Nigger Dog Murderer Vick Booted from NFL, No Pay, Forever

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294495,00.html

NFL Suspends Michael Vick Indefinitely, Without Pay

Friday, August 24, 2007

No matter how nuanced his confession for involvement in dogfighting, Michael

Vick got no leniency Friday from the NFL.

Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended the Atlanta Falcons quarterback

indefinitely without pay, just hours after Vick filed a plea agreement that

portrayed him as less involved than three co-defendants and guilty mainly of

poor judgment for associating with them.

Vick acknowledged bankrolling gambling on the dogfights, but denied placing

bets himself or taking any of the winnings. He admitted that dogs not worthy

of the pit were killed "as a result of the collective efforts" of himself

and two co-defendants.

Click here to read Vick's plea agreement:

http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/vick_plea_deal.pdf

Goodell wasn't moved and didn't bother 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 Vick's admitted conduct was "not only illegal but also

cruel and reprehensible." Even if he didn't personally place bets, Goodell

said, "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."

Goodell freed the Falcons 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.

The commissioner didn't speak to Vick but based his decision on the court

filings. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Goodell may meet with Vick in the

future, and Goodell said he would review the suspension after all the legal

proceedings.

"You have engaged in conduct detrimental to the welfare of the NFL and have

violated the league's personal conduct policy," Goodell told Vick in a

letter after meeting in New York with Falcons president and general manager

Rich McKay.

"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," Goodell wrote. "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."

Falcons owner Arthur Blank supported Goodell's decision and said:

"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."

Nike, meantime, said it terminated its contract with Vick.

Earlier Friday in Richmond, Va., a "summary of facts" signed by Vick was

filed along with his written plea agreement on a federal dogfighting

conspiracy charge.

"While Mr. Vick is not personally charged with or responsible for committing

all of the acts alleged in the indictment, as with any conspiracy charge, he

is taking full responsibility for his actions and the actions of the others

involved," the defense team said in a written statement after the plea

agreement was filed.

"Mr. Vick apologizes for his poor judgment in associating himself with those

involved in dog fighting and realizes he should never have been involved in

this conduct," the statement said.

Vick and his lawyers said his involvement was limited when it came to the

enterprise known as the Bad Newz Kennels.

"Our position has been that we are going to try to help Judge Hudson

understand all the facts and Michael's role," Vick's defense attorney, Billy

Martin, said in telephone interview. "Michael's role was different than

others associated with this incident."

Vick's summary of facts said he provided most of the Bad Newz Kennels

operation and gambling monies, echoing language in plea agreements by the

three co-defendants - Tony Taylor, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips.

When the dogs won, the statement said, gambling proceeds were generally

shared by Taylor, Peace and Phillips.

"Vick did not gamble by placing side bets on any of the fights. Vick did not

receive any of the proceeds of the purses that were won by Bad Newz

Kennels," the court document said.

According to the statement, Vick also 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.

"Vick agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the

collective efforts" of Vick, Phillips and Peace, the statement said.

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

guidelines.

Hudson has a reputation for imposing stiff sentences, according to lawyers

who have appeared in his court. The judge will set a sentencing date at

Monday's hearing.

Martin said Vick will "speak to the public and explain his actions." Though

he declined to say when and where, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, a syndicated

program based in Dallas, said it will have a live interview with Vick on

Tuesday.

The case began in April when authorities conducting a drug investigation of

Vick's cousin raided a Surry County property owned by Vick and found dozens

of dogs, some injured, and equipment commonly used in dogfighting.

A federal indictment issued in July charged Vick, Peace, Phillips and Taylor

with an interstate dogfighting conspiracy. Vick initially denied any

involvement, and all four men pleaded innocent. The three co-defendants

later pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against Vick.

Taylor was the first to change his plea, saying Vick financed the

dogfighting ring's gambling and operations. Peace and Phillips soon

followed, alleging that Vick joined them in killing dogs that did not

measure up in test fights.

The sickening details outlined in the indictment and other court papers

prompted a public backlash against Vick, who had been one of the NFL's most

popular players.

Animal-rights groups mobilized against Vick - even protesting at NFL

headquarters in New York - and sponsors dropped him.

"It is fitting that the NFL has suspended him," said Wayne Pacelle,

president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "He's now a

role model for something terrible, and it's not appropriate that he suit up

in an NFL uniform."