Vick accepts plea deal [merged]

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

A few things...it looks like this is a PRIVATE agreement...so little will be made public. THIS is shameful IF it's the case. While RICO charges are avoided..I think state charges STILL could be pending and NOT AT ALL part of any agreement. Gambling charges?? These could sink him for life.

It's not a private agreement. Vick simply jumped the gun in announcing he agreed to a plea agreement that didn't yet exist. It will, and after his hearing next Monday his statement of fact will be released as part of his plea agreement just as it was with the other 3. That is why Goodell just released his own statement requesting the Falcons take no action based on today's announcement and await his decision on what the league will do AFTER they see the statement of facts Michael pleads to. The best guesstimates are the prosecutors will recommend a 12-18 month sentence, but the judge is free to make his own determination, as he reminded the other 3 when he accepted their pleas.

"NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has barred Vick from the Falcons' training camp but has withheld further action while the league conducts its own investigation. League sources tell ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Goodell will likely suspend Vick indefinitely and that a final decision on Vick's suspension will be made after his legal case is resolved.

"We are aware of Michael Vick's decision to enter a guilty plea to the federal charges against him and accept responsibility for his conduct. We totally condemn the conduct outlined in the charges, which is inconsistent with what Michael Vick previously told both our office and the Falcons," the league said in a statement. "We will conclude our own review under the league's personal conduct policy as soon as possible. In the meantime, we have asked the Falcons to continue to refrain from taking action pending a decision by the commissioner."

The Falcons will not release Vick immediately; team officials told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio. If the league suspends Vick, the Falcons could then go after Vick's signing bonus of approximately $22 million, because if suspended, then Vick would be in default of his contract.

Martin's statement came as a grand jury that could add new charges met in private. Prosecutors had said that a superseding indictment was in the works, but Vick's plea all but means he will not face additional charges. "

 

[TheSeymonsta]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

Hopefully the league bans him for life and then the Falcons go take all the money they can from him.

 

[Pats726]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

It's not a private agreement. Vick simply jumped the gun in announcing he agreed to a plea agreement that didn't yet exist. It will, and after his hearing next Monday his statement of fact will be released as part of his plea agreement just as it was with the other 3. That is why Goodell just released his own statement requesting the Falcons take no action based on today's announcement and await his decision on what the league will do AFTER they see the statement of facts Michael pleads to. The best guesstimates are the prosecutors will recommend a 12-18 month sentence, but the judge is free to make his own determination, as he reminded the other 3 when he accepted their pleas.

"NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has barred Vick from the Falcons' training camp but has withheld further action while the league conducts its own investigation. League sources tell ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Goodell will likely suspend Vick indefinitely and that a final decision on Vick's suspension will be made after his legal case is resolved.

"We are aware of Michael Vick's decision to enter a guilty plea to the federal charges against him and accept responsibility for his conduct. We totally condemn the conduct outlined in the charges, which is inconsistent with what Michael Vick previously told both our office and the Falcons," the league said in a statement. "We will conclude our own review under the league's personal conduct policy as soon as possible. In the meantime, we have asked the Falcons to continue to refrain from taking action pending a decision by the commissioner."

The Falcons will not release Vick immediately; team officials told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio. If the league suspends Vick, the Falcons could then go after Vick's signing bonus of approximately $22 million, because if suspended, then Vick would be in default of his contract.

Martin's statement came as a grand jury that could add new charges met in private. Prosecutors had said that a superseding indictment was in the works, but Vick's plea all but means he will not face additional charges. "

Well that was what EEI was reporting...I am not surprised they got it wrong...but that was what they said as of about 3 PM and such. They made it sound like there would be no particulars at all that would be public or anything like that as to what even he would be pleading guilty for. I am glad what they said was incorrect...it sounded weird and more that because of his deal, that none of it would be public..(and they were talking going forward not just as today...) Thanks for the correction..typical EEI getting it wrong.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

Um, yes.

And just because they ****ed up with Little doesn't mean the scum should get off any easier because he was "only" electrocuting, hanging and drowning dogs and not someone's mother.

I wasn't suggesting he should. I'm merely pointing out what might be a relevant and curious case study, involving a NFL player, should it be drawn into light.

In any case, it'll be interesting to see what the moral of this story might become.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

That's right. Not a lot of people talk about Leonard Little killing that woman while he was ripped...

