Vick indicted

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
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8/24: Link

NEW YORK -- The NFL has suspended quarterback Michael Vick indefinitely without pay following his admission of guilt in a dogfighting case.

On Friday, Vick filed his plea agreement in federal court admitting to conspiracy in a dogfighting ring and agreeing that the enterprise included killing pit bulls and gambling. He denied making side bets on the fights, but admitted to bankrolling them.

Friday afternoon, a letter to Vick from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said, in part:

"Your admitted conduct was not only illegal, but also cruel and reprehensible" and regardless whether he personally placed bets, "your actions in funding the betting and your association with illegal gambling both violate the terms of your NFL player contract and expose you to corrupting influences in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player."

Goodell freed the Falcons to "assert any claims or remedies" to recover $22 million of Vick's signing bonus from the 10-year, $130 million contract he signed in 2004.

The commissioner didn't speak to Vick but based his decison on the court filings. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Goodell may meet with Vick in the future, but that hasn't been determined.

"You have engaged in conduct detrimental to the welfare of the NFL and have violated the league's personal conduct policy," Goodell told Vick in a letter.

"Even if you personally did not place bets, as you contend, your actions in funding the betting and your association with illegal gambling both violate the terms of your NFL Player Contract and expose you to corrupting influences in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player."

"I will review the status of your suspension following the conclusion of the legal proceedings. As part of that review, I will take into account a number of factors, including the resolution of any other charges that may be brought against you, whether in Surry County, Virginia, or other jurisdictions, your conduct going forward, the specifics of the sentence imposed by Judge Hudson and any related findings he might make, and the extent to which you are truthful and cooperative with law enforcement and league staff who are investigating these matters."

"I have advised the Falcons that, with my decision today, they are no longer prohibited from acting and are now free to assert any claims or remedies available to them under the Collective Bargaining Agreement or your NFL Player Contract."

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Link

Michael Vick has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with the dogfighting probe of his house in Virginia.

The Falcons quarterback was indicted for conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in animal fighting venture in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District in Richmond, Va. Three others -- Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor -- also were indicted by the grand jury on the same charges.

Say hello to your new Falcon's starting QB - Joey Harrington.

Smoking Gun
JULY 17--NFL star Michael Vick was indicted today on a federal conspiracy charge for his alleged role in a dog fighting venture that operated from a Virginia property owned by the Atlanta Falcons quarterback. A copy of the indictment, filed today in U.S. District Court in Richmond, can be found below. The 27-year-old Vick, whose nickname is listed as "Ookie" in the indictment, allegedly established the Bad Newz Kennels in early-2001 in Smithfield, Virginia. It was this property, for which Vick paid $34,000, that the star athlete and his codefendants used as the "main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved in the dog fighting venture and hosting dog fights." According to prosecutors, Vick and his cohorts began purchasing pit bull puppies in late-2001 and would eventually "sponsor" individual dog fights with purses as high as $26,000. In the indictment's most harrowing parts, federal investigators describe what happened to some Bad Newz Kennels dogs that either lost matches or did not perform well in test fights. After a March 2003 loss by a female pit bull, codefendant Purnell Peace, "after consulting with Vick," electrocuted the animal. In April, prosecutors allege, Vick, Peace, and Quanis Phillips, "executed approximately 8 dogs that did not perform well in 'testing' sessions." These animals, the indictment claims, were killed "by various methods, including hanging, drowning, and slamming at least one dog's body to the ground." (18 pages)

Update - Vick told to stay away from training camp
NEW YORK - Michael Vick was ordered by commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday to stay away from the Atlanta Falcons' training camp until the league reviews the dogfighting charges against him.

"While it is for the criminal justice system to determine your guilt or innocence, it is my responsibility as commissioner of the National Football League to determine whether your conduct, even if not criminal, nonetheless violated league policies, including the Personal Conduct Policy," Goodell said in a letter to the quarterback.

The NFL said Vick would still get his preseason pay and Goodell told the Falcons to withhold any disciplinary action of their own until the league's review was completed.

