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CBS Makes the Obvious Choice — Michael Vick to Replace Tony Romo
Apparently one alcohol-related arrest is a bridge too far. Running an interstate dogfighting operation, however, is something we can work with.
CBS has finally found the perfect solution to the Tony Romo problem: replace him with Michael Vick.
Romo was arrested in Wisconsin in July on suspicion of operating while intoxicated, reportedly after performing poorly during field-sobriety testing. CBS responded by putting one of the most recognizable voices in football on indefinite leave while the network evaluates what his arrest means for the integrity and image of the CBS brand.
Fair enough. Standards are standards.
Fortunately, Michael Vick is available.
For anyone who somehow missed the late 2000s, Vick pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge connected to the Bad Newz Kennels dogfighting operation. Authorities found dozens of dogs connected to the operation, and the case involved organized dogfighting, gambling and the killing of dogs that did not perform as desired. Vick was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison and eventually returned to the NFL after serving his sentence.
So naturally, he seems perfect for television.
After all, Romo allegedly drove after drinking.
Vick helped operate an interstate dogfighting enterprise.
You can understand the distinction.
One raises serious questions about whether a man can responsibly explain Cover 2 on Sunday afternoon. The other apparently provides valuable life experience.
CBS executives would presumably gather around a conference table, review Vick’s résumé and conclude that everybody makes mistakes.
Dogfighting? People grow.
Federal prison? Second chances matter.
Dogs being abused and killed? We shouldn’t judge people forever.
Tony Romo gets popped for an OWI?
We have a brand to protect.
And, naturally, somewhere during the meeting someone would gently point out that Vick is a person of color, at which point everyone would suddenly become extremely interested in redemption, representation, restorative justice and the dangers of judging somebody by his past.
Because this is modern corporate America, where the severity of the offense is apparently less important than whether the public-relations department can construct the correct PowerPoint presentation around it.
Vick’s defenders do have one legitimate point: he served his sentence. He returned to professional football, rebuilt his career and has publicly expressed remorse over what happened. A person who has paid his debt to society is entitled to move forward with his life.
Great.
Then perhaps we could extend approximately six ounces of that philosophy to Tony Romo before pretending an alleged first-offense OWI has suddenly rendered him morally unfit to describe a third-and-eight.
The funny part is that this isn’t really about Michael Vick.
It’s about the bizarre morality machine of corporate media, where offenses are placed on an invisible scale nobody is allowed to see.
A man’s entire career can become an “evolving situation” because of one arrest, while another man’s serious felony history can eventually be repackaged as an inspirational redemption story.
So forget J.J. Watt.
CBS should lean all the way into it.
Put Michael Vick next to Jim Nantz.
Open Week 1 with a heartfelt five-minute feature about second chances.
Have the announcers explain that America is a forgiving country, that people are more than their worst mistake and that we should judge a man by who he is today rather than what he did years ago.
Then cut to Tony Romo sitting at home because he got arrested for allegedly driving drunk.
That should clear everything up.
Welcome to the NFL on CBS, where everybody deserves a second chance.
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