[NFL] Injured dogs found on Vick's property in raid

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

Man that guys life SUCKSSSSS. From a rich, millionaire quarterback, to maybe never getting to play the game again, and spend over a year in prison. Wtf...

And I'm not even that appauled at the charges. Bad yes, but not as irate as the rest of America.

His life sucks???? Surely you cannot be serious when you say that?

He made all the choices to get to this point.

His life does not suck. He sucks.

Pretty big difference the way I see it.

[Verbatim]

Not as irate as the rest of America? What does that mean? This guy killed animals in horrible, horrible ways. How can you say that's not appauling? Have you seen the pictures? Maybe you should take a look at them, see how appauled you are then.

Look I don't mean to defend him because I do think he's guilty and all. I also heard he personally hung/drowned some dogs on one occassion but he wasn't even there for the majority of the year. He had to be training with the team in Atlanta right? So in terms of killing them I believe he personally was involved in only a few(no that doesn't make it any better, but most of those pictures shows dogs he likely had little to do with). The issue with him legally I believe was that it was all done thanks to his $$$.

[+Fulcrum Subscriber¹]

Look I don't mean to defend him because I do think he's guilty and all. I also heard he personally hung/drowned some dogs on one occassion but he wasn't even there for the majority of the year. He had to be training with the team in Atlanta right? So in terms of killing them I believe he personally was involved in only a few(no that doesn't make it any better, but most of those pictures shows dogs he likely had little to do with). The issue with him legally I believe was that it was all done thanks to his $$$.

So let him off easy kuz not all the evidence points to him? He killed dogs, facilitating killing more dogs, for all we know, the only reason he played football was to enjoy brutalizing dogs in his offtime: This was his hobby boys and girls! And now he's entered plea agreement, meaning his involvement is bad enough that he would just like to go to jail and not tell.

"Please handcuff me now, so i can keep shut and maybe have a job when i get out".

[L3thal Veteran]

Vick deserves what he is getting. He turned himself into a millionaire and voluntarily kept his "enterprise" running when he knew it was illegal. Why would he run such an enterprise when he is making millions already? All he made off dog fights were a few grand and the money wasted on training and feeding them eventually would cancel out the profits.

He is just another example of someone that makes it big but can't stay out of trouble and make sound decisions.

[+Fulcrum Subscriber¹]

They showed a special on HBO's Sports with Bryan Gumbol about Dog Fighting, estimated $500mil industry. Dogs are trained to fight. Dog trainers steal dogs from peoples backyards just to shut their mouths with tape and leave them as training dummies for their dogs. Losing dogs are strangled, shot, electrocuted, tortured, castrated, their pups are killed too, to rule out survival of a weaker breed. They give the dogs hormones. They literally are fight training the dogs with treadmills and custom contraptions designed to "push the dogs to their limits", it was quite amazing just how much effort they put into something so sadistic.

Which is what this is, Sadistic cruelty, it's on the same level as child porn, human trafficking and rape.

[Hurmoth]

The head of the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP said Wednesday that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has made mistakes but that they should not cost him his football career with the NFL.

Vick is expected to plead guilty Monday to federal conspiracy charges in an illegal dogfighting operation.

R.L. White, president of the Atlanta chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said his organization does not condone dogfighting or any other illegal activity, but he told reporters that Vick should be given a chance to redeem himself.

"In some instances, I believe Michael Vick has received more negative press than if he would've killed a human being," White said. "The way he is being persecuted, he wouldn't have been persecuted that much had he killed somebody."

White said he believes Vick cut a deal rather than roll the dice on a trial and take a chance on being found guilty, but "whatever he's done wrongly, he needs to pay for it.

White also said he didn't understand the uproar over dogfighting, when hunting deer and other animals is perfectly acceptable. Video Watch NAACP official say don't pile on Vick ?

He urged the National Football League, the Atlanta Falcons and Vick's commercial sponsors not to dump the troubled athlete.

