Falcons' Vick indicted in dogfighting probe

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by habernac

at least Nike seems to have clued in as Vick's line of footwear has been indefinitely shelved.

NIKE is getting a lot of e-mail I think, including one from myself, and I know there are petitions being organized. About $7 billion of NIKE's anticipated $17.6 billion in global revenue in 2008 will come from America. Big mistake on their part not to cut and run right away. They're underestimating the response to this.

NIKE's response to myself is below:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us here at Nike Canada.
Nike is concerned by the serious and highly disturbing allegations made against Michael Vick and we consider any cruelty to animals inhumane and abhorrent. We do believe that Michael Vick should be afforded the same due process as any citizen, therefore, we have not terminated our relationship. We have however made the decision to suspend the release of the Zoom Vick V and related marketing communications. Nike will continue to monitor the situation closely and have no further comment at this time.

Cowperson

[Sylvanfan]

Well I wonder how the legalities of the case tie into this. If the NFL and Nike were to cut ties with Vick now....Do they paint a picture of guilt to the jury? Thats why I wonder if they're sitting tight right now waiting for the courts to judge him before they officially cut ties with him type of thing.

Although given Vicks past antics Nike should have avoided him prior to the whole Dog Fighting thing. I fully support any boycott of Nike stuff until they officially sever their ties with Vick. Doesn't Arthur Blanc own Home Depot? Boycott that place until Blanc himself cuts Vick. I wonder how much public pressure it will take to make them cave?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Well I wonder how the legalities of the case tie into this. If the NFL and Nike were to cut ties with Vick now....Do they paint a picture of guilt to the jury? Thats why I wonder if they're sitting tight right now waiting for the courts to judge him before they officially cut ties with him type of thing.

Although given Vicks past antics Nike should have avoided him prior to the whole Dog Fighting thing. I fully support any boycott of Nike stuff until they officially sever their ties with Vick. Doesn't Arthur Blanc own Home Depot? Boycott that place until Blanc himself cuts Vick. I wonder how much public pressure it will take to make them cave?

If this is tried with a jury then you would have a point, and his defense team will push for a jury so that they can appeal on bias.

Does anyone know if the U.S. federal court can still do trials by judge?

Nike dosn't care if they taint the jury or not, they have a public relations disastor, and its already costing them a ton of money because of the cancallation of the Vick shoe line.

The Falcon's won't care about the optics of releasing Vick, they're only going to care about the whiplash of the indictment and how its going to affect the Falcons. I expect that Vick will be cut after he enters his plea of not guilty because the pressure will be huge.

[habernac]

I think they're doing the right thing. While he has been accused of dispicable things, let the courts do their work before declaring him guilty.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

The Falcon's won't care about the optics of releasing Vick, they're only going to care about the whiplash of the indictment and how its going to affect the Falcons. I expect that Vick will be cut after he enters his plea of not guilty because the pressure will be huge.

I heard an ESPN Radio interview with John Clayton in which he said that the Falcons best interest is not to cut Michael Vick. On his last contract he was guaranteed something like 37 million in terms of bonuses, and 15 of those are still owed. Should he get incarcerated or suspended the Falcons can than go after him for half of that money type of thing. From an economic standpoint they were better off to let it run it's course and than if he is guilty they have legal avenues that they can pursue to basicallly recoup some money and suffer a lesser cap hit for future years type of thing.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I heard an ESPN Radio interview with John Clayton in which he said that the Falcons best interest is not to cut Michael Vick. On his last contract he was guaranteed something like 37 million in terms of bonuses, and 15 of those are still owed. Should he get incarcerated or suspended the Falcons can than go after him for half of that money type of thing. From an economic standpoint they were better off to let it run it's course and than if he is guilty they have legal avenues that they can pursue to basicallly recoup some money and suffer a lesser cap hit for future years type of thing.

I would agree that from a business point of view the Falcons should keep him and the Falcons owner is quoted today they're reviewing all their legal and contractual options.

Having said that, from a business point of view the NFL should immediately suspend him . . . . they have ample precedent for doing so and the crescendo is only going to get worse. There is zero upside for the NFL not to suspend this guy and they can avoid the PR disaster, even worse than now, that's coming if they don't.

From a business point of view, NIKE might be in a more nebulous spot. As with the Falcons, the best financial decision might be to do what they've done to this point then wait for the inevitable conviction before walking away without cost . . . . . but they have to weigh that against the loss of business they will endure, both in the short and long term, by not cutting ties immediately. It's already a given that NIKE will toss him over the side of the boat . . . it's only a matter of when.

This guy is toxic and done in the NFL . . . . it's just a matter of how and when these business entities cut him lose. What's the best business decision?

Sidebar, amusing to see Hockey Hall Of Fame columnist Kevin Paul Dupont weigh in on this in the Boston Globe the other day but then put himself on the hot seat with a comment that because pit bulls were involved, fewer people should care.

That in turn has set off a grenade in the vocal pit bull and general dog community and they're all over him.

Cowperson

[burn_baby_burn]

I have a hard time understanding why a multi-millionaire athlete would chance losing everything like this. Just to get a rush on betting on dog fighting. Dog fighting is wrong and illegal. Is Vick that stupid to think that somebody with as big a profile as himself would not eventually get caught? Was he never worried that some of the low lifes he was hanging with would turn into federal witnesses if they got pinched?

