The 2011 NFL season just opened up last week, and there are many excited teams looking to make big strides this year.

One storyline in particular is the emergence of Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles.

 The Eagles are expected to make the playoffs and have a team loaded with talented athletes that can make a serious run at a title.

Just last year, Vick received The Associated Press 2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.

The quarterback missed two seasons, because he had to serve a federal sentence for dog fighting.

Before his big comeback year, he was just a backup quarterback.

Last year, however, he had the chance to play due to the fact that Kevin Kolb was injured in Week two. From here, he led the Eagles to a 10-6 record en route to the NFC East title.

The award has been given out for 12 years, and Vick was the first recipient to return from jail to earn it.

This comeback has been so incredible the Eagles have rewarded him with a big, fat contract worth 100 million dollars.

Not too shabby considering he was in jail a couple years of ago.

I always think sports contracts are ridiculous. The fact that Vick is a dog killing quarterback that gets paid so much just seems wrong.

Honestly, people should not be getting paid so much. These players do attract revenue for the team, but the whole system is broke anyway.

The cost of food and drinks at a game are ridiculous, and the ticket costs rise every season.

Aside from this, no person is worth 100 million dollars.

I think people deserve second chances, but I do not think he should have been allowed to play a snap again.

Vick can be forgiven as a person, but he really had no punishment for what he did.

He served his time; the NFL let him come back, and then gave him tons of money.

Basically, players are allowed to do whatever they want, and can be let back into the business, and get their money back after they get caught for their wrongdoings.

Vick should donate a lot of his money to charitable organizations, and help out dog organizations because Vick was responsible for the death of hundreds of dogs he used as toys.

People say, but he turned his life around, and he even made the Pro Bowl.

Everyone can say he made such a big comeback. Sure, he came back from going to jail, but it is not like he lost a leg.

The guy is a world-class athlete and he was pumping iron in the gym while he was hanging out in jail. Vick was not just going to lose his talents because he was in jail.

I believe his athletic talents should not let him off the hook. It is ridiculous how he gets this contract as if nothing ever happened.

An NFL Comeback award or an NFL analyst’s opinion should not determine Vick’s comeback.

I think Vick’s comeback should start with him. Vick should do more than just be on good behavior, so he can be in good standing with the league.

The guy should be on good behavior anyway. Vick should use his position to be a role model, and not disappoint young children who look up to him.

Vick has been given this chance to be a humanitarian and be the change that people seek in pro athletes.

 It would be such a shame if he did not take his second chance, and make something really special out of it.

The NFL has an award called the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, which is given out every year and honors a player’s volunteer and charity work.

The award also recognizes performance on the field. Vick has taken the first steps towards getting this award with his skills on the field.

 Now it is up to him be a bigger man, and really make a comeback as a person, not a player.

To contact The Ionian’s Christopher Sponn, e-mail him at [email protected]