"We feel that whatever the courts demand as a punishment for what he has done, once he has paid his debt to society, then he should be treated like any other person in the NFL," White said.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell have said they will not make a decision on Vick's future immediately.

After Vick's indictment last month, Goodell ordered the quarterback not to report to training camp until the league completed its review of the case. The NFL is considering what, if any, sanctions it should impose on Vick.

When Vick appears Monday in federal court in Richmond, Virginia, the details of his plea agreement will be made public. The judge in the case will have the final say over the plea agreement.

The deal, if accepted by the judge, means the 27-year-old football star will avoid more serious charges that would have been considered by a grand jury that convened this week.

Sources close to the case have said federal prosecutors offered to recommend an 18- to 36-month prison sentence for the suspended star quarterback for his alleged role in the dogfighting operation. Vick's attorneys were trying to reduce that to less than a year.

Vick's three co-defendants in the dogfighting case already accepted agreements to plead guilty in exchange for reduced sentences.

Court documents released last week showed that two of Vick's alleged partners said he helped kill dogs that didn't fight well and that the three men "executed approximately eight dogs" in ways that included hanging and drowning.

The dogs were killed because they fared poorly in "testing" sessions in April at Vick's property in Virginia, where the dog fighting venture was based, according to documents released following guilty pleas from two co-defendants -- Purnell Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach, and Quanis Phillips, 28, of Atlanta.

Peace and Phillips pleaded guilty Friday. A third man, Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Virginia, pleaded guilty July 30.

In the court documents, Peace and Phillips said that the money behind the Bad Newz Kennels dogfighting operation came "almost exclusively" from Vick, and they told prosecutors that other accusations in the 18-page indictment are true.

News Source: CNN

Which is what this is, Sadistic cruelty, it's on the same level as child porn, human trafficking and rape.

I'm going to have to disagree with you there. I won't argue that this is sadistic and extremely cruel, but there's no way you can say that this is on the same level as human trafficking or rape. Rape is the most vicious, heinous crime that could ever be committed. There's a huge difference between what Vick did, which was horrible, and what a rapist does to his/her victim. No comparison! None whatsoever.

[+Fulcrum Subscriber¹]

TBH, it's just my opinion that the brain pulses a human receives from enjoying animal cruelty are inline with those of a person committing rape. Either way, please dont make me a catalyst for off-tracking this thread, i'm glad that other people consider this a big issue, but I wish people would see it more as an issue of society than just a rich football player who grew up in a bad neighborhood.

[Hurmoth]

TBH, it's just my opinion that the brain pulses a human receives from enjoying animal cruelty are inline with those of a person committing rape. Either way, please dont make me a catalyst for off-tracking this thread, i'm glad that other people consider this a big issue, but I wish people would see it more as an issue of society than just a rich football player who grew up in a bad neighborhood.

Gotcha... I agree with you there. :yes:

[Hurmoth]

Source: Vick will not admit to killing dogs or gambling on dog fights

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick will not admit to killing dogs or gambling on dog fights, as detailed in his indictment, when he enters a guilty plea in a Richmond, Va., federal court Monday, a source close to the case has told ESPN. Instead, the one count of conspiracy that Vick will plead to will admit guilt to the charge of interstate commerce for the purpose of dogfighting.

The source told ESPN that Vick's defense team met with federal attorneys Thursday afternoon to determine the "summary of facts" to which Vick will plead, and that his attorneys believed they had a deal. The source said Vick maintains he never killed dogs and never gambled on a dog fight.

He will admit he was present when dogs were killed, but that he did not personally kill any of the dogs.

The allegations of killing dogs and gambling were part of the picture painted by Vick's three co-defendants, all of whom have pleaded guilty.

Vick, 27, is scheduled to enter his plea agreement Monday and could face up to five years in prison.

Vick's co-defendants said Vick provided virtually all the gambling and operating funds for the Bad Newz Kennels enterprise. Two of them also said Vick participated in executing at least eight dogs seen as underperforming by various means, including drowning and hanging.

