DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Vick to be sentenced tomorrow

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=3147850

ATLANTA -- As miserable as the Falcons have been for most of their four-decade existence, some Atlanta fans still honor the past more than they embrace the present.

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Several hours before a Thanksgiving game against Indianapolis, four fans queued up at a train station were dressed in regulation Falcons game jerseys. The names across the back of the shirts: Brian Finneran, Peerless Price, Patrick Kerney and Michael Vick, none of whom is on the Falcons' current roster.

But for most Falcons fans, players and media, Vick -- who will be sentenced Monday for his role in a dogfighting ring -- now is clearly part of the past. Later Monday, Atlanta (3-9) will play host to longtime rival New Orleans (5-7) in an NFC South game (ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET).

Technically still under contract to the Falcons -- although the team is fighting to recover nearly $20 million in bonuses paid to Vick under the terms of a contract extension signed in 2004 -- the mercurial quarterback is a superstar in absentia. And because he is not in the locker room and most vestiges of his presence there have long since been removed, Vick is not in the everyday thoughts of his teammates.

"Guys still talk about him and think about him," cornerback DeAngelo Hall said last week, "but you don't hear his name brought up every day like you used to. It's not an out-of-sight and out-of-mind kind of thing. Not at all. He's still one of us and still means a lot to guys on the team. He has friends here and always will. But we've known for a long time he wasn't going to be here, and we had to play a football season without him."

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Michael Vick

Paul Abell/US Presswire

Michael Vick will be sentenced Monday for his role in a dogfighting scheme.
Several teammates have stayed in contact with Vick, but it has been a bit more difficult since he voluntarily turned himself in and began serving his prison sentence last month. Tight end Alge Crumpler told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week that he recently had a long discussion with the banished quarterback. Wideout Joe Horn, arguably Vick's strongest advocate on the team during the spring and summer, has measured his words about Vick more carefully. But because Horn is having such a poor season -- the latest free-agent wide receiver on whom the Falcons appear to have struck out -- his words don't have much gravitas anyway.

"He's still a good person who made a mistake, or whatever, and he's paying for it," said Crumpler, who was Vick's most trusted receiver. "The guys who played with him and knew him, no, we haven't divorced him."

Sporting goods stores here still have a few of Vick's No. 7 jerseys hanging on racks, but not many. Mired in a losing season under first-year coach Bobby Petrino, the Falcons and their fans don't play the what-if game anymore with Vick as the centerpiece of a debate over how Atlanta might have fared in '07 with him in the lineup instead of the three journeyman quarterbacks who have tried to replace him. Fact is, fans spend more time these days wondering about how long Petrino will stick around -- his history suggests an itinerant bent -- than whether Vick will be around again.

On the city's two sports-talk radio stations, the din surrounding Vick has quieted and really only surfaces on those occasions when he is part of a court proceeding. Even his staunchest defenders, while not fully silenced, have developed the equivalent of Vick laryngitis.

Because the Falcons announce only the tickets distributed for home games, it is hard to officially quantify the impact Vick's absence has had. But the Georgia Dome crowds clearly have been well shy of capacity, and the franchise experienced its first home TV blackout since owner Arthur Blank purchased the team in 2002. Team officials are reluctant to assign blame for the failure to fill the seats, although they privately concede Vick was their biggest draw and they essentially have stopped talking about the former face of the franchise altogether.

There is no denying Vick's name -- whether it is on T-shirts, in the headlines or is part of some rant on local radio -- doesn't carry the same magic it once did.

"Some people still have, like, a fixation-type thing with him," said Fred Kalil, sports director for the local NBC affiliate. "If you're sitting on the couch, maybe paying a little bit of attention to the 6 o'clock news, and his name comes up, yeah, your ears perk up some, I'm sure. But it's not like the feeding frenzy it was for a while there. I really do think there was some legitimacy to the Vick fatigue syndrome people talked about in this city. It wore everybody out. But now it's kind of just worn out, except when there's a court date or something along those lines."

That said, there does remain a sense of borderline morbid curiosity about Vick, and that was demonstrated last week when the NBC affiliate scored high ratings for a tour of the Surry County, Va., property the quarterback once owned, which was the center of the dogfighting ring. The property recently was sold to a businessman and is scheduled to be auctioned off later this week.

Television outlets here also have focused in recent weeks on Vick's mansion in the posh Sugarloaf development, which is on the market.

Certainly the interest factor will be high Monday, when Vick is formally sentenced by Judge Henry Hudson for the charges to which he has pleaded guilty.

All the local network affiliates have dispatched reporters to Richmond for the sentencing. The independent broadcast studio ESPN usually retains for remote reports from Atlanta has blocked off its entire schedule for the day, in the event its cameras are needed. Sports-talk radio stations are gearing up for one more round of debates. And the "Monday Night Football" gang will be forced, at least one more time, to weave Vick into the discussion.

