So Dallas Cowboys running back Tashard Choice asked Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick to autograph his glove as a momento for his 2-year-old nephew.

Was it a professional or unprofessional act?

Who’s to say? Many a time young sportswriters have come up to me after an event we covered and asked me for an autograph in a notebook, on a piece of paper, whatever’s available.

OK, so that never happened — not that it couldn’t, mind you — but does it cross any boundaries?

I had no problem with Choice asking for an autograph. I think as a fellow athlete, a peer in a game like pro football, an autograph for himself would be ridiculous.

The fact Choice was getting it for his nephew was nice. It was after the game, at a time when players are congratulating or consoling one another, warriors after a tough game — a 30-27 victory by the Eagles — that the request was granted.

It was unfortunate the NBC cameras picked it up, which made it a huge topic of conversation Monday, more so than the game.

Players give each other autographs for charitable events throughout the year, so an autograph is not a bizarre request.

They probably should have done it in the locker room, but the game was over and the players were talking to each other. The opportunity presented itself and Choice made a choice.

Some have slammed him, others just brush it off. I put myself in the latter.

No matter how much teams dislike one another, whether it be Dallas and Philadelphia in the NFC East or Pittsburgh and the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North, there’s a mutual respect and camaraderie that comes with playing a violent game like football.

“I don’t want anybody to think I was disrespectful, Choice told ESPNDallas.com “My teammates, coaches and (owner) Jerry (Jones) know where my heart is. I care about football. I meant no disrespect.”

Sometimes it seems that if you show respect to another player, you aren’t taking the game seriously. Remember the San Francisco-Arizona game Dec. 6? With the Cardinals getting throttled by the 49ers, Arizona quarterback Derek Anderson shared a laugh with a teammate on the sideline.

He was asked repeatedly after the game what was so funny, and Anderson went off the deep end.

I guess since the Cardinals were losing, Anderson should have been straight-faced and serious.

Why? In the course of a tough day at work, is it wrong to break a smile.

Somewhere along the way, perception has become such a big deal. If you’re not angry at the other team, if you fraternize, then you don’t care.

Not so. Granted, things have changed from past decades, but is there anything wrong with a little civility and an little respect among players?