Right or wrong, the furor over Terrelle Pryor‘s show of support for Michael Vick during Saturday’s season opener is showing no signs of going away.
If anything, it’s quickly gaining momentum.
As you may recall, Pryor had the word “Vick” printed on an eye-black patch underneath his left eye. Vick, the convicted felon who paid his debt to society, was a boyhood hero of Pryor’s, and the Ohio State quarterback — for some reason — decided to display his feelings for the Eagles QB via an eye-black message.
As I wrote a couple of days ago, that likely didn’t sit well with a substantial portion of the Ohio State fan base. Or, apparently, the media either.
Pryor was taken to task today by columnists from both the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Columbus Dispatch. The former was particularly condescending toward the 20-year-old QB.
The salute to Vick, a convicted felon, dog killer, and overrated NFL quarterback, was, however, repugnant to many people, including lots of loyal Ohio State fans…By re-opening a story that has such powerful emotional connotations to so many people, and by doing so before possibly Ohio State’s most important game of the season, Pryor has shown that he might be the Buckeyes’ best player. But now he is sure not their leader.
It’s a shame that this situation is threatening to become a major storyline in the days leading up to the highly-anticipated rematch between Ohio State and Southern Cal.
And a damn shame that The Sweatervest didn’t nip this one before it ever got a chance to be an issue.
people will complain about anything. Frankly i dont give a damn
I’m an Ohio State fan and I see no problem with what Pryor did. The coaching staff should have caught it and discussed it with him prior to game time however. I really don’t think people should get all bent out of shape over it. It’s really no ones business who pryor had as a boyhood hero. Really, I mean I’m not a mike Vick fan but the mention or print of his name in some manner doesn’t set me off at all. Apparently we have many people in this country that just have to sit in judgment. It’s not limited to Ohio Sate fans either so I’ll save a few of you the post.
Seriously why is this being made into such a big deal, Vick was a childhood hero, and someone who he obviously strived to pattern his game after……. I’m sure Pryor didn’t do it to promote killing dogs, what a bunch of retards…… anything to deflect from the fact the Buckeye’s looked horrible against Navy……
The NFL & society have given Vick a second chance, these papers should too. Vick’s .602 career winning percentage (5th best amongst active QBs) proves he’s an extremely overrated QB (sarcasm) but that’s another argument. As previously stated, people will complain about anything even if it’s none of their business and has no effect on the game. I’m sure Pryor’s teammates are thinking, “He has Mike Vick on his eye patches. He’s a communist. He’s not our leader anymore.” What a moron…
As an alumni of The Ohio State University, and a huge Buckeyes fan, I am ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGED at this unneccessary display of support by a rookie college quarterback to a professional football player who has served time for such a heinous crime. What is the matter with you Jim Tressel? I’ll say you better start micromanaing this area of the game. Postively ridiculous! I absolutely cannot believe this of my Buckeyes! Pryor has just gone WAY DOWN THE PIPE on this one. Outside of an apology to students, parents and alumni, this one is truly unforgiveable. Did the Navy game cause you to lose your freaking mind Jim? Pryor: Play the game. Keep your head down. Keep your mouth shut and your opinions to yourself. And apologize so we can move on.
HeyHeyHey
I am also a huge Buckeye fan and I am ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGED at your rant. Seriously, you have no problem spouting your opinion but Pryor should keep his mouth shut? Do not be jealous because your biggest audience is some blog on the web while his is national exposure.
Also, how big of a fan can you be if you think Pryor is a “rookie” QB. See in college they are Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors. He also played for the Buckeyes last season, so not sure what in your opinionated, obnoxious mind makes him a “rookie”
Besides the stupidity of the decision on Pryor’s part, let’s be honest… do you really think Michael Vick cares one bit that some second-rate college QB “supports” him? Please. I wonder if he even knows who Pryor is.
heyheyheygoodbye
Really?!….. Your that bent out of shape about this?…..As I was reading your post I kept waiting for the punchline but it never came, then I realized your the F@%#ing joke!………It’s not that serious homie.
BTW OSU alumni and huge Buckeye fan Pryor is a Sophomore who did play the majority of games last year so he’s not a rookie college QB……..
heyheyheygoodbye says: September 8, 2009 10:23 PM ET
As an alumni of The Ohio State University, and a huge Buckeyes fan, I am ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGED at this unneccessary display of support by a rookie
That’s where I stopped reading. If by rookie you mean first year player, you’re wrong.
I too am a Buckeyes fan, and I don’t care if Pryor wore a t-shirt OVER his jersey supporting Vick. He (Vick) served his time. That was good enough for the Feds, why is it not good enough for people like you?
Get over it already.
Pryor’s response was terrible. He just lost millions when he inevitably comes out after next year and scores 11 on the Wonderlict.
