Does Michael Vick deserve a second chance?

Just how heinous of an act would someone need to commit before you denied them redemption – or at least a second chance?

Such is the question facing professional football (NFL) fans around the country after the Philadelphia Eagles signed quarterback Michael Vick to a $1.6 million one-year deal, with an option for a second year.

Here’s a little background: Vick was the first player selected in the 2001 NFL draft, taken No. 1 overall by the Atlanta Falcons, which he quarterbacked for six seasons. At one point, he was one of the most popular and recognizable athletes in the league, not to mention its highest paid player.

But in August 2007, Vick plead guilty to felony counts of conspiracy and running a dog-fighting ring that brutally killed and tortured canines. News reports state that Vick himself killed some of the dogs by beating, drowning and electrocuting them, usually because they did not “perform” well as fighting dogs.

He served 18 months in federal prison before being released in May 2009. The NFL Commissioner subsequently ruled that he could play in the NFL again (after he essentially serves a six game suspension), and yesterday the Eagles signed him as a back-up quarterback.

Given the brutality of his crimes, football fans appear split on whether Vick should have the right to play in the NFL again.

Vick supporters say he has admitted his guilt, apologized for his actions, paid his debt to society, lost millions in sponsor endorsements, and vowed to work with the Humane Society to bring awareness to cruelty to animals. They believe he is a remorseful man who should be allowed to resume his professional career.

Other fans – many dog lovers among them – believe that playing in the NFL is a privilege and that Vick’s actions were so reprehensible that they don’t want him in the league. (Fans have already printed T-shirts that say “Hide your Beagles – Here Comes the Eagles.”) People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals released a statement criticizing the Eagles’ decision.

My opinion is mixed. I don’t think Vick should be banned from the NFL, but I don’t want him on my team.

I believe NFL players are role models for children (whether or not they want to be), and I’m uneasy with kids getting the message that you can commit violent crimes and then be put on a pedestal and paid millions of dollars. I don’t care if Vick takes a low profile job to make a living, but I don’t want him representing my team and community. Also, as a dog lover, I don’t want to root for Vick. He may or may not be remorseful, but there’s something creepy about someone who commited such violence.

Would I ban Vick from the NFL? No, I guess not – I’m not saying throw him in the electric chair. But I don’t want him wearing the teal and black of my favorite team, either.

Five Tips for a Smooth Move

I’ve packed up and changed homes more than a dozen times since graduating from college, most recently moving everything from our 3-bedroom home into a new house across town. I’ve learned a few tricks along the way to save time and headaches. Here are my top five moving tips:

Declutter the house. Before packing, get rid of all that stuff you don’t need – the clothes you never wear or those old toys in the garage – so you don’t spend time packing the junk and then cluttering your new home. Hold a garage sale or donate it all to charity. Not only will this simplify your move, but you’ll have more room in your new house. Moving is a GREAT time to dump all your junk.

Keep a file for paperwork. It’s amazing how much paperwork is needed to move: change of address forms, utility transfers, receipts, key phone numbers, etc. Dedicate a single notebook for all moving paperwork. You’ll save yourself a lot of headaches.

Color code each box with a little sticker to match with its destination room. Apply colored stickers on the top of each box, then put a matching sticker on the door to each room in the new house. This takes all the guess work out of where things belong for those unloading, and it will speed the process. I failed to do this during our recent move. The result: I had to stand over every box and make snap decisions; some heavy boxes ended up in the wrong room, creating more moving fun for me later.

Make arrangements for Fluffy or Cujo. Most pets hate moving day. If possible, move them before the big truck arrives. If that’s not possible, put them in a comfortable bedroom or bathroom while you load the truck.  

Keep small parts in marked plastic bags. Each time you dismantle a piece of furniture or equipment, put all the nuts, bolts and other hardware in a sealed plastic sandwich bag – and label the bag accordingly, along with a note reminding you of any special tool needed to re-assemble. Use a different bag for each piece of furniture, or you’ll drive yourself crazy figuring out which bracket belongs to which bed frame. Some people like to tape the bags to the underside or back of the disassembled item, but I like to keep one box with all the separate plastic bags. As long as each bag is sealed and marked, you’re good to go.

Give yourself plenty of time to pack, and follow these five steps for a simpler move. Happy moving!