Vick - Latest: Guilty Plea

[craigharmann]

Just heard a report on the radio that a grand jury indicted Vick and 3 others on dogfighting charges. I don't understand what happened to him! I really liked him back when he was in college, and it seems like he's let the professional life get the best of him. Sad stuff.

 

Link

 

 

(added tag --1992)

[wibadgers23]

Wow, so what happens to Vick now? Is a suspension on the way? If Pacman Jones got suspended for the entire year, you'd think a suspension is certainly on the way for Vick. Maybe not? I'm surprised this isn't bigger news yet.

[craigharmann]

The only thing I think keeps the NFL from suspending Vick is that he is the higher paid QBs in the league. I hope they would have the guts to suspend him for the year, but I highly doubt it.

[pretendastronaut]

Well as far as how severe a penalty he might get, you have to remember guys like Pacman got those penalties after several run-ins mostly.

 

And also, this isn't a guilty verdict, this is a grand jury, there's a difference. This will obviously stay with Vick for a long time, but personally, if after how much they tried, they couldn't actually charge Vick with anything, I think it'll be interesting to see how a trial plays out.

[dadofandrew]

I wouldn't dream of allowing him on my team, and I'm sure many NFL owners feel the exact same way. I would much prefer losing without him than winning with him.

[trwi7]

I feel sorry for the Falcons. Not realizing that he's not a good QB.

[Oldcity]

Heh, heh. The Falcons traded Schaub.

[dpapo]

As far as whether Vick gets suspended prior to the end of the trial, the following quote seems to suggest he won't,

 

"We are disappointed that Michael Vick has put himself in a position where a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against him," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.

 

"The activities alleged are cruel, degrading and illegal. Michael Vick's guilt has not yet been proven, and we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts."

 

In regards to the allegations themselves, if true, they are pretty sick.

 

"The indictment alleges that the 27-year-old Vick and his co-defendants began a grisly dogfighting operation in early 2001 in which dogs fought to the death -- or close. Losing dogs were sometimes killed by electrocution, drowning, hanging or gunshots."

 

Also,

"About eight young dogs were put to death after they were found not ready to fight in April 2007. They were killed "by hanging, drowning and/or slamming at least one dog's body to the ground," according to the indictment."

 

sportsillustrated.cnn.com...ml?cnn=yes

 

 

Edit: CNN also has a copy of the indictment. It's about 19 pages, but having read parts of it, Vick is alleged to have played an active part as oppose to the claims he made about not knowing anything about it. Whether or not the allegations are true, they aren't that he was a fringe participant, but rather as I wrote, actively involved in things. So, Vick is probably either going to have to go to trail to prove his innocence or make some sort of plea bargain.

 

i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/imag...17/ind.pdf

[temke]

Quote:

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I really liked him back when he was in college

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i remember reading somewhere (SI maybe) that he was into the dogfighting in college as well. he just did a good job of hiding it this long i guess.

 

he was lost on me after the ron mexico incident.

[Point Beer Is Best]

Quote:

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I would much prefer losing without him than winning with him.

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I feel really bad for the Falcons then - they've been losing with him on their team.

 

Dog fighting is bad enough. But if the descriptions of how those dogs died at the hands of their owners is true, he is truly a despicable human being.

[brettac1]

Like someone else said - Vick was a bad dude in college, too. He was just like Marcus, just apparently a little more intelligent.

[homer]

Quote:

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He was just like Marcus, just apparently a little more intelligent.

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Or a little luckier.

[mothershipconnection]

Or little luckier.

 

I'm guessing part luck and such incredible raw ability that stuff was swept under the rug when and if it arose.

[JoeHova]

Quote:

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This will obviously stay with Vick for a long time, but personally, if after how much they tried, they couldn't actually charge Vick with anything, I think it'll be interesting to see how a trial plays out.

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An indictment is a charge. The 5th amendment has been interpreted to mean that federal felony charges (which are what Vick is facing) must be issued by a grand jury, not just by a prosecutor. The grand jury decided that there was probable cause to believe a crime was committed and thus they returned an indictment against Vick (and 3 others), which means he is now charged with a crime.

 

 

Anyway, my prediction is that Vick will cut a deal to rat out his friends/relatives in exchange for probation or a fine.

[endaround]

Any other player who faced this would get at least 6 months. And this is far from Vick's only run in with the law.

[PeaveyFury]

The good news is that Nike still plans on releasing the Michael Vick signature shoe in a couple of weeks!

 

In other news, Nike apparently still thinks its 2002.

[Invader3K]

He should be suspended for life from the NFL, if he is guilty. The NFL needs to rid itself of anyone like this associated with subhuman culture like dog fighting.

[zingsheim]

I second Invaders decision. THe NFL looks terrible from all these dopes trashing the league rep. Suspend these fools for life.

[jaybird2001wi]

I was watching CNN last night (Nancy Grace, the most annoying newscaster since Ann Coulter) and it said they had "rape stands" for female dogs to breed new ones. My God, how sick can these guys get?

[TooLiveBrew]

Oh come on guys - they're just dogs!

 

This ____ is sick.

[PeaveyFury]

Nike did finally decide to delay the Vick shoe.

[cweber39]

Did anyone read the indictment on The Smoking Gun?? It's pretty disgusting/disturbing. I hope he gets convicted.

 

 

www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0717072vick1.html

[danzig6767]

Anyway, my prediction is that Vick will cut a deal to rat out his friends/relatives in exchange for probation or a fine.

 

If though Vick is the big man financing the operation,won't things likely shake out the other way?His friends/relatives offer up Vick on a platter for lighter sentences,after all i see the feds trying to bring down the big name guy,not the guys working for him.

 

While it's not a perfect analogy,when the government goes after the mob,they get the smaller fish to rat out the bigger name fish who actually run things,not the other way around.

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

Lock the guy up and throw away the key...

 

Guys like this gives athletes a bad name... Makes me appreciate the high character guys playing for the Brewers & Twins

[thablingster]

I read the indictment and some of the things he is alleged to have either a) done, b) conspired to do, or c) allowed to go on in his presence/property are despicable. If he is proven guilty on all of these charges then I hope he gets the stiffest penalty the law can give him, and also faces major repercussions from the NFL.