Guilty!

[Guard Dog]

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to a dogfighting ring, according to a statement from his attorney.

In the statement by attorney Billy Martin, Vick agreed to plead guilty and accept a plea deal and will "accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made," ESPN and Fox News reported Monday.

 

Vick is expected to be sentenced next Monday at US District Court here. He could face up to five years in prison and fines of more than 250,000 dollars as a result of the charges, although a lesser sentence is likely from the deal.

 

"After consulting with his family over the weekend, Michael Vick asked that I announce today that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding the charges pending against him," Martin's statement said.

 

"Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made."

 

"Michael wishes to apologizes again to everyone who has been hurt by this matter."

 

A grand jury was hearing evidence Monday on more possible charges that could have been filed against Vick, including racketeering gambling charges that would have greatly raised the stakes and possible prison term Vick might face.

 

The agreement also brings into question Vick's National Football League future. Vick had been banned from the Falcons' training camp by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell until his role in the scheme was more fully explained.

 

Goodell was expected to inform Vick about any possible banishment because of the guilty plea later on Monday, according to reports.

 

Three co-defendants of Vick had agreed to plea deals in exchange for contributing evidence to the case against Vick, who was charged with taking animals over state lines as part of a dogfight gambling ring.

 

Graphic details of his abuse of the dogs, including brutal methods of killing the animals, led to protests against him outside the courtroom and the club's headquarters.

 

I guessing he will get 6 months in prision and the max on fines. Far better than he deserves. The question is does the NFL impose a lifetime ban on him? I'd say an emphatic YES. But I will admit I am very biased because I know first hand how brutal, despicable, and inhumane dog fighting really is.

[Gorgon]

I can't fathom the 'gangland' dog fighting culture among mostly latinos and blacks. It's utterly demented.

 

Just a reaction from a dog owner who doesen't care anything for American football, or this twerp's career.

[Tale]

I can't fathom the 'gangland' dog fighting culture among mostly latinos and blacks. It's utterly demented.

 

Just a reaction from a dog owner who doesen't care anything for American football, or this twerp's career.

It's the same thing as horse racing and craps "culture." People just looking for an excuse to gamble. I imagine there's some interest in it as a sport, but I doubt it's much.

[Kaftan Barlast]

Why cant they gamble on something a little more humane? Like snailracing or flea-rally?

[Baley]

Because lower-class African-American males tend to be obsessed with the concept of masculinity or, rather, constantly proving it: keeping it real, gripping the balls, bashing the gays, partaking in dog fights, take your pick. This obsession arguably stems from centuries of largely manual labour - which has traditionally been the man's - the big strong burly man's - domain. Fragility was, obviously, ill-advised. (hey look: I uncharacteristically ignored the funny!)

 

hey guise, wait! I'm not racist! I'm just a racial realist!

Edited August 20, 2007 by Baley

[Sand]

I have to agree with Baley's assessment for the most part, as well I think Vick should get the maximum jail time, maximum on fines, and banned from football, and all professional sports.

Edited August 20, 2007 by Sand

[Volourn]

No, I don't think he shoiuld be banned for live. He pleaded guilty, and he should get whatever penalty the courts feel he should get as a 1st time convicted felon.

 

He should be suspended by the NFL for, at minium, whatever the amount of prison time he gets which should start when he gets out. So, if he gets 12 months prison time, he should be suspended for a year. Not a season. An actual calender year.

 

But, banning him for life is too much. It's his first conviction, and he deserves a second chance. Period.

 

And, from the NFL's stand point, it only helps them marketing wise to have someone as successful as Vick as he brings in the money and the fan no matter what the judgemental punks think.

 

As for his crimes, he need psychological help. I'm no huge pet lover (or hater); but the sort of abuse inflicted on these animals is beyond the pail. It's disgusting!

[Enoch]

No, I don't think he shoiuld be banned for live. He pleaded guilty, and he should get whatever penalty the courts feel he should get as a 1st time convicted felon.

 

He should be suspended by the NFL for, at minium, whatever the amount of prison time he gets which should start when he gets out. So, if he gets 12 months prison time, he should be suspended for a year. Not a season. An actual calender year.

 

But, banning him for life is too much. It's his first conviction, and he deserves a second chance. Period.

 

And, from the NFL's stand point, it only helps them marketing wise to have someone as successful as Vick as he brings in the money and the fan no matter what the judgemental punks think.

 

As for his crimes, he need psychological help. I'm no huge pet lover (or hater); but the sort of abuse inflicted on these animals is beyond the pail. It's disgusting!

I doubt that a lifetime ban is in the cards, but a jail sentence and a suspension would probably amount to the same thing.

 

Best case scenario is probably that he'd be allowed to come back in the 2010 season. At that point, he'd be 30 years old, having played his last down of professional football 3.5 years earlier. Now, 30 isn't very old for most QBs, but his appeal has always been more as a runner than as a passer. It's a veritable certainty that he'll have lost a step or two (particularly while he's in the can-- I don't think they let nutritionists and personal trainers in to oversee his workout & diet). As a pure passer, his last (only) season as a truly effective quarterback was 2002. That'll be a distant, distant memory for any teams considering him in 2010. Chances are that he simply won't be a good enough player for teams to take the PR risk associated with signing him.

