Please, Stop the Michael Vick Hypocrisy

There isn't a doubt that Michael Vick has paid his debt to society. And, yes, he deserves another chance. And, yes, if some NFL folks want him on their roster, he should be allowed to play again.

But can we talk? Most of those who belong to the Latter Day Church of Michael Dwayne Vick keep exposing themselves as frauds.

They should quit claiming they want Vick back in the league for lordly reasons, ranging from truth, justice, and the American Way to the Judeo-Christian concept of forgiveness. It's really like this: Since Vick spent nearly two years in prison courtesy of that dogfighting mess, they want him to zig and zag his way back into their hearts with his magical legs. They want him to entertain them again.

Everything else is a lie.

Two words: Donte Stallworth.

If any NFL player deserves unabashed compassion -- you know, such as the kind that is directed toward Vick by his congregation -- it's Stallworth, and this is not to excuse his hideous act. He was suspended indefinitely by league commissioner Roger Goodell for killing a pedestrian in Miami while driving drunk.

That said, in contrast to Vick's hideous act involving the torturing and the killing of dogs, Stallworth did everything right in the aftermath.

He pulled over to the side of the road. He immediately called the police. He told everybody from the start that he was drunk, stupid and wrong. He apologized to the victim's family. He tried to compensate the family. As a result of his sincerity, he received just 30 days in jail, a couple of years of house arrest, 1,000 hours of community service, eight years probation and a lifetime ban of his driver's license.

He was released from jail after 24 days last month, and he met with Goodell on a possible reinstatement this week. He still was straight forward. He still was remorseful. He still was deserving of a universal hug.

Why don't we hear cries from Vick's congregation for mercy on Stallworth in light of his consistent honesty?Said Stallworth in a public statement after his Goodell session: "Whatever [the commissioner] ultimately decides is the appropriate discipline, I will accept knowing that I have profoundly affected the NFL and its relationship with the fans of our game. I jeopardized the honor and privilege that I have been given to be an NFL player and to play for our fans. I am truly sorry."

This was after Stallworth admitted the truth of doing "irreparable harm" to the family of the victim. He added, "I recognize that there is a difference between the legal standard in my criminal case and the standard to which NFL players are held."

Did Stallworth write that wonderful statement? Probably not, but he approved it, and given his post-tragedy actions, he meant it.

So where is that universal hug for Stallworth?

Why don't we hear cries from Vick's congregation for mercy on Stallworth in light of his consistent honesty? If such a thing is happening, it is happening in whispers instead of shouts. Instead, you have Vick's congregation blasting supporters of Stallworth by saying that they (whoever "they" may be) are giving Stallworth more of a break for killing a man instead of a dog.

Actually, it's like this: Stallworth should be getting more of a break for telling the truth instead of a lie.

The only statements, words and remarks Vick issued after his dogfighting mess were disingenuous. In fact, he looked Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank in the face, ignored the fact that this was the man who gave him $130 million to become the NFL's richest player, and lied about everything.

Vick also lied to Goodell in a private huddle.

Then when federal and state officials got involved, Vick lied to them. He also failed a drug test after the court told him to stay clean until sentencing.

It was the lying more than the dogfighting mess that contributed to the length of Vick's stay in Leavenworth. It was the truthfulness more than the second-degree manslaughter charge that pushed the court toward leniency with Stallworth.

Despite all of their Vick-related talk about the need for mercy and forgiveness in this world, members of Vick's congregation couldn't care less about Stallworth. For one, he was just a decent wide receiver for the obscure Cleveland Browns. For another, he never did anything to zig or zag his way into their hearts.

He never entertained them.

Terence Moore is a national columnist and commentator for FanHouse. He is a frequent panelist on "Rome Is Burning," an ESPN show hosted by Jim Rome, that is seen Monday through Friday at 4:30 PM ET. Moore spent more than three decades working for major newspapers, including 26 years as an award-winning sports columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He resides in Atlanta.