ESPN: NFL, NFLPA, and Vick confidants urging him to take paid leave of absence

[SkinsandTerps]

Also, I truely believe other NFL players are involved. Vick attracts lot of other NFL players and it isn't too far fetch to say some of his "buddies" not only knew about it but participate in it.

Al Bernstein (From HBO Boxing) was on the radio yesterday talking about a cock fight that he somehow attended and how surprised he was at the amount of celebrity athletes and such at the event. He did state that he left halfway through the first fight as a disclaimer surely..

 

[aikemirv]

Grand Jury doesn't plea. If the case is as strong as it appears to be, there won't be any opportunity to plea, IMO. The Feds are going to nail him to the wall. This says nothing of the States case against him. IMO, there is no way Vick avoids time here. If he's convicted, he's going to do time and it won't be a year. It will be much longer then that if convicted.

I will believe it when I see it!

 

[Stautner]

I'll stand by my prediction:

Michael Vick has thrown his last pass in the NFL.

If I were a betting man, I would take that bet. He will take his 1 yr leave of abscence, make a plea in Federal court for no jail time and be in an Atlanta uniform next year at the latest.

The NFL will look as the paid leave of abscence as time served for a suspension (even though he was paid) and much of this will be forgotten by next year.

That is my prediction.

The key is probably the level of Vick's involvement.

If it is only proven that he owned the place and didn't have knowledge of the activities (far fetched, I know), then he will be back without a doubt.

If it is proven that he was the ringleader and he set up and controlled the entire operation, I can't see him being back.

My guess is that something in between will be proven - maybe even a plea bargain where Vick admits knowledge but no involvement. If that's the case he will be back after a healthy suspension, claiming to be a changed man looking for a 2nd chance.

 

[aikemirv]

Al Bernstein (From HBO Boxing) was on the radio yesterday talking about a cock fight that he somehow attended and how surprised he was at the amount of celebrity athletes and such at the event. He did state that he left halfway through the first fight as a disclaimer surely..

Cock fighting is legal in some states is it not? A guy I work with goes to WV to cock fight, with his birds, on a regular basis I believe ( from Virginia)

 

[Stash]

If I were a betting man, I would take that bet. He will take his 1 yr leave of abscence, make a plea in Federal court for no jail time and be in an Atlanta uniform next year at the latest.

The NFL will look as the paid leave of abscence as time served for a suspension (even though he was paid) and much of this will be forgotten by next year.

That is my prediction.

If he pleads guilty - even to a lesser charge (which given the strength of the Feds case is doubtful), it's an admission of guilt.

And when that happens, the league and the team will come down like a hammer.

He'll be dropped like a bad habit and no other team would dare touch the guy.

At least that's how I see it.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

All of you may be right, however, there is no way of knowing what will come out once the Gov't presents there evidence. I personally find it very difficult to believe that Atlanta didn't know about all of this. Every team has there own personal investigations assets. EVERY TEAM. If it were me, and I was going to put a player in the positoin the Falcons have put Vick, I would know everything I could about the guy. That would mean that an investigation likely happened on behalf of the Falcons. How would any investigation not know that Vick is fighting dogs based on the evidence? How can you not know that if you've looked into it at all? Compound that fact by saying that he was almost nailed two years ago for the same thing. How can you not know? I am not so sure the league may not look into this. This could be a much bigger storm for Blank then anybody realizes. It's only a matter of time before the PITA folks ask this question. When it gets asked, the NFL is going to have to address it or risk a league wide issue with these guys. I mean, these folks are relentless and as evidenced by Nike, they have pull. MADD might be worse but that's about it.

I'm not so sure Atlanta is going to skate on this thing. This is not about letter of the law so much as it is the NFL being force to take action to save face.

 

[aikemirv]

If he pleads guilty - even to a lesser charge (which given the strength of the Feds case is doubtful), it's an admission of guilt.

And when that happens, the league and the team will come down like a hammer.

He'll be dropped like a bad habit and no other team would dare touch the guy.

At least that's how I see it.

