Prison meeting with Dungy can only help Vick

May, 5, 2009
May 5
1:44
PM ET
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By Pat Yasinskas
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

John Clayton reports that Tony Dungy has met with Michael Vick in a Kansas prison.

If that setting and the participants seem like a clash ...well, maybe not as much as you would think. Dungy has implied that prison ministry is one of the things he might explore in his post-coaching life. I don't know if this is a start down that road or not. But I do view this meeting as a positive for both men.

Dungy has a strong desire to help other people. It's very genuine and he's good at it. I was lucky enough to cover Dungy early in his career as a head coach and he's a fascinating guy. Unlike just about every other coach I've covered, Dungy is far more than a football coach. He's very serious about his religious beliefs. He doesn't force them on other people, but he'll share them if someone wants to hear them.

That's where Vick comes in. Apparently, Vick was willing to listen to Dungy and only good can come of that. Say what you want about the reason Vick's in prison for his involvement in dog fighting. There's no doubt his crimes were horrible.

But the former Atlanta quarterback is close to finishing his sentence and he hopes to return to the NFL. Meeting with Dungy is a good step in that direction.

I don't know Vick, but I have repeatedly heard one of his biggest problems was that he listened to people he shouldn't have and fell under some bad influences. Maybe he's changed.

If he's listening to Dungy and taking some of his influence, it can only help.

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