If he wanted to see dog fighting that bad. Why not go to some third world country where it isn't illegal and watch it in the offseason? Or better yet. Find a different way to amuse yourself.

Even if by some mirracle he is found not guilty. (Its possible, OJ got away with murder). His reputation is damaged forever.

[flambers]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/20/vic...ing/index.html

"Senate criticism increased Friday when Sen. John Kerry said he had sent a letter to the NFL commissioner calling for Vick's immediate suspension. The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee also said he planned to introduce new anti-dogfighting legislation."

"Joining the call for Vick to temporarily step down were more than 50 animal rights protesters gathered Friday outside NFL headquarters in New York. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals event followed a letter condemning dogfighting that the group sent to Vick's team, the Atlanta Falcons, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Vick's corporate sponsors.

The Humane Society of the United States also called for Vick's suspension and said on its Web site, "Anything less would be an outrage"

As others have stated this is going to be nasty situation for the Falcons.

[burn_baby_burn]

Maybe legally, the NFL or Nike for that matter, need to have Vick proven guilty before they suspend him. Or in Nike case, terminate his contract. I'm sure if it was as easy as, he's is getting bad press, lets get rid of him, Nike would have done so by now.

Nice to see that John Kerry is going to ride the coat tails of this thing to get some votes.

[socalwingfan]

If I was the Falcons I would be encouraging Vick to take a Leave of Absence until the trial is over - this will be a huge distraction to the team all year long.

[Sylvanfan]

Yeah at least without Vick the Falcons could just suck in peace and get another number one pick and pick a new QB. With Vick around it's going to be hell from vandalized buses at every road game to Crazy protestors outside their hotels at all hours of the morning. I sort of hope they don't act and that the public lynches him much like I imagine. Too bad they don't play in Cleveland this year....That could be a sight for the ages.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

I have a hard time understanding why a multi-millionaire athlete would chance losing everything like this. Just to get a rush on betting on dog fighting. Dog fighting is wrong and illegal. Is Vick that stupid to think that somebody with as big a profile as himself would not eventually get caught? Was he never worried that some of the low lifes he was hanging with would turn into federal witnesses if they got pinched?

If he wanted to see dog fighting that bad. Why not go to some third world country where it isn't illegal and watch it in the offseason? Or better yet. Find a different way to amuse yourself.

Even if by some mirracle he is found not guilty. (Its possible, OJ got away with murder). His reputation is damaged forever.

I think I know that answer to that. It is because up until now they could.

I'm sure dozens of professional athletes have spent the last week distancing themselves from their dog fighting rings about 100mph.

[ricoFlame]

i still can't get over how those guys killed these dogs, i'm no animal rights activist by any stretch, but you's actually have to be a monster to electricute or drow a dog or any animal for that matter. i just can't wrap my head around that, it's just brutal.

[CaptainCrunch]

Looks like the NFL and NFLPA are trying to convince Vick to take a 1 year leave of absence. Of course Vick wants to play.

Also Goodell meets with animal rights activists after a small protest at NFL HQ,

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...ack=crosspromo

[Sylvanfan]

Of course it all hinges on the Falcons paying Vick during this leave of absence. I wonder if Vick wants to play in hopes that if he is guilty he'll have a case for keeping the money for the day he gets out of the clink. If he's on leave and gets convicted the Falcons may have some sort of grounds to recover some of that money.

[ricoFlame]

vick banned from training camp by the commish.

http://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/1815951/detail.html

[Ro]

I haven't paid too much attention to this case, but when I heard that Goodall had suspended Vick from training camp I decided to do some reading. Specifically, I wanted to know exactly what Vick did, and exactly what dogfighting entails.

I planned to read quite a few different stories.

After visiting just one website, and reading these two articles, Article #1, and Article #2,I am sick to my stomach and really don't care to read any more details of the case. In fact, I could barely continue after reading this:

In March 2003, Vick and others sponsored a 35-pound female pit bull in a fight that had a $26,000 purse. After the fight, Purnell Peace, one of the others indicted, consulted with Vick about the losing dog and Peace then "executed the losing dog by wetting the dog down with water and electrocuting the animal," the indictment states.

Disgusting, awful stuff.

Just put in a bunch of random crap to bypass the registration and get to the links. Sorry about that.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

i still can't get over how those guys killed these dogs, i'm no animal rights activist by any stretch, but you's actually have to be a monster to electricute or drow a dog or any animal for that matter. i just can't wrap my head around that, it's just brutal.

To me the worst part is seeing the references in the media about how common this stuff is. It's a good sign you are in the bottom of the barrel of society when you are a part of dog fighting.

[AaronSJ]

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

vick banned from training camp by the commish.

Good move by Goddell and the NFL. If this happened in baseball, I don't think Bud Selig would have the gonads to take such a stand...

I'd say the odds of Vick playing in the CFL at some point in his career are currently about 50:50.

[habernac]

geez, Ro. I hadn't read much past the headlines and that is some sick stuff he's being accused of. Vick will never play another down of NFL football.