Long season ahead for Mike Vick

[34inXXIII]

Vick was indicted today (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2940065) on two felonies related to the dogfighting case the feds have been investigating. I can't see the NFL acting on this until the matter is resolved legally, but #7 will have a lot more to worry about that whether or not Roger Goodell will drop the hammer on him. He's facing significant jail time. However, I can easily envision this entire process getting dragged out well into 2008, which could weigh heavily on Vick as the season progresses, and especially if he struggles.

Should be an interesting season ahead in Hot-lanta....or, more appropriately now, Not-lanta.

[UCarmymp]

Vick was indicted today (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2940065) on two felonies related to the dogfighting case the feds have been investigating. I can't see the NFL acting on this until the matter is resolved legally


I wouldn't be so sure, he suspended Pacman for an entire season and he was never legally convicted of any crime. Vick will probably have some sort of some suspension heading his way.

[Steely_J]

Vick was indicted today (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2940065)on two felonies related to the dogfighting case the feds have beeninvestigating. I can't see the NFL acting on this until thematter is resolved legally, but #7 will have a lot more to worry aboutthat whether or not Roger Goodell will drop the hammer on him. He's facing significant jail time. However, I can easily envisionthis entire process getting dragged out well into 2008, which couldweigh heavily on Vick as the season progresses, and especially if hestruggles.

Should be an interesting season ahead in Hot-lanta....or, more appropriately now, Not-lanta.


Vick is such an idiot...

The man is throwing away his career, and for what? Is this worthit? Is dog fighting worth ruining your career, reputation, life?

I would be so embarrassed if he was on my team. Get him out ofthere.. get him out of the NFL. Give him a "You're too damnstupid to be in the NFL" certificate and show him the door (http://www.cfl.ca/).

[34inXXIII]

I wouldn't be so sure, he suspended Pacman for an entire season and he was never legally convicted of any crime. Vick will probably have some sort of some suspension heading his way.

From NFL.com (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/10119182): Repeat violations of the personal conduct policy will be dealt withaggressively, including discipline for repeat offenders even when theconduct itself has not yet resulted in a conviction of a crime.

Despite the other boneheaded matters Vick has been involved in thus far, he - unlike Jones - is not considered a repeat offender. The union may claim to be supporting Goodell in his effort to clean up the league's image, but they're not about to let the commissioner suspend players without due process on what would be considered their first offense.

[Drewbacca]

Here's the link for the article on FOX Sports.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7033242?MSNHPHCP&gt1=10239


It basically says the same thing, but I like to read multiple versions of the same story. Most writers have their own bias.

Anyway, I can't say that I didn't see this coming. When the Feds took over, you knew it wasn't just "Oh my cousin was fighting dogs? Man...that *****." All the people who are crying about this being a big deal because Vick is a high profile black athlete need to get their sh** straight. Dog fighting rings are busted up on a frequent basis. Usually small ones, with very few dogs and only a few felonies being handed out. Just imagine how hard it would be for an undercover cop to infiltrate a ring and gain any trust. Most of the time, the ring collapses or moves before the officer can get in deep.

This isn't about dropping the hammer on Vick. It's about making an example. This is probably one of the largest dog fighting ring busts EVER. I am sickened by this type of behavior. These people are not human. Anyone who has ever owned a dog can attest to being purely horrified at the mere mention of their dog being drowned, beaten, electrocuted, or shot.

I guarantee people will be shocked when they finally find out what the feds uncovered this month. And you have to remember...this is federal, not local.

[doctorhook18]

Another thing for the folks at Virginia Tech to be proud of.....haven't they suffered enough?

[Bmoreblitz]

Countdown until the Brian Brohm era begins in Atlanta starts now! I'm so glad that he's getting his due. Everyone trying to say that he's being picked on for being a celebrity . . . I hate that. These celebrities like Vick or even Paris Hilton, they need to stop getting the special treatment. You all really ought to read some of the articles about the indictment. Some of the details are quite hair-raising. The feds are claiming that this started in 2001 and continued through April of this year. This ***** for the Falcons orginization, new coaching staff, a complete retooling of there offensive line, "new" style of play, and now this in the span of one year.
DEPT of DEFENSE
AFCN Champs!!

