NFL Bad Boys Part 2 Michael Vick

Not even five years afterNFL Atlanta Falcons signed Michael Vick to a $130 million contract (making him the highest paid player in the league), the suspended quarterback was released from the team and can now only hope to be playing professional football again.

Vick, who has missed two seasons while serving a prison sentence for running a dogfighting ring, is praying that the release will give him a “clean slate” for negotiations with other teams.  That is IF NFL commissioner Roger Godell reinstates his eligibility to return to the game.

The Falcons’ move was no surprise as their new number 3 draft pick sophomore QB Matt Ryan had a phenomenal season last year, won rookie of the year, and lead the team to the playoffs.

Vick is currently making $10 an hour as a construction worker while he serves the final two months of his sentencing on home confinement in Hampton, Va. He was released from prison on May 20.

Goodell has said he will sit down with Vick after the quarterback completes his 23-month sentence on July 20 for running a dogfighting ring.

“Michael’s going to have to demonstrate to myself and the general public and to a lot of people, did he learn anything from this experience? Does he regret what happened?” Goodell said last month at the NFL meetings in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “Does he feel that he can be a positive influence going forward? Those are questions that I would like to see when I sit with him.”

THE CASE

“Bad Newz Kennels” is the name of the 15-acre property in Surry County, Virginia where the dog fighting ring was discovered. Vick was accused of financing the operation, directly participating in dog fights and executions, and personally handling thousands of dollars in related gambling activities for several dog fights in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina.

He pled guilty to “Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture”. He admitted to providing the majority of the financing needed for the operation itself, as well as participating directly in several dog fights].  He also confessed that he knew his colleagues killed several dogs who didn’t perform well enough to win fights.

Federal prosecutors indicated they intended to proceed under the powerful provisions of the law of RICO

After Vick’s release Friday, no team expressed any immediate interest in signing him. The New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and Seattle Seahawks all in some shape, form, or fashion expressed that they did not have interest in Vick. Other teams such as the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills had no comment.

ADDITIONAL LOSSES

-2006 Estimated earnings were 25.4 mil, on July 7, 2008 he had to file for Bankruptcy
- He sold most of his houses
- He was forced to deposit nearly $1 million dollars to reimburse costs of caring for the confiscated dogs
- He was forced reimburse the Falcons for $19.97 million of his initial signing bonus

NFL HIGHLIGHTS

-2001 NFL Number 1 pick
-2005 ESPY for Best NFL Player
-Many QB rushing records including Only QB to rush for over 1,000 yds
-3 Time Pro Bowl selection (2002, 2004, 2005)
-Led the Falcons to the 2005 NFC championship game.
Sources: CNN.com wikipedia.org

From the author (100)

This one hurts man.. I’ve followed Vick’s career since he was playing at Va Tech. Dudes is literally the LeBron of football. Atheleticism is off the chain. He at one time was UNSTOPPABLE on Madden lol (I think that was like Madden 05 0r 06).  Seriously though, this man has pretty much lost everything finances, endorsements, status, friends, and his job.  Time will tell if he also lost the skills needed to be an NFL quarterback.  Crazy part is the Falcons had to give up their former franchise player and are getting absolutely nothing in return.

-100