We all know the charges, and we all find them disgusting and reprehensible; but despite the outcries from all the protestors, the National Football League should not suspend Atlanta Falcon’s quarterback Michael Vick because of the allegations of his involvement in an underground dog-fighting operation.

70 dogs were found in the back of a house in Surry County, Virginia, bearing lacerations that are commonly associated with dog fighting. Michael Vick owns the property. His cousin, who was arrested on drug charges, provided the address.

Protestors from PETA, Russell Simmons, and everyone’s favorite attention monger Reverend Al Sharpton argue that Michael Vick’s high profile as a player in the NFL makes him a role model and his involvement in such an operation sends a bad message that the NFL tolerates this behavior. The problem with this assessment is that Vicks involvement in a dog-fighting league has nothing to do with the NFL; it is not the league’s responsibility to police their players off the field so long as what they do does not affect league play. It is not the NFL’s job to be a babysitter to its players, and when one of them breaks the law, it’s up to the courts to mete out the appropriate punishment. Nobody ever said professional athletes were classy people.

Now I don’t follow football that closely but, if anything, I want Michael Vick to play for one reason: the football field is the best place for justice to be delivered. There have to be some football players out there who are dog lovers. Don’t you think some of them would love nothing more than to blitz this guy worse than LT snapped Joe Theisman’s leg? So I say, let them! Trust me, if he plays he’ll be running. So forget suspension. Put him on the field where he belongs and make him a bull’s-eye! He is a quarterback after all.

Michael Vick makes his first court appearance on July 26th. Ironically that’s the first day of training camp for the Falcons.