Vick indicted...hows this affect the falcons?

[hagansp]

RICHMOND, Va. -- NFL star Michael Vick was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday on charges of sponsoring a dogfighting operation so grisly the losers either died in the pit or sometimes were electrocuted, drowned, hanged or shot.
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback and three others were charged with competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting and conducting the enterprise across state lines.
The operation was named "Bad Newz Kennels," according to the indictment, and the dogs were housed, trained and fought at a property owned by Vick in Surry County, Va.
The 19-page federal indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleges the 27-year-old Vick and his co-defendants began the dogfighting operation in early 2001, the former Virginia Tech star's rookie year with the Falcons.
The indictment states that dogs fought to the death -- or close to it.
If convicted, Vick and the others -- Purnell A. Peace, Quanis L. Phillips and Tony Taylor -- could face up to six years in prison, $350,000 in fines and restitution.
Telephone messages left at the offices and home of Vick's attorney, Larry Woodward, were not returned. A woman who answered the phone at the home of Vick's mother said "no comment" and hung up.
"We are disappointed that Michael Vick has put himself in a position where a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against him," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.
"The activities alleged are cruel, degrading and illegal. Michael Vick's guilt has not yet been proven, and we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts."
Vick and the Falcons are scheduled to report to training camp on July 25.
"Obviously, we are disturbed by today's news," the team said in a statement posted on its Web site, apologizing to fans for the negative publicity.
"We will do the right thing for our club as the legal process plays out. We have a season to prepare for," it said.
John Goodwin of the Humane Society said the manner in which losing or unwilling dogs were killed was especially troubling.
"Some of the grisly details in these filings shocked even me, and I'm a person who faces this stuff every day," he said. "I was surprised to see that they were killing dogs by hanging them and one dog was killed by slamming it to the ground. Those are extremely violent methods of execution -- they're unnecessary and just sick."
Vick and the others are accused of "knowingly sponsoring and exhibiting an animal fighting venture" and conducting a business enterprise involving gambling, as well as buying, transporting and receiving dogs for the purposes of an animal fighting venture.
About eight young dogs were put to death at the Surry County home after they were found not ready to fight in April 2007, the indictment said. They were killed "by hanging, drowning and/or slamming at least one dog's body to the ground."
The indictment also outlined a rough chronology:
• In March 2003, after a pit bull from Bad Newz Kennels lost in a fight, it said Peace consulted with Vick about the losing dog's condition, then executed it by wetting it with water and electrocuting it;
• In March 2003, after two Bad Newz Kennels dog lost fights to dogs owned by a cooperating witness, it alleged that Vick retrieved a bag containing $23,000 and gave it to the owner of the winning dogs. One of the fights had a $20,000 purse;
• In the fall of 2003, a person witnessing a dog fight involving one of the dogs trained by Bad Newz Kennels incurred the ire of another cooperating witness by yelling out Vick's name in front of the crowd during the fight.
It also said that after establishing Bad Newz Kennels in early 2002, Vick and the others obtained shirts and headbands promoting their affiliation with the kennel.
After a police raid on the property in April, Vick said he was rarely at the house, had no idea it may have been used in a criminal enterprise. He blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity.
On Vick's Web site, he lists his birthplace as Newport News, "a.k.a. BadNews."
Purses for the fights ranged from hundreds of dollars to the thousands, and participants and spectators placed side bets, the document said.
Local authorities have been investigating the allegations since the April 25 drug raid at the property Vick owned. On June 7, officials with the Department of Agriculture executed their own search warrant and found the remains of seven dogs.
Surry County prosecutor Gerald G. Poindexter said he didn't know of the indictment before it was filed, and said he's not sure how the county will continue its case.
At the start, authorities seized 66 dogs, including 55 pit bulls, and equipment commonly used in dogfighting. About half the dogs were tethered to car axles with heavy chains that allowed the dogs to get close to each other, but not to have contact -- an arrangement typical for fighting dogs, according to the search warrant affidavit.
The indictment said dogfights were held at the Virginia property and dog owners brought animals from six states, including New York and Texas.
In a search warrant executed July 6, the government said the fights usually occurred late at night or in the early morning and would last several hours.
Before fights, participating dogs of the same sex would be weighed and bathed, according to the filings. Opposing dogs would be washed to remove any poison or narcotic placed on the dog's coat that could affect the other dog's performance.
Sometimes, dogs weren't fed to "make it more hungry for the other dog," it said.



