Vick Ordered Not to Report to Camp

[Pats726]

Vick's not suspended.

The Commish effectively did what was needed..and what I advocated..gtowing a spine in a few days....VERY good. While he did NOT suspend him...he effectively did do that by telling him not to show up at camp and that UNTIL the NFL looked into it that neeed to be the case. same result..using other words but basically doing what was write..finally.

 

[BAM!]

Vick's not suspended.

The Commish effectively did what was needed..and what I advocated..gtowing a spine in a few days....VERY good. While he did NOT suspend him...he effectively did do that by telling him not to show up at camp and that UNTIL the NFL looked into it that neeed to be the case. same result..using other words but basically doing what was write..finally.

I think it goes beyond doing the RIGHT thing. I think Goodell thought of the possibilities and realized that wherever Vick goes, he is going to be followed and hounded (pun not intended) by animal rights activists and others. Some of these animal rights activists are extremists and potentially could cause security problems for the Falcons and their fans who still support Vick while he was at TC which is open to the public.

I really don't think that Goodell should've stepped in just yet. I think the one that needs to grow a spine is Arthur Blank. While he is on a slippery slope with Vick/Falcon fans, he needed to send a message to the rest of the team that this behavior won't be tolerated what-so-ever. So what Vick hasn't been convicted yet. The mere fact that he is involved in a federal case should warrant disciplinary action by the team owner. His "statement" about being prepared to suspend him for 4 games was nothing more than saving face. He could've said anything and looked OK because Goodell already passed down his punishment. Blank has lost all credibility in my book as a man with morals.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I think it goes beyond doing the RIGHT thing. I think Goodell thought of the possibilities and realized that wherever Vick goes, he is going to be followed and hounded (pun not intended) by animal rights activists and others. Some of these animal rights activists are extremists and potentially could cause security problems for the Falcons and their fans who still support Vick while he was at TC which is open to the public.

I really don't think that Goodell should've stepped in just yet. I think the one that needs to grow a spine is Arthur Blank. While he is on a slippery slope with Vick/Falcon fans, he needed to send a message to the rest of the team that this behavior won't be tolerated what-so-ever. So what Vick hasn't been convicted yet. The mere fact that he is involved in a federal case should warrant disciplinary action by the team owner. His "statement" about being prepared to suspend him for 4 games was nothing more than saving face. He could've said anything and looked OK because Goodell already passed down his punishment. Blank has lost all credibility in my book as a man with morals.

Suspending him for 4 games would have done Blank and the Falcons and the league absolutely no good over the next 6 weeks since players under suspension for less than the entire season are entitled to practice with the team and even play in pre season. They don't go away until the Tuesday before week 1. Goodell wants more, that's why he stepped in. Blank couldn't get Vick to stay away in camp, he could. He can drag this "investigation" out for at least 4-6 weeks, and at that time either expand upon it as a result of his findings or give Blank the thumbs up to go ahead and issue a team suspension for the first 4 games.

Blank wants him gone at this point too. If you watched his PC yesterday that was pretty clear. Only his hands are tied by the CBA. If he cuts him now the little ahole may well walk with $27M in bonus money in the bank. If Blank waits on that move until he's on firmer ground, the Falcon's potentially recover a substantial chunk of that. That helps his cap position going forward, but more importently it recovers money Vick should forfeit given what he's been accused of doing over the last 5+ seasons. Blank is a philanthropist who has given away twice the money in Vick's entire deal over the last few years. He wasn't willing to pay Vick's salary to engineer a paid LOA - not because he's cheap certainly but because he didn't want to set the precedent of paying a potential felon just to stay away.

I think all parties are doing exactly what they should at this juncture. The goals are to get Vick gone in the short term and keep him gone in the long term. Not always an easy task given the way the NFLPA has historically backed it's members regardless. But two things are a little different in this case and the league would like those to remain in effect. The NFLPA signed off on the Personal Conduct Policy and Gene Upshaw has not only not taken up this players defense, he's cooperating in finding a way to keep him off the field. When interviewed yesterday he made it a point to say that he is a dog owner whose pets are like family members and he is repulsed by what he read in Vick's indictment. Apparently Gene wasn't ever a member of the subculture many present and past players seem to think isn't such a big deal, and that doesn't bode well for Michael going forward.

