Falcons Were Going To Suspend Vick

[Bronco_Beerslug]

News conference on right now. Falcons were going to suspend Vick last night (per McKay right now ion ESPN) but Goodell beat them to it.

[Dr. Broncenstein]

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight......

[Bronco_Beerslug]

ESPN reported this last night too, in fact they were waiting on the Falcons suspension news conference at 6pm when Goodell suspended him.

They were suspending him for 4 games initially.

[RMT]

Vick deserves to be thrown to the dogs - literally.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Sounds like the Falcons are washing their hands of him completely. Saying Vick needs to concentrate on saving himself and not worrying about playing football.

[That One Guy]

It's especially easy to say they were gonna come down harsh when they know they can't. They know Vick is done and now they're just trying to earn brownie points with the protesters. Goodell alleviated them from any responsibility by making his decision yesterday and probably did them a favor in doing so, makes their decision easy.

[NaptownChief]

Sounds like the Falcons are washing their hands of him completely. Saying Vick needs to concentrate on saving himself and not worrying about playing football.



They should and probably will just sit back, let him get convicted and then do everything they can to pounce on a big portion of that signing bonus while kicking his dumb arse to the curb.

[That One Guy]

They should and probably will just sit back, let him get convicted and then do everything they can to pounce on a big portion of that signing bonus while kicking his dumb arse to the curb.

PFT suggests it could be upwards of 25MIL in signing bonus recovered. The only problem is that they know that once that process initiates, there's no hope of Vick coming back. I think they're ready for that already though so they're willing to go for it.

Can you imagine going about your life as if you're gonna get his paychecks for the next few years and then have it taken away... as well as 25MIL you have in the bank... he'll be looking for a job if he does beat the charges. I can't imagine he's that active in investments or anything to be prepared for such a financial fallout.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Mort says Goodell is probably going to suspend Vick under the player conduct policy.

[BroncoInferno]

The decision to trade Schaub is looking ingenious right now ::)

[NaptownChief]

PFT suggests it could be upwards of 25MIL in signing bonus recovered. The only problem is that they know that once that process initiates, there's no hope of Vick coming back. I think they're ready for that already though so they're willing to go for it.

Can you imagine going about your life as if you're gonna get his paychecks for the next few years and then have it taken away... as well as 25MIL you have in the bank... he'll be looking for a job if he does beat the charges. I can't imagine he's that active in investments or anything to be prepared for such a financial fallout.


I'm sure they would gladly dump his rights for $25million at this point. I'm guessing by the time he gets done paying legal bills that it will take close to his last dime to repay $25million. Granted I bet he doesn't even have $25 million right now but he might be able to come up with the $25million on an after tax basis which would be about $15million and then get the rest back from the IRA when he has to file an ammended tax return.

But anyway around it I bet it will break him...Especially when you are spending 3/4 of a million on houses for cousins to run drugs and dog fights...My guess that isn't the only stupid spending going on.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Goodell's press conference now.... Says "the indictment turns your stomach". Says he worries about making sure due process is given to Vick but says he's responsible for the integrity of the league at the same time.

Says he hasn't spoken to Vick. Has hired an independent investigator to gather the facts.

[Northman]

Convicted or not, Vick's Rep is done and maybe his career.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

This interview by Boomer Esiason with Goodell back in May pretty says it all when you think about it. He's probably going to suspend Vick for the year.

------------------------------------------------------------
BE: How do you view Michael Vick's involvement with the property where his cousin resides and the alleged dog fighting on this property in light of this conduct code?

RG: I was very clear with Michael. In my mind, that is your responsibility. People living in your house and people on your property is your responsibility. And it is your responsibility to deal with that and make sure they are reflecting on you positively and in the way you want them to. That is not an excuse from my standpoint and I made that clear to Michael Vick. He needed to make sure he surrounded himself with people who were going to treat him properly and represent him the way he wanted to be.

BE: Would you ever be worried about a player hiring representation outside of the Union and fighting this in court?

RG: There is always the potential for that. That may happen in Pacman's case. There were some references to that. We will see. That may be very possible. Again, I am not judged by that. I am trying to do what is right for the game and what is right for the league. If someone decides to pursue it in another avenue, that's their right.

[MechanicalBull]

From everything I heard today it sounds like the Falcons would love to totally just get rid of him but the NFL/Goodell is taking control of it for now and then we will see what else happens to him.

[WoodMan]

I can't imagine he's that active in investments or anything to be prepared for such a financial fallout.

The only thing this dumb-ass invested in was chronic and a dogfighting operation. That and supporting his crew.