It is all pretty hypocritical to me. DUI offenders that take human lives into their hands are given multiple chances. Wife beaters are given second chances. The Ray Lewis and Jamal Lewis's of the NFL are given second chances and these are all crimes against other human beings and yet a guy who committs crimes against an animal does not get a second chance?

That seems very odd to me in the least!!

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I will believe it when I see it!

As you wish.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

It is all pretty hypocritical to me. DUI offenders that take human lives into their hands are given multiple chances. Wife beaters are given second chances. The Ray Lewis and Jamal Lewis's of the NFL are given second chances and these are all crimes against other human beings and yet a guy who committs crimes against an animal does not get a second chance?

That seems very odd to me in the least!!

It is odd, I agree. Certainly, you bring up good points. However, I find myself feeling more bitterness over this then I did all of these other things. Don't ask me to defend this because I don't know that I can. All I know is that this pisses me off more then those other things. It's weired. I am a Dog lover and it is very difficult for me to disassociate myself from this. I have a Pitt and I can't help but see my own dog when I think about this. It's probably not right, I know, but there it is. I want Vick to burn more then I wanted any of those other guys. Weired. I don't even fully understand it myself.

 

[Stautner]

If he pleads guilty - even to a lesser charge (which given the strength of the Feds case is doubtful), it's an admission of guilt.

And when that happens, the league and the team will come down like a hammer.

He'll be dropped like a bad habit and no other team would dare touch the guy.

At least that's how I see it.

I think you underestimate the public's willingness to give a second chance to anyone who publically claims to be a changed man and truly repentent.

Some of that is gulliblity, some is just pure human capacity for forgiveness.

Certainly it won't be immediate, and he would almost certainly never reach the same stature in the past, but if he pleads down to a lesser charge he will have the opportunity to come back.

 

[Stautner]

It is odd, I agree. Certainly, you bring up good points. However, I find myself feeling more bitterness over this then I did all of these other things. Don't ask me to defend this because I don't know that I can. All I know is that this pisses me off more then those other things. It's weired. I am a Dog lover and it is very difficult for me to disassociate myself from this. I have a Pitt and I can't help but see my own dog when I think about this. It's probably not right, I know, but there it is. I want Vick to burn more then I wanted any of those other guys. Weired. I don't even fully understand it myself.

I can understand your feelings, but still, the NFL has to step back and not let emotion dictate their actions. The NFL's actions have to be clear and consistent.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I can understand your feelings, but still, the NFL has to step back and not let emotion dictate their actions. The NFL's actions have to be clear and consistent.

Goes without saying but I have a sneaking suspicion that the NFL is quickly going to lose control of this once everybody starts taking a good hard look at this thing. It's only a matter of time, IMO, before the NFL loses containment on this. Once that happens, there no longer driving. They are going to have to take steps to take of the pressure. In effect, there hands will be forced. This is what I think will happen.

 

[aikemirv]

It is odd, I agree. Certainly, you bring up good points. However, I find myself feeling more bitterness over this then I did all of these other things. Don't ask me to defend this because I don't know that I can. All I know is that this pisses me off more then those other things. It's weired. I am a Dog lover and it is very difficult for me to disassociate myself from this. I have a Pitt and I can't help but see my own dog when I think about this. It's probably not right, I know, but there it is. I want Vick to burn more then I wanted any of those other guys. Weired. I don't even fully understand it myself.

Well I guess almost everyone has their lovable dog, I have 6 great dogs by the way, and not everyone is personally familiar with spousal abuse, drug abuse, or a relative who has been killed by a drunk driver , so maybe that is why their is a bit more backlash.

I don't condone any of this stuff at all, not do I condone dog fighting at all but if I wanted everyone in the NFL kicked out because they did not have the morals that I do then there probably would not be a game to watch on Sunday. I mean I think cheating on your spouse is just as bad personally, but how many NFL players have done that.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Well I guess almost everyone has their lovable dog, I have 6 great dogs by the way, and not everyone is personally familiar with spousal abuse, drug abuse, or a relative who has been killed by a drunk driver , so maybe that is why their is a bit more backlash.

