You would think after spending two years in a federal penitentiary, Mike Vick would want nothing at all to do with law enforcement.

You would think after losing millions in endorsements and salary from the NFL, the Mike Vick would cherish this second chance he’s been given to play professional football.

You would think after his friends got him into so much trouble and lost him so much money that Mike Vick would find some new buddies.

You would think Mike Vick would want to keep a low profile and try to go about life normally.

If you thought those things you are probably a reasonable and level-headed person. But now that Mike Vick finds himself at least connected by association to a shooting last weekend in Virginia Beach, I have to wonder whether he is reasonable or level headed.

For those who haven’t heard, Quanis Phillips, a former Vick associate who testified against him in the dogfighting trial, was shot early last Friday outside a Virginia Beach restaurant following a birthday party. That party was held for none other than Michael Dwayne Vick. Vick, who turned 30 on June 26, was at the party as were several other high profile athletes from the Hampton Roads area. The problem is, the terms of Vick’s probation prohibit him from interacting with convicted felons like Mr. Phillips.

An investigation continues.

Some people never learn. Mr. Vick, you are one of them.

We can debate the facts about what happened, whether Vick is being unfairly connected to this situation and if some people are just waiting to pounce on the guy every time he burps. But here is what I think: Mike Vick had no business anywhere close to this sort of event, which was promoted to the general public. Time and again, something goes wrong at these parties and people start shooting. It’s happened in every Hampton Roads city. No place has been immune to idiots who get a few drinks and other substances in them and try to settle disputes with firearms. Going out at night is dangerous. It’s even more dangerous after midnight. As someone once said, “Nothing good happens after midnight.” I guess that depends on where you are and whom you are with, but that’s a story for another day.

Mike Vick was still at this party around 2 a.m., shortly before the shooting occurred. I know where he should have been: AT HOME.

In fact, he should have never been at the party to start with. To take it further, there should have been no public party in his name. He should not have allowed it. He can’t afford any negative publicity. And as I said, these parties are magnets for bad behavior.

Mike Vick deserved to celebrate his 30th birthday in grand fashion. He should have been around friends and loved ones. He should have enjoyed good food and maybe a few drinks. He should have danced and partied the night away, if he so chose. But he should have done it in the confines of his own home, away from the riff raff that hang out at night, away from the people who don’t care at all about him.

It seems that Vick is intent on living the lifestyle that he had before he went away to federal prison. He seems to want to soak up the attention and adulation. He wants the limelight. The autograph seekers. The hangers on. Someone needs to tell him to forget living the high profile life. He’s done that and look where it got him: broke and behind bars. Now that he has his freedom, the ability to spend time with his children and family and his finances are looking better, you’d think Mike Vick would guard his livelihood a little more vigilantly. You’d think he’d be careful where he went, who we went with and how late he stayed out. People are watching. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is watching.

You’d think Mike Vick would have sense enough to realize this. But maybe he doesn’t. Maybe he didn’t learn anything at all while in prison.