Sure, we like to tell jokes about Michael Vick. My favorite is: The day after he was arrested for running a dogfighting operation, Nike canceled its shoe contract with Michael Vick. He immediately signed a lucrative deal with Hush Puppies.

Americans can often be a sarcastic people.

Last week, Michael signed with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles and will resume his football career this season. When Michael reported to training camp, many fans booed, jeered and held up protest signs. My favorite was: Hide your Beagle, Michael’s an Eagle.

Jokes aside, there’s room for a serious discussion about whether Michael Vick should be allowed to play professional football again. Dogfighting is a particularly brutal and violent criminal activity. Trainers use cruel methods, such as beating and starvation, to make the dogs mean and violent. The animals are wounded and often die during fights. Those that prove unfit for combat are often killed by hanging or electrocution.

Because of the evil nature of dogfighting, some people question whether his punishment was severe enough. Some feel that allowing him to resume his career makes the penalty a mere slap on the wrist and another big-time athlete or celebrity escapes real punishment.

Then there’s me. While I’ve never been a huge Michael Vick fan, I say let the man play football.

Though we might be sarcastic, Americans are a fair people.

I might have a different view if Michael had acted differently during this whole sorry episode. But, as miserable as his offenses were, his conduct since being arrested has been correct. First, he pleaded guilty and accepted his punishment. Then he apologized for his actions and served his time as a model prisoner. In the future, he will work for the Humane Society to prevent further cruelty to any pets or animals.

Michael has handled this differently than some celebrities who seem to believe they are above the law that governs common folks like you and I. Indeed, those stars view court appearances as a mere inconvenience and incarceration as patently unfair. Instead of feeling contrition, they view themselves as the real victims. Drugs made them do it. Or, the pressure of being them caused them to go off the deep end.

Robert Downey Jr., one of the most talented actors on the big screen, has been in rehabilitation numerous times. Yet, we still go see his movies and honor him with acting awards.

Mel Gibson gets drunk and launches into an anti-Jewish rant. But he apologizes, all is forgiven and we enjoy “Lethal Weapon” reruns on late-night cable television.

Bill Clinton had an affair in the White House, was impeached for lying but never apologized. Yet today, the former president is considered an elder statesman and a rock star diplomat.

Unlike these stories, Michael Vick’s transgressions cost him dearly. He missed two years of his career while in the prime of his athletic prowess. It cost him millions of dollars in salary. His team and his league essentially turned their backs on him. Within days, he went from a superstar basking in adoration to the butt of jokes. He fell faster and further than most.

And, through his words and actions, Michael Vick seems to accept that it’s the price he must pay.

To resume his career, Michael must prove himself again, playing an unfamiliar position against the best players in the world. It’s possible that he lost some speed or strength or instinct during two years of court appearances, house arrest and prison. Maybe he’ll fall flat on his back, his career driven to the turf beneath a 270-pound defensive tackle.

But whatever happens, surely Michael Vick deserves a second chance.

Steve Booher’s column runs on Mondays.

He can be reached at steveb@npgco.com.