A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the terms are not final, told The Associated Press Wednesday that prosecutors will recommend a sentence of one year to 18 months. However, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson is not bound by that recommendation or by federal sentencing guidelines that will call for less than the five-year maximum.

It's still unclear whether all this will end the career of one of the NFL's most dazzling players.

Vick has been barred from training camp by the NFL, and commissioner Roger Goodell has asked the Falcons not to take any action until the league rules.

Goodell can suspend Vick under the NFL's personal conduct policy. While the league hasn't said whether a potential suspension would be concurrent with Vick's prison sentence, it probably would take effect once he is released from custody.

That means Vick likely would miss both the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

The Falcons in 2004 signed Vick to a 10-year, $130 million contract, at the time, one of the largest in NFL history. The bonus and guaranteed money he received in his contract totaled $44 million, and the team could try to reclaim part of that.

Vick has also lost lucrative contracts with sponsors. Rawlings, Nike, Reebok and Upper Deck are among the companies that have either ended contracts with him or stopped sales of his merchandise.

News Source: ESPN

[Deadlydread]

Commissioner Roger Goodell notified Michael Vick on Friday that he is suspended indefinitely without pay from the National Football League, effective immediately.

Vick files plea in federal court, admits dogfighting

Associated Press

The NFL indefinitely suspended Michael Vick without pay Friday just hours after he acknowledged in court papers that he did, indeed, bankroll gambling on dogfighting and helped kill some dogs not worthy of the pit.

Vick, however, insisted he placed no bets of his own nor took any winnings.

In disciplining Vick, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Vick's admitted conduct was "not only illegal but also cruel and reprehensible" and regardless whether he personally placed bets, "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 in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player."

Goodell freed the Falcons to "assert any claims or remedies" to recover $22 million of Vick's signing bonus from the 10-year, $130 million contract he signed in 2004.

The commissioner didn't speak to Vick but based his decision on the court filings. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Goodell may meet with Vick in the future, and Goodell said he would review the suspension after all the legal proceedings.

"You have engaged in conduct detrimental to the welfare of the NFL and have violated the league's personal conduct policy," Goodell told Vick in a letter after meeting in New York with Falcons president and general manager Rich McKay.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank supported Goodell's decision and said:

"We hope that Michael will use this time, not only to further address his legal matters, but to take positive steps to improve his personal life."

Earlier Friday in Richmond, Va., a "summary of facts" signed by Vick was filed along with his written plea agreement on a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge. He will appear before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson to formally plead guilty Monday and then await sentencing at a later date.

The court documents and a statement by Vick's legal team seek to portray him as less involved in the dogfighting ring than three co-defendants who previously pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the Atlanta Falcons quarterback.

"While Mr. Vick is not personally charged with or responsible for committing all of the acts alleged in the indictment, as with any conspiracy charge, he is taking full responsibility for his actions and the actions of the others involved," the defense team said in a written statement after the plea agreement was filed.

"Mr. Vick apologizes for his poor judgment in associating himself with those involved in dog fighting and realizes he should never have been involved in this conduct," the statement said.

Vick signed the plea agreement late Thursday.

"Most of the Bad Newz Kennels operation and gambling monies were provided by Vick," the summary of facts said, echoing language in plea agreements by the three co-defendants.

The statement said that when the kennel's dogs won, the gambling proceeds were generally shared by Vick's three co-defendants - Tony Taylor, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips.

"Vick did not gamble by placing side bets on any of the fights. Vick did not receive any of the proceeds of the purses that were won by Bad Newz Kennels," the summary said.

According to the statement, Vick also was involved with the others in killing six to eight dogs that did not perform well in testing sessions last April. The dogs were executed by drowning or hanging.

"Vick agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts" of Vick, Phillips and Peace, the statement said.

In the plea agreement, the government committed to recommending a sentence on the low end of the federal sentencing guideline range of a year to 18 months. However, the conspiracy charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, and the judge is not bound by any recommendation or by the guidelines.

Hudson has a reputation for imposing stiff sentences, according to lawyers who have appeared in his court. The judge will set a sentencing date at Monday's hearing.

