Philadelphiaeagles.com
June 25, 2012
AURORA, OH -- It was a whirlwind Monday for Michael Vick, the start of a life-changing week. His birthday a day later, his marriage a few days in the future, Vick flew to Cleveland, OH and was then whisked away to Aurora ...
It was going to be a day off until the chance came to speak to his young peers and make a difference in this NFL world at the NFL's Rookie Symposium for the Class of 2012 ...
What was he to say? He was there to tell his story to the NFC’s rookies, part of the NFL’s efforts to get these kids to wrap their minds around what the NFL is all about, how the rise and fall can happen so quickly and how, once a player is done on the field, a productive life ahead waits.
Michael Vick had a riveting back-and-forth 30 minutes with SiriusXM’s Ross Tucker as the rookies sat, captivated, listening to a story they had read so much about, talked so much about, debated with their friends. Michael Vick, the star quarterback who had it all, went sent to prison and was the subject of national scorn, had returned to the top as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.
The message, Vick said after his 30 minutes on stage, was simple, but incredibly important. If these rookies could take one mental note from what he said, what would it be?
“Be accountable for everything you do,” said Vick. “You can’t blame anybody else for your actions. The choices that you make each and every day are what shape your life.”
Did the kids listen? Would Vick have listened way back in 2001 when he was the first overall draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons if a 10-year veteran had been on stage in front of him, telling him to “be responsible” and to “make the right choices” in life?
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