Media Outrage

Mike Vick has every intention of returning to the NFL as soon as his debt to society has been paid in full.  He also already has a certain dollar figure in mind that teams should pay very close attention to. Read the rest of this entry »

Mike Vick entered a guilty plea in the state of Virginia to dog fighting charges.

Via Yahoo:

SUSSEX, Va. – Former NFL star quarterback Michael Vick has pleaded guilty to a state dogfighting charge in Virginia in a bid to make him eligible for early release from jail.

The 28-year-old Vick pleaded guilty to one charge and not guilty to a second count involving torturing or killing animals. The second count was dropped.

Vick was given a three-year suspended sentence. The plea could potentially speed his return to the NFL.

Federal law prohibits prisoners from being released to a halfway house if there are unresolved charges pending.

Vick was expressionless throughout the brief hearing. He told the judge he apologized to his family and to children who looked up to him as a role model.

Mediaoutrage- We wonder what team he will return to.

Despite the fact that Mike Vick is sitting in a prison cell for fighting dogs, and, Gov. of Alaska, Sarah Palin kills mooses but is running for VP of this country things still have an upside. All Vick has to do is hold on for a little while longer and he’ll have his freedom and a possible return to the NFL. At an NFL owners meeting Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said he would support a return to the league for Vick.

Via ESPN:

“He’s written me and I’ve answered him,” Blank said. “I certainly wish Michael well in the future. I believe in second chances. I believe in third chances. That doesn’t mean I believe in forever chances. But I do believe he’s capable of redemption and learning from his mistakes.”

When asked if Vick would return to the Falcons, Blank began with a generic answer and then switched to a very strong tone. Read the rest of this entry »

That title might be a little misleading but we’re just saying though… According to TMZ some guy became the new owner of a lot of Mike Vick’s valuables for a measly $10.

Via TMZ:

Vick pulled the ol’ “Paris Hilton” by leaving a bunch of his stuff in a storage locker that hadn’t been paid for. The contents of the locker, stocked with all sorts of Vick’s personal goodies, eventually went on the auction block. Since only five people showed up to the sale, a dude named Edward Howard says he was able to obtain the treasure trove of obscurities for a whopping ten bucks. Read the rest of this entry »

Mike Vick is apparently staying in shape while in prison and playing football and washing pots and pans for 12cents an hour.

Via Foxsports:

Michael Vick may never play in the NFL again. But his football days are far from over.

Vick, a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback who is currently serving a 23-month prison sentence in Leavenworth, Kan. for financing a dogfighting ring, is playing football in prison, Falcons owner Arthur Blank told the New York Daily News.

“He is staying in shape,” Blank told the Daily News. “Apparently, there was a prison football team and he played quarterback for both sides.”

Blank and Vick have been communicating through letters, a process Vick initiated, Blank told the Daily News.

“He’s written me a couple of times,” Blank said. “I’ve written him back, he’s stayed in touch.”

The former Atlanta star is also washing pots and pans for 12 cents an hour, Blank told the newspaper — a far cry from the $130 million contract he used to have.

Mediaoutrage- That’s what’s up we hope Vick is able to return to the NFL when he gets released and reclaim his spot as one of the best QBs in the league. We just hope that Football is the only balls being played with while he’s doing his bid.

Mike Vick will only have to pay $3.75 million of the $20 million that the falcons have tried to recover. Great news for Vick because he gets to keep $16.25million.

Via AJC:

“A ruling Monday by a U.S. District judge overturned a previous decision by an arbitrator. It was originally ruled that Vick had to repay the Falcons $20 million in bonuses since he could not earn them due to his 23-month federal prison sentence and indefinite suspension by the NFL. Vick was sentenced in December to felony charges related to dogfighting.”

Finally some good news for Vick.

Michael Vick could be released from prison earlier than expected and possibly return to the NFL.

Via Yahoo Sports:

“Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick could be getting out of federal prison much earlier than anticipated after applying for a prison-monitored drug rehabilitation program and evidently being moved into the program in Leavenworth, Kan.

The program could have Vick out of prison by the end of this year and perhaps back in the NFL by the 2009 season.

A source confirmed to Yahoo! Sports on Friday that Vick has applied to the program, which is run only at the federal facility at Leavenworth. An official with the Federal Bureau of Prisons said Friday that Vick was being transported to Leavenworth.

Under the program, Vick could be released after serving only 12 months of the 23-month sentence Vick was given Dec. 10 in Richmond, Va. It’s unclear exactly when Vick would be released because it’s unclear whether the 12-month term starts from when he voluntarily began serving his prison term in November or whether it starts from when he enters Leavenworth.

