It is hard to work up many tears for Michael Vick, who, it turns out, might miss an NFL regular-season game or two this season.

Sympathy for the dogs who were innocent victims of his despicable actions, sure. Even two years later that's where the compassion in this whole grisly, senseless tale belongs, no matter what Terrell Owens might like you to believe.

Owens, the Buffalo receiver, asserted over the weekend, that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has been "unfair to Michael Vick." But then he also said, "it's almost like kicking a dead horse in the ground."

So much for painting a sympathetic picture of a guy whose dogs were swung around by their necks and slammed against walls. It is probably good for Vick that Owens didn't represent him at trial or the quarterback might have been given life instead of the 18 months he ended up serving for crimes associated with his Bad Newz kennels.

Instead, the good news was that Goodell's conditional reinstatement of Vick yesterday actually strikes a fair and thoughtful balance under the circumstances. One that provides Vick with an opportunity to still earn a handsome living while demonstrating the remorse he has professed.

It isn't exactly a suspension but neither is it an open-arms welcome back, which is undoubtedly what Goodell, the self-styled law-and-order commish, had in mind. If Vick fulfills his legal and NFL obligations and finds a team, he can fully return to play by mid-October. If not sooner.

A week after being released from federal custody, Vick can now sign with a team, begin workouts and cashing checks as soon as a deal can be struck. And be assured he will find a place to play. The suitors, perhaps tentatively at first, will eventually be there. As Owens' comments underline, there are receivers and teams — the Bills, for example — that can use a quarterback, backup or otherwise, this season.

Quarterback talent, even rusty, is a much in demand commodity and somebody will give him a look.

Having served his sentence and squandered his fortune, Vick has paid his legal dues. At age 29 he deserves an opportunity to reset his life and is fortunate that the NFL has given it to him. As Vick noted yesterday, "playing in the NFL is a privilege, not a right ... "

He's luckier still that Tony Dungy, as an adviser, mentor and advocate, has been there willing to help see him through it all.

A second chance to put his life back together for Vick is more than most of the victims of the heinous crimes had to look forward to.