[Show-your-Stripes]

I wouldn't be so sure, he suspended Pacman for an entire season and he was never legally convicted of any crime. Vick will probably have some sort of some suspension heading his way.

From NFL.com (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/10119182): Repeat violations of the personal conduct policy will be dealt withaggressively, including discipline for repeat offenders even when theconduct itself has not yet resulted in a conviction of a crime.

Despite the other boneheaded matters Vick has been involved in thus far, he - unlike Jones - is not considered a repeat offender. The union may claim to be supporting Goodell in his effort to clean up the league's image, but they're not about to let the commissioner suspend players without due process on what would be considered their first offense.


I fail to understand how accepting a pleabargin for battery charges does not constitute a prior offense.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0405051vick15.html

[Joe from Florence]

we'll see if goodell will step up this time.....if vick isn't suspended for the entire year then there is deffinatley favoritsm going on....PacMan was suspended the entire season and didn't even have a conviction or even any charges agsint him at the time of his suspension.....Vick has been indicted by a federal grand jury.....a little more serious than anything other players have been suspended for.
So goodell prove me wrong, prove you don't play favoritism, there is no reason to wait until vicks trial, you didn't wait for others you suspended....time to act now or you lose even more faith from me
This isn't vicks first run in with the law either.....it's his 3rd
besides twice being busted by the league for flipping off fans....and besides the water bottle incident he was also charged with assualt which he plead out on and don't forget the infamous case where Vick still faces a 2005 civil suit charging him with giving Herpes Simplex 2 to a Georgia woman. The suit claims Vick admitted he had the condition after she confronted him.

[Danno]

Another thing for the folks at Virginia Tech to be proud of.....haven't they suffered enough?


As a proud Hokie alumnus, I can only say "Who is Mike Vick?"

couple of my hokie buddies at work were talking about if he gets convicted, then Tech should remove his name / jersey from the stadium where it's memorialized.

[Rayne]

Vick was indicted today (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2940065) on two felonies related to the dogfighting case the feds have been investigating. I can't see the NFL acting on this until the matter is resolved legally, but #7 will have a lot more to worry about that whether or not Roger Goodell will drop the hammer on him. He's facing significant jail time. However, I can easily envision this entire process getting dragged out well into 2008, which could weigh heavily on Vick as the season progresses, and especially if he struggles.

Should be an interesting season ahead in Hot-lanta....or, more appropriately now, Not-lanta.

Actually, according to the new policy Goodell has the leeway to act before charges were filed. Given that is such a marquee player, the charges are so huge, so high profile and it was also cruelty to animals (Which I haven't seen before in pro sports....) I hope Goodell acts straight away. Maybe he was waiting for the indictment on Vick before he decided to drop the hammer.

[34inXXIII]

Considering Henry & Johnson both served jail time, I don't really see where someone could claim the commissioner didn't wait for due process in their cases. As for Jones, I've said all along that he - not Henry - is the player involved in all of this who has the best case for being punished unfairly.

Nonetheless, I've also been saying from the start that the Vick situation would truly define the effectiveness of conduct policy. Personally, I have absolutely no problem with Goodell dismissing Vick from the NFL for at least as long as Jones. My hunch is that Vick will be punished by at least the Falcons initially, if not the NFL. They are looking at a marketing nightmare right now, from sponsors and advertisers being under pressure from animal rights groups to fan reaction to Vick and the team during their 10 road games. It's certainly going to be an intriguing season for the Falcons, especially as training camp opens in the next couple of weeks.

[sloppy lombardi slaps]

I saw on the news last night that the losing dogs at Vick's house would be executed by either electrocution, drowning, strangulation or gunshot.

If that's true and Vick was involved he needs to be put away for a long time.