National Football League

Poll: Wins change fans' attitude on Vick

Published Dec. 28, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

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Fans in The City of Brotherly Love will continue to forgive Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick as long as he keeps winning football games for the home team, according to a Philadelphia Daily News poll released Tuesday.

Vick, 30, who served 19 months in jail after pleading guilty to operating a dogfighting ring back in 2007, has become one of the success stories in the NFL this year, guiding the Eagles to the NFC East title with a 10-4 record. The former Atlanta Falcon is also being mentioned alongside New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as a possible league MVP.

The survey of Philadelphia residents found that 60 percent said they had a more positive view of Vick based on his performance both on and off the field this year and 16 percent said that the positive feelings they had toward him had remained unchanged.

The combined 76 percent who had favorable feelings toward Vick eclipsed the 24 percent who said they still had a negative opinion of him.

Philadelphia resident Adam Dvorin told The News: "I was an outspoken anti-Vick critic when he was first signed. But he has slowly earned my respect. He has proven to be sincere about taking advantage of his second chance.”

"I have been an Eagles fan since 1958 and I have never seen quarterbacking like I have witnessed this year," said another respondent in the poll, Art Matusow. "I was totally against the Eagles signing Vick and cannot forgive him for what he did. I have therefore separated the man from the football player."

One person who is willing to forgive Vick is President Barack Obama.

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie received a call from the president this past weekend in which Obama told him how happy he was that Vick had put the past behind him.

"The president wanted to talk about two things, but the first was Michael,'' Lurie told Sports Illustrated. "He said so many people who serve time never get a fair second chance. He was ... passionate about it. He said it's never a level playing field for prisoners when they get out of jail. And he was happy that we did something on such a national stage that showed our faith in giving someone a second chance after such a major downfall.''

"He loves his Bears. He really follows it,” Lurie added. “He knew how Michael was doing. It was really interesting to hear.''

The No. 1 overall pick in 2001, Vick is currently the third highest-rated quarterback this year with a 103.6 rating. He has thrown for 2,755 yards with 20 touchdowns and just five interceptions

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