7/26 -
Originally posted by: KLin
Vick pleads not guilty

Well duh. :p

7/28 - Co-defendant may cooperate with Feds to get Vick
One of the men facing federal dogfighting charges along with Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is discussing a plea deal with federal prosecutors, which could spell bad news for Vick.

Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Va., has a plea agreement hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday in the U.S. District Court in Richmond before Judge Henry E. Hudson. Meanwhile, court records show a sealed order signed by Hudson was issued in the case Friday, which might or might not be related to Taylor's plea.

The plea hearing could mean that Taylor, who pleaded not guilty to the charges Thursday, has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors. Vick and the two other co-defendants in his case also pleaded not guilty Thursday.

"This could be very bad news for Vick," said Steven D. Benjamin, a veteran criminal defense attorney from Richmond who has represented many clients before Hudson. "If he is pleading guilty, he is cooperating with the government."
 

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
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Culpepper was released by the Dolphins today. Maybe they can sign him.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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so how much of a suspension is goodell going to hand out?
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
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Great. I really enjoy seeing these overpaid adolescents getting busted for illegal activities. These underworked, lowbrow knuckledraggers are always society's golden boys; they get away with everything. This is a victory for the common man.

I feel badly for the animals involved. Yet, it doesn't really matter. Dog fighting, wife beating, cocaine selling, insider trading, DUI, Driving While Under The Influence of Alcohol, Cocaine and Steroids While Fleeing a Dog Fight After You Beat Your Wife Because She Lost Money On The Insider Trade That You Told Her To Do...doesn't matter.

They always get off. So will this turd. Poo on the NFL and all other "professional" sports. Bring back the days of Broadway Joe...a drunk, womanizing athelete...but no more than that. I hate Michael Jordon too...another sellout turd. Oooooh! I sell batteries now!! :roll:
 

Wreckem

Diamond Member
Sep 23, 2006
9,511
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Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
He won't spend a day in jail.

I dont know, the feds take this type of stuff seriously and the laws were recently changed. He could serve time if convicted.

Doesnt matter though, he'll be suspended by the NFL for a significant portion(if not all) of the season.

 

Phokus

Lifer
Nov 20, 1999
22,994
779
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I hope the falcons enjoy Joey Harrington's services. Nice job getting rid of Matt Schaub!
 

Yreka

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2005
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Originally posted by: Phokus
I hope the falcons enjoy Joey Harrington's services. Nice job getting rid of Matt Schaub!

**Evil laugh**

/Lions fan
 

Safeway

Lifer
Jun 22, 2004
12,074
9
81
Marcus Vick was kicked off a college team for smashing someone's leg on purpose. He basically gave up his entire career, which translates into millions and millions of dollars.

Now, Michael Vick is indicted on this charge.

What a fucked up family.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Originally posted by: Wreckem
Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
He won't spend a day in jail.

I dont know, the feds take this type of stuff seriously and the laws were recently changed. He could serve time if convicted.

Doesnt matter though, he'll be suspended by the NFL for a significant portion(if not all) of the season.

i doubt very much he sees any jail time. odds are he is going to get a huge fine and probation.

but yeah he is going to be suspended for most of the season.
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
OT in OT: When did the language filter go away? I think it's great; I've been vacationed for sneezing the wrong way. :roll:

Does it have anything to do w/the Totally Not Secret Mods becoming Totally Not Secret Mods?
 

wyvrn

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
10,074
0
0
Originally posted by: chuckywang
Originally posted by: TheNinja
I bet they're glad they traded Schaub now.

My first thought as well. If they still had Schaub, they wouldn't miss a beat.


What makes Schaub more than a spare? He hasn't played that much, and when he has, it has been very mediocre. He has no track record, but then again, Vick was never that consistently good so maybe you are right :)
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,398
30,477
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lol

EDIT: I believe the word of the day, once again, is schaudenfreude.
:beer:
 

SampSon

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2006
7,160
1
0
All of these football players getting in trouble with the law are just straight up jackasses.