ACTION: NFL, Throw the Book at Michael Vick (HSUS Petition)

[Catchawave]

Thank you Wayne Pacelle :)

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/US_2007_dogfighting_nfl2?qp_source=gaba6w


Now that a federal grand jury has indicted star NFL quarterback Michael Vick for dogfighting, the NFL must stop hedging and impose a suitable penalty. Three months ago, suspicions of dogfighting on Vick's property in Virginia came to light along with chilling descriptions of the fighters hanging, electrocuting, shooting and slamming to death dogs who didn't "perform" as desired.

TAKE ACTION
Ask NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to suspend Michael Vick from the NFL immediately. Anything less would be an outrage.

[rpannier]

1. Done

[Rage for Order]

2. I'd rather the NFL wait until he's been found guilty

Vick is probably guilty as charged, but he hasn't been convicted of anything yet. Anyone can accuse someone of doing something wrong, but until the accusation is proven a punishment should not be issued. If we learned nothing else from the debacle that was the Duke lacrosse pseudo-rape case, we should've learned to respect the premise of "innocent until proven guilty". If the NFL takes action now and Vick is later acquitted they could be open to some serious legal action.

That said, I think Vick did it, and this is a public relations disaster for the Falcons and the NFL. Anyone who would do the things that Vick is accused of doing is a scumbag of the highest order and deserves every second of jail time to which they are sentenced.

[rpannier]

4. Based on Goodell's actions so far

He's gonna be hard pressed not to do anything.
He set a standard...if you're behavior is considered detrimental to the league then you're suspended.

His behavior, whether proven in court or not, has been detrimental to the league. Whether he was an active participant, his actions allowed illegal activities to occur on property he owned.
The NFL is a private business. This situation does have a negative effect on the image of the NFL -- That's Goodell's criterion.

[Rage for Order]

8. I agree with you, but...

Goodell is in a Catch-22 here. If he takes no immediate action, waits for the case to play out in court, and Vick is found guilty, people will accuse him of going back on his word or having double standards for high profile players. However, if Goodell takes immediate action based on an unproven indictment and Vick is acquitted then Vick could probably sue the NFL (and win) for breach of contract among other things (I'm guessing here since I'm not an attorney). The NFL player's union is one of, if not the most, powerful unions in the country. Right or wrong, they fight hard on behalf of every player, trying to get the least amount of punishment or the highest amount of damages. It's their job to do so, but I can't imagine that makes this particular instance any more palatable to the attorneys of the NFLPA.

[amerikat]

5. I agree

let him have his day in court.

[BlackVelvet04]

3. I've never been into vigilante style justice.....

I prefer to wait for a jury and judge. There is a presumption of innocence and he deserves his day in court.

I think anybody who would do what has been done to those animals is a sick s.o.b. but I still think he deserves a trial.

[Kagemusha]

6. I don't want Vick to own the NFL. Do you?

Let's wait until these are more than accusations rather than give Michael Vick a legal case for suing the NFL for unjust treatment.

[petersjo02]

7. Done n/t

[karlrschneider]

9. I have disliked the guy intensely for years but I'd just as soon wait for

the evidence to be presented at trial. Let's not abandon the principle of innocent until proven guilty (even though the process fails occasionally)

[Catchawave]

10. Indictment means there's evidence enough to go to trial....

http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=128669&ran=140367&tref=po

[Rage for Order]

11. True, but...

The Duke lacrosse players were also indicted. I'm not saying that Vick is being railroaded by a rogue prosecutor like the lacrosse players were; in fact, I personally think he is guilty as charged. On top of that, I think he is a sucky, over-hyped quarterback and it would be no big loss for the Falcons if Vick couldn't play for them. But, my personal feelings aside, I understand why the NFL does not want to rush to judgment and make a hasty decision prior to Vick having been convicted in a court of law.

[Catchawave]

15. I signed the HSUS petition with my real name and address...

So my personal neck is betting on the come. This dogfighting sh*t has got to stop.

Was he set up? Maybe.

Was he anywhere near this. Defintely yes.

[Rage for Order]

16. I'm with you CAW

Again, I make no apologies for Vick, I don't like him as a player, and now I definitely don't like him as a person. I don't think he was set up. I think he was personally involved and probably provided the money to make the dogfighting possible. Dogfighting and other animal abuse is disgusting and should not be tolerated. However, I am a big NFL fan and I fully understand why the commissioner wants to wait for the issue to be settled in court before he suspends Vick. The commish is in a tough spot here. He can't do anything to Vick without opening the league up to potential legal recourse if Vick is found not guilty. I think a better course of action would be to ask the Falcons to bench Vick until his trial is over, similar to taking a cop of the streets while a use of deadly force is under administrative review. Make him stand on the sidelines and hold a clipboard. The Falcons would still be honoring their contract with Vick, so there would be no legal issue there. No player is guaranteed playing time.

[Catchawave]

20. Thanks !

:hi:

[regnaD kciN]

13. So f***ing what...?

Do you propose that we just dispense with a trial, and declare someone guilty based on whether they're indicted?

Sorry, but that's Republican logic. "You don't often find someone innocent who's been accused of a crime." -- former Reagan A.G. Edwin Meese.

[Neshanic]

12. Done

[BushOut06]

14. Is there any indication that Vick was aware of what was going on?

I really haven't been reading up on this too much, but everything I've heard so far states that the dog-fighting took place on "property that Vick owned". I haven't actually heard anything stating that Vick himself was taking part in these activities. Is the argument that since it was his property, he should have known what was going on and is being held responsible along with the operators? Or was he actively aware or participating?

[RamboLiberal]

18. According to what I've been reading he was well known

in the fighting dog community, had a nickname (I believe it was Oochie or something like that) and had ordered the electrocution death of one of the dogs.

[BushOut06]

19. In that case, throw the book at him

If he is found guilty, then by all means - throw the book at him. I have no sympathy towards those who treat animals like that.

[RamboLiberal]

17. Done - thanks

He doesn't deserve to play in the NFL and if guilty I hope they fine the hell out of his butt and throw him in to jail for a very long time.