ESPN - Federal grand jury indicts Vick in dogfighting case - NFL

[randallcards]

finally!! i love it

[Bondsaway]

This is so wrong! No word from the commissioner and the spokesman for the league says just have to let the courts decide. Pacman wasn't convicted of anything? He got a year! Vick was INDICTED!!!! But he gets to skate till after??? Toss him in a cell with Rae Carruth and they can talk football all they want! Randall has a new member of loser class to chase now!

[TheTruth85]

It's going to be crazy if he goes to jail.

Andy

[mikesilvia]

There is what should happen and what will happen.

The indictment is solid and will be a major problem for Vick. With a good lawyer, his trial could get dragged on until the season is over.

Anyone think the Falcons are kicking themselves for trading Shuab? Is Culpepper a need?

[Bondsaway]

Well the Falcons did pickup Harrington for the backup role. Plus with Culpepper teams have to wonder how long his knees will hold out! If anything they might bring him in for a workout/physical just in case!

But right now word is they (Falcons) are still behind Vick.

[ultimateltfan]

This is so wrong! No word from the commissioner and the spokesman for the league says just have to let the courts decide. Pacman wasn't convicted of anything? He got a year! Vick was INDICTED!!!! But he gets to skate till after??? Toss him in a cell with Rae Carruth and they can talk football all they want! Randall has a new member of loser class to chase now!

Pacman had more than one incident on his rap sheet too. He had stuff stemming back to when he entered the league. However, I do think that with an indictment coming down, this is serious and Vick is NOT going to skate. He can't say "well, I didn't know" because that would be him saying I never went to a house I owned. He had to have known with the report of a carpet that apparently stained by blood from the dogs. He is clearly in hot water and isn't just going to get a slap on the wrist by anyone.

[doniceage]

There is what should happen and what will happen.

The indictment is solid and will be a major problem for Vick. With a good lawyer, his trial could get dragged on until the season is over.

Anyone think the Falcons are kicking themselves for trading Shuab? Is Culpepper a need?

You mention what should happen and what will happen but I see no idea except it will be a MAJOR PROBLEM and teh trial could drag on until the Season.

I think as George said it sad to see Commish throw out some harsh fines but Vick been indicted and not a thing been said about VICK. Makes me wonder how seriously the NFL (R.G.) is on working on the NFL IMAGE.

What should happen is Vick should be meeting with Roger and getting a year or two suspension plus any time he serves that doesn't allow him to play.

As for trading SCHAUB I think the Falcons did the right thing. I mean again what does Matt offer besides 2 games with a high percentage. Mike, do you think he will be better than a A.J. or any other qb that people jumped on with limited game time and great stats. If Atlanta wanted they could have picked up Carr as long as they guaranteed not to mess with his THROWING MOTION.

D
O
N

[kharmonscards]

I heard them talking on Fox Sports that the Falcons have "considered" benching Vick until this thing goes away for fear of the retaliation that some fans will take out on Vick during home games. They also said that there was talk of suspensions or firings of Public Address people at different stadiums if they play "Who Let the Dogs Out" while Vick is on the field.

What I really anxious to see is all of the Dawg Pounds masks that will pop up at various stadiums over the course of the season. It's going to be a riot to watch Milk Bones and every other manner of dog related paraphernalia that is going to be thrown on the fields.

Personally, I don't see the Falcons EVER benching Vick, but I think it will be a safety issue with the league everytime he steps on the field with all of the stuff that will be thrown at Vick anytime he gets near the sidelines. Something needs to be done but with a star player like Vick I'm sure that Falcon's management will take their chances and play him anyways.

[ultimateltfan]

I still read that people are getting all up tight because of the whole Pac Man thing. Guys, remember with Pac man, he was arrested several times in the last couple of years. Goodell finally got fed up with it and booted him. Now is Vick going to get teh same, I would say that if the evidence is damning against HIM, then he will see a suspension coming. Right now it is an indictment and that is all it is. Remember the Duke lacrosse team... they wwere indicted too and look what happened. In America it is "innocent until proven guilty" and that is the approach the NFL is taking with Vick right now. Now if there is a conviction, then he is definately getting a suspension. But until then, nothing has really been proven. There are just allegations and indictments.

IMO, he knew what was going on and has no out to the situation. All the state needs is a couple of witnesses that place him at the house during any of the dog fights and he is in a whole heep of trouble. The judicial system will take care of him and so will the NFL. Goodell won't let this thing go unpunished if he is guilty.