DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Falcons' Vick indicted by grand jury in dogfighting probe

Dog fighting is gambling. This is a toxic issue for pro sports. If you forget for a minute how dumb and cruel dog fighting is, you still have the gambling problem. Goodell needs to burn Vick on this one. The cruelty to animals issue is just kind of the icing on the cake.

J.

Sounds like alot of cicumstantial stuff , although the feds aren't tipping their hand yet I'm sure . Doesn't look good for him right now but then again money isn't something he'll have to worry about and prison time if he see's any will be light also . Worse case he pleads , gets suspended retires to a life of ease.

Now that he's been indicted, how long until we see a Carson Palmer for Michael Vick straight-up trade?

Been following this morning's news. sucks if true; has this guy had a triple shunt class bypass or sumpin. I like dogs (and dawgettes), but this kind of vicious really infuriates me and others. Hope he gets 'em crushed if this is true. Nice to have a one-maan PR (negative) squad on the roster; certainly keeps them burs in the public light and on the news.
Meanwhile, go Browns! And may the Elf be with you!

I say that, tops, Vick gets an 8 game suspension.

Also, repeating what Mark the Shark said on the radio, here in Columbus this moring, he will be able to afford lawyers that will keep him out of anything more than a slap on the wrist.

Then, I say it's on the Falcons. Are they going to value wins and success over letting this human turd continue to be the face of the franchise???

The scuttlebutt around the media is that the Commish won't suspend Vick a single game for his indictment. The poilcy was really written into the CBA for those repeat offenders. And this is Vick's "first offense" (you can't count the bottle incident, flipping the bird to the fans or his Herpes/Ron Mexico stuff). I don't think his stuff in college comes into play either.

So, we'll have to listent to this junk ALL SEASON while we wait for his trial. Ugh....like it wasn't bad enough to constantly hear about Vick already.

I see what you're saying, Punch, but I have to think something of this magnitude may get some attention from the league and the team. I mean, this isn't a guy who's been arrested a couple times for waving a gun or DUIs, but this is a federal indictment. That's pretty serious business (not that the other stuff isn't, but you get what I'm saying).

I don't see how the NFL can possibly just look the other way on this one. It's serious stuff, especially if it comes out (more than just rumors and hearsay) that Vick was personally involved in this.

And man, what a distraction for the team.

The water bottle incident, could be considered in much the same way as Pacman's non-charged incidents. Not to mention Federal Charges, vs. State or local charges in Pacman and Henry's cases.

There's always the chance, the Falcons are sick of the exposure and may take action on their own. I may be wrong, but doesn't the CBA allow a team to suspend a player for all but 4 games of a season for violations of team rules? I don't know if there is a general personal conduct clause in Vick's contract, but most player contracts contain some such language, "for the good of the team."

Punch, the NFL also has to worry about its image (i.e. and the money at stake). Vick is one of its biggest stars, and this ain't gonna fly with corporate America, whether Vick's guilty or not.

Also, Blank (Falcons' owner), was behind starting up Home Depot stores, and there are calls out there for people to start boycotting Home Depot. Now, who knows what effect that would have and how widespread it would be, but if it's big enough, Blank may have something to say about Vick.

Well, the comment from the league this morning was that they will take a "wait and see approach" on the charges. They are going to let this play out before acting. Again, this policy was for repeat offenders.

The Commish may just do something anyway.....but I don't think he will.

If I was the Commish, I'd suspend him though.

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and there are calls out there for people to start boycotting Home Depot. Now, who knows what effect that would have and how widespread it would be,

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Bout the same as people boycotting Walmart....zero effect .

Ire, I have read and heard a little about the indictment and supposedly there are witnesses that will testify to Vick's involvement. If that is true, it's not so circumstantial anymore.

Yeah, I kind of gathered that the Feds are not putting all of the cards on the table just yet . I wouldn't be surprised if there were a tape floating around that maybe places him at a fight ( these guys aren't rocket scientists after all) and if so then Vick is SCREWED big time. Maybe someone close to him rolled ? Mike is going to get clobbered but I still doubt he does any time.

Yeah, I think someone rolled. It was mentioned on Mike & Mike by their legal guy Roger Cossack (spelling?) that someone was likely and unindicted co-conspirator. Add to that the federal conviction rate after obtaining and indictment is over 95% and Mikey's looking at some time.

I did hear a rather humorous statement on the radio: "Michael Vick just went from making $10 million a year to 7 cents a license plate"....humorous but probably true.

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"Michael Vick just went from making $10 million a year to 7 cents a license plate"....humorous but probably true.

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Rich = Little or no time in jail . Our legal system is just not fair ....oh well we all knew that already . I hope I am wrong and he does time but I am a little too cynical to believe it.

