NFL Suspends Michael Vick Indefinitely

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

Just hours after Michael Vick filed a plea agreement, admitting to conspiracy in a dogfighting ring and helping to kill pit bulls, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him indefinitely without pay. The Commissioner said he would review the suspension after all the legal proceedings had run their course.

Michael acknowledged bankrolling gambling on the dogfights, but denied placing bets himself or taking any of the winnings. He also admitted that dogs who were not worthy of the pit were killed “as a result of the collective efforts” of himself and two co-defendants. But Michael wasn’t about to squirm out of this situation by massaging the truth. Commissioner Goodell found no reason to wait until Monday when U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson will formally accept the plea and set a sentencing date likely to land Vick in prison for one to five years. The Commissioner said Michael’s admitted conduct was “not only illegal but also cruel and reprehensible.” Even if he didn’t personally place bets, Goodell said in a letter to Michael yesterday (in part):

“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. You are now justifiably facing consequences for the decisions you made and the conduct in which you engaged. Your career, freedom and public standing are now in the most serious jeopardy. I hope that you will be able to learn from this difficult experience and emerge from it better prepared to act responsibly and to make the kinds of choices that are expected of a conscientious and law abiding citizen.”

Commissioner Goodell then gave the Falcons the green light 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. Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank released the following 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.”

This is really a sad story in so many ways. Obviously, some dogs were brutally hurt and/or killed and that unfortunately can’t be reversed. And Michael Vick has probably thrown away his NFL career in the process. We know he’s going to jail so he’s also thrown away his freedom. And the despicable acts of cruelty he was involved in are shocking to those who knew him as a very different person. I’m not one of those people. I didn’t “know” Michael, but my only run-in with him left me with the impression that he was a thug. I’ve carried that opinion around for years and after having watched this whole situation play out (and a number of other “incidents”) over the years, I’m not one of those people who is surprised. What I do hope for is that Michael will emerge from this a truly changed and better person.