NFL Star indicted for dogfighting

[Tullaryx]

Even though it says NFL Star this could be any sport figure, celebrity or just any person rich, powerful and influential enough to think they're above the laws the rest of society seem to follow. For those who follow the NFL they would know the name Michael Vick. He's the star quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons and one who was seen by many as having all the talent in the world to become one of the best in his position. He's also seen by many as one of the more cocky and arrogant players whose attitude on and off the field leaves much to be desired.

During the NFL off-season Michael Vick has been in and out of the news in regards to off-field behaviors which has put him, his team and the league in a bad light. One of the more disturbing reports of this off-season was of a home in a suburb of Virginia which he owned that was being used to train dogs for illegal dogfighting matches. As more and more revelations came to light during state and federal investigations it was found out that fights themselves were being held on the property. Vick has denied being involved in such activities and explained that he was rarely at the house and had relatives and friends using it.

After several months of investigations it would seem the United States Federal government's attorneys and investigators will beg to differ with Michael Vicks denials and pleads of ignorance. On July 17, 2007 Michael Vick and three others were indicted by a federal grand jury of competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting and conducting the enterprise across state lines.

He hasn't been convicted of the crimes he's being accused of but unlike local and state attorney, federal prosecutors rarely file to indict someone unless they know they have a great chance of conviction. On record they have close to 95 percent conviction rate. I'm going to guess Michael Vick will really need to start worrying.

After that long prologue the thing which seems to bug me about all this is that there's still a chance while his trial is being prepared for that he'll still play football when the season begins. Yes, he hasn't been convicted of any crime. But just like all other athletes, celebrities and rich, powerful people they seem to get better treatment in the early going of a case against them.There's been anomalies like the Paris Hilton case where the book was pretty much launched at her, but her case has been against the grain when it comes to such individuals in court.

Do you think that money, fame and influence still helps in keeping such people out of jail or at least getting lighter sentences. Will the scope and brutality of the charges Michael Vick is accused of enough to convict him as guilty in the eyes of the public despite not even being found guilty or having even gone through the trial? And what do you think should be the penalty for people accused of treating dogs and animals in such a way?

Complete Grand Jury Indictment

Shocking charges - Indictment against Vick describes unfathomable acts
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[Shad]

I don't know what the penalty is for this - I hope it's pretty severe - but in all fairness he's innocent until proven otherwise. Allowing him to continue playing until he's convicted isn't so much showing favoritism to major figures as it is a display of proper justice within the judicial process. In the non-existent chance he's proven innocent this won't be a major blow to his career, and that I suppose can be used for examples in normal cases with non-stars. If he is convicted and receives a lesser punishment than his crime deserves, then it's showing favoritism to celebrities and it's blatantly unjust. That we shall see when if it transpires. I hope the Paris Hilton deal has set of precedence for not letting people like that off the hook and he'll be punished properly.

[fuji]

[Ezekiel]

I think he should get life.


Oh, no, not for the dog thing. For having that much money, and being that much of a jackass. Who brings weed with them on a plane also? You guys remember that?

You're rich, buy some after you land! I have no respect for sport stars like him. All the money they need, and all they do is (expletive) up. Can you say the Cincinnati Bengals? They could make a sequel to The Longest yard with all the criminals on that team :*laugh*:
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[Calvin]

Here is a quote that I thought was very informative and very damning of the Vick case, posted by someone at another site I frequent:

[Sailor Sexy]

Well, even if Vick is found to be innocent, there's already been a ton of damage done to him financially. Pretty much every endorsement deal he had is now gone. Manufacturers are not going to make any apparel of his, he no longer will have trading cards made of him, and so forth. And this is all before any evidence has been presented. If he is found guilty, I think we can expect, based on how Roger Goodell is running things, that he'll recieve a very long suspension from the league at best. The NFLPA isn't nearly as powerful as the MLBPA, so they'd have a tough time overturning any sort of ruling that the commissioner hands down.

Personally, I hope that the charges against him turn out to be wrong and that he is innocent of this. Not because I'm any sort of fan of Vick, in fact I really don't like the guy. No, rather I feel this because I'm sick of certain players dragging the league through the mud. I'm glad Goodell is taking a tough stance on the thug life attitudes some of these people give off. We need to see a lot more accountability for people's actions in sports, and I hope the NFL cracking down on this behavior starts getting the other sports to follow suit.
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~Uguu!~

[ferrouslupusrex]

Well what do you expect? He IS/WAS a jackass. He needs to be sent to the pit. Let's see how he can claim it is a sport after the pitbulls rip his juggular out.
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- 108 Soldiers, 1 for EVERY star.
Keynes' (Chapter 1 Hero) performing his kata

[Tullaryx]

It looks like Michael Vick has accepted a plea deal from the Federal Government to dogfighting conspiracy charges. The deal was done just before a new grand jury was to convene to add new charges under the RICO statutes which would've been worse for him if he had been convicted. RICO charges can turn any 5-7 year prison term into 20-to-life terms.

While the plea deal includes the offer of 18-36 months of prison time, the judge who is handling the case is not bound by any rule or regulation to follow the plea deal's sentencing offer. If the judge wanted to do so he could still give Vick the full amount of prison time the charges warrant.

I think it is safe to say that this particular celebrity athlete needs a fork in him for he is done.
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[Ezekiel]

[Filipe]

I think it is fairly certain that he will never be playing football again, as a lot of people have been banned from proffessional sports for a lot less than this. I mean taking a plea has pretty much set this in stone, I mean being accused of something is one thing they couldnt ban him for. Anyone can come and accuse anyone else of just about anything, it doesnt mean it would stick, but I guess he chose considering how good the evidence must have been to just take the plea. There is word going around that part of the deal was them insuring that Micheal Vick would be able to play again as part of the deal, but there is no guarentee of that. Could you imagine the controversy and protest that would arise everywhere if the NFL decided to let Micheal Vick play again? Im surprised they havent already permanently banned him from playing ever again, unless that was included in the deal.

I do however agree with a statement a radio show host said here where I live, that if Micheal Vick were ever to play in the NFL again, their is no justifiable reason why baseball should not induct Pete Rose into the Hall of Fame. All Pete Rose ever did was bet on baseball, not even games he was playing in, and they wont let him in.
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[fuji]

I hope he never plays again. Look at what they did to Pac Man.... Vick should get 5x that. I a gree with Filipe; Pete Rose got banned from the HOF and he didn't even break a law. NFL is going to do this right though.

Slightly off-topic yet still related. An NHL player was found guilty of DUI and hit and run. This person is going to spend 6 months in jail. The courts, and league have allowed him to play the NHL season first, before going to jail. WTF is that!! Dude if it was you, me or anyone else we'd be in jail right now, our jobs/school be damned. NHL has an image problem and I wish they'd take at least some hints from the NFL on how to hand out stiff penalties.
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______ "We're still flying"

___ "That's not much"

"It's enough"

[Ezekiel]

[Yohn]

I really hate Vick.... this whole situation is so fucked up. We had to pull all of the merchandise with his name on it from our shore not long ago (we're so close to Atlanta that we've got a lot of clothing/jerseys for the Falcons with players' names on them). Good riddance.
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"And as the lion slaughters man, I am the wolf and you're the lamb." ~Blind Guardian

[Ezekiel]

[Yohn]