dude, first of all, believe it or not the world does not revolve around you or madmax. I've responded to plenty of posts in this thread. you're the only one trying to make this personal. I answered your question, I don't know what he feels.
I just said that because your post implied like i can't see the news and see all the people who are in an uproar about this. my point is that goodell can't end someone's career over dogfighting because of public perception when there are much worse criminals in the nfl. there are wife beaters, people who've been involved in murders, intentional and not intentional. this is vick's first offense, no matter what the crime is, and the actual crime of dog fighting is only a one year offense. to project his career being over is extreme at this point. that was my point to begin with, no matter what the protests are. dog lovers will not stop watching the nfl, peta will not force a massive boycott that will end this guy's career. we have a long time in this process. goodell hasn't even suspended him yet. so we have no idea what the future holds.
It's the viciousness that makes it "worse". This isn't someone not controlling their emotions. This isn't a situation gone bad. Vick is a person with a complete lack of empathy. He seems to have no conscious or respect for life. He likes to kill for amusement. It's not a matter of "people more important than dogs".
A star qb killing dogs for a hobby is more damaging to the NFL than a not too well known OL killing committing manslaughter accidentally. The NFL can boot him if his actions are a detriment to the league. He doesn't have a right to work there.
Absolutely ... I don't know any other employer who would allow their employees to act in this way without severe reprecussions or even termination.
1. Goodell can do whatever he wants. The players' union is a joke. 2. You keep saying that dog fighting is only a year. If that were the only charge he were facing, that would be great. He's facing a maximum of 6 years total. That's the number he'll be negotiating off of if he pleads guilty, ultimately. Otherwise, he'll take his chances in court against the Feds and their 95% conviction rate. 3. I originally was right there with you. I didn't think Vick's career was in jeopardy, except for the years away from the league while in jail. I don't think that anymore. I think this is an absolute nightmare for the NFL. One doens't have to be a PETA member to be disgusted with what he's done. This isn't an "oops, i got drunk and made a horrible mistake" kind of problem. It runs far deeper than that. It's organized crime, ultimately, with Vick as the chief financier. That's how the indictment reads.
Would actually be a good poll question: What would cause you more anger and/or disgust? 1) Someone killing someone you knew (even a family member) via drunk driving? or 2) Someone torturing and/or killing your dog/cat for entertainment?
I'm not trying to make anything personal. I was simply asking you to clarify your accusation. You never answered my question about who on this board do you feel only feels this way because they hate Mike Vick? But you're wrong, the world does revolve around MadMax. Always has, always will.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/19997000 Michael Vick: NFL "Sacks" Sales of His Jersey (update) Posted By: Darren Rovell I wandered on to NFLShop.com to do my daily check on everything Michael Vick and I noticed something strange. I couldn't find Michael Vick No. 7 jerseys anywhere. So I called the NFL and asked them why they had made this decision. "We have suspended sales of Vick-related merchandise on our official league e-commerce site, NFLShop.com," said NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy. "This includes Vick jerseys and collectible items such as autographed balls and other memorabilia." McCarthy said the decision was made because it was "not appropriate under the circumstances." The suspension will take place for the immediate future. I'm surprised the league moved so fast on this. Judging from yesterday's court appearance--in which Vick pleaded not guilty--the Atlanta Falcons quarterback apparently still has fans. UPDATE: This is not just an NFLShop thing. We just got a news release from Reebok, the league's jersey supplier. They're saying that they are not even distributing Vick jerseys at retail. This is the statement: "Although Reebok does not have an individual endorsement or marketing relationship with Michael Vick, we are the official supplier of apparel and equipment to all 32 NFL teams and the league’s 1,800 active players. While we respect the legal process we find the allegations against Mr. Vick too disturbing to ignore, therefore, we have decided to immediately suspend selling Vick NFL product, both at retail and on-line through the Reebok website. In addition, Reebok has honored retail cancellations of Vick NFL jerseys."