"Our position has been that we are going to try to help Judge Hudson understand all the facts and Michael's role," Vick's defense attorney, Billy Martin, said in telephone interview. "Michael's role was different than others associated with this incident."

Martin said Vick will "speak to the public and explain his actions." Though he declined to say when and where, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, a syndicated program based in Dallas, said it will have a live interview with Vick on Tuesday.

The U.S. attorney's office, which has declined to comment on the case, said it would issue a statement after the hearing.

The case began in April when authorities conducting a drug investigation of Vick's cousin raided a Surry County property owned by Vick and found dozens of dogs, some injured, and equipment commonly used in dogfighting.

A federal indictment issued in July charged Vick, Peace, Phillips and Taylor with an interstate dogfighting conspiracy. Vick initially denied any involvement, and all four men pleaded innocent.

Taylor was the first to change his plea to guilty, saying Vick financed the dogfighting ring's gambling and operations. Peace and Phillips soon followed, alleging that Vick joined them in killing dogs that did not measure up in test fights.

The sickening details outlined in the indictment and other court papers prompted a public backlash against Vick, who had been one of the NFL's most popular players.

Animal-rights groups mobilized against Vick - even protesting at NFL headquarters in New York - and sponsors dropped him.

"It is fitting that the NFL has suspended him," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "He's now a role model for something terrible, and it's not appropriate that he suit up in an NFL uniform."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8...mp;confirm=true

Excerpts taken from letter from the commisioner to Vick.

Vick suspended indefinitely

National Football League

Commissioner Roger Goodell notified Michael Vick on Friday that he is suspended indefinitely without pay from the National Football League, effective immediately.

Arthur Blank's statement

"Today, Michael Vick admitted his guilt to very serious charges related to his earlier indictment. His admissions describe actions that are incomprehensible and unacceptable for a member of the National Football League and the Atlanta Falcons."

"We respect and support the Commissioner's decision today to place Michael Vick on an indefinite suspension. As with other actions he has taken this year, the Commissioner is making a strong statement that conduct which tarnishes the good reputation of the NFL will not be tolerated."

"We hope that Michael will use this time, not only to further address his legal matters, but to take positive steps to improve his personal life."

The Falcons expect further comment on Monday.

Following are excerpts from Commissioner Goodell?s letter to Vick:

? "Your admitted conduct was not only illegal, but also cruel and reprehensible. Your team, the NFL, and NFL fans have all been hurt by your actions."

? "Your plea agreement and the plea agreements of your co-defendants also demonstrate your significant involvement in illegal gambling. Even if you personally 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 in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player."

? "You have engaged in conduct detrimental to the welfare of the NFL and have violated the league?s Personal Conduct Policy."

? "I will review the status of your suspension following the conclusion of the legal proceedings. As part of that review, I will take into account a number of factors, including the resolution of any other charges that may be brought against you, whether in Surry County, Virginia, or other jurisdictions, your conduct going forward, the specifics of the sentence imposed by Judge Hudson and any related findings he might make, and the extent to which you are truthful and cooperative with law enforcement and league staff who are investigating these matters."

? "I have advised the Falcons that, with my decision today, they are no longer prohibited from acting and are now free to assert any claims or remedies available to them under the Collective Bargaining Agreement or your NFL Player Contract."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8...mp;confirm=true

[kouhii00]

so if a dog kills a human it gets euthanized and if a human kills a dog he gets prison. What happened to a man's best friend?

[Cormier6083]

NM.... kinda random.

[Deadlydread]

NM.... kinda random.

lol too bad i saw what you put... :p how the hell can it be a race issue? he did the crime, and now he's doing the time.

[Cormier6083]

lol too bad i saw what you put... :p how the hell can it be a race issue? he did the crime, and now he's doing the time.

But then Al Sharpton is gonna say that the "man" planted all those dogs or something (or someone else did it) and it's gonna spark conflict and he's gonna get out of it somehow.

