The USDA revelation that Vick enjoyed placing family pets in the ring with fighting pit bulls is among the factors that concern PETA, and lying outright to the NFL and on his lie-detector exam fits the American Psychiatric Association profile for serious antisocial personality disorder (APD). People with APD are commonly referred to as “psychopaths.” They are usually male, often charming, prone to lying and manipulation, and incapable of genuine remorse, frequently leading to recidivism. They can also take pleasure in cruelty.

Before the NFL even considers the possibility of allowing Vick back into the league, something for which some groups and individuals are pushing for a variety of weird reasons, we think that Michael Vick needs to undergo a brain scan. It should be coupled with a structured, standardized test (e.g, the Psychopathy Checklist, developed by Robert Hare). If Vick emerges from these examinations without evidence of psychopathy, that may help him demonstrate a capacity to change what has, so far, been the life of a man who takes pleasure in hurting and killing living beings in grotesque ways when they can’t defend themselves.

The repeated cruelty and violent behavior that Michael Vick engaged in for years strongly suggests that the NFL should not offer him up as a role model. Severe and repeated acts of cruelty to animals are not what football fans, particularly children, need to think about when they see a player or buy a jersey or an autographed picture.

Please click here to sign the petition calling for the NFL to arrange for a thorough examination, as set out above, of Michael Vick.

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