Fagan wrote Vick "has an opportunity to affect change for the species he once exploited: dogs." To hear Vick and Lurie "tell it, Vick's success will be measured as much for this social change as for yards gained." Lurie said that Vick "could -- and should -- become an 'agent for change'" ( PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/16 ). ESPN's Paolantonio reported Vick's management team is meeting with Eagles officials today "to begin to map out how Michael Vick will reach out to the community." The Eagles "don't want him to be seen in uniform at Lincoln Financial Field before he's seen in the community" ( "SportsCenter," ESPN, 8/16 ). Philadelphia Magazine Editor-in-Chief Larry Platt: "I was touched by Jeffrey Lurie's candid, moving comments and that's why I would like to see the Eagles actually engage this issue and not just leave it up to Michael Vick" ( "Outside The Lines," ESPN, 8/16 ).
 |
| Banner Says Character Aspects Most Important In Signing Vick |
