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Michael Vick knows a lot about second chances, so it was fitting he gave his first ever commencement speech at a high school for troubled teens.

The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback's message was clear to the 450 graduating students from Camelot Academy in Philadelphia. "I lost my freedom. I lost my money and I lost my family. All because of irrational decisions and using poor judgement. Think before you speak, think before you act and think before you make decisions in life," Vick told them.

Camelot’s schools are either for over-age students who have fallen at least two grades behind or have dropped out, or for students who have been expelled for behavioral issues from other schools.

Vick surprised two of the students by giving them $5000 scholarships.

"I was blessed and God gave me a second chance, the world gave me a second chance, the city of Philadelphia gave me a second chance," Vick said. "That's what this is all about. These kids had people around who believed in them and knew they could come out of their situations and make it a positive."

Video After The Jump

President Obama recently called Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie to congratulate him on the teams success this year, and for giving Michael Vick a second chance.

The call was enough to once again rile up those who feel like Vick hasn’t suffered enough for his role in a dog fighting ring. Never mind the fact that Vick served 19 months in prison, became a national disgrace and lost millions of dollars for his transgression.

Some people want the man to pay with his life, Tucker Carlson is one of those people.

Carlson is guest hosting Fox News’ ‘Hannity’ show this week. During a discussion about Obama’s call to Lurie, Carlson criticized the President for supporting Vick getting a second chance and said the football player should have been put to death for his crime.

"I'm a Christian, I've made mistakes myself, I believe fervently in second chances, but Michael Vick killed dogs, and he did [it] in a heartless and cruel way," Carlson said. "And I think personally he should have been executed for that. He wasn't. But the idea that the President of the United States would be getting behind someone who murdered dogs [is] kind of beyond the pale."

What's your take on Carlson's comments? Do you think Fox should fire him? Or was what he said ok in your opinion?

Video After The Jump

By all accounts Michael Vick has been a model citizen since being released from federal prison in May 2009 after serving 19 months for dog fighting.

With his remarkable comeback on the football field happening before our eyes, Vick is still trying to make things right off the field.

He helps mentor kids about the harm dog fighting causes. He also spends a lot of his free time working with The Human Society.

As part of his rehabilitation process Vick says he would like to own a dog again.

“I would love to get another dog again in the future. I think it would be a big step in the rehabilitation process for me,” Vick told TheGrio.com. “I think just to have a pet in my household and to show people that I genuinely care, and my love, and my passion for animals.”

Prior to being convicted of dog fighting Vick was one of the nation’s most popular athletes. His # 7 jerseys were big sellers, he had big endorsement deals with Nike and Upper Deck, and a $100 million dollar contract with the Atlanta Falcons. He lost all of that and more. Vick became one of the most hated people on the planet.

He still struggles to come up with answers for why he did it. He thinks it could be a cultural thing.

“I hate to use our culture as an excuse, but it is what it is and that’s what happened and that’s the way I thought about it growing up. This is just the way I was brought up. Nobody ever told me that it wasn't right,” he said.

Mike says he’s learned from his mistakes and is a “better person” now. He credits God with helping him turn his life around and hopes people will give him a second chance.

Do you think Vick has reached a point where it would be ok for him to own a dog again?

Documentary:Dogfighting,Sport Or Animal Cruelty? from ChasinDatPaper on Vimeo.