His teammates have been more forgiving. Last season they voted to present him the Ed Black Courage Award, given to one player from each NFL team and meant to honor notable sportsmanship and courage.
Wayne Pacelle, head of the Humane Society of the United States, said last week that Vick had been carrying out his commitment to speak to kids about the evils of dog fighting. Vick spoke to students twice a month last year and will do the same this school year, Pacelle said. He is scheduled to speak Tuesday at Imhotep Institute Charter High School, West Oak Lane.
Some of those who have spent the most time with Vick in recent months contend that no one has more ability to curb dog fighting and spread the message of animal kindness - particularly in the African American community - than Vick himself.
Vick told students in North Carolina in February that he was speaking out against dog fighting, "not only because it's the right thing to do but because I owe it to the animals I hurt."
Vick also has brought attention to the plight of pit bulls and other unwanted dogs who sit on death rows in area shelters.
Last year the PSPCA euthanized 4,360 dogs at its North Philadelphia shelter. Of those, a staggering 4,091 were pit bulls or pit bull mixes.
"In an odd way, Vick may be the best thing to happen to pit bulls," said Gorant.
Responding to the outcry from animal advocates last fall, the Eagles entered the animal-welfare business, creating a $500,000 grant program primarily directed toward reducing pet overpopulation and teaching humane treatment of animals to young people.
So far, $250,000 has been disbursed to 15 area groups for projects that include a low-cost spay/neuter clinic run by Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society in Grays Ferry, a mobile veterinary clinic operated by the Humane Society of Berks County, and an anti-dog fighting campaign run by the Humane Society of the United States.
"Mike does not want young men to make the same mistakes; he wants them to look at his mistakes and make different decisions," said Eagles spokeswoman Pamela Browner White.
"Young men have said to Mike, 'You represent all of us, that there's good in all of us.' Mike has gotten that message loud and clear."
Contact staff writer Amy Worden at 717-783-2584 or aworden@phillynews.com.