All of this has bought time for Vick's new high powered criminal counsel to convince Michael that taking a LOA to deal with his situation isn't just in his teams best interest, which he could care less about, it's in his. And that's the goal here for the league and the Falcons too - a best case scenario where Mike voluntarily stays gone for now and they can impose additional sanctions down the road to insure he remains gone without ever earning another Million in the league and potentially forced to give back tens of millions he won't have for lawyers and appeals or to soften the blow when this is all said and done.

 

[Pats726]

Suspending him for 4 games would have done Blank and the Falcons and the league absolutely no good over the next 6 weeks since players under suspension for less than the entire season are entitled to practice with the team and even play in pre season. They don't go away until the Tuesday before week 1. Goodell wants more, that's why he stepped in. Blank couldn't get Vick to stay away in camp, he could. He can drag this "investigation" out for at least 4-6 weeks, and at that time either expand upon it as a result of his findings or give Blank the thumbs up to go ahead and issue a team suspension for the first 4 games.

Blank wants him gone at this point too. If you watched his PC yesterday that was pretty clear. Only his hands are tied by the CBA. If he cuts him now the little ahole may well walk with $27M in bonus money in the bank. If Blank waits on that move until he's on firmer ground, the Falcon's potentially recover a substantial chunk of that. That helps his cap position going forward, but more importently it recovers money Vick should forfeit given what he's been accused of doing over the last 5+ seasons. Blank is a philanthropist who has given away twice the money in Vick's entire deal over the last few years. He wasn't willing to pay Vick's salary to engineer a paid LOA - not because he's cheap certainly but because he didn't want to set the precedent of paying a potential felon just to stay away.

I think all parties are doing exactly what they should at this juncture. The goals are to get Vick gone in the short term and keep him gone in the long term. Not always an easy task given the way the NFLPA has historically backed it's members regardless. But two things are a little different in this case and the league would like those to remain in effect. The NFLPA signed off on the Personal Conduct Policy and Gene Upshaw has not only not taken up this players defense, he's cooperating in finding a way to keep him off the field. When interviewed yesterday he made it a point to say that he is a dog owner whose pets are like family members and he is repulsed by what he read in Vick's indictment. Apparently Gene wasn't ever a member of the subculture many present and past players seem to think isn't such a big deal, and that doesn't bode well for Michael going forward.

All of this has bought time for Vick's new high powered criminal counsel to convince Michael that taking a LOA to deal with his situation isn't just in his teams best interest, which he could care less about, it's in his. And that's the goal here for the league and the Falcons too - a best case scenario where Mike voluntarily stays gone for now and they can impose additional sanctions down the road to insure he remains gone without ever earning another Million in the league and potentially forced to give back tens of millions he won't have for lawyers and appeals or to soften the blow when this is all said and done.

ALL well stated. the whole CBA deal I think slowed it down and really did tie the Falcon's hands a bit. I think we may find out that in the interim, all parties wished the LOA path be the easiest and it was Vick who wished not to have that happen. Given that teh Falcons could not do anything and Vick wasn't cooperating, Goodell had to step in and just do it via edict; Do not come to camp until we review the case. Very similar to what I thought he should do..suspension until investigation was complete. It's there now and Vick might be covinced that a LOA is the best route. In any event, I think all parties, teh Commish, the Falcons and the NFLPA, will be sure that Vick is off the field until the court case(s) has been settled. I put that as a plural because I think there will be state charges as well as possible other charges as investigations are still going on.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Well looks like the NFL commish is taking no chances.
Vick will NOT get a free pass.
We'll just have to see what the verdict turns out to be.
If found Guilty, I'm pretty sure Vick will get at least a 1 year suspension.