If the feds weren't involved, I would agree, but I got a feeling he's going to go for at least some time. It will be interesting.

Link to the actual indictment

http://wric.images.worldnow.com/images/incoming/VickIndictment.pdf

this just gets worse and worse. I mean, I'm taking into account that these stories are most likely written to sound worse and worse because of the way it looks.

But it just doesnt look good for him at all. It's a shame. It's tough on not only him, his family, but atlanta, the nfl, and several other parties. Vick has really messed up.

Even if he is innocent, theres alot of problems here

Fighting dogs and then electrocuting them? That breaks my heart. He is scum of the earth. I was watching on Sportscenter and they had people with voices dubbed over placing him there and saying he's a major player. If it's true, and it looks like it is, I pray to God he gets what he deserves and is run of the NFL and spends a long time in jail.

Is there any doubt that these players today are just plain STUPID.

Vick has the world by the B_lls and what does he do... mess with dog fighting..

My neighbor stopped me this morning when I was out walking the dog, first words out of his mouth were.,.. that poor kid in Atlanta,, looks like the feds got him good..

I asked, are you speaking of Michael Vick, QB of the Falcons? He said that he was..

I thought to my self, I have an IDIOT for a neighbor.... I just couldn't hold back,, Just could NOT hold back not even for a moment,

I blurted out that I thought that Vick is the dumbest Human on the planet. And in typical liberal fashion, my neighbor said,,, well you know he's Black and he didn't have the best life growing up....

I almost busted him in the mouth but he's in his 70's.. had I actually hit him, my luck is, he'd have died and I'd be in the pokey by now.

I just made one last comment and then left to let him decide for himself,,

I asked,, if he were approached to do a business deal, what would be the first question you would ask yourself?

His response was, "can I make money" I said,, ok, what's the second question,, he said "is it legal".... Ahhhhh,,,

I just walked away as he mumbled to himself a few choice words about how I lead him down the wrong way...

Haven't spoken to him since.. May never again either.

It seems these places are taking this situation very delicately. I think after the Duke Lacrosse fiasco, it seems theyre being more careful with this. Taking it more seriously.

I think the NFL is partially not wanting to do the same? Dont condemn someone unless its proven?

I mean. With Pacman its been arrests. This is alleged stuff.

Yeah, I understand that at this point, everything is alleged.. nothing is proven and he's innocent until proven guilty. And yeah, I agree that they are taking pains to make sure that they don't reach on indictments of guys like Vick. (by the way, it shouldn't matter if someone is famous or not, caution should always be the watch word before accusing someone of misdeeds)

And I'd much rather see 100 guilty men go free rather than jail one innocent man...

But my neighbor,, throwing out the Race Card? Give me a break! Dumb is dumb,, and Dumb doesn't know color!

i can just see it now...

ATLANTA FALCONS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS, CLEVELAND BROWNS STADIUM 1PM

BRING YOUR PIT BULL TO THE STADIUM DAY!!

Vick/Cats in the cradle parody...

LMAO at him photoshopped on a heli-pad with a Valtrex helicopter over his shoulder

Here's another story... This one tells of his day in court. The same day as the Falcons open training camp.... It has salary cap info and says that the Commish isn't going to do anything...

Michael Vick Due in Court July 26 on Dogfighting Charges
Jul 18, 7:36 PM (ET) Email this Story

By HANK KURZ Jr.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - This much we know: Michael Vick won't be on the field when the Atlanta Falcons open training camp next Thursday. He'll be in a federal courtroom.

What happens after that was anyone's guess Wednesday, and there was no shortage of opinions.

Suspend him. Cut him. Let him play until he's proven guilty of felony charges that he sponsored a gruesome dogfighting operation.

For the time being, that's what the NFL intends to do with the star quarterback- let him play.

After consulting with the Falcons, commissioner Roger Goodell and top league officials agreed to let the legal process determine the facts.


A person with knowledge of the meeting, who requested anonymity so the case would not be influenced, said the NFL would stick to that position for the foreseeable future, despite its new personal conduct policy.

In April, Goodell suspended Tennessee's Adam "Pacman" Jones for the 2007 season even though Jones had not been convicted of a crime. He did, however, have 10 encounters with police and five arrests since he was drafted in 2005.

The NFL players' union took the same stance as the league.

"It's unfortunate that Michael Vick is in this position, as these allegations are extremely disturbing and offensive," the union said in a statement. "This case is now in the hands of the judicial system, and we have to allow the legal process to run its course. However, we recognize Michael still has the right to prove his innocence. Hopefully, these allegations are untrue and Michael will be able to continue his NFL career."

Vick and three associates must appear in Richmond next week for bond hearings and arraignments on charges contained in a detailed, 18-page indictment handed up Tuesday.

The four are accused of competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting, and conducting the enterprise across state lines.

