How Many Games Should Vick Be Suspended?

[jdlea]

I voted 4 because I think that's what he'll get. As of right now, I don't think, if I were the commissioner, I would suspend him. I believe it's tough to justify suspending guys before their legal proceedings even take place, apparently Goodell disagrees. I don't like his "Suspend first, ask questions later" attitude, but I think Vick can expect to take a few weeks off because of all of this.

I do think that, if I were Arthur Blank, we would sit down and have a nice long chat about how he intends to move forward as the Falcons' quarterback and let him know that he could not be on a shorter leash, not based on his play, but his off-field behavior. Meaning: if this trial doesn't go well, he'd better have a good agent if he wants to continue playing.

[freddyg12]

I think the Falcons can find a way to ease into this; they could give him/talk him into a leave of absence until it goes to court. His pay would be the difficult thing to work out; they could withhold game checks but pay any roster bonus or vice versa. Might be sticky, but he & his agent would probably rather bow out for the time being rather than get into a fight w/Falcons mgmt.

Goodell would then be more willing to withold any action until it goes to trial. Kind of saves face for everybody for the time being.

[Dlyne8r]

Considering Pacman Jones’ suspension of 10 games, and what he has been accused of, I would recommend that Vick be tossed for the entire season. Of course we’ve all heard the arguments and comparisons between Vick and Pacman, and that Vick has not had the number of run-ins w/ the law, etc. etc., but Vick has apparently done immeasurable harm to those animals not to mention his teammates, his team owner, and God knows what else. If the NFL is going to be consistent with their new get tough policies, then they need to dish the same, if not similar, punishment to Vick that they have to Pacman.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Dlyne8r

Considering Pacman Jones’ suspension of 10 games, and what he has been accused of, I would recommend that Vick be tossed for the entire season. Of course we’ve all heard the arguments and comparisons between Vick and Pacman, and that Vick has not had the number of run-ins w/ the law, etc. etc., but Vick has apparently done immeasurable harm to those animals not to mention his teammates, his team owner, and God knows what else. If the NFL is going to be consistent with their new get tough policies, then they need to dish the same, if not similar, punishment to Vick that they have to Pacman.

That's sort of what I'm leaning toward as well. I have a feeling though that something will be worked out where he's suspended indefinitely but with pay, with no opportunity to return before the 5th game of the season.

[Paintrain]

At this point I'd say zero.. Right now he's been indicted but not convicted of anything. This is his first ever offense with the law so there is not a history like there was with Pac-Man, Chris Henry or Tank Johnson.

Without an admission or a conviction, there is no proof he lied to the NFL or the Falcons.

If/when he is convicted or agrees to a plea deal then he will get his just punishment from the league. I expect him to agree to a plea and spend 4-8 months in jail and have at least an 8 game suspension.

[Chief X_Phackter]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

At this point I'd say zero.. Right now he's been indicted but not convicted of anything. This is his first ever offense with the law so there is not a history like there was with Pac-Man, Chris Henry or Tank Johnson.

Without an admission or a conviction, there is no proof he lied to the NFL or the Falcons.

If/when he is convicted or agrees to a plea deal then he will get his just punishment from the league. I expect him to agree to a plea and spend 4-8 months in jail and have at least an 8 game suspension.

I hope you are wrong. I hope they give him more than the maximum which is six years I think. The judge assigned to his case has a track record of handing down stiffer sentences than what the federal guidelines are, and I would like to see him do the same here. No pleas, no deals...send him away for a long time and never see his ass on a football field again.

Of course only if he's found guilty.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

At this point I'd say zero.. Right now he's been indicted but not convicted of anything. This is his first ever offense with the law so there is not a history like there was with Pac-Man, Chris Henry or Tank Johnson.

Without an admission or a conviction, there is no proof he lied to the NFL or the Falcons.

If/when he is convicted or agrees to a plea deal then he will get his just punishment from the league. I expect him to agree to a plea and spend 4-8 months in jail and have at least an 8 game suspension.

I heard a stat on sports talk 980 yesterday that said 99% of these Federal indictments end up in convictions. Now that the Feds are involved history says they take it all the way to the end. IMO Vick is finished.

Vick's bigger problem is that he is scheduled for court the day camp starts and the contract says that if he does not show up at camp (for whatever reason) all his bonus $ goes back to the team. First it will be his bonus money then his endorsements. Talk about going from the penthouse to the outhouse.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by irish

I heard a stat on sports talk 980 yesterday that said 99% of these Federal indictments end up in convictions. Now that the Feds are involved history says they take it all the way to the end. IMO Vick is finished.

Vick's bigger problem is that he is scheduled for court the day camp starts and the contract says that if he does not show up at camp (for whatever reason) all his bonus $ goes back to the team. First it will be his bonus money then his endorsements. Talk about going from the penthouse to the outhouse.

Irish, you may be on point with this. I'm hearing the same thing here on my end. Some people think this guy won't see the NFL ever again.

I'm hearing he could do like 3-6 years.

I think it's more like from the penthouse to the outhouse to the doghouse!

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by irish

I heard a stat on sports talk 980 yesterday that said 99% of these Federal indictments end up in convictions. Now that the Feds are involved history says they take it all the way to the end. IMO Vick is finished.

Vick's bigger problem is that he is scheduled for court the day camp starts and the contract says that if he does not show up at camp (for whatever reason) all his bonus $ goes back to the team. First it will be his bonus money then his endorsements. Talk about going from the penthouse to the outhouse.

I think Vick has made enough money that he is set for life and I know that he has a very good atty. who handles his money. The reason I know is because a relative of mine knows the atty and he's set for life.