All of you Vick haters need to seriously relax. The dogfighting incident was TWO YEARS AGO. Yeah, it was bad situation, and a poor decision by Vick, but he served his time, and is reinstated in the National Football League. I appreciate him as a professional athlete, not a role model. There is no point in an NFL contract that states you must be a role model to your fans. He is a FOOTBALL PLAYER, and an electrifying one at that. Pryor can express his opinions, he is a college athlete who supports the return of a professional athlete. Bottom line. Stop hating and mvoe on with your life. Ugh.
Why the hell did Pryor “support” Vick AFTER Vick already was signed by the Eagles? He doesn’t need the support. He’s already on an NFL team. Might as well ink “Tom” “Brady” under the eyes. I suppose he needs support too…
Maybe he’s supporting him because he’s his “hero”, and he “loves” him? Who cares why he did it? Honestly, I don’t see the big deal. I never heard anything about this until I got on this site, and I live 45 minutes away from Columbus.
Stinkfinger:
Thats classic. Making fun of Pryor for lack of intelligence and not spelling wonderlic correct.
Please turn in your user name and password at the door when you leave.
At times like this I really dislike the people of America. It is a nation full of, “we don’t practice what we preach, but we expect you to live by it.” Forgive? Why?
I say that to say this. People like Pete Rose, but he was a gambling, lying S.O.B.. People liked Ty Cobb, but he was a racist S.O.B.. To appreciate the art of a bad person doesn’t mean you support their bad deeds. Pryor isn’t promoting dogfighting. He is showing support for his childhood hero who served his time and was released.
The only people who should not be forgiven in my opinion are child molesters and murderers OF HUMAN BEINGS. For the rest of his life people are not only going to hate him, but they are going to hate anybody who has anything to do with him. They will hate anybody who supports him (people were recently sending hate mail to Tony Dungy’s publisher to get them to stop publishing his book because Dungy tried to help Mike Vick. Tony Dungy is an outstanding charactor and a truly upstanding man trying to help a sheep who lost it’s way and not forever condemn it like a good percentage of America.
Whether Pryor was showing support for Vick because he looked up to the type of player he was when Pryor was growing up. Or if he was trying to show support for Vick because he was released from jail and is trying to get his life back on track. Will you people (what do you mean, you people) RELAX. Give the kid a break.
WhoDeyFans, I co-sign your rant giving HeyHeyHey what he deserves. “I can have an opinion, but this rookie college quarterback (they have rookies in college? Who knew. I guess he must know more about football than the rest of us) should keep his head down and his mouth shut.” HeyHeyHey should shut his pie hole. An ignorant arse with pinned up anger blowing off that anger on anybody who thinks differently than they do.
Vick as it was pointed out has a 60% winning percentage as a starting QB. He was a helluva player before this and I for one am hoping he regains his form. Similar to Steve Young, he relied almost solely on talent to achieve the kind of success he did, but the further along in his career he goes he must do more as Young did. He served his time and people just have to accept “I’ll never do that again” and move on.
As a life long OSU fan I think its wrong. Next week he can put Vick under one eye and OJ under the other.
I don’t care one bit that he wrote “Vick” on his eyeblack. But, I am aware that lots of people are retarded and will get bent out of shape by it (mostly the media who want to generate controversy). Pryor did nothing wrong in my eyes, but I do think he probably exercised poor judgement because he should know that his actions will be scrutinized and he should have foreseen that some fans would react negatively.
If he actually contemplated that aspect and thought “screw it, I like Vick so much I’m gonna do it anyway,” then he could at worst be accused of being selfish (because he elevated his desire to express himself over the potential distraction and negative image sent to some fans).
So he really didn’t do anything wrong (it’s not like he kills people…like everyone else) other than maybe exhibit some lack of foresight or selfishness. But he’s a college kid. Who cares.
OSU72
Give it up. You compare apples to oranges.
All I can say is at least Vick did his time for his crime unlike OJ. I love how you feel like you have a right to be mad because someone shows Vick a little support. I bet you sure are glad that you have never made a mistake in your life and have never done anything that someone else may find unacceptable. I hope the time comes when you will need someone to be forgiving and understanding and they say screw you OSU72.
You made a mistake now suffer the rest of your life for it. Nitwit
This is not surprising to me. This is just like todays “privileged athletes”, Pryor chooses a convicted felon as his adult role model and thinks there is nothing wrong with this selection. I guess before to long the public will be reading about his dog fight conviction. How stupid of me to think that there is a problem with KILLING dogs!! What also scares me, after reading these comments, is that they, the public, thinks it’s OK to kill dogs for sport and those that feel it is wrong are the ones with the problem!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! I’m ashamed it’s a buckeye that did this.