(Atlanta Falcons quarterback) Vick indicted in dogfighting case

[jefferson_dem]

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Vick indicted in dogfighting case

Staff Reports
Published on: 07/17/07
Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was indicted Tuesday on one felony count related to dogfighting.

Vick is charged with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce and aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor an animal fighting venture.

The grand jury indictment charges that Vick and co-defendants Pernell Peach, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor spent six years "knowingly sponsoring and exhibiting in an animal fighting venture."

The grand jury also charged the men with establishing a kennel to represent dogfighting competitions, purchase and train pitbulls in dogfighting competitions and "destroying or otherwise disposing of dogs not selected to stay with the ongoing animal fighting venture."

The Falcons will issue a statement later Tuesday as owner Arthur Blank and president and general manager Rich McKay were traveling via airplane, according to a Falcons spokesperson.


Read more: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2007/07/17/vick_0717.html

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As a Falcons fan...needless to say...i'm disgusted!

[Binka]

1. What An Asshole

Fuck Vick.

[Duppers]

2. sadist scum bag

more than enough evidence to convict, but watch him get nothing but a fine, not even probation!!!

:grr:

[Dr.Phool]

3. Pernell Peach?

:rofl:

[Marnieworld]

4. I am so happy about this.

And I ams o happy it happened before the season starts. I said in April that he may be indicted by now. It's good to see justice for everyone not just the poor.

[Auggie]

6. Me too. He got caught in his lie.

[MrSlayer]

5. Too bad the Falcons got rid of the QB who can actually play.

Too bad for them anyway.

Hopefully the NFL does the right thing and suspends this clown for a year. Hell, they should ban him completely if found guilty. Torturing animals is disgusting.

[pokercat999]

7. Fits right in with the level of violence he has

experienced on the way to and in playing as a Pro Football Player. I hope he hangs (figuratively of course, jail for a year would be ok).

If you're surprised by the violence shown by your handsome, strong, precious, football player offspring you're stupid. We train our young men to try to maim one another in a "game" then we are shocked, shocked we say, when they take it to the street.

Dog fighting is to sport as rape is to sex.

[daa]

8. Really

And do you same the saame for police? Military? Or just athletes?

[pokercat999]

18. Yep, been there, done that, got the scars.

[jefferson_dem]

9. Whatever.

This bust has nothing to at all to do with professional football, other than the fact that the heavy duty dollars heaped upon young professional atheletes of all sorts can lead to irresponsible feelings of grandeur.

[truthisfreedom]

10. Wow. What a lot of intensity we have here. Last I heard, the phrase was "innocent until proven

guilty." I think I'm going to wait for the verdict in this case, before jumping on the bandwagon. Remember the Duke Lacrosse case?

[bmbmd]

13. This isn't Mike Nifong investigating this case.

It was thoroughly and professionally investigated. Read the indictment for names, dates, and dollars. I agree-he is innocent until proven guilty, but I disagree that you can compare his situation to the Duke case.

[AngryOldDem]

23. These cases are investigated thoroughly...

Where I live there are months of undercover investigation before the busts happen, and more often than not, people are caught on tape, wiretap, etc., and when they are caught, they are caught dead to rights. Local cops and the feds don't mess around with things like this.

[Myrina]

27. how much 'proof' do you need?

... did you see all the stuff they took from his property?
are we supposed to believe he running a fricckin' doggy daycare? :eyes:

[Iris]

35. exactly. Even if he wasn't lying about not knowing what was taking place on his property,

he's still responsible.

[LanternWaste]

42. Do our opinions validate either a guilty or innocent verdict?

Do our opinions validate either a guilty or innocent verdict? Will our statements lend or subtract jail time? Is he less or more guilty or innocent as a consequence of our opinion? I say no, they don't.

He will be found either Guilty or Innocent regardless of our intensity, so in effect, Guilty until Proven Innocent is irrelevant for all intents and purposes-- unless of course, you haven't jumped on the 'Bush is Guilty' bandwagon either, and are giving the current administration all your benefits of doubts until impeachment proceedings begin...

