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Post by drippy on Jul 20, 2007 4:28:54 GMT -5
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Post by Stuffs "Thunder" Liger on Jul 20, 2007 4:38:11 GMT -5
That, as an attempt at comedy, was an UTTER FAIL.
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Post by gregthebunny on Jul 20, 2007 6:05:09 GMT -5
People always have to have a reason to bitch. Let the man just do his damn job and throw the ball If the proper authorities "do their damn job" as you put it, the only balls Vick should be handling are Big Bubba's at lights out time. |
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Post by drippy on Jul 20, 2007 7:43:17 GMT -5
That, as an attempt at comedy, was an UTTER FAIL. What, may I ask, do you find funny? Obviously not witty, informed writing on current events. I take it you're the kind of guy who gets to the first page in a Dave Berry book and just throws it in the toilet because of how "UTTER FAIL" it is? Pardon me if I find clever writing amusing. Pardon me if I find subtle references funny. Pardon me if I find Dick  ing Vermeil coaching a ing sheep to victory hilarious. Whatever, maybe I'll just watch some South Park and WWE for inspiration on how to broaden my definitions on what is and is not funny. |
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Post by Graze on Jul 20, 2007 8:12:10 GMT -5
that was ing great! |
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Post by T R W on Jul 20, 2007 8:20:52 GMT -5
Eh, I appreciate that type of humor, but that "letter" could have been done better. I got a few chuckes here and there.
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Post by T R W on Jul 20, 2007 10:45:31 GMT -5
Latest article from ESPN. A leave forced leave of absence may be the best scenario for everyone. Though I would prefer it be unpaid.
Friday, July 20, 2007
NFL, Falcons could ask Vick to focus energies in court
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By Len Pasquarelli and Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com
ATLANTA -- In what has quickly evolved into a collaborative effort that includes the input of officials from the NFL, the NFL Players Association and the Atlanta Falcons, embattled quarterback Michael Vick could be urged to take a voluntary leave of absence to focus his energy on the legal challenges from a federal dogfighting indictment confronting him, sources said Thursday and Friday.
There are, however, two critical components that must be resolved: Falcons owner Arthur Blank must be on board with a plan that has generated considerable discussion at the league level the past two days. And Vick, who might be reluctant to accept even a paid hiatus from the game, might have to be convinced that the leave could be his best option right now.
Blank and the Falcons might also be considering other options.
Under the leave-of-absence scenario, and given the projected timeline of any trial that could ensue from the federal indictments brought against the quarterback Tuesday, all parties would enter into the agreement, if it is consummated, with the expectation that Vick, 27, would probably miss the entire 2007 season.
While the concept of a leave has been broached conceptually to associates and advisors of Vick, it has not yet been formally presented to the Falcons' star. Vick could be briefed about the possibility of a paid leave of absence, however, as early as Friday. He would likely be granted time to consider the suggestion, which would almost certainly have to be communicated by Blank, with a decision not coming until early next week.
It has become clear, as high-level discussions have progressed, that all the parties involved in the talks are desperately seeking a resolution to a potential public relations disaster before the Falcons begin training camp next Thursday afternoon. A league source acknowledged on Thursday that "something one way or the other is going to have to happen ... by the start of training camp."
As incentive for Vick to consider a leave, the union is hopeful that Blank will offer to guarantee the player's full $6 million base salary for 2007. That could be a sticking point in the negotiations. No one will try to bully Vick into accepting the leave, but he might be reminded that while the league and Falcons are inclined for now to allow due process to play out in the courts, that stance is not an unalterable one, and unfolding events could possibly change the approach of Blank and of commissioner Roger Goodell.
Multiple sources at various levels of the ongoing discussions acknowledged that a consensus was beginning to galvanize that nobody, including Vick, will benefit by the quarterback's playing the 2007 season under a lingering cloud of suspicion and the ponderous legal burden of the federal indictment. In the indictment, Vick is alleged to have conspired in an illegal dogfighting venture conducted on property he owns in Surry County, Va.
Intensive talks continued Thursday with Goodell, Blank, Falcons team president and general manager Rich McKay, and NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw. They discussed the various options available to them, and those discussions are expected to continue on Friday.
If convicted on all counts, Vick could face a prison sentence of six years.
Neither Vick nor his attorney or agent could be reached for comment Thursday night. Blank also was unavailable for comment, and a Falcons spokesman referred to the owner's statement released earlier Thursday in which he expressed that "we are working diligently on exploring our options."
"The commissioner is concerned about the seriousness of the charges, and he wants to make sure Vick focuses on putting up the most appropriate defense," a source said. "Vick has to be convinced that it is in his best interests to take a leave of absence ... I think it's fair to say nobody's really comfortable with him playing under these circumstances."
Even a close Vick associate acknowledged early Friday that is the case.
Said the associate: "There's been a lot of stuff going on the last day or so, but the one thing that keeps getting clearer and clearer is that they don't want [Vick] around. The Falcons, the league, they know it's a mess and it's only going to get uglier if camp starts and he's on the field. If he's not [present for camp], at least there's a little bit of 'out of sight, out of mind,' you know? It removes the source of distraction. Otherwise, it's just [untenable]."