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by irish

I heard a stat on sports talk 980 yesterday that said 99% of these Federal indictments end up in convictions. Now that the Feds are involved history says they take it all the way to the end. IMO Vick is finished.

Vick's bigger problem is that he is scheduled for court the day camp starts and the contract says that if he does not show up at camp (for whatever reason) all his bonus $ goes back to the team. First it will be his bonus money then his endorsements. Talk about going from the penthouse to the outhouse.

Yeah, that stat is 95% of federal indictments end up in convictions or pleas.. If he's at all involved, he's going to plea out. He'd have to have the worst lawyer in the history of law if he lets this go to trial. Even with the judge being a hard ass, unless there is irrefutable proof that Vick was organizing, participating and was 'hands on' for the majority of the crimes he's accused of, he will plea and get a greatly reduced sentence. 1st offense and he's blindingly rich. He'll serve less than a year in jail and even then it will be a country club jail, not a hardcore prison.

There will be so many pre-trial motions that this will not get to the court room until well into 2008 so he's going to be able to play this year.

I'm sure they will work something out for him not to lose his bonus money because he's not at the opening of camp. He will get bail and be back in Atlanta that evening so he won't be 'missing camp'.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

Yeah, that stat is 95% of federal indictments end up in convictions or pleas.. If he's at all involved, he's going to plea out. He'd have to have the worst lawyer in the history of law if he lets this go to trial. Even with the judge being a hard ass, unless there is irrefutable proof that Vick was organizing, participating and was 'hands on' for the majority of the crimes he's accused of, he will plea and get a greatly reduced sentence. 1st offense and he's blindingly rich. He'll serve less than a year in jail and even then it will be a country club jail, not a hardcore prison.

There will be so many pre-trial motions that this will not get to the court room until well into 2008 so he's going to be able to play this year.

I'm sure they will work something out for him not to lose his bonus money because he's not at the opening of camp. He will get bail and be back in Atlanta that evening so he won't be 'missing camp'.

True, but you forgot to throw PETA into the equation. They will put a tremendous amount of pressure on the prosecutor's office and the judge to act swiftly and in the best intrests of their organization.

Believe you me (as my mother would say), they won't just let Vick and his team of attorneys motion this into eternity.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

Yeah, that stat is 95% of federal indictments end up in convictions or pleas.. If he's at all involved, he's going to plea out. He'd have to have the worst lawyer in the history of law if he lets this go to trial. Even with the judge being a hard ass, unless there is irrefutable proof that Vick was organizing, participating and was 'hands on' for the majority of the crimes he's accused of, he will plea and get a greatly reduced sentence. 1st offense and he's blindingly rich. He'll serve less than a year in jail and even then it will be a country club jail, not a hardcore prison.

There will be so many pre-trial motions that this will not get to the court room until well into 2008 so he's going to be able to play this year.

I'm sure they will work something out for him not to lose his bonus money because he's not at the opening of camp. He will get bail and be back in Atlanta that evening so he won't be 'missing camp'.

IMO Vick's atty already let him down by letting Vick allow this to get this far. He had a chance to "come clean" earlier but he tried to skate around the authorities. Now its at the Fed level and a media/PR nightmare. Hopefully Vick has the brains to find a new atty/advisor (but I doubt it).

I dont know about pre-trial motions or that stuff but football isnt like basketball because of the weekly prep work for every team and if the trial does go on during this season or any season Vick wont be able to be in court and prepare for games.

You assume Atl will want to work something out with this PR disaster. What does Atl have to gain by working with Vick to help ensure he gets his $? Its not like Vick has lead Atl to 2 Super Bowl wins or even yearly deep playoff runs. He's an overhyped underachieving QB. I dont look for Atl to cut any deals with Vick.

[Dlyne8r]

"SmootSmack: That's sort of what I'm leaning toward as well. I have a feeling though that something will be worked out where he's suspended indefinitely but with pay, with no opportunity to return before the 5th game of the season."

That is exactly what is being said here in Atlanta. If the Falcons (and Arthur Blank especially) place Vick on an “indefinite leave,” even with pay, the organization appears to be placing some type of disciplinary action toward Vick. But, they also would look like they were offering some amount of support for Vick in case he is exonerated. Finally, the scenario you mention would avoid the impending media frenzy and accompanying distractions to the team.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by Dlyne8r

"SmootSmack: That's sort of what I'm leaning toward as well. I have a feeling though that something will be worked out where he's suspended indefinitely but with pay, with no opportunity to return before the 5th game of the season."

That is exactly what is being said here in Atlanta. If the Falcons (and Arthur Blank especially) place Vick on an “indefinite leave,” even with pay, the organization appears to be placing some type of disciplinary action toward Vick. But, they also would look like they were offering some amount of support for Vick in case he is exonerated. Finally, the scenario you mention would avoid the impending media frenzy and accompanying distractions to the team.

That's pretty much what I posted earlier. I read that they were considering a leave of absence, which makes sense. If I were his agent I would take the initiative to get him some leave w/pay.

Suspended or not, I just don't see how he can get on the field w/all of this going on. People will give him hell everywhere the falcons go, including their own home stadium.

I can bet you one thing for sure, Va. Tech has been getting offers from Metallica & Dave Mathews to play free before kickoff on their opener, 9/1. I bet VT won't be inviting Michael back anytime soon!

[Gmanc711]

I voted zero until he's proven guilty (which I think he is)...but unlike those in the other cases, this is his first time in serious trouble with the law/NFL, so I'm willing to give him the benifit of the doubt until his trial plays out.

If he is found guilty....than I dont think he should ever play again.