[5thGenDemocrat]

64. It's "innocent under proven guilty" in a court of law

The court will sort out the facts of the case. But I'd still say a person has a right to his or her opinion as to Vick's culpability while we're all spitballing here on an internet forum.
John
Mine is that he's guilty. Guilty guilty guilty!!

[Seedersandleechers]

11. Stick him in a jail cell

with about 5 of his dogs. We could place bets on that. I'll place my money on the dogs.....

[truebrit71]

29. Agreed......

.

[Marnieworld]

31. good idea

And strap 100 peanut-butter covered steaks to his body before putting him in the cell. Let's "test" him to see how well he fights! If anyone reads the indictment you will know what I mean. Monstrous.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ornotna]

15. Uh, What?

I'm speechless. That has got to be one of the most racist statements I have ever read on this site.

[Omaha Steve]

14. Innocent until proven guilty....

IF he is guilty, the NFL commissioner should bar him for life!

[ohio2007]

19. Maybe he can play for the Duke Lacrosse team.....guilty until proven

innocent

[barb162]

16. That sadistic creep; hope he gets jail time if convicted.

[NaturalHigh]

17. Anyone involved with dog fighting is a bastard.

If he's found guilty, throw the book at him.

[AngryOldDem]

20. Throw his ass in jail permanently

What the fuck was he thinking?

I won't repeat what he and his other bastard friends in this ring did to those animals that lost their fights. It's beyond sick.

Vick deserves no mercy. None.

[AngryAmish]

21. What is morally wrong about dogfighting?

Just about everything. Scumbag.

[0007]

22. This is truly sickening. Man's Best Friend used viciously for

reasons that I quiet don't understand. Turning dogs into killers is as wrong as training man to kill man, IMHO.

[Doctor_J]

24. I watched a tiny bit of this (very tame) on ESPN a few weeks ago

it is literally sickening. The level of depravity is really discouraging. There are some very sick human beings, and it appears Vick is one of them

[0007]

32. I'll never be able to enjoy watching this gifted athletic in action

again without being reminded of his ugly crown of thorns, if these allegations are true.

[Zynx]

63. He's not that gifted.

He is the single most overrated player in recent years.

[AngryAmish]

25. First youtube video

[Myrina]

26. Let's hope after his next 'loss' on the field ...

... he is hung, drowned or electrocuted - like many of the 'losing' dogs were.

Bastard.

[pettypace]

28. Abhorrent actions on Mike Vick's part if true

Still, I take greater offense by his performance on the field...he needs to spend his off-season working on his accuracy, reading defense, and pocket presence. He did become the first QB to rush for 1000 yards in '06, but its simply not translating effectively in the win column.

Here's hoping the upcoming adversity will shake him up and make him a better player, and person off the field. Use Brett Favre as a role model, Mike. Thats a guy you can hang your hat on.

Dog fighting? Come on man, you're better than that.

[Mike Daniels]

30. I'd be surprised if he has a football career at all after this

I can't imagine any team voluntarily taking on the bad PR that would come with having Vick on your squad at this point.

I see the Falcons paying him off and cutting him loose as soon as possible if he's found guilty.

[Auntie Bush]

34. Won't he be in jail if convicted?

It's his kind of people that torture and rendition prisoners and blow up frogs and they belong in jail too.

[northzax]

36. paying him off?

I bet they can unilaterally void the contract after a federal felony conviction.

[Iris]

37. yeah, his performance on the field is so much more important than the humane treatment of dogs.

:sarcasm:

[Ganja Ninja]

40. "Dog fighting? Come on man, you're better than that."

Apparently not.

[Myrina]

44. Favre's a role model?

Never been to any taverns in northern Wisconsin, have ya? :beer: You can bet ol' Brett has ...

[LanternWaste]

51. Color me curious...

Color me curious...

Why do you take greater offense at his on-field performance than you do his animal abuse? One seems to be no more, nor no less than one individual's over-paid career, while the other is at best indicitive of deep rooted emotional problems and at worst an illustration of an amoral person. :shrug:

[Iris]

53. I've seen this attitude on more than one thread.

It's like the football is more important than anything else. I just don't get that sort of sports fan(atic).

