Michael’s Si—I mean Michael Vick—is obviously going to be suspended. The only question is for how long.
In case you think I’m getting ahead of myself, check out this article on ESPN.com.
I can’t really summarize it in a way that will fit here but also capture the story, so do read it. Let’s just put it this way: he was indicted for some kind of involvement (it’s not really clear exactly how involved police think he was) with a merry band of dogfighting enthusiasts who have no souls.
I don’t want to focus on the grisly details and potentially poison the jury pool, not one member of which will ever read this blog. In summary, though, if a run-of-the-mill dogfight isn’t gruesome enough for you, the Vick mansion allegedly had everything you were looking for: post-fight dog drownings, dogs being hanged, and at least one dog which was slammed against the ground until it died.
Vick faces up to six years in prison or $350,000 in fines. I’m sure he’s hoping for the fine.
I’m no legal expert, so I won’t guess how this will play out in the courts. I have been following the NFL for the last quarter-century, though, and it’s clear that the new commissioner doesn’t place a whole lot of value on jury verdicts. I mean, why wait when you can suspend somebody now?
Take Pac-Man Jones. In the famous strip club episode that cost him this season, Pac-Man is said to have known a shooter that paralyzed one person from the waist down and wounded two others. I don’t know the human-to-dog exchange rate, but it’s clear a lot of dogs died here. No one’s ever called me an animal lover—though Michael Vick would—but at the minimum, this crime is at least close to what Pac-Man’s accused of, and many people would say it’s much worse. So what’s the NFL to do?
I think Vick has to miss at least half a season just for the allegations, if Pac-Man can lose a season for the same. I wouldn’t think it was crazy if he lost two years. (Keep in mind, Pac-Man is not guaranteed reinstatement when the year is up, either.) It’ll be interesting to see what happens, though, as Vick is a huge star for the Falcons and the league. At first I thought Nike might lobby heavily for Vick, hoping he can play until something is proven. But the more I think about it, the more sure I am that Nike can get out of their contract with Vick. At this point, I doubt they care if he’s ever in another commercial. As for the Falcons, as a friend of mine pointed out, I’m sure they wish they’d kept Matt Schaub.
In case you think I’m getting ahead of myself, check out this article on ESPN.com.
I can’t really summarize it in a way that will fit here but also capture the story, so do read it. Let’s just put it this way: he was indicted for some kind of involvement (it’s not really clear exactly how involved police think he was) with a merry band of dogfighting enthusiasts who have no souls.
I don’t want to focus on the grisly details and potentially poison the jury pool, not one member of which will ever read this blog. In summary, though, if a run-of-the-mill dogfight isn’t gruesome enough for you, the Vick mansion allegedly had everything you were looking for: post-fight dog drownings, dogs being hanged, and at least one dog which was slammed against the ground until it died.
Vick faces up to six years in prison or $350,000 in fines. I’m sure he’s hoping for the fine.
I’m no legal expert, so I won’t guess how this will play out in the courts. I have been following the NFL for the last quarter-century, though, and it’s clear that the new commissioner doesn’t place a whole lot of value on jury verdicts. I mean, why wait when you can suspend somebody now?
Take Pac-Man Jones. In the famous strip club episode that cost him this season, Pac-Man is said to have known a shooter that paralyzed one person from the waist down and wounded two others. I don’t know the human-to-dog exchange rate, but it’s clear a lot of dogs died here. No one’s ever called me an animal lover—though Michael Vick would—but at the minimum, this crime is at least close to what Pac-Man’s accused of, and many people would say it’s much worse. So what’s the NFL to do?
I think Vick has to miss at least half a season just for the allegations, if Pac-Man can lose a season for the same. I wouldn’t think it was crazy if he lost two years. (Keep in mind, Pac-Man is not guaranteed reinstatement when the year is up, either.) It’ll be interesting to see what happens, though, as Vick is a huge star for the Falcons and the league. At first I thought Nike might lobby heavily for Vick, hoping he can play until something is proven. But the more I think about it, the more sure I am that Nike can get out of their contract with Vick. At this point, I doubt they care if he’s ever in another commercial. As for the Falcons, as a friend of mine pointed out, I’m sure they wish they’d kept Matt Schaub.
Comments
Vick is in a world of hurt legally, and his cohorts are going to fold like origami when given the chance. I don't see any way he escapes some serious jail time if convicted, so he may plead out, too.
As for a suspension, I think a year is warranted, with the option for more if he pleads guilty or is convicted . . . but I completely expect a double standard - he'll get much better treatment than a lesser-known player would for an identical offense.
Any one who commits the above acts has lost their way and should no longer bne allowed to walk among normal human beings. If what is said about Vick and his friends are true lets seperate him from all the good people for the rest of his life on this planet.
I don't know what to say that John hasn't already, except that I think other crimes should be brought up to your life-in-all-cases standard before dogfighting and gambling are. (Not that I think it's a good standard to begin with.)
Speaking of gambling, the NFL is usually so terrified of it...ironic, considering the impact it has on the league's popularity. I'm still surprised they're taking the wait-and-see approach with Vick. Granted, he wasn't betting on football, but the league is usually more concerned with image than facts anyways.
The Falcons are going to teach the NFL an important lesson on building a franchise on questionable characters. I think It's a little disturbing that watching two dogs maul each other is the only way some people can entertain themself. Vick is screwed, I hope he gets jail time and sets some precedent in this regard to other athletes.