President Obama Touches Nerve, Praising Michael Vick's Second Chance

Dec. 27, 2010 -- His comeback from prison to NFL MVP contender is one of the more compelling stories in sports this year, or maybe ever.

And while Michael Vick is still reviled in many circles as the orchestrator of deadly dogfights, his return to professional form has none other than President Obama elevating the controversial quarterback as an example of the value of second chances.

Sports Illustrated columnist Peter King, in a column published Monday, quoted Philadelphia Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie as saying Obama called to congratulate him for giving Vick a second chance.

"The president wanted to talk about two things, but the first was Michael,'' Lurie said, according to King. "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.''

The White House confirmed Monday that Obama called Lurie, and that the two discussed the comeback of quarterback Michael Vick.

"He of course condemns the crimes that Michael Vick was convicted of, but, as he's said previously, he does think that individuals who have paid for their crimes should have an opportunity to contribute to society again," White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton told ABC News.

Vick's performance on the football field has been extraordinary, and he recently told ABC News' Bob Woodruff that some of that success can be credited to his downfall.

"I think I'm better now as a player because God sent me to the bottom. And I'm a firm believer in karma, and I think it happened because of what I did and what I allowed to happen to those animals, so I was stripped of everything, stripped me down to the bone of everything and, you know, I think I took for granted the position that I was in in my life, all the blessings that I had, and that wasn't my purpose in life to be doing what I was doing and it was wrong," Vick said.