[LanternWaste]

54. It chills me...

It chills me. It honestly, sincerely and actual chills me and disturbs me. We're supposed to be progressive. We're supposed to honor, respect, support and protect those who can't protect themselves.

His statement is a de-facto admission that he holds a sport (a Sport, for God's sake!) in higher regard than sentient life! I imagined that as I grew older, I'd become more ad more callous to this sort of thing, but the opposite has happened-- I feel more enraged, more disturbed and so much more saddened that anyone (let alone someone who posts on a progressive board) believes that the moral and humane treatment of animals is less important than someone's on-field performance.

Anyway... posters like that never go on my ignore list. I rather enjoy reading their postings and calling in the mods when they finally fly their true colors.

[Iris]

59. you are not alone. n/t

[pettypace]

60. just to clarify

My proclamation was in jest. Of course I don't hold a players performance over dogs being tortured. I was trying to diametrically rebut some of posts calling for Vick to perish...I think you should reply to those as well.

I'm replying to your post since you pulled out the "he must be a conservative" card. I tell you thats the lowest response to give to another DU'er.

Doesn't have anything to do with politics.

[pettypace]

55. Not entirely hard to understand

For those who follow pro football, Michael Vick is one of the most well known, important, and popular individuals in the game as well as to fans of the Atlanta Falcons. I mean like my other post states, he's the highest paid in the entire game.

Make no mistake, if a lesser player was involved in this tawdry affair, it would not have made headlines around the country as Vick's case has.

I admit I was being facetious on my original thread, but I assure you tens of millions of people fervently follow pro and college sports, and in cases like this they see the situation through that prism. I'm not smart enough to provide an analogy to put the view in perspective, but I don't think its hardly worth judging people in a negative light because of it.

As for Michael Vick, he's got a ton to lose....I could care not care less either way going forward.

[Iris]

58. "its hardly worth judging people in a negative light because of it."

I disagree. When people are so wrapped up in a game that common decency is thrown out the window, I judge them harshly. What should be put into perspective is these are just games.

[AngryOldDem]

61. So his performance on the field is more important than his torturing of animals.

Ho-kay. Moving right along.

[Coventina]

33. If the NFL has any morals at all, they will ban him for life!

Beyond sickening.

:mad:

[Ganja Ninja]

39. I can't wait until they throw his sadistic ass out of the NFL. n/t

[CountAllVotes]

38. from the AP

"(AP) Vick Indicted Over Alleged Dogfighting"

>> NFL star Michael Vick was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday on charges of sponsoring a dogfighting operation so grisly the losers either died in the pit or sometimes were electrocuted, drowned, hanged or shot.

<snip>

The 18-page federal indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleges the 27-year-old Vick and his co-defendants began the dogfighting operation in early 2001, the former Virginia Tech star's rookie year with the Falcons.

The indictment states that dogs fought to the death _ or close to it.

If convicted, Vick and the others _ Purnell A. Peace, Quanis L. Phillips and Tony Taylor _ could face up to six years in prison, $350,000 in fines and restitution.

http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/ap-vick-indicted-over-alleged-dogfighting/107888.htm

I hope that Vick rots in jail after he pays his $350,000.00 fine! :grr:

:kick:

[Myrina]

43. "rots in jail" ?

I think not. Let him die a slow agnozing death in one of his fight pits, after being ripped apart by a number of "his" dogs.

Bastard. People like him make me SO sick. :mad: :cry:

[pettypace]

41. Vick currently has a 10 year $130 million contract

$37 million signing bonus in 2004.

Vick is the highest paid player in pro football history.

...harder they fall.

[MadHound]

45. Frankly he's not worth it

Vick has always been more about promise and potential than how he actually performed on the field. Seven years later and they're still trying to get him to shape him up into an NFL quarterback who throws more.

Atlanta might secretly be relieved if he goes to jail. They can unload this marginal quarterback and save money in the bargain.

[sampsonblk]

46. Falcons should have traded him years ago

Now they are pretty much stuck with what appears to be dead weight.

This guy is a scumbag.

[RamboLiberal]

47. Vick approved electrocution of dog, feds say

When a Bad Newz Kennels dog was wounded in a losing fight, NFL star Michael Vick was consulted before the animal was doused with water and electrocuted.

