Regardless of how the indictment and potential trial (if there is one) of Michael Vick down the road goes, my guess is that his playing career in Atlanta may be over with the indictment’s announcement. It is unsurprisingly ugly as to what’s in the contents of the thing (I wouldn’t recommend reading it while eating at all), and if there are four witnesses in said indictment placing you as a person directly involved in the operation, you’re in trouble — especially considering that federal prosecutors do not usually bring charges if they don’t think they have a very good shot at a conviction. I thought he might have been in the clear a couple weeks ago, and I thought a lot of media figures were willing to jump the gun earlier than appropriate, meaning, prior to an actual indictment and a trial.
Reading Lester Munson at the Four-Letter, my guess is that Vick may be very, very lucky if the worst he winds up at this point is simply out of an Atlanta uniform — four witnesses and three co-defendants who could cut deals to testify against him is a sizeable number. The trial has to take its course, but I suspect the commissioner’s office will have something to say about this prior to any verdict, because the pressure is coming from all sides to do so, and the precedent is there. Arthur Blank may have had his fill. Despite the fact that a trial may be four to six months away (and longer if Vick’s lawyers manage to work some delays), Falcons fans should get used to saying Joey Harrington is their starting QB immediately.
Filed under: NFL, law, police blotter | Tagged: Atlanta Falcons, Michael Vick
“four witnesses and three co-defendants who could cut deals to testify against him is a sizeable number.”
It’s a Mike Vick “story” so I guess that’s why we’re all focused on him. But is he the “kingpin?” Is he really Al Capone? From the indictment, it seems that the other three guys were just as involved. In some instances, Vick wasn’t involved because the events took place during football season. What if Vick pleads down, and HE testifies against someone else? It’s just as likely a scenario. My point is that this case isn’t JUST about getting Vick. It’s just as likely that the Feds are hoping Vick turns them on to a bigger fish.
Diallo – VERY valid point to raise from a legal standpoint; thank you. Federal authorities are always looking for the person that will give them someone bigger. Vick may be someone they look to testify against others to get bigger names.
All of that is irrelevant to his football future. If he is convicted or pleads to charges as a result of this, he’s still done in the ATL.
No doubt. Nevertheless if I’m Vick, I’m more worried about not becoming Big Bubba’s snot rag at a Federal Pen right now:)
We wrote on this at our blog, too.
The more I hear about this story, the more it makes me sick. I may have to do a recap write-up today.
I live smack dab in the middle of the UVA-VA Tech corridor, and it’s taking all of my resolve, or what’s left of it, not to write about this on my blog(not that a lot of people would read it, anyway). I think I’ll probably delve into it after the hearing next week; at least that way, I’ll hopefully have a little more perspective on the situation.
Diallo is right, though, about the fact that Vick should be worried. These guys have a 95% conviction rate going for them.