[Inkana7]

Cuban's new football leauge just found its marquee player.

[Malcontent]

Convicted or not, Vick's Rep is done and maybe his career.

As much as it pains me to say...Some NFL team will scoop up Vick so fast next year, your head will spin. Hope I'm wrong.

[Malcontent]

I'm sure they would gladly dump his rights for $25million at this point. I'm guessing by the time he gets done paying legal bills that it will take close to his last dime to repay $25million. Granted I bet he doesn't even have $25 million right now but he might be able to come up with the $25million on an after tax basis which would be about $15million and then get the rest back from the IRA when he has to file an ammended tax return.

But anyway around it I bet it will break him...Especially when you are spending 3/4 of a million on houses for cousins to run drugs and dog fights...My guess that isn't the only stupid spending going on.

When did the bloody IRA get involved! Leave Northern Ireland out of this!

[Kaylore]

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight......

Exactly! "Gosh golly, we sure wanted to suspend that big meany-face but Goodell just was faster. Oh well." http://www.zolved.com/UserFiles/Image/Yahoo-Smileys/whistle.gif

[Los Broncos]

My question is, if he is convicted and goes to jail for lets say, two years.

He'll be thirty, will a team give him a chance?

He wouldn't play QB because they are the face of the team.

Maybe kick returner?

[footstepsfrom#27]

The only thing this dumb-ass invested in was chronic and a dogfighting operation. That and supporting his crew.
Maybe that's true...maybe not. Vick has a non profit organization called the Vick Foundation, and that offers players tax advantages. Some lawyer set it up for him so it's probable he's set up other things as well. It wouldn't surprise me if he's got some significant investment holdings. I doubt he'll be showing up at Burger King regardless of what happens.

[Arkansas Bronco]

Even though we got bit off a 2 year ago problem I still like they way Goodell is running the show.

[RhymesayersDU]

Exactly! "Gosh golly, we sure wanted to suspend that big meany-face but Goodell just was faster. Oh well." http://www.zolved.com/UserFiles/Image/Yahoo-Smileys/whistle.gif

Well, whether people believe the story or not, what I was reading is that ultimately, this is best for the league. As I understand it, if the team had suspended him, that would leave the door open for Mike Vick to take it to arbitration, which would be a mess for the league, and chances are he could win, depending on how his contract is set up, how he hasn't been found guilty oy anything, etc.

IMO, Blank and Goodell were probably working together on this thing from the start. Perhaps not, but I do think Blank wanted to do something.

[Broncos_OTM]

I am fumed with the vick case.(being a pitbull owner) but what is possibly worse is the county prosecutrer. I hope they go after that man for ubstruction of justice. Seems that this thing was big in surrey. and i heard that one person from the community was said to be scared that someone would burn his house down if he said anything. intresting stuff.

[TheDave]

Well, whether people believe the story or not, what I was reading is that ultimately, this is best for the league. As I understand it, if the team had suspended him, that would leave the door open for Mike Vick to take it to arbitration, which would be a mess for the league, and chances are he could win, depending on how his contract is set up, how he hasn't been found guilty oy anything, etc.

IMO, Blank and Goodell were probably working together on this thing from the start. Perhaps not, but I do think Blank wanted to do something.

I agree... This situation is serious enough that i think the league is going to be in lock step unison.

[RMT]

As much as it pains me to say...Some NFL team will scoop up Vick so fast next year, your head will spin. Hope I'm wrong.

you're assuming the league won't suspend him indefinitely or that he'll avoid jail time - he's in deep trouble ... the NFL's dealing with this swiftly and the NFLPA won't stick its neck out for vick either. That would be bad publicity.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Goodell talking about why he blocked the Falcons from suspending Vick.


Falcons had planned to suspend Vick before NFL told them to hold off (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2947821&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines)
Updated: July 24, 2007, 8:24 PM ET

ATLANTA -- Horrified by the dogfighting allegations against their star player, the Atlanta Falcons planned to suspend quarterback Michael Vick for four games until the NFL asked them to hold off while the league conducts its own investigation.

What remains unclear: Has Vick played his final game for Atlanta?

"This sort of behavior is really horrific," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Tuesday, the team's first public comment since Vick was indicted last week. "This is certainly not the player or the person that I knew the last six years."

The Falcons said they have discussed cutting Vick and seemed to signal he will miss at least a fourth of the season even if NFL commissioner Roger Goodell doesn't impose his own punishment against the quarterback, indicted on federal charges of sponsoring a dogfighting operation.

