NFL's Falcons Disavow Michael Vick
Team Owner Distances Falcons, Appalled at Allegations of Dogfighting
Jul 25, 2007
The National Football League warned the Atlanta Falcons off suspending quarterback Michael Vick after Vick was indicted on federal charges of dogfighting.
Vick – one of the highest-profile quarterbacks of his generation – was indicted by the feds July 17 in a devastating, 18-page affidavit. He stand accused of transporting digs across state lines for the purpose of dogfighting, sponsoring some of those fights, and betting on the outcome of them. The allegations included at the least his tacit approval to execute dogs that did not perform well.
Since the indictments were made public both the NFL and the Falcons have been under intense pressure to drop, suspend or otherwise discipline the talented quarterback, who set an NFL rushing record last season.
After nearly a week of inaction NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Monday night that Vick would not be allowed to attend Falcons’ training camp, which starts Thursday at Flowery Branch, Ga., reported WSB-TV of Atlanta. Vick is slated to be arraigned in federal court in Richmond, Va. that day anyway.
Team owner Arthur Blank, founder of the Home Depot empire, faced the cameras Tuesday after simply issuing a pithy statement last week. Blank admitted his first impulse was to suspend Vick for the four games allowable under the players’ contract, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
"Our preference was for the club to take action" said Blank, but added that the NFL’s edict was proper. "This was the best action."
Blank declined to speculate on Vick's future with the team. He signed the quarterback to a $130 million, six-year contract several years ago.
Vick and three others stand accused of competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting, and conducting an enterprise named “Bad Newz Kennels” across state lines. The dogs were allegedly housed, trained and fought at a property owned by Vick in Surry County, Va.
The indictment assert that losing dogs either died in the pit or were electrocuted, drowned, hanged or shot. Purses allegedly climbed as high as $20,000.
Criminal conviction could carry up to six years in prison, fines of $350,000 and restitution.
The feds said numerous sources placed Vick in the center of the actions, which took place over six years.
Last Friday, the NFL charged, "dogfighting is cruel, degrading and illegal.”
Blank and the Falcons have often been accused of coddling Vick, who has a history of antisocial behavior. But the dogfighting charges were too gruesome to ignore. "This sort of behavior is really horrific," Blank declared. "This is certainly not the player or the person that I knew the last six years."
Blank said he would encourage Vick to take the time off to attend to his legal difficulties. ESPN.com had previously reported that Vick allegedly turned down a paid leave of absence, a course of action brokered by the NFL, the players’ association and the Falcons. NFL Commissioner Goodell expressed his dismay at a Washington D.C.-based press conference.
"Let me make it very clear that the National Football League is very disappointed that Michael put himself in this position," he remarked, according to The Associated Press. "In no way do we think that dogfighting or anything related to dogfighting is acceptable. We think it's despicable, frankly."
Vick was charged in a civil suit several years ago that claimed he’d given genital herpes to a woman while operating under the alias of Ron Mexico. Then he was detained at the Atlanta airport for possession of marijuana. One of his entourage was accused of stealing a Rolex watch at the same facility.
Last season, Vick incurred the wrath of the Falcons and the NFL when he flipped off Atlanta fans twice after the team was drubbed by the New Orleans Saints in November, Then, following the season, he was grabbed at the Miami International Airport for trying to dump a water bottle with a hidden compartment officials said smelled of marijuana.
Throughout it all, the team has stood by Vick, particularly Blank and former head coach Dan Reeves, who prompted the team to draft the quarterback as the Number 1 pick overall in the 2001 NFL draft.
Goodell has instructed the Falcons not to take further disciplinary action against Vick, pending an NFL investigation.
