In Controversial Move, Michael Vick Receives Key to City of Dallas

Filed under: Eagles, NFL Quarterbacks

Michael Vick hasn't played for the Dallas Cowboys, nor was he a part of Super Bowl XLV, which was held at Cowboys Stadium. He is not a celebrity in the area, nor is he a foreign dignitary.

Less than four years ago, Vick was convicted of a felony related to a dogfighting ring and served 19 months in jail. This past season, he led the Philadelphia Eagles to the playoffs and defeated their hated rivals, the Cowboys, in his only regular-season start against them.

Yet on Saturday, Feb. 5, also the day the 30-year-old QB was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, Vick was given a key to the city of Dallas by Dallas mayor pro tem Dwaine Caraway -- a gesture that has caused quite a stir across Dallas and among animal activists.

What was the basis of Caraway's honor to Vick?

"The message and the kids are far greater than all this response about, 'Why give him the key to the city?'" Caraway told ESPNDallas. "He is telling kids and exchanging with them the rights and wrongs of the things that he did and encouraging kids to further their education and to not deal with the drugs. To obey their parents and pick the people they hang around.

"That's a message I would challenge anybody to say that not one kid across America shouldn't hear from people in notoriety such as Michael Vick."

Still, it's a gesture that has animal activists and the city of Dallas abuzz.

 

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