But come Tuesday morning, it seems Vick is apt to be removed from the consciousness here for quite a while.

Senior writer Len Pasquarelli covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

What's the over/under on months?

19.5 sound right? If so, I'd take the over.

I will take the under, just have an itch he will get off lightly!

He was the last to cooperate thus he will receive the strongest penalty. I would be surprised if it is less than 30 months.

Regardless of how long his sentence is, his NFL career is almost certainly over. Any team signing him after his release from prison would reap a whirlwind of negative publicity.

Vick gets 23 months with 3 years probation. (just reported on ESPN)

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/12/10/vick.sentenced/index.html

RICHMOND, Virginia (CNN) -- Michael Vick, once one of the highest paid players in the National Football League, was sentenced to 23 months in prison for financing a dogfighting ring and helping to kill pit bulls that did not fight aggressively.


MIchael Vick began serving his sentence before he knew what it would be.

1 of 3 Vick's stunning downfall from NFL superstar to disgraced dogfighting defendant culminated Monday in a 90-minute sentencing hearing in federal court in Richmond, Virginia.

Vick, 27, faced a maximum of five years in prison. Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a sentence of 12 to 18 months.

Animal rights protesters lined up outside the courthouse. Some carried signs with photographs of dogs, while others read "Dogs deserve justice," and "Report dog fighters."

Vick and three co-defendants still face trial on state dogfighting charges in Virginia. They are accused of torturing and killing dogs and promoting dogfights -- all felonies that carry five-year maximum sentences.

In his August plea agreement, Vick admitted bankrolling the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting operation on his 15-acre property in rural Surry County in southeastern Virginia.

Vick also admitted providing money for bets on the fights but said he never shared in any winnings.

According to court documents, dogs that failed to show enough fighting spirit or lost matches were executed. Some dogs died by electrocution and others by hanging or drowning.

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Co-defendants told prosecutors that Vick assisted in executing the dogs, and that they "executed approximately eight dogs."

After initially denying any involvement, Vick acknowledged participating in killing to dogs in his plea agreement with prosecutors.

The suspended Atlanta Falcons star quarterback publicly apologized for his role in the dogfighting operation and unexpectedly turned himself in on November 19 to begin serving his prison term early. He has been held in a state jail in Warsaw, Virginia.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson sentenced Purnell Peace, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, to 18 months in prison. Quanis Phillips, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 21 months.

A third co-defendant, Tony Taylor of Hampton, Virginia will be sentenced Friday. He was the first to plead guilty.

Peace, Phillips and Taylor entered plea agreements last summer under which they agreed to testify against Vick, prompting the suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback to enter his own plea agreement a few days later.

Vick agreed to pay more than $928,000 for the care of some 54 pit bulls seized from his property.

Prosecutors also have disclosed the extent of Vick's financial ruin. According to court documents, the Atlanta Falcons are attempting to recoup bonus money from his 10-year, $130 million football contract, Vick is in default on a $1.3 million bank loan for a wine store, and two other banks have filed suits seeking repayment of a $4.5 million in loans and lines of credit.


Vick's home in the Atlanta area is on the market for $4.5 million, prosecutors said in court papers. The Virginia home where the dogfighting operation was based, assessed at nearly $750,000, is on the auction block, according to reports published over the weekend.

Vick's attorneys last month requested a jury trial on the state charges. It is set to begin in April.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/12/10/vick.sentenced/index.html

RICHMOND, Virginia (CNN) -- Michael Vick, once one of the highest paid players in the National Football League, was sentenced to 23 months in prison for financing a dogfighting ring and helping to kill pit bulls that did not fight aggressively.

Vick's stunning downfall from NFL superstar to disgraced dogfighting defendant culminated Monday in a 90-minute sentencing hearing in federal court in Richmond, Virginia.

Vick, 27, faced a maximum of five years in prison. Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a sentence of 12 to 18 months.

Animal rights protesters lined up outside the courthouse. Some carried signs with photographs of dogs, while others read "Dogs deserve justice," and "Report dog fighters."

Vick and three co-defendants still face trial on state dogfighting charges in Virginia. They are accused of torturing and killing dogs and promoting dogfights -- all felonies that carry five-year maximum sentences.

In his August plea agreement, Vick admitted bankrolling the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting operation on his 15-acre property in rural Surry County in southeastern Virginia.

Vick also admitted providing money for bets on the fights but said he never shared in any winnings.

According to court documents, dogs that failed to show enough fighting spirit or lost matches were executed. Some dogs died by electrocution and others by hanging or drowning.

Co-defendants told prosecutors that Vick assisted in executing the dogs, and that they "executed approximately eight dogs."

After initially denying any involvement, Vick acknowledged participating in killing to dogs in his plea agreement with prosecutors.

