Atlanta Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino called it quits today. Thirteen games into his first year as leader of the Falcons, coach Petrino resigned. He just walked out on his team. I can’t tell you how much I think that stinks. I could understand if he had some sort of health problem or urgent family matter that simply couldn’t allow the rigors of an NFL season anymore. But he left the ATL to return to coaching at the collegiate level with Arkansas. Right away. If I were hiring in Fayetteville, I wouldn’t want this guy. He may be a good college football coach, but what kind of message does walking out on your previous team send to your future players? The very least he could’ve done was finish the last three games with his team and then address them with some kind of season-ending message that he was choosing to move in a different direction. I would respect that and I’m sure any reasonably minded player would, too. The Falcons have announced a presser tomorrow and it should be interesting to hear the explanation behind his decision.

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Bobby Petrino Walks Out on Atlanta Falcons, Head Coach Resigns After 13 Games

Since being released by the Jacksonville Jaguars a couple weeks ago, Byron Leftwich has been job hunting. His search is over as the Atlanta Falcons signed him to a two-year, $7 million deal today. While Byron didn’t impress the Jags enough during their training camp and preseason to help him keep a roster spot, he passed a physical and his workout was good for the Falcons to grab him from the open market.

There are two reasons why this is a good move for Atlanta. First of all, the Falcons are desperate for QB help. They claim Joey Harrington is still their starting QB, but for how long? He’s already been sacked 13 times (in two games) and head coach Bobby Petrino says Joey is holding the ball too long and lacking confidence. Secondly, I believe Byron Leftwich can still be an effective quarterback in this league. Sure, he’s had a history of injury problems, but he’s only 27-years-old and should have a lot of football ahead of him. Byron is a high-risk, high-reward commodity right now, but I believe he’ll emerge as Atlanta’s starting QB before long.

AFP/Getty Images/File/Doug Benc

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Byron Leftwich Signs With Atlanta Falcons

I’m tired of posting news on Michael Vick’s legal troubles. It’s time to start talking about the Atlanta Falcons and what they are going to do this season. ATL fans, do not worry. Preseason indications from QB Joey Harrington are pretty good, but I think everyone is wondering if he can keep it going? After all, his history has not been an All-Pro one. The best passer rating Joey earned was a 77.5 in 2004. Then again, he played on some pretty bad teams (Lions and Dolphins). Joey’s had a nice preseason so far. And he’s coming off a “dress rehearsal” against Cincinnati on MNF (13-21, 164 yards, 2 TDs, 118.0 QB rating), but can he carry that over to the regular season? The jury is still out on Joey Harrington’s ability to perform at a high level for an entire season. I’d like to believe he’ll be just fine running coach Bobby Petrino’s spread offense. But part of me needs more proof. He’s no Michael Vick, but he might put up better passing numbers in this system. We’ll see how he fares against the Vikings, Jags, Panthers and Texans in September. At that time we’ll have a better idea if he’s the answer in Atlanta.

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Can Joey Harrington Replace Michael Vick?

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.

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NFL Suspends Michael Vick Indefinitely

Michael Vick filed his plea agreement in federal court today, admitting to conspiracy in a dogfighting ring and helping to kill pit bulls. He denied ever betting on the fights, though. He says he only bankrolled them. Then again, who knows what to believe because he initially said he had no involvement whatsoever. Michael is scheduled to formally enter his plea Monday in U.S. District Court. He signed the plea agreement yesterday.

The statement said that when the kennel’s dogs won, the gambling proceeds were generally shared by Michael’s three co-defendants — Tony Taylor, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips. It also stated that Michael 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. 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 sentencing guidelines. U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson, who will accept Michael’s plea, has a reputation for imposing stiff sentences, according to lawyers who have appeared in his court. Michael will not be sentenced for several months.

Michael’s attorney, Billy Martin, said MV will “speak to the public and explain his actions,” but he declined to say whether that will occur in court or in a news conference after Monday’s hearing. I’ll keep you “posted” (literally).

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Michael Vick Files Plea in Federal Court

With three co-defendents prepared to testify that he brutally executed dogs and bankrolled gambling, Michael Vick has accepted a plea deal on federal charges relating to allegations of his involvement in a professional dogfighting operation. Michael will now formally enter the guilty plea next Monday, August 27. The charges carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Michael’s lawyer, Billy Martin, issued the following statement today:

“After consulting with his family over the weekend, Michael Vick asked that I announce today that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding the charges pending against him. Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made. Michael wishes to apologize again to everyone who has been hurt by this matter.”

In a response to this latest news, an NFL spokesman issued this statement:

“We are aware of Michael Vick’s decision to enter a guilty plea to the federal charges against him and accept responsibility for his conduct. We totally condemn the conduct outlined in the charges, which is inconsistent with what Michael Vick previously told both our office and the Falcons. We will conclude our own review under the league’s personal conduct policy as soon as possible. In the meantime, we have asked the Falcons to continue to refrain from taking action pending a decision by the commissioner.”

Many questions have been answered, but many more remain.

• How much jail time will Michael serve?
• Will he ever play football again?
• Did he actually participate in the killing of the animals?

Michael has already thrown away a $130 million contract and multiple lucrative endorsement deals. But the most important element of this entire situation is Michael’s recovery. He committed the crime. He’ll do the time. I just hope he’s a changed man after all of this. And it doesn’t matter what future image he reveals to the public. I mean, it does matter of he wants to get his football career back. But, will he come out of this truly a better person? He might be able to say all the right things and fake his way back into the good graces of society (although I consider even that a long shot), but will he really be sorry? And even so, if he actually killed these animals as one co-defendent claimed — forgiveness will not come easy. He could commit almost any other crime, but if he actually killed these dogs, that’s going to be a tough one for society to forget.

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Michael Vick Accepts Deal, Will Enter Guilty Plea on Dogfighting Charges Next Week

Michael Vick has a reason to be smiling — for now. A property owned by the Atlanta Falcons quarterback was used as the “main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved” in an alleged dogfighting operation, according to court documents filed earlier this week and obtained by the Associated Press today. But Michael Vick’s name was not found in those documents meaning he is unlikely to be indicted on any charges.

If this turns out to be true, it should come as very good news to MV and the Falcons. Michael claimed that he rarely visited the property and wasn’t aware of any dog fighting that might have been done there, but there have been media reports indicating that he was involved, which would lead to criminal charges and a suspension.

I won’t get into the grizzly details of the documents that were filed, but the kind of animal violence and abuse that was going on at this property was unconscionable. If Michael Vick was involved, I hope they kick him out of the league. But at this point, it looks like he wasn’t and therefore won’t face any charges.

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Michael Vick Unlikely to be Charged in Dogfighting Operation