I’ve had a dog around for all of but two years of my life. As much as they can drive me nuts at times, I love having a dog around the house. It’s hard to explain but I just enjoy the presence of man’s best friend.
I was obviously horrified by the details of Michael Vick’s dog fighting and torture business several years ago because I just can’t imagine anyone in what I thought was a civilized world treat dogs in this manner. But if you asked me back then if I thought the Steelers would ever sign a guy like Vick my answer would have been “yes.”
Many Steelers’ fans like to think that the Rooney’s and their franchise are above this. They like to believe that only the “other 31 teams” would stoop so low as to sign players with such a past. Still, I don’t understand why moves like this surprise this group of Steelers’ fans.
While the Steelers may “play” football, they succeed by making money. In this particular business, winning means more money and you do whatever you must to keep winning. Winning puts butts in seats which puts money in wallets. It’s a pretty basic capitalistic principle.
You’ll recall the Steelers have a history of putting winning ahead of what might considered “morally right.” They cut wide receiver Cedrick Wilson after his domestic violence incident yet when star linebacker James Harrison was in trouble for the same thing, he remained on the team.
Do I need to ask you which player was more important to the success of the team?
There are still plenty of Steelers’ fans who have major problems with them keeping Ben Roethlisberger on board following his incidents. Never-mind that he was guilty of nothing more than poor judgment yet “fans” still hold grudges.
Michael Vick is now a Pittsburgh Steeler whether I, or you, like it or not. I hate what he did to dogs but what I think doesn’t matter. The Pittsburgh Steelers believe Vick can help this team win if needed.
After all, winning is the only goal of this business above all else and you’d be wise to accept it.
