I am Ian Allen, retired NFL Player (2001-2006). Throughout my career I have found that no one really gets to say what they want to while playing. Here at Player's Perspective, we let it all hang out. There will be weekly interviews with current and former NFL stars. From Big Names to people you never heard of. All I can say is stay tuned & ENJOY!

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the retired hard hitting, sack making, 7 year pro Strong Safety...Matt Bowen. Matt has recently retired in 2006, and is currently working on his Masters Degree at De Paul University in Chicago, Illinois. Matt will be giving another insight to different happenings around the NFL this year every Tuesday. Also he will be joining the radio show on Colourful every Monday along with myself and other players. Stay tuned for Matt, and enjoy. Just giving you the NFL from the way Players see it, which is the most important. Enjoy!

Micheal Vick

In one of the NFL's worst offseason troubles, the situation with Micheal Vick pokes at me the most. I am not a animal rights activist or a dog fighter, but I think this is ridiculous.

If dogs have rights, what about the cows, pigs, "lions tigers and bears Oh my..." On the other hand, it is illegal.

I spoke to a former teamate of mine Marcus Spears today, and he gave some pretty insightful information about how the NFL should handle this. "To allow himself to get caught up in it is plain silly" Spears said.

Spears, whom is a Lousiana native informed me that dogfigting is rampant in that state. He also said that people who engage in dogfighting are pretty passionate about the sport. So where does that leave us with Micheal Vick? Is he passionate about this, or is he just an innocent by stander by just trying to help his family have a comfortable place to stay?

I don't know, and we won't find out for awhile but I would like to shed some light on my own personal experience. Now by NO means did I make Micheal Vick money, but I was able to buy a house in Atlanta for my Mother (before she died) in which after her passing, my older brother and younger sister stayed there. I owned the house for 4 years and only spent a maximum of 2weeks at that house during that time span. To make a long story short, it is conceivable that Micheal Vick could be telling the truth.

If he is not, this is what Marcus Spears had to say "1st off it's illegal, and Why would you jeopardize your life and career?" Good question.

He also feels strongly that the NFL should stop getting rid of leadership in the lockerooms and "creating a circus, because when you have a circus, you have clowns!"

Great analogy.