As it stands, Vick’s 23-month prison term could translate to a release in the summer of 2009, putting his attempts at a return to the NFL for that season in jeopardy. But if Vick were to be released in late 2008 or early 2009, his opportunity to return to the league after missing only two seasons would be boosted significantly. Members of Vick’s camp continue to hope that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will decline to tack on a lengthy suspension following Vick’s release from prison.”

Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison Monday for his role in a dogfighting conspiracy that involved gambling and killing pit bulls.

The suspended Atlanta Falcolns uarterback could have been sentenced up to five years by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Vick, who turned himself in Nov. 19 in anticipation of his sentence, was wearing a black-and-white striped prison suit.

After Vick apologized to the court and his family, Hudson told him: “You need to apologize to the millions of young people who looked up to you.”

“Yes, sir,” Vick answered.

Vick acknowledged he used “poor judgment” and added, “I’m willing to deal with the consequences and accept responsibility for my actions.”

Federal rules governing time off for good behavior could reduce Vick’s prison stay by about three months, resulting in a summer 2009 release.

Before the hearing started, Michael Vick’s brother, Marcus Vick, sat with his right arm around their mother, comforting her as she buried her head in her hands and wept.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank called the sentencing “another step in his legal journey.”

“This is a difficult day for Michael’s family and for a lot of us, including many of our players and fans who have been emotionally invested in Michael over the years,” Blank said.

“We sincerely hope that Michael will use this time to continue to focus his efforts on making positive changes in his life, and we wish him well in that regard.”

MediaOutrage- Hold your head up Vick…you’ll be cool.

Source

The judge who will decide how long Michael Vick stays in prison sentenced two of the fallen NFL star’s dogfighting parnters to prison on Friday.

Purnell Peace, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Quanis Phillips, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 21 months.

Federal sentencing guidelines suggested a year to 18 months. Vick faces the same potential prison time.

U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson, who has presided over the dogfighting case, is not bound by the guidelines. Vick will be sentenced December 10. Tony Taylor of Hampton, Virginia, who was the first to plead guilty, will be sentenced on December 14.

Peace, Phillips and Taylor pleaded guilty last summer and agreed to testify against Vick, prompting the suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback to enter his own plea agreement a few days later.

“You may have thought this was sporting, but it was very callous and cruel,” U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson told Phillips.

Sentencing guidelines called for punishments of 12 to 18 months for Peace and 18 to 24 months for Phillips, who has a more extensive criminal record.

Prosecutors recommended sentences at the low end of the range because of the co-defendants’ cooperation. But Hudson said he felt sentences on the high end of the range were appropriate because of the nature of the crime.

All four men also face state charges. Vick’s attorneys this week requested a jury trial, which is set to begin in April.

Source 

Michael Vick surrendered to U.S. marshals Monday and will remain in jail until his sentencing on a dogfighting charge in three weeks.

He is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 10 but turned himself in because he anticipates a prison term on the federal dogfighting conspiracy charge, according to a court document. Vick could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

“From the beginning, Mr. Vick has accepted responsibility for his actions, and his self-surrender further demonstrates that acceptance,” Billy Martin, one of Vick’s lawyers, said in a statement. “Michael wants to again apologize to everyone who has been hurt in this matter, and he thanks all of the people who have offered him and his family prayers and support during this time.”

Vick is being held at Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw until his sentencing, U.S. marshals told The Associated Press. The mixed-gender facility houses about 450 inmates.

The order filed in U.S. District Court said: “Vick has indicated his desire to voluntarily enter custody prior to his sentencing hearing. It appearing appropriate to do so, the U.S. Marshal is ordered to take custody of the Defendant immediately upon his surrender.”

The order added Vick was taken into custody “based solely on his desire to begin his period of incarceration prior to his sentencing hearing and not because of violation of any condition of his bond.”

In an e-mail sent to the AP, the U.S. attorney’s office confirmed Vick’s surrender but declined further comment.

Vick’s decision to begin serving time before sentencing was approved by the judge and Vick’s lawyers.

Ronald Bacigal, a University of Richmond law professor who specializes in criminal law and criminal procedure, said there are no real direct legal benefits to Vick’s decision to turn himself in before sentencing.

“I don’t think there’s any benefits except getting (the sentence) started,” Bacigal said. “I would think he’s purely thinking about timing as far as when he can get back to his football.”

Vick also could be trying to show the judge he has accepted responsibility for his actions in hopes of a lighter sentence, Bacigal said.

“One of the things the judge is liable to consider is admitting fault,” Bacigal said.

Whether that will work is anyone’s guess.

“It’s kind of like reading tea leaves knowing what’s the exact impact on the judge,” Bacigal said.

Source