Looks like Vick's suspension got longer

[packinpatland]

By Jason Cole, Yahoo! Sports
August 12, 2007


Two NFL sources said that commissioner Roger Goodell likely will announce this week or next the suspension of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick for the 2007 season.

"That's the direction it's going and has been from the time this started," one of the sources said this week.

In July, Goodell told Vick not to report to training camp in the aftermath of a federal indictment for his alleged involvement in dogfighting on a property he owned in Virginia. Vick has since been arraigned on the matter and is facing trial in November.

What is unclear is whether Vick will be allowed to return to the Falcons this season if he is acquitted. This offseason, Goodell suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones for the entire season but added stipulations that could allow Jones to return earlier if he clears his record.


Said the other source: "The plan was to make sure it was announced before the season. Given what everybody has seen from what (league) security found and what the feds are telling us, there's really no choice."

From a public relations standpoint, the NFL would like the matter dealt with before the opening week of the season. The feeling is that if the league can resolve the matter now, any further news on Vick will not detract from the buildup to the season.

The NFL has examined the indictment against Vick at length and has conducted a quasi-investigation of its own. The league has not interviewed anyone associated with the case, but it has pored over as many public documents as it could find.

The most careful element of the suspension is how it will be worded. Under the league's new personal conduct policy, there is some belief that Vick could escape punishment because this is the first time he has been charged with a crime.

However, Goodell hinted last week that because Vick was charged with multiple counts, including gambling on dogfights, the league may have a way around that. In an interview with USA Today, Goodell said that while he was disturbed by the dogfighting accusations, the gambling aspect is just as meaningful.

"Listen, we're sickened by the allegations and the predicament Michael put himself in," Goodell said. "But there are a lot of things in the indictment that concern the NFL that may not be of a greater concern from a law enforcement standpoint."

The NFL's gambling policy, which was established long before the personal conduct policy, has resulted in the suspension of players in the past. Both Paul Hornung and Alex Karras were suspended for the entire 1963 season after admitting they placed bets on NFL games.

Players can be banned for life for illegal gambling.


Jason Cole is a national NFL writer for Yahoo! Sports. Send Jason a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.

[packinpatland]

"Goodell said that while he was disturbed by the dogfighting accusations, the gambling aspect is just as meaningful. "

This comment is troublesome to me. It would seem the gambling issue, because it wasn't placing bets on football games, would be insignificant. I'm sure there are alot of players who frequent cansinos, horse tracks etc...
Anyone clear this up for me?

[packinpatland]

Can't believe anything you read anymore!!!

NFL denies report that Vick will be suspended
Yahoo! cited sources saying that Goodell would drop hammer on Falcons QB


SUNNYVALE, Calif. - The Atlanta Falcons could learn as early as this week that embattled quarterback Michael Vick will be suspended for the entire 2007 season, according to a report by Yahoo Sports on Monday.

Citing two NFL sources, Yahoo reported that commissioner Roger Goodell likely will announce the suspension either this week or next.

However, a statement from NFL spokesman Greg Aiello to USA Today disputed the report by Yahoo.

“No decision has been made,” Aiello told USA Today.

Aiello also told USA Today the league is still awaiting the results of its independent review and is not likely to take action, if any, until its undetermined conclusion.

In the aftermath of Vick’s indictment on federal dogfighting charges, Goodell told him not to report to training camp. Vick was arraigned on July 26 and faces a November trial.

“The plan was to make sure it was announced before the season,” one of the sources told the web site. “Given what everybody has seen from what (league) security found and what the feds are telling us, there’s really no choice.”

According to the report, the NFL has examined the indictment at length and has conducted an investigation of its own. The league has not interviewed anyone associated with the case, but it has pored over numerous public documents.

The web site reported the most careful element of the suspension will be how it will be worded. Under the league’s new personal conduct policy, there is some belief that Vick could escape punishment because this is the first time he’s been charged with a crime.

Earlier this offseason, Goodell suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones for the entire 2007 season for violating the personal conduct policy. He also banned Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry and former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson for eight games.

The 18-page indictment handed down by the federal government stated that dogs fought to the death - or close to it. Vick was named 51 times in the indictment that was named “Bad Newz Kennels.”