----

Unlike previous documents, which did not name Vick, the indictment is littered with his name, including this tidbit — Vick was known as “Ookie” in the dogfighting world.

----

About eight young dogs were put to death at the Surry County home after they were found not ready to fight in April 2007, the indictment said. They were killed “by hanging, drowning and/or slamming at least one dog’s body to the ground.”

“Some of the grisly details in these filings shocked even me, and I’m a person who faces this stuff every day,” Goodwin said. “I was surprised to see that they were killing dogs by hanging them, and one dog was killed by slamming it to the ground. Those are extremely violent methods of execution — they’re unnecessary and just sick.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19814494 /

I'm hoping this case is the national spotlight on the cruel, inhumane world of dogfighting which is too damn common in this country and is a growing problem. I'd love to see a national, state, local, very serious crackdown on dog-fighting. IMHO there ought to be some serious, really heavy-duty penalties on anyone who engages in it. Besides the cruelty to the dogs there's also a danger to the community as great as leaving a loaded gun lying on the street when they animals attack innocent people including sometimes the family members of the dog-raisers. I've seen and read too damn many stories of pit bulls attacking kids, adults, elderly people and in many cases killing or severely mauling them. Also a lot of other dogs and cats have been attacked and killed or mauled.

[RamboLiberal]

48. And in case anyone forgets a couple of other NFL idiots

weighing in back in May.

Washington Redskins players Clinton Portis and Chris Samuels defended Michael Vick on Monday by ridiculing the notion that dog fighting is considered a crime.

In an interview with WAVY-TV, Portis said that if the Atlanta Falcons quarterback is charged and convicted of being involved in a dog fighting operation, then authorities would be "putting him behind bars for no reason."

"I don't know if he was fighting dogs or not," Portis said. "But it's his property; it's his dogs. If that's what he wants to do, do it."

Portis said dog fighting is a "prevalent" part of life.

Portis, a native of Laurel, Mississippi, added: "I know a lot of back roads that got a dog fight if you want to go see it. But they're not bothering those people because those people are not big names. I'm sure there's some police got some dogs that are fighting them, some judges got dogs and everything else."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,274636,00.html

And we had this little incident in Pittsburgh last year.

Charges could be filed by the end of the week over an incident Tuesday in which two dogs belonging to Steelers linebacker Joey Porter -- a pit bull and a mastiff -- got loose from Mr. Porter's Pine home and killed a miniature horse at a nearby farm.

The dogs, named Tina and Nemo, were still in the corral with the dead horse when police arrived about 4:45 p.m., said Chief Bob Amann, of the Northern Regional Police Department. The department includes Pine, Marshall, Richland and Bradford Woods.

The owners of the horse, Richard and Eleanor Bowers, were not home at the time and their home was occupied by a daughter, Chief Amann said. The Bowers yesterday declined to comment on the attack.

The 6-year-old American miniature horse was 29 1/2 inches tall, probably smaller than the two dogs. Mastiffs can weigh more than 200 pounds and stand nearly 6 feet on their hind legs.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06264/723752-54.stm

[Iris]

50. Here's a clip of the Clinton Portis supporting Vick and calling him a "positive role model in the

community."

It's one of the most twisted things I've ever heard.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=o77coI3O9ps

[billbuckhead]

65. Glad Joey's not a Steeler anymore and will be glad when Vick isn't a Falcon

O.J. Simpson beat up a bunch of girls when he was in college and it was covered up.

[classysassy]

49. Indicted

dogfights are inhuman,killing women and children is worse.Hello America,when are you going to indict the mad dog killer in the oval office?.

[BigDDem]

52. karma's a bitch

you sick fuck

[slackmaster]

56. He deserves a fair trial

And if convicted, deserves to be fed into a wood chipper.

Feet first.

[sandyj999]

57. I do have a Link

For anyone that wants to protest to the NFL. I hope that I am allowed to do this on here. https://community.hsus.org/campaign/US_2007_dogfighting_nfl2?qp_source=gaba6w

[militaryspouse]

62. ..

maybe someone needs to throw him in the ring with a bunch of ravaging pit bulls so he can see what it feels like! as a dog lover this more than disgusts me!