Everyone deserves a Second, Second chance.

           One of two things seems to have taken place over the last two weeks. Either Michael Vick and Cedric Benson missed Roger Goodell way too much or, and the more likely scenario, there is just something magical about an evening out at a night club for NFL players. 

The two former offenders of the NFL conduct act found a way to make it back into the graces of Roger Goodell through stories published this week. Cedric Benson, fresh off his turn-around season with the Bengals, gets into fisticuffs with a bar employee in Texas in May. He claims, through his attorney, that the facts laid out are not how the events unfolded. Assault charges pending. Explain that to the ROGER. A man with a previous BUI (Boating under the influence) charge and DUI charge claims that this 3rd account of drunken misconduct is also flawed; similar to his defense in the two previous charges. 

Possible ROGER penalties: 4 game suspension and finger wag.
Possible Verdict: Guilty

Now the second story comes out of the strictly law abiding section of Virginia Beach,Va. Once home to the ever hospitable Bad Newz Kennels canine appreciation center, and current home to upstanding citizens like Marcus Vick, Allen Iverson, and "everybody kills everybody" Terrell Pryor. Michael Vick, fresh off his own redemption season, makes one classic NFL life-rehab flaw: sticking by those troubled childhood friendships. After his 30th birthday party, (wrong side of 25 big boy) a shooting broke out at the exact bar he held said party. Who should be the victim of the shooting? One of Vick's former "Kennels" business partners, Quanis Phillips. If Ray Lewis can get rid of those 'ne'er do wells' for friends, Vick should be just as able. And not so much Cain. I kid. 

Vick maintains that he left the party 30 minutes before the shooter arrived. Everyone corroborates this, but very few will give police witness accounts of the incident; obstructing justice. This casts a curious eye over Vick. Who are these friends he is keeping? People that draw the ire of other "nasty Nathans," to a point where weapons are drawn out? Something seems fishy and Goodell is quite the angler. He'll get to the bottom of this. While Vick may be innocent, the ROGER gave him a short leash after his dog walking days and he may have run too far with it. 


Possible ROGER penalties: 4 game suspension or banishment to Siberia/CFL.

(Its not as exciting as Ricky makes it out to be.)
Possible Verdict: Not guilty or obstruction of justice.

The hope here is that both players learned from the 2nd chances to make their 3rd chances a little less hectic than their 4th chances will be. Beware the ROGER, he is no Paul Taglia-pushover. Retribution may be swift and the Argonauts may find a replacement for Damon Allen after all.