NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell along with ad sales executives who sell TV commercial time on football games must be rejoicing that disgraced Atlanta Falcolns quarterback Michael Vick is pleading guilty to federal dogfighting charges.
A protracted legal battle would have done almost as much damage to the league's reputation as Vick's. Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) dropped Vick as soon as the detals of the charges emerged. The NFL, which told him to stay away from training camp, no doubt will suspend him for at least the rest of the season.
There's no excusing or explaining Vick's actions. It just goes to show you that just because you're rich -- he got a $62 million contract in 2001 -- doesn't mean you're smart.. Maybe he should ring up O.J. Simpson to get coping tips on how to be a societal pariah.
Vick apologized through his lawyer to "everyone who has been hurt by this matter." This sounds like a person who is "sorry" they got caught.
Good thing that Godell insituted a strict behavior policy in reaction to the off the field shenanigans of players such as Adam "Pacman" Jones. This isn't just the right thing to do, it's smart business.
If people think that NFL players are all moral degenerates, advertisers won't pay through the nose to buy 30-second Super Bowl spots. Moreover, parents won't shell out big bucks for jersies and other official team merchandise representing a player whose values they abhor.
Vick will soon realize why players joke that NFL stands for Not For Long.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-20-2007 @ 4:45PM
Tom Barlow said...
The NFL would have to be insane to let him back on the field, ever. Pete Rose his ass!
8-20-2007 @ 5:14PM
Martin said...
It's hard to believe that Al Sharpton is already criticizing the justice system instead of the quarterback on this one.
8-20-2007 @ 6:32PM
John said...
You white racist bastards. You wasn't even thinking about or concerning yourself with dog fighting. Which by the way has been going on from the existence of this country. You sorry sack of dog feces. It's not about the dogs, for if that was the case the Government agency that handles dog fighting would have stopped it years ago. You lying bigots. This is about arresting a sucessful young blackman. Because of cracker children love him more than you and your women are crawling over themselves for his rich black manhood. Dogs my ass. This country murder 200,000 dogs a damn year for nothing and treat them as vermit! But i got news for you. Micheal vick as rich!! So rich that if he doesn't make another dime all he got to do is sit on his black ass for the rest of his life and screw all those white hoes. That's what I'll do and I'll screw them right in front of you bigots. but let's make this clear . Micheal Vick will play again. No doubt! Why? Because as racist and bigot you white people are, you will sell your mother for a dollar so, I'll be damn if you will let a dollar past you for a dead dog!! He'll be back and you will pay him millions and millions. And America you will continue murdering dogs just like you are now!! And Jonathan your an ass. Your bias, racist laden article proved that!!
8-21-2007 @ 8:28AM
Nigger said...
John,
Thank you for pointing out the failings of Michael Vick and the damage he has done to respectable African Americans.
8-21-2007 @ 2:44AM
Nigger said...
Psychologists all agree that this cruel behavior towards dogs is one step short of what Michael Vick would do to humans next. Remember that this surrender is only due to the fact that he got caught and with all his expensive lawyers could find no escape. The same could not be said to his underperforming dogs that he personally executed.
Otherwise this inhumane practice would continue on. Afterall, he did lie to the NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell. Face the facts and don't point fingers at respectable white Americans who get along just fine
with respectable African Americans.
So now you have the white ass Jew lawyers trying to save Mike's black ass from being reamed when he goes up the creek without a paddle.
8-21-2007 @ 8:27AM
Dan said...
Michael Vick is trash !!!! Thats all he is !!!!
8-21-2007 @ 11:36AM
helen said...
wow their is alot of hostility on thiese comments and alot of raises osts,this is about a man hurting dogs and breeding them to be killers and fighters not your beliefs on black or white we both have problems but this is horrible to be saying about each other,people wonder why their still raises people because no one lets go.why scope to anothers level and let them know they botherd you by what they said?Dont let them fuel your fire.......
