Michael Vick, so far league says Dog gone it
NFL Football at its best. NFL Football at its craziest.
The Home of Michael Vick
The Savannah Morning News Online Edition reports that Michael will play, even after a federal indictment.
This much we know: Michael Vick won’t be on the field when the Atlanta Falcons open training camp next Thursday. He’ll be in a federal courtroom. What happens after that was anyone’s guess Wednesday, and there was no shortage of opinions.
Suspend him. Cut him. Let him play until he’s proven guilty of felony charges that he sponsored a gruesome dogfighting operation.
For the time being, that’s what the NFL intends to do with the star quarterback— let him play. source
The Savannah paper also took a poll of its most famous citizen.
In Atlanta, where Vick’s name dwarfs all others in pro sports, about 46 percent of respondents in an overnight telephone poll conducted by Atlanta-based InsiderAdvantage think the Falcons should release Vick. About the same percentage said the team should keep him until a verdict is returned. About 8 percent of the 859 people polled had no opinion. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The NFL has a problem here, in that Michael is a player that the league wants desperately to market and yet, Michael continues to do things that embarrass the NFL. Roger Goodell is going to have to step up and suspend Michael Vick!
Outside of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, there isn’t a bigger name in the NFL than Michael Vick. This indictment, regardless of the outcome, has put a black eye on the popular Vick — and the NFL — in the process. source
Should Vick not play, the Falcons will take an enormous hit.
The Falcons signed Vick to a 10-year, $130 million contract in December 2004. He has been paid about $44 million, including $37 million in guaranteed bonuses, and is due to earn a base salary of $6 million this season.
Teams can amortize the salary cap implications of signing bonuses, but if a player is cut, all bonuses paid but not yet factored into the salary cap must be accounted for within two years.
The Falcons face an estimated salary cap hit of about $6 million this year and $15 million in 2008 if they release Vick — devastating hits to any team’s budget. source
Michael Vick is nothing but bad news. Nobody wants to see Vick suspended, because of the raw football talent Vick displays.
Endorsements
Vick could lose big time in the endorsement world.
Bob Cramer, a sports marketing expert in New York, said Vick’s federal indictment in the Virginia dogfighting case could make it difficult for Vick to sign new marketing deals or keep the ones he has….
If the allegations prove true that Vick was a part of a competitive dogfighting operation in which some dogs were tortured and killed, “he’s pretty much done in the marketing world,” Cramer said.
Cramer agreed that even if Vick is cleared of the charges, the perception could spell trouble for his endorsement deals.
“I think his reputation has already been damaged,” Cramer said. source
Jim Rome
The Jim Rome indicator went off the scale today as Romie talked about Vick incessantly. Rome all but convicted Vick. When Rome is down on you, then you are in real trouble.
NFL Football Fan Question Are you down on Michael Vick?
As always, any NFL Football related comments are welcome.
More blogs about football.
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Atlanta Falcons, Michael Vick, NFL Football, Opinion
7 opinions for Michael Vick, so far league says Dog gone it
Mike
Jul 19, 2007 at 10:03 am
James, I didn’t hear Rome yesterday but probably he said numerous times something like: Michael Vick running a dog fighting ring and then with his voice dripping with sacarsm….allegedly. I suspect even if he is allowed to play this year the Falcons will suffer because of the distraction especially all the questions prior to each game. Can you imagine the fans at road games and how they will treat him? I can visualize the posters now and I can almost hear the comments he will be subjected to.
joe
Jul 19, 2007 at 10:35 am
you can take the ***** out of the ghetto, but you can’t take the ghetto out of the *****!!!!
Editor Note: This comment was edited. This topic incites anger in all of us. Please show some restraint in your comments. My Mom reads this.
Mary
Jul 19, 2007 at 10:37 am
What is the matter with people? I know money roars loudly in this country, but why in the world do we let these embarrassingly highly-paid athletes walk all over what is left of the morality in our culture. This is NOT rocket science. This guy isn’t even ashamed - not ashamed that he broke the law (Hate that attitude of, “As long as I don’t get caught, what difference does it make.” Whatever happened to - dare I say it - character. What ever happened to choosing to do the right thing because it is the right thing), and not ashamed that he treated a lesser feeling creature like pieces of garbage.
Rob Tornoe
Jul 19, 2007 at 1:08 pm
James, I’m a cartoonist from New Jersey. Where’s your mention of the Madden Curse :)
Here’s the toon I did on Vick:
http://tornoe.b...
Laqueesha
Jul 19, 2007 at 1:38 pm
I say we have all those pit bulls eat him alive.I will be so happy then.michael,your people suffered for many centuries.Black people were tortured,beaten,and used as slaves.And you do the same to these dogs? You do know that GOD will punish you right?
There is no way GOD will let you succeed,and continue making the $ you have after doing this.
You greedy little b*****.You bow down to the white man everytime you play football.WHo do you think owns you? The white owned and opperated white team.You puppet.I love it.
They only stand by your side because you are3 dollar signs.These are the same white men who go home and call you a *!?X# to their sugnificant others.You are not human to them do you understand? I will make sure you are fired from NFL and loses sponsers.%%%%.
Editors Note: My mom may read this, so some editing was done.
Brittany Abernathy
Jul 19, 2007 at 2:57 pm
bleep deserves to rot in bleep!!
Editors note: This comment was edited. All comments are appreciated, but please, my Mom reads this.
James
Jul 19, 2007 at 8:19 pm
It is so good to see that the Squibster’s readers are passionate about kindness to animals!
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: