Sources Say Goodell Will Suspend Vick for 2007

Hostile

The Duke
Messages
119,565
Reaction score
4,544
Sources: Vick suspension near
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.

[SIZE=-2][/SIZE] 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.
 

Murph80

Member
Messages
974
Reaction score
0
If he were to get probation for all of this. Which I think he will. This is a stiff penalty. Leonard Little got 4 or 6 games can't remember for Vehicle Manslauter.
 

DallasEast

Cowboys 24/7/365
Staff member
Messages
62,299
Reaction score
63,983
CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
My money's on 600 replies minimum--with 50% - 55% of the replies made by lawyers.
 

dargonking999

DKRandom
Messages
12,578
Reaction score
2,057
I hate these sources

This week or next week

Please, i'll believe it when i see it. Two weeks? Come on, that sounds like a run around.
 

Teague31

Defender of the Star
Messages
18,220
Reaction score
22,837
way too excessive IMO- first off he has not been convicted of anything.. second, how many players get slaps on the wrist for domestic assault or as the earlier poster pointed out manslaughter. goddell is bowing to public pressure.
 

CM Duck

I'm breaking the 4th wall...
Messages
1,012
Reaction score
8
Teague31;1586093 said:
second, how many players get slaps on the wrist for domestic assault or as the earlier poster pointed out manslaughter.

but wasn't that when Tags was in charge?
 

Jack-Reacher

MTRS-Jon
Messages
596
Reaction score
44
Teague31;1586093 said:
way too excessive IMO- first off he has not been convicted of anything.. second, how many players get slaps on the wrist for domestic assault or as the earlier poster pointed out manslaughter. goddell is bowing to public pressure.

While he may not have been convicted of anything, you have to take into consideration how this entire mess has affected the image of the NFL. Vick was one of the poster boys of the NFL, and to have such a media nightmare like this happen, the league must... repeat must, distance itself from Vick as fast as it can. Anything less than a year suspension and everyone outside of the NFL would view the suspension as the NFL trying to protect one of it's golden boys.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the NFL make this a lifetime ban "if" Vick gets convicted.
 

notherbob

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,886
Reaction score
28
Personally. I think they should hang him by his yardarm, and then later if he is found guilty, they should hang him again.
 

Yeagermeister

Well-Known Member
Messages
47,629
Reaction score
117
torrescatch22;1586111 said:
but wasn't that when Tags was in charge?

That's what people are missing when bringing up old cases. Tags was too soft on players. Goodell is trying to set an example that if you screw up you get punished. If he had been in charge when Little did what he did he would have had a more severe penalty.
 

HopeCowboyFan

Benched
Messages
160
Reaction score
0
This is wrong....

So wrong to suspend a player before legal due process has happened. And if in November he is acquitted what happens to Goddels 1 year suspension? Really charting on MAJOR legal issues and lawsuits at NFL.
 

SkinsandTerps

Commanders Forever
Messages
7,627
Reaction score
125
I wonder if it will be called a suspension, or a leave of absence to clear up his legal issues ?

If he is acquitted he will be alowed to come back. Same option was given to Pacman Jones.

The gambling issue could be tricky to get around though.
 

1fisher

Well-Known Member
Messages
5,777
Reaction score
120
Yeagermeister;1586121 said:
That's what people are missing when bringing up old cases. Tags was too soft on players. Goodell is trying to set an example that if you screw up you get punished. If he had been in charge when Little did what he did he would have had a more severe penalty.

precisely!
 
Messages
27,093
Reaction score
0
How can you suspend a guy for the year for a 1st time possible offense, there's no conviction or even a trial yet... Boy talk about jumping the gun if indeed these "sources" know what they're talking about.:rolleyes:
 

lspain1

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,372
Reaction score
33
This was an obvious move. Something had to happen and Goodell is definitely doing the right thing. I will note for some on this forum that this is the right move regardless of the guilt or innocence of Vick.
 

Hostile

The Duke
Messages
119,565
Reaction score
4,544
lspain1;1586167 said:
This was an obvious move. Something had to happen and Goodell is definitely doing the right thing. I will note for some on this forum that this is the right move regardless of the guilt or innocence of Vick.
I agree.

The NFL's image could take a horrible hit if they didn't.
 

dbair1967

Arch Defender
Messages
30,782
Reaction score
1
HopeCowboyFan;1586151 said:
This is wrong....

So wrong to suspend a player before legal due process has happened. And if in November he is acquitted what happens to Goddels 1 year suspension? Really charting on MAJOR legal issues and lawsuits at NFL.

another person that just doesnt understand the whole thing

you DONT HAVE TO BE CONVICTED OR EVEN CHARGED WITH ANYTHING to violate what the NFL says is conduct detrimental

Vick is a thug and a very stupid thug at that...he deserves to be canned

David
 

dbair1967

Arch Defender
Messages
30,782
Reaction score
1
ThreeSportStar80;1586165 said:
How can you suspend a guy for the year for a 1st time possible offense, there's no conviction or even a trial yet... Boy talk about jumping the gun if indeed these "sources" know what they're talking about.:rolleyes:

another one that doesnt see the forest for the trees

:rolleyes:

I know this is a hard concept for people like you to get, but EVERYONE KNOWS he did something at this point...the only ones who dont are the Vick apologists who are too blinded by ignorance to admit it

David
 

dbair1967

Arch Defender
Messages
30,782
Reaction score
1
dargonking999;1586086 said:
I hate these sources

This week or next week

Please, i'll believe it when i see it. Two weeks? Come on, that sounds like a run around.

Peter King just reported the same thing at halftime of the Seattle/ San Diego game...Vick is basically gone

this isnt shocking news here people

David
 
Top