 

[Pats726]

What is REALLy sad is that according to PFT..that Vick thinks things will blow over..that he doesn't at all grasp the seriousness of the charges. THAt is really really sad..and just shows he's on another planet. Bout time he's waking up to the reality of it all. It also mentions that Goodell has lost his patience with it all; GOOD!!

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

What is REALLy sad is that according to PFT..that Vick thinks things will blow over..that he doesn't at all grasp the seriousness of the charges. THAt is really really sad..and just shows he's on another planet. Bout time he's waking up to the reality of it all. It also mentions that Goodell has lost his patience with it all; GOOD!!

I am just going to go out on a limb and say that Vick never takes another snap in the NFL.

I could be wrong, but that is really how I feel. We have seen the Ray Lewis types get not so much as a slap on the wrist back in the day, but there is something about this alledged crime which seems so henious and over the top to regular people that I just don't think Vick gains his image back.

Here in Virginia, it is ironic because the media interviewed some home boys from Vick's home town, and they all muttered that this is just like "the Clinton thing". I am not even going to touch that statement, it just seems too stupid and paranoid to even comment on for a number of reasons.

But more importantly, the shop owners who made thousands of dollars selling Vick jerseys here in Virginia are pulling his products. Now if Vick has worn out his welcome amoung those who for years have made money off their home town hero, it is looking grim for Vick. The media interviewed a lady shop owner who said that what Vick is accused of is so heinous that she wants to protect her store's image as a family store. That means that there has been a Titanic seed change right here at ground zero. Vick is out of favor.

They also interviewed a shop owner in Surry county, who sold dog products to Vick personally, and he did not have any words of compassion to spare, he just said let the case be decided in court, with a blank face.

Tommorrow Vick will appear in Richmond City court, about 15 minutes from where I live, and they are basically shutting down the whole area because they fear everything from protestors to the media frenzy.

I think that Vick is really missing the point if he thinks this will blow over. People here in Virginia can't get away from him fast enough. He may have the support of the guy on the street corner in his hometown, but for a multi-millionaire international sports celebrity that might not be enough.

 

[Pats726]

I am just going to go out on a limb and say that Vick never takes another snap in the NFL.

I could be wrong, but that is really how I feel. We have seen the Ray Lewis types get not so much as a slap on the wrist back in the day, but there is something about this alledged crime which seems so henious and over the top to regular people that I just don't think Vick gains his image back.

Here in Virginia, it is ironic because the media interviewed some home boys from Vick's home town, and they all muttered that this is just like "the Clinton thing". I am not even going to touch that statement, it just seems too stupid and paranoid to even comment on for a number of reasons.

But more importantly, the shop owners who made thousands of dollars selling Vick jerseys here in Virginia are pulling his products. Now if Vick has worn out his welcome amoung those who for years have made money off their home town hero, it is looking grim for Vick. The media interviewed a lady shop owner who said that what Vick is accused of is so heinous that she wants to protect her store's image as a family store. That means that there has been a Titanic seed change right here at ground zero. Vick is out of favor.

They also interviewed a shop owner in Surry county, who sold dog products to Vick personally, and he did not have any words of compassion to spare, he just said let the case be decided in court, with a blank face.

Tommorrow Vick will appear in Richmond City court, about 15 minutes from where I live, and they are basically shutting down the whole area because they fear everything from protestors to the media frenzy.

I think that Vick is really missing the point if he thinks this will blow over. People here in Virginia can't get away from him fast enough. He may have the support of the guy on the street corner in his hometown, but for a multi-millionaire international sports celebrity that might not be enough.

I do not think that is far from the case...he might have taken his last snaps..sad as so many people thought he in time could learn and put it all together..ME included. But Vick needs to understand it..but I am afraid we are going to see a circus BEFORE it ends. He may fight it and it will make HIM look worse and worse. Goodell wants Vick to go away and he MAY have trouble making the suspension stick..which is even sadder. I can not imagine the what/how of that..or who is going to defend him as he is totally radioactive. But I have heard that both roundball's Iverson and retired running back Emmet Smith have in some way been a bit in his corner with words. Very sad situation.