Mike Vick (Pittsburgh Steelers)

[jwinslow]

He gets to be the guy on TV telling on Mike Vick.

While drowning...

 

[Mike80]

I am not at all surprised how this is all coming out, the question is will anyone be able to prove anything? After what I have seen in the past couple years I won't be shocked if there's no evidence, everyone knows but nothing comes of it. That's the way the Reggie Bush saga went, odds are that's how the Pacman Jones strip club incident will go down, and I can see the same happening here. The question is will the NFL just suspend him without any real conviction, they did with Pacman.

The difference with PacMan is that there was a videotape of him at the strip club alledgedly.

The possible saving grace for Vick, assuming (I know I know) there isn't any other evidence, is that if this happened in 2000, he wasn't yet drafted.

It might present a problem for Virginia Tech at some level, but not for the NFL.

As for the story, it hasn't run it's course yet. ESPiN will still get another month out of it at the very least.

 

[jwinslow]

The alleged incident in 2000 surfaced as a result of the 2007 discovery of Vick's house/fighting pit. I'm not sure I follow your reasoning on this one.

If it becomes clear to Goodell that Vick is a dog fighter, I don't think the lack of legal evidence (like a tape) will stop him from suspending Vick.

 

[Mike80]

The alleged incident in 2000 surfaced as a result of the 2007 discovery of Vick's house/fighting pit. I'm not sure I follow your reasoning on this one.

If it becomes clear to Goodell that Vick is a dog fighter, I don't think the lack of legal evidence (like a tape) will stop him from suspending Vick.

Maybe not, but I think that this might be the case that the NFLPA makes a stand against Goodell on.

 

[jwinslow]

That would be a PR nightmare, imo. If I'm running the NFLPA, I'd fight to lessen Pac Man's sentence long before siding with Vick.

 

[The Man]

That would be a PR nightmare, imo. If I'm running the NFLPA, I'd fight to lessen Pac Man's sentence long before siding with Vick.

well there I have to disagree. Fighting dogs is worse than you or "your posse" shooting at people, and other violent crimes against other human beings? Can't see that.

 

[Mike80]

That would be a PR nightmare, imo. If I'm running the NFLPA, I'd fight to lessen Pac Man's sentence long before siding with Vick.

Vick is a super-star and one of the most recognizable players in the league. I can't believe the NFLPA would hang him out to dry.

 

[jwinslow]

well there I have to disagree. Fighting dogs is worse than you or "your posse" shooting at people, and other violent crimes against other human beings? Can't see that.

I agree, but were people as outraged with Pac Man's behavior as they have been with Vick since the informant interview?

I think we're more used to gang bangers, or rolling with the wrong crowd in sports. We haven't been desensitized to dog fighting like gun fights.

Not sure if that makes sense. Honestly, I wouldn't fight for either of them if I were the NFLPA.

Vick is a super-star and one of the most recognizable players in the league. I can't believe the NFLPA would hang him out to dry.

If true, he's done the hanging, not them. The question is whether they're willing to get their hands that dirty.

I think there will have to be a good helping of reasonable doubt for them to get involved.

 

[Mike80]

Honestly, I wouldn't fight for either of them if I were the NFLPA.

I wouldn't either, but if the MLB players union would fight to get Steve Howe or Darryl Strawberry re-instated after several drug busts, anything is possible.

 

[The Man]

I agree, but were people as outraged with Pac Man's behavior as they have been with Vick since the informant interview? NO

I think we're more used to gang bangers, or rolling with the wrong crowd in sports. We haven't been desensitized to dog fighting like gun fights.
Unfortunately true

Not sure if that makes sense. Honestly, I wouldn't fight for either of them if I were the NFLPA.If true, he's done the hanging, not them. The question is whether they're willing to get their hands that dirty.
They have no choice really. As the union if they do not get involved they will be left open to Vick suing the hell out of them. They must make an effort even if they disagree with it.

I think there will have to be a good helping of reasonable doubt for them to get involved.
See previous response.

....

 

[jwinslow]

Interesting. Is there ever a time where the NFLPA can sidestep a situation like this?

 

[The Man]

Interesting. Is there ever a time where the NFLPA can sidestep a situation like this?

I cannot speak as far as the NFLPA works specifically. I would assume it works like our union. As someone involved in a union as an officer I know that if we do not perform mandatory appeals/arbitrations that we can be sued as a union and individually. I would think they would have to file, but how hard they fight it is the question. You see the NFLPA just today is appealing PacMan's suspension, will they arbitrate the suspension? Probably. The decision is then left up to the arbitrator. NFLPA will get killed in the media when they appeal the Vick suspension (if it comes to fruition) but in reality they have little choice.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

this thread is like a twilight zone episode. do you people understand what dog fighting is? do you people understand what kind of person it takes to participate at this level?

 

[jwinslow]

this thread is like a twilight zone episode. do you people understand what dog fighting is? do you people understand what kind of person it takes to participate at this level?

Seriously. Read what they found at his house

Entire SI article: SI.com - NFL - Special Report: The House on Moonlight Road - Tuesday May 29, 2007 12:10PM

...

"It's unfortunate I have to take the heat," he said to reporters in New York City on April 27, a day before the NFL draft. "Lesson learned for me."

Yes Mike, it's unfortunate that someone is holding you responsible for your own house. Even if he's as innocent, his possessions are still his responsibility from a societal standpoint, imo.

 

[Mike80]

this thread is like a twilight zone episode. do you people understand what dog fighting is? do you people understand what kind of person it takes to participate at this level?

I don't think anyone on this thread is condoning dog fighting.

What I'm trying to say, at least, is that the NFLPA isn't going to hang him out to dry with what's out there right now.

Goodell might (and probably should) suspend him, but the NFLPA will fight it at some level.