Originally Posted by
Ian
He definitely has paid his debt to society, at least as far as the U.S. judicial system is concerned. I'd make the case that he really didn't based on the repugnant nature of his crimes, but it is what it is.
We live in a free market economic system. He is absolutely free to pursue a further career in the NFL. IF (and this is a big "if") he can find someone to employ him. Despite what some people might try to imply, he is not entitled to return to the NFL. He's just entitled to that opportunity.
Some owner out there will have to make the economic (and potentially moral) decision as to whether or not they want him on their team. That's what it's going to come down to. And, as others have already pointed out, there are about a million and a half criminals already playing in pro sports these days so anything is possible, I guess.
Personally, I'd have nothing to do with him. First off, I think people are forgetting ... he was mediocre at best as a quarterback. I can't imagine that two years away from the game has helped that any. Secondly, the outcry from the fan base, the PETA protests, the accompanying loss of team revenue, the public image hit ... No WAY it's worth it to bring in a sub-par player who's two or three years older than he was before when he wasn't that good.