I don't condone any of this stuff at all, not do I condone dog fighting at all but if I wanted everyone in the NFL kicked out because they did not have the morals that I do then there probably would not be a game to watch on Sunday. I mean I think cheating on your spouse is just as bad personally, but how many NFL players have done that.

For me, I want every last one of these guys who think it's OK to treat these dogs in this manner out. As I said earlier, don't ask me to defend it because I probably can't but still in all, I want them all nailed. If it doesn't get the attention it's due, there will be financial ramifications. I'm confident of that.

 

[Stautner]

Goes without saying but I have a sneaking suspicion that the NFL is quickly going to lose control of this once everybody starts taking a good hard look at this thing. It's only a matter of time, IMO, before the NFL loses containment on this. Once that happens, there no longer driving. They are going to have to take steps to take of the pressure. In effect, there hands will be forced. This is what I think will happen.

I think the Falcons will take some minor measures just to ease the publics mind that the situation isn't being ignored - I just don't expect sever steps to be taken until/unless some pretty hard evidence surfaces.

Well I guess almost everyone has their lovable dog, I have 6 great dogs by the way, and not everyone is personally familiar with spousal abuse, drug abuse, or a relative who has been killed by a drunk driver , so maybe that is why their is a bit more backlash.

I don't condone any of this stuff at all, not do I condone dog fighting at all but if I wanted everyone in the NFL kicked out because they did not have the morals that I do then there probably would not be a game to watch on Sunday. I mean I think cheating on your spouse is just as bad personally, but how many NFL players have done that.

The problem is that it isn't just a moral issue - it's a legal one.

 

[Stash]

I think you underestimate the public's willingness to give a second chance to anyone who publically claims to be a changed man and truly repentent.

By lying to the commissioner and everyone else involved?

Some of that is gulliblity, some is just pure human capacity for forgiveness.

I agree that people prefer to forgive. And if Vick came out and admitted it and asked for forgiveness, he might eventually get it. That's not what he's doing. He's hiding out, lying about everything, and trying to find a way out. Therefore, no forgiveness.

Certainly it won't be immediate, and he would almost certainly never reach the same stature in the past, but if he pleads down to a lesser charge he will have the opportunity to come back.

Myself and everyone else, will know exactly what a plea deal means - an admission of guilt in exchange for a lesser sentence. Again, in that case, no forgiveness from me and I'm willing to bet none from the Falcons or the NFL either.

 

[Vintage]

Exactly. PETA is already protesting at the NFL offices. What do you think they are going to be doing when the Falcons open training camp next week.

Vick is done for 2007 and maybe for a lot longer. This whole fiasco smells like a career, which was already very disappointing, gone bad in a hurry.

He deserves it though. Even if he were to flip and become the states evidence the NFL would still suspend him and he would go from being a punk to a punk who snitched. Now that's a no win situation if I ever saw one.

Who cares what PETA is doing now?

Its absolutely stupid that I saw kids as young as 4 and 5 out there protesting, when they probably don't understand what they are doing....

PETA is a joke.

Do you think fans - in general - will refuse to watch football games unless Vick is suspended?

Probably not. I wonder why PETA doesn't protest football to begin with. Football is made of leather.....leather comes from.....

 

[03EBZ06]

I wonder why PETA doesn't protest football to begin with. Football is made of leather.....leather comes from.....

PETA member's hide?

 

[aikemirv]

I think the Falcons will take some minor measures just to ease the publics mind that the situation isn't being ignored - I just don't expect sever steps to be taken until/unless some pretty hard evidence surfaces.



The problem is that it isn't just a moral issue - it's a legal one.

That may be the problem for Vick, but that is not the real issue is it?

Some things used to be illegal and now they are not, I won't mention them because my post might get deleted like yesterday. Legality has no bearing on right and wrong, it just has different or more consequences

 

[dbair1967]

If you had Vick as your QB in FF, you weren't going to do much damage to begin with.

I agree...he is a horrible fantasy football QB

almost as horrible as his real play

David