That happened 9 years ago, in a society that has LONG had a tougher time than it should dealing with drinking and driving because so much of the jury pool still does. And believe me, the Vick apologists have talked about nothing more over the last month than how unfair it is that Little is still playing after once almost a decade ago killing a human (albeit inadvertently as a result of his bad judgement for which a jury convicted him of manslaughter and a judge sentenced him to 90 days incarceration) while all Michael ever did was intentionally breed, train, fight, bet on and inhumanely kill dogs over a six year continuous period that encompassed his entire career in the NFL. Oh, and then for good measure he lied about it to the man who signs his paychecks under a $130M contract and the commissioner of the l32 team league he was fortunate to perform in.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

Well that was what EEI was reporting...I am not surprised they got it wrong...but that was what they said as of about 3 PM and such. They made it sound like there would be no particulars at all that would be public or anything like that as to what even he would be pleading guilty for. I am glad what they said was incorrect...it sounded weird and more that because of his deal, that none of it would be public..(and they were talking going forward not just as today...) Thanks for the correction..typical EEI getting it wrong.

Vick and his attorney (oddly) just jumped the gun. The others made no statements and the only indication they had agreed to plea was their scheduled appearances in front of Hudson to enter their guilty pleas. It's only after he accepts their plea (and reminds them prior to sentencing once they plead guilty there is no going back and no appealing HIS sentence) that the particulars in the statement of facts tied to their pleas is released. They are public documents at that juncture. Right now Michael's statement doesn't exist. He will have to sit down now with his attorney and the prosecution and allocute to the particulars - and if he fails to give a statement the prosecution accepts they would be back to square 1. That is why the judge didn't dismiss the Grand Jury, just put their session on hold pending a potential plea agreement. Michael still has to come to terms to spilling his guts, and hopefully he understands that. It's ain't over 'til that plea agreement is completed and accepted by the prosecutor and the judge.

Moronic Ray Buchannan is on SportsCenter trying to say that poor Mike may be pleading to things he didn't necessarily do because he was jammed up...LOL At least he does understand that Mike is being made an example...

What a tortured maroon though, he thinks it's better he faced the Feds than the locals who could have got him for 40 years...talking about saving his career and being re-instated down the road...LOL

You really have to wonder if all too many of these "stars" are so thoroughly wrapped in denial, or just dense as bricks. ESPN said earlier that Vick apparently had no intention of securing criminal legal council even after the indictment and when Blank was pondering a suspension until the league and the NFLPA told him he had to and even put the word out for applicants to apply.

 

[Bella*chick]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

Ah, so Leonard Little was convicted of manslaughter?

In that case, he did not "murder" anyone in the eyes of the law. He killed someone, but that does not meet the legal definition of murder. I fuzzily remember from my law school days that he COULD have been convicted of murder if it was a "depraved heart" type thing, in which conduct is so reckless that death of another, even though it was not intended, is a sure result. Best example I can think of is firing a gun into a crowd of people not intending to kill anyone, but killing someone anyway.

With drunk driving, it could definitely be argued, but if he was convicted of manslaughter, then it is not murder. There is no intent.

And yeah, I can sadly name you many, many people who jumped into a car having had one too many drinks. I'm sure a jury can, too. But I don't think I know anyone at all who would remotely even consider doing what Vick has done. And I'm sure a jury would also agree. So a comparison with Little's case, whatever the end result, is just not going to suddenly make me feel like I've been applying some "Oh, dogs are worth more than humans" standard. As Mo said, I think the comparison between the two cases makes Vick's case look as bad as it has ever looked.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

Comparing the situation to Little is NOT the same (tho, I think both are POS), because there is an element here that alot of people paying much attention to.

The Gambling element. we all focus on the doggie stuff (with good reason as it just nasty stuff), however the gambling angle sounded the death nell. Somebody on Sirus said this earlier. Vick didn't just stroll into a casino, Vick WAS the casino. That's a big deal, specially given today's climate.

I think that'll play into this hard.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

Comparing the situation to Little is NOT the same (tho, I think both are POS), because there is an element here that alot of people paying much attention to.

The Gambling element. we all focus on the doggie stuff (with good reason as it just nasty stuff), however the gambling angle sounded the death nell. Somebody on Sirus said this earlier. Vick didn't just stroll into a casino, Vick WAS the casino. That's a big deal, specially given today's climate.

I think that'll play into this hard.

Oh, and I'm sure it will too.

But that's the really sad thing about this whole thing. The message that will be sent out could be mindboggling.

For reference:

For battering your pregnant girlfired you get community service.. See Muhammad.

For killing an innocent mother of 3 you get 90 days. See Little.

For Roberry. 7 1/2 years. See Clarett

For Killing an animal - 1-2 years. See Vick.

For gambling on an event that has nothing to do with football - Lifetime ban. See Vick

What the heck kind of message does this send when it is worse to gamble or to kill a dog than it is to take a human being's life?

It's no wonder this world is so messed.

 

[Va_Pats_Fan]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

Makes me wonder if Marcus was the smarter of two brothers...just happened to get caught earlier....

