Vick not worth the trouble for Eagles

With their shocking decision to sign Michael Vick, the Eagles are taking an enormous risk. All that's at stake is everything owner Jeff Lurie and head coach Andy Reid have ever said about what the franchise stands for, and they have put all of that in the hands of a man who went to prison for murdering dogs.

It just isn't worth it. Not from a football standpoint, which is secondary, and not from any other standpoint.

"It's up to Michael to prove that change has taken place," Reid said. "I think he's there. That's what he wants to do. He knows not everybody is going to have that trust in him or belief in him. But I think he'll go out and prove" he's changed.

And it would be nice if Vick has changed and dedicates the rest of his life to good deeds. It would just be nice if that happens somewhere else.

Let's be clear about this from the very top:

Vick did his time for the heinous and despicable dogfighting operation he financed and operated in Virginia. He went to federal prison. He lost millions of dollars. Like anyone else, Vick deserves the chance to return to his chosen profession.

Just not here.

Full disclosure: I received the e-mail about Vick's reinstatement by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell while waiting for my dog to finish his first chemotherapy treatment. I'm sitting in a sterile waiting room, worried sick about a 7-year-old Shih Tzu named Pogue, and a guy who oversaw the torture and murder of dozens of animals is getting cleared to play in the NFL. Let's just say the news rubbed me the wrong way at that moment.

But I also get that Vick comes from a different background, that there is a surprisingly large subculture that sees dogfighting as acceptable. I believe in people getting second chances in life. I think Goodell was right to reinstate Vick. It would be wrong to ban him for life after he served his criminal sentence.

Actually hiring him is a different matter.

Reid emphasized the importance of second chances, taking the rare step of mentioning his two sons' issues with drug addiction and the legal system. That tells you he has given this a lot of thought and is doing it for what he believes are strong reasons.

But he is asking the millions of people who follow the Eagles, who spend their money on tickets and sweatshirts and invest their hearts as well, to share his faith in Vick. And that's asking too much.