Ben Roethlisberger

Protesters at Steelers facility after Michael Vick signing

Published Aug. 26, 2015 5:22 p.m. ET

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Six years after being released from prison on felony dog fighting charges, Michael Vick is still eliciting strong reactions from members of the community.

Vick’s signing by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday was met with anger from some fans. Some even came out and protested the signing with anti-Vick signs.

Vick spoke with the media after practice and said all the right things.

“You can’t take back what happened in the past. Everybody’s different when they’re 20 than when they’re 35,” he said via the Beaver County Times’ Chris Bradford. “The only thing I can do is try and influence kids from not going down the same road that I went down.”

Vick, who spent last season with the Jets, says he is excited to back up a future Hall of Famer in Ben Roethlisberger and play for the Steelers.

“So glad that I have an opportunity to be a Pittsburgh Steeler and play for a great organization. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that I make Mr. Rooney and Coach Tomlin proud and my teammates anytime I get a chance.”

Coach Mike Tomlin long supported Vick’s return to the league, so it’s no surprise he had interest in signing the quarterback.

As for the protesters, it might be time to forgive the man and give him a break. Vick cannot change what happened in the past; all he can do is continue to be an upstanding citizen as he has been. He has not gotten into any trouble since being released from prison; he has spoken out against animal cruelty; and he has worked hard to pay back his debts. What more do you want from him?

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