I mean no offense to anyone, it's just things like these happen sometimes. People use their race or minority as an excuse, at it gives a bad name to good hard working Americans of the same race and/or minority who have to work hard everyday just to make an honest living, while millionaires like this ****** get off the hook for being "famous". It's a shame, really.

But's it good to see that he's not going anywhere... so thats good.

[TriggerHappySam]

I am glad to see the NFL take such a strong stance on this ordeal. However, I dont understand why they still only suspend players for drug charges and driving under the influence of drugs/booze

See ya Michael Vick ... have fun in prison, getto or where ever the heck you will end up

[RDx]

Its pathetic how all this people are making a big fuzz about this, but people that commit far more deadly crimes don't get even 3 times the publicity. If you're going to protest outside the court because he killed dogs, go to ****ing Asia where they eat the dogs and show your signs over there. And people that put a dogs life over a human are pathetic.

[Cormier6083]

Its pathetic how all this people are making a big fuzz about this, but people that commit far more deadly crimes don't get even 3 times the publicity.

Amen.

[Hurmoth]

Its pathetic how all this people are making a big fuzz about this, but people that commit far more deadly crimes don't get even 3 times the publicity. If you're going to protest outside the court because he killed dogs, go to ****ing Asia where they eat the dogs and show your signs over there. And people that put a dogs life over a human are pathetic.

There's to many times that celebrities get off, it's about time that one faces the music, especially the Vick brothers. They're nothing but a tic on the butt of society and it's high time we remove them--at least one of them.

[Rob2687]

[Deadlydread]

Roflmao!!!! good to see they remembered Ren!

[Hurmoth]

A federal judge placed tighter restrictions on Michael Vick on Wednesday after he tested positive for marijuana.

Because of the result, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson placed special conditions on Vick's release, including restricting him to his home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and ordering him to submit to random drug testing.

The urine sample was submitted Sept. 13, according to a document by a federal probation officer that was filed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday.

Vick, who admitted bankrolling a dogfighting operation on property he owns in Surry County in his written federal plea, is scheduled for sentencing Dec. 10.

The home confinement will include electronic monitoring. Vick also was ordered to submit to random drug testing.

On Tuesday, Vick was indicted on state charges related to a dogfighting ring operated on his property. He pleaded guilty to dogfighting conspiracy charges in federal court last month.

Vick was placed under pretrial release supervision by U.S. Magistrate Dennis Dohnal in July. His restrictions included refraining from use or unlawful possession of narcotic drugs or other controlled substances.

Hudson's order on Wednesday also requires Vick to participate in inpatient or outpatient substance therapy and mental health counseling, if the pretrial services officer or supervising officer deem it appropriate. Vick must pay for the treatment.

Vick's attorney, Billy Martin, did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

News Source: FOXNews.com

Hit with local indictments: http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Sep25/0,4...ndicted,00.html

Sued by Canadian bank: http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/260526

[Fred Derf Veteran]

What's the problem with him taking pot? It isn't like it will help his defence.

[Hurmoth]

What's the problem with him taking pot? It isn't like it will help his defence.

The problem is that it is illegal here in the states, unless you have a prescription (and that can only be obtained in some states and it is heavily controlled if I'm not mistaken). Now I'm one of those people who actually happen to agree that we should legalize pot, but it isn't legal, so with that in mind, he tested positive for drugs which is a violation of his bail.

[mattmatik]

"But, weed is around Michael's everyday life. He's been exposed to it since he was a little boy, let's cut him some slack. It's practically a way of life where's he's from."

:) I loved it when that lady made the comment about dog fighting, saying it was a way of life in the South. It's too bad Mike Vick didn't even grow up in the South, nor live there. Good times.

[Hurmoth]

:) I loved it when that lady made the comment about dog fighting, saying it was a way of life in the South. It's too bad Mike Vick didn't even grow up in the South, nor live there. Good times.

Newport News, VA isn't the south? It certainly isn't the deep south like what Whoopi would like everyone to believe, but it is still the south though.