Not good. Co-Defendant is pleading guilty. http://www.ajc.com/wireless/content/sports/falcons/stories/2007/07/27/0728plea.html
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2952607 Tony Taylor's expected plea of guilty -- and with it, his future cooperation with prosecutors -- adds to an already impressive array of evidence against Michael Vick in the federal government's dogfighting case against the Atlanta Falcons quarterback. Taylor is due to enter his guilty plea at 9 a.m. Monday at U.S. District Court in Richmond, Va. His hearing was added to U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson's docket Friday, a day after he and the other three defendants including Vick pleaded not guilty before the same judge. Taylor was, according to the federal indictment, in the middle of the dogfighting scheme from the beginning. The indictment says Taylor, along with Vick and co-defendant Quanis Phillips, in 2001 "decided to start a venture aimed at sponsoring American Pit Bull Terriers in dogfighting competitions." When Taylor describes these conversations with Vick and Phillips, it will be powerful evidence against Vick, establishing the conspiracy and opening the door to a mountain of other evidence against Vick. Taylor can establish the conspiracy all by himself, multiplying Vick's problems as he attempts to answer these charges. The indictment, issued July 17, charged the four men with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities, and conspiring to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture. The maximum punishment is five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. As the scheme grew, according to the indictment, Taylor played a central role. When it was time to build three large sheds to stage fights and to house dogs and equipment, Taylor obtained the necessary permits from the authorities in Surry County. He applied for the building permit for the sheds on May 2, 2003, according to records maintained by Wallace Mavin, the Surry County Building Official, and he paid the necessary fees even though Vick's name was listed as the owner and the applicant. Taylor described himself as Vick's "agent," in the documents. The house and shed, according to applications filed in May 2003, cost $362,000. Prosecutors claim Taylor, 34, of Hampton, also allegedly helped purchase pit bulls and killed at least two dogs that fared poorly in test fights. It will be powerful evidence against Vick, putting Vick and his money squarely in the middle of the scheme and its growth and development. The charges in the indictment also show that Taylor can describe Vick as personally present at fights and at executions of dogs who did not perform well enough for Vick and his cohorts. Taylor's plea of guilty comes at a critical time. Michael Gill, the assistant U.S. Attorney leading the prosecution, announced on Thursday that he would file a superceding indictment by the end of next month. The superceding indictment is likely to add charges to the gruesome charges already on file. Taylor made his bargain with the federal prosecutors before they were able to add anything to the charges already filed against him. In addition to the tactical reasons for his plea, Taylor has been reported to feel that Vick betrayed him. Shortly after the first raid on the Vick fifteen-acre compound on Moonlight Road in Surry County, according to various reports, Vick had Taylor thrown off the property. It was part of Vick's effort to distance himself from the dogfighting operation, an effort that also includes a hasty sale of the property. The sale has not yet been finalized. Even in the hearings on Thursday, Taylor was separating himself from Vick and the others. Vick, Phillips and Purnell Peace all appeared in court dressed in suits and ties. Taylor showed up in baggy, low slung jeans and a wrinkled yellow shirt. Vick, Phillips and Peace ignored Taylor during the short hearings and never looked at him as they gathered in the courtroom before the hearing began. ESPN's Kelly Naqi reported that according to sources, Taylor and Vick had a falling out in their relationship about three years ago.
Ok, so I'm reading that the feds are likely adding new charges with a superceding indictment in August. Do we have any criminal law attorneys here at all to comment on that? SamFisher, I know you've worked with RICO before from the civil side...do you think that's what this is about?
If Mike Vick goes down, he has to be the highest profile player to get sacked for being a dumbass. Reebok is pulling Vick jerseys off the shelves. The Falcons are talking to the league about cutting Vick. Some schmoes on ESPN are saying he has played his last game. I haven't been following this but holy crap! Edit - I just read the posts above me Still this is crazy
vick's lawyers likely already knew this guy was turn, he's been separated from the rest of the group through the entire process. everyone says that the feds don't go after the people unless they have solid evidence. seems to me the only evidence they have linking anyone to any events is testimony. some of the testimony comes from people already in jail. alot of it comes from people with axes to grind.