A leave of absence would at least temporarily address several possible dilemmas for the Falcons, including how to handle Vick's contract if he does not report to training camp on time. And it would enable the franchise, even if Vick doesn't play in 2007, to retain his contractual rights. Vick is scheduled for a bond hearing and his arraignment hearing Thursday, the same day the Falcons hold their initial camp practice under first-year coach Bobby Petrino.
Without an excused absence, Vick could technically be in default of his contract if he does not report to camp on time, perhaps providing the Falcons the right to attempt to recover bonus money already paid to him. There are default provisions, described by one source with close knowledge of Vick's contract as "very tight language," written into the lucrative 10-year extension he signed in December 2004. Vick advisors spent time Thursday discussing the potential default ramifications with NFLPA officials.
Members of the NFL management council, the labor arm of the league, earlier this week began closely reviewing Vick's contract to see what options might be available to Blank and the Falcons if they try to recover any bonus payments.
The 2004 extension has long been advertised as a 10-year, $130 million contract. In reality, because the final season of the contract voided as soon as Vick reached minimum playing-time thresholds, it is a nine-year deal worth about $118 million. Vick has banked more than $40 million, but $37 million of that was in bonuses -- an initial signing bonus of $7.5 million and then subsequent roster bonuses of $22.5 million and $7 million. But for salary-cap purposes, the Falcons exercised an option to convert the roster bonuses into signing bonuses.
That might seem incidental because Vick got all the money coming to him anyway. But if the Falcons attempt at some point to force Vick into paying back part of the bonus money, how the conversions are interpreted might be a point of contention. A ruling in a grievance case involving former Denver first-round wide receiver Ashley Lelie last year made it more difficult for teams to seek repayment of option or roster bonuses.
Atlanta officials might contend that the two most recent bonuses paid Vick, totaling $29.5 million, were converted to signing bonuses, and that they should be permitted to pursue a prorated share of that money. The Vick camp would likely counter that, while the money was paid as signing bonuses, it was actually earned as roster bonuses.
But any contentiousness, and a possible arbitration hearing, could be avoided if Vick accepts a proposal for a leave of absence, one in which all parties agree he will miss camp.
"It would certainly give everyone some much-needed breathing room," said one league source late Thursday night. "People could get on with their business."
Make no mistake, for both the Falcons and the NFL, there is clearly a business component attached to the Vick case.
The league faces a backlash, not only from animal-rights groups but from others, as well. And in the statement Blank released Thursday, he noted his responsibility to his sponsors. The team recently entered into an agreement with Russell Athletic in which the apparel maker will pay $1 million to $2 million annually to sponsor the Falcons' training camp. It could be a camp disrupted by protests if Vick attends.
In another Vick-related matter, the quarterback's camp has begun interviewing candidates to beef up his legal defense team in the event he goes to trial. Vick's longtime personal attorney, Lawrence Woodward, is expected to remain part of the defense team, but advisors have urged that the Falcons' star consider adding counsel with experience in the federal courts.
The Vick camp has solicited recommendations and is believed to have interviewed at least one prominent defender from the prestigious Washington, D.C., firm of Wilmer Hale. [/b]
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Post by drippy on Jul 20, 2007 12:01:47 GMT -5
Letter? I actually e-mailed that to PETA.  |
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Post by Mark on Jul 20, 2007 21:07:40 GMT -5
Tank is wound up in this craptoo and by the way he killed a dog Im shocked and Tank, Pacman and the others should be put in jail and never released... ing morons |
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Post by cjd15 on Jul 21, 2007 5:16:15 GMT -5
until they have some good evidence i am supporting vick and by good evidence i mean pictures videos fingerprints etc. until they show me some real evidence i am behind vick 100% Goodell's suspension policy is for repeat offenders now i know vick has been in the news before for some not so great things, but he has never been found guilty of any crime and still hasn't btw i'm white This reminds me of Benoit..... |
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Post by cjd15 on Jul 21, 2007 5:17:05 GMT -5
Maybe Vick should come down to Cincy and play for us |
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Post by T R W on Jul 21, 2007 9:50:31 GMT -5
He's all yours, and would fit right in. We'll take Palmer.
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Post by cjd15 on Jul 21, 2007 18:55:09 GMT -5
He's all yours, and would fit right in. We'll take Palmer. Ha Nah ah! Palmers better than that one trick pony! I meant he should come down and chill with Chris Henry.... |
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Post by T R W on Jul 23, 2007 20:51:22 GMT -5
Vick ordered not to show up to training camp by the NFL.
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Post by Jean-Ralphio on Jul 23, 2007 21:12:40 GMT -5
Sign Culpepper because Vick isnt coming back anytime soon
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Post by T R W on Jul 23, 2007 21:49:03 GMT -5
I don't think Vick will ever play a game for the Falcons again.
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Post by immortal on Jul 23, 2007 21:53:18 GMT -5
I don't think Vick will ever play a game for the Falcons again. Oh my God. Please let that happen.  |
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Deleted
Joined on: Nov 16, 2024 2:38:47 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2007 23:28:36 GMT -5
"Only fan Vick has left:
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Post by Jean-Ralphio on Jul 23, 2007 23:30:36 GMT -5
You my friend are a fool then |
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Post by T R W on Jul 23, 2007 23:32:07 GMT -5
He still has a lot of intellectually- disabled fans in atlanta that think he's being set up...
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