Vick goes to court today....

[GrnBay007]

I hope Vick comes out of this mess with some money to live on.

Let him use his college education to get a job.

I hope the Feds fine him an enormous amount of money and then order him to donate all the money to Humane Societies across the US, specifically in any State in which he committed his horrible crime.

[Rastak]

TThe dude is paid many millions of dollars, why in the flying f^&& would he run a completely illegal business which violates racketering laws for 6 frickin years? It's a gambling opertion.

There are tons of ways to gamble legally. I don't think these guys that get into the dog fights are there simply for the gambling. In fact, I'd love to hear what some expert shrink has to say about what the attraction is in this sick thing they do. The actual gambling part of it is probably a small percentage of the equation.

Sorry 007, but I think it's going to be the centerpiece. These players are prohibited from gambling as part of their contract to play in the NFL. It's legal for you and me, not these guys.


Do you honestly think the NFL is going to be fine with a player running an illegal interstate gambling ring violating RICO laws?


Homey don't think so.

[Rastak]

Where the hell is Patler? He's better at this stuff.

Good point!

[GrnBay007]

Sorry 007, but I think it's going to be the centerpiece. These players are prohibited from gambling as part of their contract to play in the NFL. It's legal for you and me, not these guys.

They are prohibited from sports betting...which is illegal for people like us too unless you are in vegas....heck, even office pools/superbowl boards/world series boards are illegal for people like us if the amount won is great enough....depending on the State I'm sure.

They aren't prohibited from legal gambling (minus sports) in just say, Vegas, are they? That was what I was talking about when I made the comment on there being other avenues for gambling......if gambling was their main intent.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Just think about it for a damn minute HH. The dude is paid many millions of dollars, why in the flying f^&& would he run a completely illegal business which violates racketering laws for 6 frickin years? It's a gambling opertion.

the answer to your question is that he was stupid.

I wonder if he actually made any money on this gambling operation. I doubt it, it is nickles and dimes compared to his salary.

People keep correcting me on the "NFL versus team" distinction. I don't care about the difference. The NFL ultimately is pulling the strings, it's their legal and public relations mess.

I don't think Vick would be employable outside of football. To take away his past earnings AND prevent him from working again, on top of "paying his debt to society" in prison, strikes me as excessive.

[Scott Campbell]

To take away his past earnings AND prevent him from working again, on top of "paying his debt to society" in prison, strikes me as excessive.

What past earnings? Nobody is going to take away past earnings. They are not at risk here.

[GrnBay007]

I don't think Vick would be employable outside of football.

Why?

[Scott Campbell]

I don't think Vick would be employable outside of football.

Why?

Becuase Harlan believes that all black people are unemployable.

[Scott Campbell]

Madtown, you and Rastak are both just trying to keep the black man down.

[GrnBay007]

I don't think Vick would be employable outside of football.

Why?

Becuase Harlan believes that all black people are unemployable.

Well lets start a welfare thread over in RR and see all the nasty replies we get. "those damn people on welfare should get off their azz and get a job".

Why should it be any different for Mr. Vick???? PLUS he had the opportunity to get a college education.........ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE!!!!

Get a job Vick!!!

[Harlan Huckleby]

I don't think Vick would be employable outside of football.

Why?

Well, maybe he could partner with OJ. They could start a Bad Boyz clothing line or something. Or become born-again TV preachers.

[Scott Campbell]

The NFL ultimately is pulling the strings, it's their legal and public relations mess.

\


That's true. But the NFL has suffered no direct financial damage. The Falcon's have.

[Kiwon]

Vick's legal options are clear, lawyer says

By Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY

The decision facing Michael Vick is grave, but a veteran criminal defense attorney in Richmond, Va., says the options facing the Atlanta Falcons quarterback are clear cut.

"If he's innocent, he should go to trial, no-brainer," says Steven Benjamin, past president of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. "If he isn't innocent, it's also a no-brainer that he has to reach some kind of an agreement (a deal with prosecutors)."

Vick's final two co-defendants have plea agreement hearings set for Friday in a federal case stemming from alleged operation of a dogfighting ring. Another defendant already has entered a guilty plea to an indictment that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Should Vick opt for a deal, Benjamin says a guilty plea would benefit him during sentencing by the judge — as opposed to a potential conviction at trial.

"Absolutely, that's a recognized dynamic in federal criminal sentencing," Benjamin says.

"It is called 'acceptance of responsibility,' and under the federal sentencing guidelines, acceptance of responsibility lowers your sentencing score. It's the sentencing score that determines your sentencing range under the guidelines."

Vick's defense team has declined to comment on a potential plea bargain, but Benjamin says his "gut feeling" is Vick will follow the same path as his co-defendants. "If I were scripting this for him, and again assuming that he's guilty, I'd have the man sign a plea agreement as charged," Benjamin says.

"Then do whatever he can with the NFL (in terms of league disciplinary action), set a re-arraignment for Friday morning to coincide with these other two and then hold a press conference at least (Thursday) so you can get your spin out there before you go in and plead guilty, especially having begun with a denial of any guilt and an assertion of intent to prove innocence."

Benjamin says some plea deals can include an agreement with prosecutors on a specific sentence but must be approved by the judge. Benjamin says such deals are rarely made in federal court in Richmond.

Scheduled for plea agreement hearings Friday are Purnell Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach, and Quanis Phillips, 28, of Atlanta. Peace's hearing originally was set for Thursday. The trial is scheduled for Nov. 26. The indictment carries a maximum of five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Prosecutors reserved the right to file a superseding indictment later this month that could have stiffer possible penalties.

[Rastak]

Is there any chance in the world this guy actually decides to go to trial?



I really like Goodell's stance.....

[SkinBasket]

I don't think Vick would be employable outside of football.

Why?

Well, maybe he could partner with OJ. They could start a Bad Boyz clothing line or something. Or become born-again TV preachers.

And being unemployable outside football isn't his own fault?