Vick goes to court today....

[Kiwon]

Vick will be in court today and enter a plea.

Supposedly there will be plenty of PETA folks and a smaller group from the Humane Society there to welcome him. I think today will be interesting to see if this story really has captured the public's attention and turn into a media circus as predicted.

I don't get American TV so I don't know. My guess is that it will.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2007-07-26-1219688986_x.htm

[Joemailman]

This issue will be discussed in bars all across the country:

[Rastak]

Re: Vick goes to court today....

Vick will be in court today and enter a plea.

Supposedly there will be plenty of PETA folks and a smaller group from the Humane Society there to welcome him. I think today will be interesting to see if this story really has captured the public's attention and turn into a media circus as predicted.

I don't get American TV so I don't know. My guess is that it will.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/footb...19688986_x.htm

They are looking at Vick in Arizona now on some pit bullfighting investigation. Dog face Vick is in some serious shit right now.

[Kiwon]

The last four lines of the USA Today article caught my attention...

"In 2004, he signed a 10-year, $130 million deal, then the richest in league history.

The indictment alleges the fights offered purses as high as $26,000, and Vick once paid $23,000 to the owner of two pit bulls that had beaten Bad Newz Kennels dogs.

That owner is one of four cooperating witnesses cited in the document.

Charged along with Vick are Purnell A. Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach; Quanis L. Phillips, 28, of Atlanta; and Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton. They all face up to six years in prison, $350,000 in fines and restitution if convicted of both charges."

Three thoughts:
1. The obvious - Vick was part of this for the enjoyment, not the money. Just his dirty, little competitive hobby.
2. If all four witnesses can implicate Vick, then he's toast. He'll cut a deal if offered.
3. Even if Vick gets the maximum, he'll play football again somewhere - Arena League, Canada, Semi-Pro.

[packinpatland]

The last four lines of the USA Today article caught my attention...

"In 2004, he signed a 10-year, $130 million deal, then the richest in league history.

The indictment alleges the fights offered purses as high as $26,000, and Vick once paid $23,000 to the owner of two pit bulls that had beaten Bad Newz Kennels dogs.

That owner is one of four cooperating witnesses cited in the document.

Charged along with Vick are Purnell A. Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach; Quanis L. Phillips, 28, of Atlanta; and Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton. They all face up to six years in prison, $350,000 in fines and restitution if convicted of both charges."

Three thoughts:
1. The obvious - Vick was part of this for the enjoyment, not the money. Just his dirty, little competitive hobby.
2. If all four witnesses can implicate Vick, then he's toast. He'll cut a deal if offered.
3. Even if Vick gets the maximum, he'll play football again somewhere - Arena League, Canada, Semi-Pro.

I've always thought this. The money that he was betting and investing in dogs, was chump change to what he was capable of earning in the NFL.

Which makes this even more heinous, he was doing it for pleasure and enjoyment.

[packinpatland]

A nine-hour trip for 15 seconds of primetime


"A trio of supporters from Boston wearing Vick's No. 7 jersey and Atlanta Falcons' hats made the nine-hour trip south to support Vick.

"It was time someone should step up and support him," said Nick Fontecchio, one of the three."

[Joemailman]

The last four lines of the USA Today article caught my attention...

"In 2004, he signed a 10-year, $130 million deal, then the richest in league history.

The indictment alleges the fights offered purses as high as $26,000, and Vick once paid $23,000 to the owner of two pit bulls that had beaten Bad Newz Kennels dogs.

That owner is one of four cooperating witnesses cited in the document.

Charged along with Vick are Purnell A. Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach; Quanis L. Phillips, 28, of Atlanta; and Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton. They all face up to six years in prison, $350,000 in fines and restitution if convicted of both charges."

Three thoughts:
1. The obvious - Vick was part of this for the enjoyment, not the money. Just his dirty, little competitive hobby.
2. If all four witnesses can implicate Vick, then he's toast. He'll cut a deal if offered.
3. Even if Vick gets the maximum, he'll play football again somewhere - Arena League, Canada, Semi-Pro.

I'd be surprised if Vick is offered a plea deal. The Feds will not want to make it appear they are taking it easy on Vick because he is a celebrity. More likely the others will be offered deals to testify against Vick. The fact that the activity was taking place on Vick's property makes it likely that Vick was a ringleader and not just a participant. The next time Vick plays football will probably be in a prison league.

[Kiwon]

I hear ya, Joe, but the NFL, it's owners and powerful friends will probably put a lot of pressure on the prosecutors to offer a deal and get this thing out of the headlines. The NFL is a cash cow for a lot of people and industries. They are very sensitive about anything that will affect their bottom line.

Now, what might be interesting is if Vick can give the Feds someone higher than himself. Who suggested that Vick go into the business and set up Bad Newz Kennels in 2001? Who showed the boy the ropes? You can bet that Vick was a A-list VIP in the dog fighting circles. Who did he rub shoulders with that the Feds might be interested in? They might offer him a deal if he were willing to snitch on some other big fish that was involved in other nefarious activities like drugs, prostitution, or Amway.

[Rastak]

I hear ya, Joe, but the NFL, it's owners and powerful friends will probably put a lot of pressure on the prosecutors to offer a deal and get this thing out of the headlines. The NFL is a cash cow for a lot of people and industries. They are very sensitive about anything that will affect their bottom line.

Now, what might be interesting is if Vick can give the Feds someone higher than himself. Who suggested that Vick go into the business and set up Bad Newz Kennels in 2001? Who showed the boy the ropes? You can bet that Vick was a A-list VIP in the dog fighting circles. Who did he rub shoulders with that the Feds might be interested in? They might offer him a deal if he were willing to snitch on some other big fish that was involved in other nefarious activities like drugs, prostitution, or Amway.

The feds don't feel pressure. If it were a local prosecution I'd agree, The feds do whatever they want.

[BallHawk]

During ESPNs coverage of the Michael Vick trial, my local cable provider showed a commercial for the vet around here called "The Dog Doctor."

Coincidence? I think not.

[GBRulz]

I hear ya, Joe, but the NFL, it's owners and powerful friends will probably put a lot of pressure on the prosecutors to offer a deal and get this thing out of the headlines. The NFL is a cash cow for a lot of people and industries. They are very sensitive about anything that will affect their bottom line.

I think it is a little too late to keep this out of the headlines. People are already outraged that the NFL hasn't suspended him. In fact, I think some of the sponsors will be pressured by outraged fans to stop advertising during games, etc or people will not buy their product. Vick really put the NFL and the Falcons in a bad situation here. IMO, doing a plea deal is the last thing the Feds will do for Vick.

The dogfighting is one thing, but add the torture of what they did to the losing dogs....that is what puts this over the top. Vick didn't do this to make money, it's a disgusting hobby that shows the true class of character of what he is...a scum-thug

[GBRulz]

[BallHawk]

Michael Vick is sorry that he won't be able to attend "Spring Training."

We're almost in August.

[packinpatland]

Michael Vick is sorry that he won't be able to attend "Spring Training."

We're almost in August.

He said that???

[MJZiggy]

In all fairness, I gotta think he's got other pressing matters on his mind at the moment. Hopefully he's thinking obsessively about those matters...