The operation was named "Bad Newz Kennels," according to the indictment, and the dogs were housed, trained and fought at a property owned by Vick in Surry County, Va.

Conviction carries up to six years in prison, fines of $350,000 and restitution.

Among the grisly findings: Losing dogs either died in the pit or were electrocuted, drowned, hanged or shot. The indictment said purses climbed as high as $20,000 for fights.

Those and other allegations of animal abuse have already put Vick squarely in the center of strong and divided reaction.

In Atlanta, where Vick's name dwarfs all others in pro sports, about 46 percent of respondents in an overnight telephone poll conducted by Atlanta-based InsiderAdvantage think the Falcons should release Vick. About the same percentage said the team should keep him until a verdict is returned. About 8 percent of the 859 people polled had no opinion. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Nike, one of Vick's sponsors, said it was reviewing the indictment and would have no other comment.

In a letter to Goodell, Falcons owner Arthur Blank and Vick's corporate sponsors, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and the Rev. Al Sharpton joined with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society of the United States in calling for strong stands against animal cruelty.

"Today, we sound a clarion call to all people: Stand up for what is right, and speak out against what is wrong. Dogfighting is unacceptable. Hurting animals for human pleasure or gain is despicable. Cruelty is just plain wrong," the letter said.

Goodell and Blank met individually with Vick in May after the investigation started, telling him to straighten up or risk discipline.

Blank said he "could not have been more stern" in telling Vick that he represents himself, the franchise and the league and needs to do it right.

"They both challenged me to be more accountable in all areas of my life. I know I need to make some changes around me to make sure that the people in my life have my best interest at heart," Vick said at the time. "My goal is to not let my fans, my teammates or my coaches down."

The Falcons signed Vick to a 10-year, $130 million contract in December 2004. He has been paid about $44 million, including $37 million in guaranteed bonuses, and is due to earn a base salary of $6 million this season.

Teams can amortize the salary cap implications of signing bonuses, but if a player is cut, all bonuses paid but not yet factored into the salary cap must be accounted for within two years.

The Falcons face an estimated salary cap hit of about $6 million this year and $15 million in 2008 if they release Vick - devastating hits to any team's budget.

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Football Writer Dave Goldberg in New York, Associated Press Writers Greg Bluestein and Harry R. Weber in Atlanta and Charles Odom in Flowery Branch, Ga. contributed to this report.

I don't think the league should do anything yet. If he is convicted or plea bargins then they should make an example of him. If found guilty he should be in jail for long enough to make the point moot. Hopefully he will be too old to comeback.

I think the Falcons at the very least should send him home. Pay him if you have to but don't let him near the team.

The commish really can't do anything. If he suspends him, it will make him look guilty as sin(which I believe he is). He has to wait for this thing to play out, but rest assured, I have no doubt Vick will be suspended and might even get jail time. If these allegations are proven true, I hope he rots.

The race card is being played all over the country concerning the Vick indictment. Many assume that being an African American QB is the reason that Mike Vick has been targeted and that a white QB wouldn't be investigated. All BS!!! Remember years ago with Brett Favre and his pain killer addiction...don't get much whiter and famous than Brett Favre and many friends turned their back to him.

Vick has been rumored since his college days to be involved in dog fighting as it has become more of an urban criminal venture than a rural dumbass way to make money. Hip Hop, drugs and violence are all involved with the dog fighting culture of criminal urban experiences.

If the Mike Vick story has a racial component it is because old Mike hangs with the wrong crowd of black men.

Well,here's my take.
Writers are writers and stories are stories.
Spin is spin and conclusions base upon all of that are often times based upon what is written by others.
But if you want the FACTS surrounding what he's charged with and what is "stated or not sated" IN the indictment?????

My suggestion is.....................read the indictment!


Here is a link TO THE ACTUAL INDICTMENT OF MICHAEL VICK

You think you've heard things through the media? Wait till you get a load of THIS!!!


Note: This is a PDF file. Adobe Acrobat is required to read. (It's a government thing)



Link to ACTUAL indictment..........................

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/vick20070717-2.pdf

Thing is.... Pacman hasn't been found guilty of anything yet either. Sure, he's had multiple run ins with the law, but no convictions...yet.... and he's out of the league for a year.

Vick had the smuggler's water bottle at an airport, then had "his" property raided for dog fighting earlier this year. Which he claimed was his "cousin's" problem. Now he's been indicted for more than a "coincidental" ownership issue, with his cousin.

Vick's cousin wasn't even indicted.....

By the way.... isn't lying to the police about his "cousin," Obstruction of Justice.... ?

Pacman is different than the Vick case. It is a bit more concrete and he isn't or can't deny being there.

With Vick, he maintains he wasn't involved....so you have to let it play out.