Feds take over Vick case

Maybe not that bad but a week or so in a maximum security prison in the general population.

"Hey NFL Qb boy, bend over and let me feel that tight end"

 

you mean like dog carcasas with bullet holes in them?

 

public opinion

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=3037

 

So far

1) Do you believe Michael Vick's previous statements that he was not involved in the dog fighting at a home he owned?


93.4% No

6.6% Yes


2) Are you surprised that Vick was indicted?


79.5% No

20.5% Yes


3) Will Vick be convicted?


59.0% Yes

41.0% No


4) What should the Falcons do with Vick?


72.1% Get rid of him

27.9% Keep him


5) What is your take on dogfighting?


80.9% Serious crime

16.5% Minor crime

2.6% Should not be criminal


6) Will Vick ever win a Super Bowl with the Falcons or any other team?


93.3% No

6.7% Yes


7) Will the Falcons make the playoffs this season?


88.3% No

11.7% Yes

 

It just might happen:

Beginning of end for Vick in Atlanta?
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
(Archive)
Updated: July 17, 2007, 7:24 PM ET

The Falcons put all of their hopes for 2007 in the hands of Michael Vick. Despite Tuesday's indictment of Vick in a Virginia dogfighting probe, the Falcons have no choice but to stand by him. The reason: Atlanta traded Vick's possible replacement, Matt Schaub, to Houston. At the time, it seemed to be the wise thing, and an indictment doesn't necessarily make that situation any different.

Owner Arthur Blank hired Bobby Petrino to make Vick a better quarterback. The owner believes Petrino's imaginative college style could be creative enough to make Vick a more accomplished thrower. Vick's dedication in spending extra time working at the team facility this offseason gave Blank hope that his plan was correct.

The problem facing Vick and the Falcons now is the case, which could consume most of the season, and could bring down the team. Blank must presume Vick is innocent and let the legal process take its course. Commissioner Roger Goodell must do the same. Vick must be treated as a first-time offender in the league's new conduct policy, so he must be found guilty or admit guilt before the commissioner can suspend him.

While standing by Vick appears to be the short-term solution, there should be no doubt 2007 is the beginning of the end of the Vick era in Atlanta. Blank is a businessman who espouses high principles. Vick is the face of the franchise and a sports icon in the Southeast. Whether he's guilty or innocent, Vick would have to prove the federal government made a major mistake in indicting him to salvage his reputation throughout the area.

Cases such as these are hard to prove. Nevertheless, whatever evidence is presented against Vick is going to cause permanent damage. Dogfighting is an illegal and disgusting sport. A sports star can't be linked to such activity. Watch how fast sponsors and advertisers bail on Vick now.

From the football side, though, Petrino and Blank must let Vick report to training camp and be the starter for this season. Joey Harrington is the backup. While Harrington did some good things in resurrecting his career in Miami, he is not going to make the Falcons a playoff team, and Blank and Petrino aren't going to accept anything less than a playoff trip.

With the indictment hanging over him, though, Vick can't go into seclusion. He'll be asked questions about the case at every news conference. For now, the 2007 season belongs to Vick. But one gets the feeling it's going to be an ugly ending to an era in Atlanta sports that started with so much promise.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

 

not so much . . . more like the gun that made the holes that could be traced to Vick . .. Even then his high-powered attorneys will insist that the dogs were simply euthanized for whatever reasons breeders seem to be allowed to come up with.

With the type of legal representation that guys on this board could afford yes, Vick might be SOL. However, 130 mil buys the kind of OJ-like representation that will make Vicky MUCH more slippery than us ordinary Joes.

Don't underestimate all that "justice" that MV7 will be able to buy

 

not so much . . . more like the gun that made the holes that could be traced to Vick . .. Even then his high-powered attorneys will insist that the dogs were simply euthanized for whatever reasons breeders seem to be allowed to come up with.

With the type of legal representation that guys on this board could afford yes, Vick might be SOL. However, 130 mil affords the kind of OJ-like representation that will make Vicky MUCH more slippery than us ordinary Joes.

Don't underestimate all that "justice" that MV7 will be able to buy

 

Yeah, I think they'll have a lot of trouble tying Vick to this, but other people will certainly go down. I suspect that Vick's lawyer will plead to some misdemeanor to avoid a trial.

 

It's too late in the game to out Vick and bring in Culpepper. They're stuck with him. If he can't play, they'll have their choice of Harrington, D.J. Shockley or Chris Redman.

He played like dogshit last year. I didn't know that was a way to resurrect your career.

 

I bet the excuse the feds made for taking over was that he crossed state lines.