Most tellingly, Blank said he would encourage Vick to give up any thoughts of playing while the case is pending -- even if it means sitting out the entire season. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Richmond, Va., on Thursday, the same day the Falcons open training camp.

"This is not about playing football in 2007," said Blank, who was joined at a news conference by general manager Rich McKay and new coach Bobby Petrino. "This is a very difficult process he'll be going through over the next couple of months. It's very difficult to do that and focus on football at the same time."

Goodell weighed in on Vick's case during a news conference with NFL Players Association chief Gene Upshaw in Washington, where the two discussed an alliance to help former players.

"Let me make it very clear that the National Football League is very disappointed that Michael put himself in this position," Goodell said. "In no way do we think that dogfighting or anything related to dogfighting is acceptable. We think it's despicable, frankly."

As for why he blocked an immediate suspension against Vick, Goodell said the league needed more time to study an indictment that is just a week old.

"We're looking at this from the long term," he said. "We understand how our fans are reacting to this. It is very emotional for all of us. But we have to remember that we are still at a state where these are charges. These are allegations."

Under the league's collective bargaining agreement, a team can impose a four-game suspension for detrimental conduct. The league's new conduct policy allows Goodell to hand down a stiffer penalty.

"Prior to this, we were pursuing the maximum discipline, which is a four-game suspension," Blank said. "We had gone so far as to draft the letter. But the commissioner asked us not to take action until they completed their review."

Clearly, the Falcons did not want to begin training camp with a quarterback who was under federal indictment, even though he led them to the NFC Championship Game during the 2004 season and last year became the first quarterback in league history to rush for 1,000 yards.

"There is certainly a reasonable potential that he's going to miss part -- a significant part -- of the regular season," Blank said.

In April, investigators raiding a home owned by Vick in rural Virginia allegedly found evidence of dogfighting, include dozens of pit bulls, bloodstained carpeting, treadmills rigged up for training, veterinary supplies and "breaking sticks" used to pry a dog's jaw apart.

At first, Vick denied any connection to the house, saying he never lived there and rarely visited. He blamed friends and family members for taking advantage of his generosity, an explanation that he apparently gave Goodell when the two held an impromptu meeting in New York during the draft.

Since then, Vick has denied any comment on the case.

Blank said he is deeply disturbed by the allegations, making a point to say that he counted Vick's name more than 50 times in the 18-page indictment. Vick and three associates are accused of killing dogs if they weren't strong enough to fight, with gruesome methods that included hanging, drowning, shooting and electrocution.

"There was no indication, no signs, no whispers that Michael could be involved in any of this kind of behavior," McKay said.

In 2004, the Falcons signed Vick to the richest contract in NFL history at the time, a 10-year extension worth approximately $130 million. At the time, Blank said the deal would allow Vick to play his entire career in Atlanta.

Now, there's a distinct possibility that Vick's career with the Falcons is over, even though the team would take a debilitating salary cap hit over the next two years if he's released.

Vick's salary this season is $6 million.

PETA -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals -- kept up its pressure on the Falcons, sending three people to protest outside the headquarters of Blank's foundation, where the news conference was held. One of them carried a sign, "Sack Vick."

PETA, which had planned to stage a protest outside Falcons camp on Thursday, said Tuesday it was satisfied with the Falcons' stance and it was suspending its protest plans.

"Because of the Falcons' willingness to suspend Vick, PETA is canceling plans to protest outside the Falcons' training camp on Thursday," PETA said in a statement. PETA said it will instead protest outside a NikeTown store in Atlanta on Thursday and other Nike stores around the country to protest the shoe company's corporate partnership with Vick.

Joey Harrington goes into camp as Atlanta's starting quarterback. His career record as a starter (23-43) hardly makes him a promising alternative, especially for a team that hired Petrino specifically because it felt he could bring out Vick's full potential.

The Falcons sure could use Matt Schaub, who was Vick's backup for three years. He was dealt to the Houston Texans just before evidence of dogfighting emerged when police raided Vick's house in April.

"This is a big obstacle, there's no question about that," Petrino said.

Since the end of last season, Goodell has used the new conduct policy to suspend Adam "Pacman" Jones of the Tennessee Titans for the entire 2007 season. Chris Henry of Cincinnati and former Chicago Bear Tank Johnson were given eight-game suspensions for various run-ins with the law.

The commissioner isn't ready to impose sanctions on Vick.

Not yet anyway.

"I would like to, before any decisions are made about the futures of any player, understand the facts as best as possible," Goodell said. "I thought it was in our best interest to make sure we did do that."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.