[Aram]

He can always organize a prison football team to teach young men quickly going down the wrong path the true meaning of teamwork and brotherhood whilst simultaneously fighting his inner demons. Things would start out rough and there'd be some violence, but when they're mocked by the evil warden they'll be inspired to join together and overcome, eventually taking on the Falcons in the championship and winning. At the same time, Vick would learn something about the true meaning of competition and would renounce dogfighting and be inspired to start a charity to help homeless puppies.

 

Then the whole thing could be made into a heartwarming summer movie starring Will Smith, with some generic **** actor playing the evil warden and that kid from Transformers playing the captain of the team who is tragically shanked just before the championship game.

[Hurlshort]

He can always organize a prison football team to teach young men quickly going down the wrong path the true meaning of teamwork and brotherhood whilst simultaneously fighting his inner demons. Things would start out rough and there'd be some violence, but when they're mocked by the evil warden they'll be inspired to join together and overcome, eventually taking on the Falcons in the championship and winning. At the same time, Vick would learn something about the true meaning of competition and would renounce dogfighting and be inspired to start a charity to help homeless puppies.

 

Then the whole thing could be made into a heartwarming summer movie starring Will Smith, with some generic **** actor playing the evil warden and that kid from Transformers playing the captain of the team who is tragically shanked just before the championship game.

 

Sounds like a rental.

[Darth Drabek]

Boy, I sure am glad I didn't pick him in my fantasy draft!

 

Nah, I wasn't going to draft him anyway. I heard he was really in the coach's doghouse.

[Laozi]

Where as I'm glad that this has run the course that it did, I wonder if people would have gotten so up in arms if Vick had been forcing a less likable animal to fight, like snakes or alligators or penguins. It probably would have been swept under the rug, or made into a Discovery Channel series. I mean force two bums to fight over a half-empty bottle of rye and suddenly you're TV's savior or something.

[Arkan]

Where as I'm glad that this has run the course that it did, I wonder if people would have gotten so up in arms if Vick had been forcing a less likable animal to fight, like snakes or alligators or penguins. It probably would have been swept under the rug, or made into a Discovery Channel series. I mean force two bums to fight over a half-empty bottle of rye and suddenly you're TV's savior or something.

 

Our sociey cares more about helpless animals than fellow human beings, sadly.

[Kaftan Barlast]

But Ive met more people who were idiots than dogs.

 

 

edit: and by that I mean that humans have a muh higher degree of morons than any breed of dogs do.

Edited August 21, 2007 by Kaftan Barlast

[Kelverin]

I will be glad when the season starts and these types of threads no longer appear.

 

This is why this is bad news for the NFL Volo, and why they continue to crack down on illegal behavior. When people care more about the athletes life off the field then the game on it, the league is in big time trouble.

[Volourn]

People will whine about Vick; but they'lls till watch the games. That is all that matters. Vick will be back playing football in 3 years (he'll be 30 sos till capable) unless NFl goes overboard, and people will still watch him play. People forget, and forgive these things. One NFL GM (unnamed of coruse) has alreayd stated that Vick will likely get lots of offers from NFL teams hwne he comes. Though, he is (obviously) done with the Falcons.

 

I should point out though I don't approve of what Vick did. His actions - whatever the extent they are - are disgusting to me. He deserves to face whatever punishment he has coming.

[Dark_Raven]

Send that mother ****er to the chair. Or at least lock him up in a rabid dog pound.

Edited August 22, 2007 by Dark_Raven

[Sand]

No. He should be forced to endure PETA meetings and judge Dog Shows for the rest of his natural life.

[Lyric Suite]

Am i the only one who just doesn't give a sh*t about all this?

[Tale]

Why cant they gamble on something a little more humane? Like snailracing or flea-rally?

Where's the adrenaline in that for our overaggressive sport's stars and their friends?

[Lyric Suite]

This obsession arguably stems from centuries of largely manual labour

 

I think it has more to do with nature. I grew up in Italy (where the idea of manual labour is anathema to us, if we can help it) and people like this behave no different.

 

Society isn't the root of all human evil, regardless of what the socialists like to believe.

Edited August 22, 2007 by Lyric Suite

[Sand]

Humans are the root of all human evil.

[Lyric Suite]

Humans are the root of all human evil.

 

And the root of all good, as well.

[Tale]

And the root of all good, as well.

I believe the root of all good would actually be sugar-cane and sugar-beet. Especially sugar-beet.

Edited August 22, 2007 by Tale

[Gorgon]

Our suggar comes out of turnips.

 

One thing I don't understand though, Unrefined suggar tastes so much better when it's from canes, so, why do they even bother refining it into the white kind. And why does unrefined suggar with the molasses still in it cost more, doesen't make any sense.