According to the indictment, dogs not killed in the fighting pit often were shot, hanged, drowned or slammed to the ground. The document says Vick was consulted before one losing dog was electrocuted in the fighting that took place on his Virginia property.


Allegations against Vick spurned protests by animals rights groups at the NFL and Falcons headquarters.

One of the NFL’s most popular players before his involvement in dogfighting, Vick has lost numerous endorsements since the allegations came out. He had a lucrative contract with Nike suspended, while Reebok took the unprecedented step of stopping sales of his No. 7 jersey.

Public outrage over the alleged crimes caused Vick to lose endorsements or have contracts suspended with Nike, Reebok, Upper Deck and Rawlings, among others.

In the prime of his career, Vick, 27, signed a 10-year, $130 million contract with the Falcons in 2004. He became the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards last

[Harlan Huckleby]

This comment is troublesome to me. It would seem the gambling issue, because it wasn't placing bets on football games, would be insignificant. I'm sure there are alot of players who frequent cansinos, horse tracks etc...
Anyone clear this up for me?

Al Capone ordered hundreds of murders, and what did he get nailed for? Tax evasion. I'm sure the NFL wants to get the public relations disaster that is Mike Vick out of the news for a good long time. Vick might be able to distance himself from the dogfighting operation in court, stranger things have happened. I imagine NFL is keeping options open.

[cheesner]

"Goodell said that while he was disturbed by the dogfighting accusations, the gambling aspect is just as meaningful. "

This comment is troublesome to me. It would seem the gambling issue, because it wasn't placing bets on football games, would be insignificant. I'm sure there are alot of players who frequent cansinos, horse tracks etc...
Anyone clear this up for me?


The NFL's gambling policy, which was established long before the personal conduct policy, has resulted in the suspension of players in the past. Both Paul Hornung and Alex Karras were suspended for the entire 1963 season after admitting they placed bets on NFL games.

Players can be banned for life for illegal gambling.

I believe those are the two keys, NFL wagering and illegal gambling. casinos and horse tracks are fine. The issue is with the illegal gambling is made with unsavory characters/organized crime. There is potential for collusion in erasing your gambling debts.

[packinpatland]

Ahhhhh, gotcha.

[oregonpackfan]

I have heard this gambling comment before by a legal analyst on ESPN's Jim Rome show.

While the dog-fighting and dog treatment issues are the ones that have inflamed the beliefs of many Americans, it is the illegal gambling on the dog fights that may have the greater legal repercussions for Michael Vick.

I think many Americans may have the attitude of "What's the problem with a little wagering on the side?" When people were picketing Nike and other corporate sponsors of Vick, hardly anyone was screaming about the gambling aspects. They were upset with the animal cruelty.

[Rastak]

ESPN radio indicated it looks like Vick's last two co-defendents are about to cop a plea deal.

Dog face is on his own now. He is so screwed.


The NFL HATES gambling and comes down hard. It's looking like at least seven people are lined up to testify he ran an illegal gambling ring that spanned across state lines. That's where the NFL will kill him. The fact he was torturing dogs makes his return all but impossible. Nobody is gonna want to touch him.

In addition, if he's required to pay back the 28 mil signing bonus he'll be friggen broke too. Which is what he deserves, destitute living in a shack in the woods....kicking his last dog every day no doubt.

[Bretsky]

The NFL will look for any reason to come down on this low life scumbag

They don't want his name associated with the NFL due to the dog fighting ring

Anything they can use........gambling........drugs......whatever

Aids them in their goal

Vick Da Great (anybody remember a poster calling him this) is now Vick da Prick

[Scott Campbell]

Vick Da Great (anybody remember a poster calling him this) is now Vick da Prick


MOBB?

I'd love to hear what he had to say about this mess.

[Scott Campbell]

Mike's got to cop a plea by Friday or face another set of charges. More proof that every dog has his day.



Vick must decide whether to accept plea agreement

ESPN.com news services

Updated: August 13, 2007, 8:34 PM ET

With two more co-defendants distancing themselves from Michael Vick, the embattled Falcons quarterback was considering on Monday whether to accept a plea agreement for his alleged role in a dogfighting operation.

Sources told ESPN's Kelly Naqi that Vick attorneys Larry Woodward and Billy Martin met with federal prosecutor Michael Gill and the investigators on Monday afternoon. The attorneys planned to speak with the quarterback in the evening to see what direction he wants to go in.