8-21-2007 @ 3:06PM
JM WILLIAMS said...
The NFL will make a serious mistake to associate with Michael Vick in any future position considerations ever, as will their sponsors to allow it. His guilty plea serves as one of manipulation to ensure his future success.
8-26-2007 @ 2:44PM
dmorency said...
This is response to John:
I read with interest and such sadness on your comment regarding Michael Vick. The reason I am against what Michael Vick did was not because he was black and rich I could care less about his wealth. It is his inhumanity and cruelty to animals specifically dogs. It may be something that in your culture and others that is deemed normal and that your views of dogs is that they are just after all dogs to be disposed of as you see fit. To be treated with indifference, made to suffer, starved and mis treated. What is so violating to so many people is the lack of compassion demonstrated by ALL those who have participated in these dogs. These same people who work among us, who have children, who have wives, husbands etc. who look perfectly respectable but deep inside have a hidden desire of evil in their souls. Michael Vick knew that this type of behavior is reprehensible to many people and thus the secrets and the isloation of his training camp. You all know that this is morally and ethically wrong - which is why it remains underground because you know people would not respond well to it. If it were acceptable and that the dogs are just dogs then you would not hear the pain, and cries from these animals....It disturbs me to no end that there are people in this world who would allow the animal to starve and suffer needlessly. Please visit the humane society web site and check it out yourself...Is it normal to kidnap dogs and use it as bait? Is it normal to allow the dogs to suffer with wounds and not be treated by a vet?
What Michael Vick and his co-horts did was disgusting and evil and they do not deserve anyone's respect and despite all his millions - he will be seen as the vile and disgusting person he is.
Sincerely,
DMorency
Vancouver, BC
Canada
8-21-2007 @ 4:01PM
Bob said...
Some really intelligent commentary on here. Such as indicating that he's rich, so it doesn't matter. Simple factoid - how much better a player would this guy have been if he had just been a good person?
8-21-2007 @ 4:14PM
m said...
For me it is all about the poor defenseless animals.
I hope Michael Vick rots in hell.
8-21-2007 @ 5:05PM
Larry Wells said...
12,000,000 dogs killed by the humane(?) Society last year. If you really care about people killing dogs, let's condemn the mass killers. And people, these animals are killed in the same manner as alleged by Vick's house guests. Hate Vick if you must. But really hate the humane(?) Society.
8-21-2007 @ 6:27PM
Bob said...
Please. You have to know that the way animals are euthanized in shelters isn't even close to the way Vick and his fellow thugs did it.
8-21-2007 @ 6:07PM
west point john said...
Yeah, yeah, yeah - dogs are cute and precious, blah, blah, blah. PETA, PETA, PETA - puppy dogs, rainbows and unicorns…
Michael Vick didn’t kill a human; they were f@cking dogs - case closed. There have been countless examples of athletes responsible for deaths - Ray Lewis barely avoided murder charges - let alone drunk driving or worse (let’s not even discuss child support).
Now, it has been a long time since junior high but when last I checked, not only were dogs domesticated animals (that fall much lower on the food chain than humans) but we have killed domesticated animals for much lesser crimes. The ASPCA kills tens of thousands of domesticated animals on a weekly basis. Also, when in the hell did PETA become a lobby group in charge of upholding federal policy?
Don’t get me wrong - Pamela Anderson has great tits, but she needs to shut the f@ck up and just sit there and look pretty. Doesn’t she still have hepatitis or AIDS or something she caught from Kid Rock? Go get therapy bitch, and leave Michael Vick alone.
I agree that killing animals for random reasons is cruel; but fine him. Community Service. Any other mundane nonsense that we normally throw at bullsh!t crimes is the categorical reprimand this deserves.