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

Goodell wasn't the commish when Little killed someone. Goodell wasn't commish when Muhammad beat his wife. Whatever the NFL does to Vick is Goodell's prerogative, and he doesn't have to be consistent with his predecessor.

Tags failed to do anything about Little. That was his prerogative. Goodell would have. He can't change what happened before he took over.

It could also be argued that past mistakes don't have to ensure future ones. The NFL screwed up with Little. They're not going to screw up when it comes to Vick. Little got lucky, Vick didn't.

Basically, cut the crap with all of this talk about Little. Things have changed. Change with them.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

Goodell wasn't the commish when Little killed someone. Goodell wasn't commish when Muhammad beat his wife. Whatever the NFL does to Vick is Goodell's prerogative, and he doesn't have to be consistent with his predecessor.

Tags failed to do anything about Little. That was his prerogative. Goodell would have. He can't change what happened before he took over.

It could also be argued that past mistakes don't have to ensure future ones. The NFL screwed up with Little. They're not going to screw up when it comes to Vick. Little got lucky, Vick didn't.

Basically, cut the crap with all of this talk about Little. Things have changed. Change with them.

By the same token is it not Godell's perogative to say "you know what. Given my leagues past reference models when dealing with bannable players, I think banning a player for life from this sport because he bets on an event that doesn't involve the sport of football is a bit excessive. Especially so when that same player can injest banned substances which are known to improve his ability to play this game (and possibly alter the outcome of a game in much the same way a betting player can alter an outcome of a game) and only have to worry about me banning him for 4 games"

It's all speculative right now as to what penalty Godell will impose on Vick for his part in betting. It might not be excessive (lifetime) so we'll have to wait and see. Personally, if Godell bans Vick for life it'll be a travesty.

 

[Bella*chick]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

If the new definition of "travesty" is "justice", then I agree.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

If the new definition of "travesty" is "justice", then I agree.

Travesty as it relates to betting, not the torturing and killing of dogs. For that I'm all for justice to prevail. As long as it's consistant with other dispicable crimes and the penalty doesn't supersede crimes done to humanity.

 

[Fencer]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

In any justice system we'd want to live under, SOME people will get punished much LESS than they deserve. So please don't obsess about anybody who got off lightly in the past.

In any functioning justice system where many people don't get caught, some of the ones who do get caught can be punished in a manner disproportionately high to their actual offense. (E.g., as a deterrent to others.) So please don't obsess over the harsh penalties sometimes given out to, for example, robbers and burglars.

 

[Bella*chick]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

Travesty as it relates to betting, not the torturing and killing of dogs. For that I'm all for justice to prevail. As long as it's consistant with other dispicable crimes and the penalty doesn't supersede crimes done to humanity.

But don't you think that betting is decent grounds for a lifetime ban because of how it may have compromised the sport? I think it is. I don't know the details on Vick's gambling, but it sounds rather involved.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

In any justice system we'd want to live under, SOME people will get punished much LESS than they deserve. So please don't obsess about anybody who got off lightly in the past.

In any functioning justice system where many people don't get caught, some of the ones who do get caught can be punished in a manner disproportionately high to their actual offense. (E.g., as a deterrent to others.) So please don't obsess over the harsh penalties sometimes given out to, for example, robbers and burglars.

Somehow I believe that if it were YOU (or someone you are strongly attached too) who was the one getting punished in an obsene (unfair) manner you wouldn't feel as you do.

 

[PatsSteve1]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

The prosecutor and Vick's attorney's agreed to a plea deal. The judge can accept or reject it. If the judge rejects it then they are back to square one.

 

[Pats726]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

Somehow I believe that if it were YOU (or someone you are strongly attached too) who was the one getting punished in an obsene (unfair) manner you wouldn't feel as you do.

I agree...but I would not at all compare what Goodell is doing to teh criminal justice system..I think we all know about travesties of justice in this system...way too many.

 

[LaBrady]

Re: Vick accepts plea deal

Oh, and I'm sure it will too.

But that's the really sad thing about this whole thing. The message that will be sent out could be mindboggling.

For reference:

For battering your pregnant girlfired you get community service.. See Muhammad.

For killing an innocent mother of 3 you get 90 days. See Little.

For Roberry. 7 1/2 years. See Clarett

For Killing an animal - 1-2 years. See Vick.

For gambling on an event that has nothing to do with football - Lifetime ban. See Vick

What the heck kind of message does this send when it is worse to gamble or to kill a dog than it is to take a human being's life?

It's no wonder this world is so messed.

I completely agree with you man, and might I add OJ who appears to gotten nothing!

Oh and ban or not Vick isn't gonna play in the NFL, no way any team signs him.!