Goodell: Vick needs to show remorse

Commissioner Roger Goodell has told USA Today that he wants to see signs of true contrition from Michael Vick before he considers lifting the quarterback’s suspension from the NFL.

In an article today (read it here), Goodell said it’s clear the Falcons QB has “paid a price” in serving a 23-month sentence, but it will take more than that to play in the NFL again.

“I’m not going to make a judgment until I know all the facts on Michael Vick,” Goodell said, according to USA Today. “I think it’s clear he’s paid a price, but to a large extent he’s going to have to demonstrate to the larger community — not just to the NFL community and to me — that he has remorse for what he did and that he recognizes mistakes that he made.

“Everyone makes mistakes, but he has to show that genuine remorse in his ability to be a positive influence to correct the things that he did wrong publicly.”

The story did not say how Vick must show remorse. Goodell indefinitely suspended Vick in August 2007 after the QB pled guilty to federal dog-fighting charges.

Vick is due to be released from prison in May to serve the remainder of his sentence via home confinement. His sentence will end in July.