Michael Vick - An Editorial

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Michael Vick - An Editorial

« on: August 25, 2007, 10:39:39 AM »

Vick caught in game of semantics

by John Czarnecki
FOXSports.com

(John Czarnecki has been the editorial consultant for the Emmy Award-winning FOX NFL Sunday since its 1994 inception. Czarnecki was a pro football writer for The National Sports Daily, The Dallas Morning News, and The Los Angeles Herald-Examiner.)

OK, the big revelation Friday in Michael Vick's plea agreement is that he admitted that he simply bankrolled the dogfighting gambling ring that he and three friends operated, but that he never took any prize money.

Is that splitting hairs, a legal technicality simply designed to lesson whatever future NFL suspension he may receive after his jail term? Or, is it that the federal prosecutors merely couldn't prove a satisfactory money trail to Vick that he ever collected, say a $5,000 bet, when one of his dogs won? More importantly, does it matter?

The bottom line is that this dogfighting ring wouldn't have existed without Vick and his checkbook. He bought the house on Moonlight Road, the dogs and this entire enterprise was a way for him to financially take care of some of his friends, including one who served time for selling drugs. What's the difference between bankrolling an illegal dogfighting ring and bankrolling an after-hours casino at your house?

By indefinitely suspending Vick on Friday, Commissioner Roger Goodell seems to be viewing Vick's claims that he didn't profit from any of the dog fights as mere semantics. Goodell said "even if you did not place bets, as you contend, your actions in funding the betting and your association with illegal gambling both violate the terms of your NFL Player Contract and expose you to corrupting influences... one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player."

Vick did hire excellent lawyers and these issues — that he never personally applied the electrical cable when a dog was killed or that he never won a few measly dollars — may be important in reducing his jail time. Believe me, that is Vick's concern at the moment.

Once Vick is sentenced and serves whatever time the judge hands down, Goodell will decide whether to make Vick's suspension permanent. Initially, the opinion was Goodell would give Vick a two-year suspension — one for his reprehensible actions involving dogfighting and one for gambling — once he serves his jail term.

During this entire episode, a case that by federal standards was amazing in how quickly it was prosecuted and concluded, I have wavered on Vick's future. My last thoughts were that he will never play in the NFL again. Some of my colleagues have pointed out that in America, you are entitled to a second chance and that Vick should be allowed to earn a fair living.

I'm for him earning a living; I just don't believe it entitles him to earn a living in the NFL. Isn't it time to put a stop to some of this criminal and nauseating behavior by sports stars? Isn't the game bigger than one left-handed quarterback? Also, there must be more to Vick the man than simply being a football player. He must have other talents and interests.

I say this because there are too many fans that simply don't want to see Vick playing and then be forced to watch while other fans cheer his every move. It's a little too much hero worship for me.

Should Goodell impose a lifetime ban, Vick can challenge the league in court and see what owners and coaches will join the quarterback's fight against such a suspension.

And don't you love all these coaches saying what a hard worker Vick was, what a great guy he was before they couch their statement in how upset they are about the allegations?

I wrote last month that Vick's big money — $29.5 million — in his last contract was in the form of roster bonuses. It's going to be tough to get that money back because he fulfilled the obligations of those clauses by being on the roster in 2004, 2005 and 2006 when the bulk of that money was paid.

I simply can't feel sorry for Vick.

When examining his first contract, when he was the first player selected in the 2001 draft, Vick was paid $17.9 million during his first three seasons. On his next contract, signed in 2004, he earned another $48.5 million through last season for a grand total of $66.4 million paid by the Falcons since he entered the league. That amount doesn't account for whatever endorsement and appearance deals he received because of his NFL status

You and I and most other people should be able to live happily on that without playing or watching another down of football.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7153182


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