He was making $100M. Can you imagine the good he would have been able to do in the furthering of animals’ rights with his fame and money? Am I on crazy pills or am I the only one who sees this as another step in the wussification of the public perception of justice? Michael Vick should be free - fine him, spank him, cane him, WHATEVER - but jail? WTF! Anyone who thinks this is enough to completely ruin a man’s life, is bat shit insane and should be spayed and neutered because they shouldn’t taint the gene pool.
Michael Vick’s contribution to the game of football is enormously more valuable than the lives of 10,000 dogs and 72 kittens.
I have spoken.
http://coedmagazine.com/sports/1986
8-21-2007 @ 6:19PM
Bob said...
You're entitled to your opinion, wrong though it is. It's a bloodsport, and it's a crime. Couple the money crossing interstate lines, and it's a federal crime. Your position and my position on dogs would never be reconciled, and I'm not going to bother to argue that. The fact is, Vick chose to break federal laws. Period. He chose the action, and therefore he chose the consequence. This is no one's fault but his. Period. End of story. HOW MUCH BETTER AN ATHLETE WOULD HE HAVE BEEN IF HE HAD JUST SIMPLY LIVED A CLEAN, LAW ABIDING, UPSTANDING LIFE? This is no one's fault but his. No matter what you think of dogs or "comparative crime."
8-21-2007 @ 6:22PM
Bob said...
Oh, and also....he wasn't that great of a quarterback. He played for a mediocre team that couldn't find a coach who could produce with their Johnny One Note offense. A running back disguised as a quarterback. Hardly Hall of Fame material.
8-21-2007 @ 7:12PM
Debby said...
The facts are , He killed dogs , for what ? The Idiot has money , why in the hell would you do something so retarded, as to fight dogs , and kill them with no reguard for life, mentally challenged ? I doubt it, just a stupid man doing horrific cruelty to helpless animals. He is gonna be remembered as the dog killer, what a legacy to leave.. Hes JUST A SICKO FREAK.
8-21-2007 @ 7:53PM
sammi said...
Michael, Paris, Lindsie, Nicole, Pacman and anyone else in the public eye. What is the problem, are you so miserable in your own life that you have to spend so much time being destructive. There are so many things to fulfill your life with that would make you a respected member of society, but you choose to participate in horrible events. It just proves money can't buy happiness. I am grateful that the world is still full of great people, both rich and poor, famous or not. Let's hold all people accountable for their actions and quit overlooking bad behavior and crimes just for money or who they are.
8-21-2007 @ 9:55PM
mullah cimoc said...
mullah cimoc say ameriki not caring when him muslim get the torture, electric shock and smash head and suffocation in plastic bag but acting so concern when dog treat the cruel way.
this proving usa media making ameriki so stupid and sick. how possible ameriki woman thinking okay for sexual torture of muslim but crying the fake tear when animal suffer.
but ameriki not understand sheep dog like the work and rather die than not go for working sheep and goat each day. but fake ameriki animal lover he keep work dog in cage and hate the cowboy who work the dog and make the dog happy.
fight dog liking the fight. this dog rather die than not the fight. this the breeding method produce.
ameriki society so mix up. the ameriki woman think she pure but take the LBT (low back tattoo) and slut for every man even the gang member.
ameriki man cry baby if dog hurt but happy and smile when see captive muslim him tortured and head smash into wall and the object raping of the anus.
also at guantanamo the homosexual violence and sick of wiping the menstrual blood on muslim for defile. but ameriki so pure because feeling the sorry for dog.
for this ameriki society be destroy. economic to crashing and then not the job. then the fighting for the aztec and maya. but ameriki just slave of master in tel aviv. ameriki just exising for make israeli master of world. but god having the differnt plan and ameriki will to learn the cruel and the suffering. him ameriki hippie calling this the karma and the karma coming but like thief in night and no one know the hour.
stop1984now@yahoo.com
8-22-2007 @ 6:31AM
Nigger said...
Jeffrey Dahmer started out viciously killing animals. Too bad we could not wait until Michael Vick killed your son/daughter and ate them.