Petition pushes for Michael Vick ban at Jets training camp site
A petition calling for quarterback Michael Vick to be banned from the college campus that hosts the New York Jets training camp has collected more than 1,400 online signatures.
The petition on the Change.org website is addressed to Erik J. Bitterbaum, president of the State University of New York at Cortland, the upstate school that has hosted four of the last five Jets camps. The school has not confirmed the team's return to Cortland this summer.
Vick pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2007 following an investigation into a dog-fighting ring. Following a prison sentence and two years away from football, Vick returned to the NFL and played five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The petition page, which was posted late last month, shows a graphic picture of a mauled dog next to a photo of Vick, who signed with the Jets in March. The petition refers to Vick as "a monster and a disgrace" and inaccurately asserts that the quarterback has never apologized for his actions.
A portion of the petition states:
"We MUST send the message that we won't be party to the torture of animals by conveniently forgetting what he has done. If we welcome Vick onto our campus, we are complicit in his crimes. We are sending the message that, for money and publicity, we will turn a blind eye to the horrors of dogfighting. I don't want to be that person, and I don't want SUNY Cortland to abandon its principles so easily."
-
2025 NFL mock draft: Who are next year's top players — and how many QBs go high?
Cowboys and RB Ezekiel Elliott reportedly reuniting after agreeing to deal
2024 NFL Draft grades: Analyzing all 32 teams' classes; Who gets top marks?
-
NFL Draft betting recap: 'We got killed on Penix going in the top 10'
2025 NFL Draft odds: Shedeur Sanders favored to go No. 1
2024 NFL Schedule Release: Date, when does the season start?
-
2024 NFL free agency tracker: Signings, updates, best players available
Tom Brady to be roasted by former teammates, comedians in upcoming Netflix special
2025 Super Bowl LIX odds: Chicago's odds shorten after drafting Caleb Williams
-
2025 NFL mock draft: Who are next year's top players — and how many QBs go high?
Cowboys and RB Ezekiel Elliott reportedly reuniting after agreeing to deal
2024 NFL Draft grades: Analyzing all 32 teams' classes; Who gets top marks?
-
NFL Draft betting recap: 'We got killed on Penix going in the top 10'
2025 NFL Draft odds: Shedeur Sanders favored to go No. 1
2024 NFL Schedule Release: Date, when does the season start?
-
2024 NFL free agency tracker: Signings, updates, best players available
Tom Brady to be roasted by former teammates, comedians in upcoming Netflix special
2025 Super Bowl LIX odds: Chicago's odds shorten after drafting Caleb Williams