The suspended Atlanta Falcons star quarterback publicly apologized for his role in the dogfighting operation and unexpectedly turned himself in on November 19 to begin serving his prison term early. He has been held in a state jail in Warsaw, Virginia.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson sentenced Purnell Peace, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, to 18 months in prison. Quanis Phillips, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 21 months.

A third co-defendant, Tony Taylor of Hampton, Virginia will be sentenced Friday. He was the first to plead guilty.

Peace, Phillips and Taylor entered plea agreements last summer under which they agreed to testify against Vick, prompting the suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback to enter his own plea agreement a few days later.

Vick agreed to pay more than $928,000 for the care of some 54 pit bulls seized from his property.

Prosecutors also have disclosed the extent of Vick's financial ruin. According to court documents, the Atlanta Falcons are attempting to recoup bonus money from his 10-year, $130 million football contract, Vick is in default on a $1.3 million bank loan for a wine store, and two other banks have filed suits seeking repayment of a $4.5 million in loans and lines of credit.

Vick's home in the Atlanta area is on the market for $4.5 million, prosecutors said in court papers. The Virginia home where the dogfighting operation was based, assessed at nearly $750,000, is on the auction block, according to reports published over the weekend.

Vick's attorneys last month requested a jury trial on the state charges. It is set to begin in April.

He got off too easy. He should have been sentenced to the fullest extent of the law. He also doesn't deserve to ever wear another NFL uniform.

He didn't get off easy. The judge gave him a percentage above the guidelines.

Just because he is Michael Vick shouldn't subject him to anything more than you or I might receive.

As YTBF noted, good behavior doesn't usually add up to much on a federal charge...possibly weeks at best.

As to the NFL.....once he is out, he should be cleared to play.....but that is just my opinion.

That will total 3 years out of the league...and any way you cut it...this season should be applied as the league suspension.

He's in financial ruin? He's got about 7 mil in collections. I know he has cash alot more then 7 mil in checks so far.

Just signing bonus' alone, should leave no reason to owe 1.5 mil on anything. Poor money management it sounds like.

He'll serve 20 to 21 months and the last will be in a half way house, plus it looks like the state charges are not going to add additional jail time.

I'm not basing my opinion on what the law is I am basing it on the fact that I am a huge dog lover, I have spent time working with rescues, I took part in cross country drives where a group of us would take shifts to get special need dogs to people who needed the dog to help them live their life. I love dogs and I hate, people who do cruel acts towards them. I wish the laws were stricter.

Fletch I feel ya, I am a dog lover too and have don much work with breed rescue including the cross country transport cahins to get rescues to new homes.

With that said, Mike Vick got a fair sentence for what the law is. I think maybe just based on the law he got shafted to send a message. I hope the message comes through clear to the jackazzes who are fighting dogs.


KING

Good let him rot. If the Browns go after him when he gets out I'm driving out to Berea to slap Phil and Romeo across the face myself.

They will not target him, he is a cancer that no NFL team wants.

I personally fail to see how an unknown number of dogs' lives, at least 8 that he admitted to, are only worth 23 months in prison. The laws need to get a lot stricter and punish people more severely. Within the guidelines for now he even got off easy. I know the recommendation was up to 18 months, but the sentence could have legally been up to 5 years, which he completely deserved, along with any other person who does this to animals.

Man there are murderers who have killed people and done less time. Vick is now paying the price for his bad decisions .

Too bad this didn't happen in New York....I believe they have some of the strictest animal abuse laws in the nation.

Just as an aside ......I find it amazing that there is so much talk about loyalty, etc., as far as an athlete and his friends from his underprivledged youth ........ but those friends are the first to throw the athlete under the bus and make deals when they get caught doing something illegal.

It should be fair warning to all newly rich professional athletes.

See if I am a friend of Vicks I would take the hit for him providing certain financial favors were granted before I did so. I mean I'd do a 5 year bid for about 2 million a year to be paid up front in an offshore account and then Mikey gets to play ball and continue to make his loot and have his endorsment $$$. It would be a win/win ...unless you are a dog .

I would bet that his "friends" had leached off of him for as long as he's been collecting NFL millions ...... and had been living a lifestyle well beyond anything they could have otherwise imagined.

I'm not condoning illegal activities by any means ...... but it would seem to me that if "loyalty" to one's friends is the reason to have them all hanging around ..... that loyalty should go both ways.

IRE,
Your example is what Vick did not do because he thought his friends had his back. All that leeching from those friends, Vick though he had some loyalty. But once they started adding up those years, loyalty went out the door, as it usually does. Vick was in on the entire operation and has to do his time. Sometimes your so called friends are the worse ones!

You are right but my proposition would be a smart business move on his part. The 10 Million it would cost him would be more than recouped by him not going to prison and having his reputation ruined . Then again dogfighters don't seem to be the smartest people on Earth.