That comes on the heels of news that co-defendants Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips are scheduled to appear in federal court in Richmond at the end of the week and are expected to accept their own plea agreements. Peace's hearing is at 9 a.m. (ET) on Thursday, while Phillips will appear on Friday at the same time. Plea agreements would clear them to testify against Vick.

Collins R. Spencer III, a spokesman for Vick's defense team, said the lawyers were surprised by the plea deals.

"They didn't see it coming," Spencer said.

But he said it wouldn't affect the way he proceeds with the case.

In a Richmond, Va., court in late July, Vick pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities, and conspiring to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture. He said in a written statement that he looked forward to "clearing my good name." He also pleaded with the public to resist a rush to judgment.

Another of Vick's co-defendants, 34-year-old Tony Taylor, pleaded guilty to the same charges and has pledged to fully cooperate with the government in its prosecution of Vick and the two others. The plea deal requires Taylor to testify against Vick and his two remaining co-defendants if called upon to do so.

A source close to the investigation told Naqi that Vick has until Friday to make up his mind whether to accept a plea agreement. Otherwise a superseding indictment will be filed and Vick will face at least two more federal dogfighting charges.

Meanwhile, the NFL dismissed a report Sunday that said commissioner Roger Goodell was close to announcing a season-long suspension of Vick.

Citing two sources within the league, Yahoo.com reported late Sunday night that Goodell will announce "this week or next" that Vick will be suspended for the 2007 season.

"That's the direction it's going and has been from the time this started," one of the sources said this week, according to Yahoo. "The plan was to make sure it was announced before the season. Given what everybody has seen from what [league] security found and what the feds are telling us, there's really no choice."

Eric Holder, a former deputy attorney general retained by the league, is still gathering facts on Vick's alleged involvement in dogfighting, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Monday.

"The commissioner has not made any decision," Aiello said.

The gruesome details outlined in the July 17 indictment have fueled public protests against Vick and prompted the suspension of some of his lucrative endorsement deals. The summary of facts signed by Taylor supports the indictment's claims that the dogfighting ring on Vick's property in Surry County, Va., executed underperforming dogs by drowning, hanging and other brutal means. Taylor admitted shooting one dog and electrocuting another when they did not perform well in test fights in the summer of 2002.

Vick has been barred from Falcons training camp by Goodell while the league conducts its investigation.

"While it is for the criminal justice system to determine your guilt or innocence, it is my responsibility as commissioner of the National Football League to determine whether your conduct, even if not criminal, nonetheless violated league policies, including the Personal Conduct Policy," Goodell said in a letter to the quarterback on July 24.

Falcons coach Bobby Petrino said he has not spoken with his players about Vick's troubles since camp opened.

"I'm not ready to respond to anything regarding Michael because I know nothing new," Petrino said.

Falcons running back Warrick Dunn, Vick's teammate since 2002, said he recently spoke with the 27-year-old quarterback to offer support. Dunn added, however, that the players have no choice but to move ahead and prepare for the Sept. 9 season opener at Minnesota.

"I don't think anybody on this team right now is hoping that Mike comes back," Dunn said. "If he comes back, that's great, but I just think right now we're at point where the guys that are here are trying to get better and move on down the road. Mike is going to be missed and has been missed, but at the same time you have to go on."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[Bretsky]

Vick Da Great (anybody remember a poster calling him this) is now Vick da Prick


MOBB?

I'd love to hear what he had to say about this mess.


BINGO

Mobb Depp or Mobb Depth or something like that

[GrnBay007]

MOBB?

I'd love to hear what he had to say about this mess.

C'mon Scott!! You know what he'd say........BRING BACK MAC!!!!! :P 8-)

[BEARMAN]

The NFL will look for any reason to come down on this low life scumbag

They don't want his name associated with the NFL due to the dog fighting ring

Anything they can use........gambling........drugs......whatever

Aids them in their goal

Vick Da Great (anybody remember a poster calling him this) is now Vick da Prick

Doggoneit Bretsky, something is wrong, ... I agree with you ? :doh:
I hope he never touches a football(profesionaly) again ! :evil:

[Jimx29]

The apocalypse is upon us