I was amazed the other day to hear an ESPN commentator say that the Falcons can't fire Vick because they just traded their back up quarterback and Vick constitutes their entire offense. That is a morally depraved analysis. Unless Vick can demonstrate to the Falcons that he is completely innocent and that these accusations arise from a bizarre conspiracy against him, they cannot allow him to stay on their roster another minute. Given his elite status, my guess is that firing him will do two things: cost many millions of dollars and ensure that the team has no offensive attack until they can develop a competent replacement. The problem for the Falcons is that the horse has already left the barn. If they keep him and he fails to exonerate himself (and I mean exonerate, not just avoid conviction), then he will be of no use to them. In addition to losing lots of money and lots of games, they will have forfeited their reputation as a reputable organization.

Unless Vick has told them things that have not come out in the news, then they have no excuse for not taking affirmative steps to remove him from their roster.

I watch a lot of ESPN, but every now and then they say things that are morally reprehensible.

You know what's really a shame? At Virginia Tech's beautiful athletic training facility, Merryman Hall, they have an area known as Michael Vick Hallway. http://www.hokiesports.com/football/merryman.html

Here's a blurb from their website:Tech should do something about that, if they can.

If there's one thing we learned from the Duke Lacrosse incident it's not to make a rush to judgement. I think the Falcons and the NFL are doing the right thing by letting the legal system run its course.

If Vick is found guilty then he should get jail time and a lifetime ban from the NFL.

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Bill Wood - Retired Webmaster
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1998 Mercedes E430
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I have represented some professional athletes and have a brother that played Div. I NCAA football. Gambling seems to go hand in hand with ultra-competitive sporting types: look at Pete Rose, Michael Jordan, ect.....I see it in every case, including that of my own brother. They will be on anything--whether the guy at the stoplight will pick his nose, how long a cigar will burn, you name it.

Vick has to be intelligent by all accounts of his scholastic record, but he has the gambling bug combined with a dangerous dose of ghetto God complex.

I can't remember in being so dissapointed in an athlete that I thought when he came out of VT showed so much promise.

If I owned the Falcons, I would not rush to judgment, but I would not feel any obligation to wait for the legal system to run its course. I would have Vick on the carpet right now demanding an explanation. If he professed his innocence, but said that he needed to keep quiet to avoid waiving his rights against self-incrimination, then I would suspend him with pay. Anything short of that and he's fired, effective immediately. The one thing that would not happen would be for him to remain on the roster without first affirmatively proving his innocence.

I think the presumption of innocence is often applied incorrectly. In the eyes of the law, Vick is not guilty until the government proves its case beyond a reasonable doubt. That is a bedrock American principle. The Falcons, though, are not the government. They have no obligation to continue to associate themselves with someone who damages their organization. Vick has rights. So do the Falcons.

Arthur Blank still own the Falcons? I'm sure he could "fire" Vick for this now if he wanted. " ...for conduct unbecoming, etc, etc..." That's pretty much standard lauguage in NFL contracts I understand. But that short circuits due process.

Irony here: His court date is the day the Falcons open training camp.

Most owners in the league wouldn't touch this guy. Yeah, I know, there's Al Davis and Jerry Jones.
Even those owners who will overlook character and attitude, must ultimately consider the ability of this guy to lead a team to the SB, and IMO, Vick won't do that with Atlanta if he plays there 10 more years.

He's like everyone ... getting older, getting slower, whose best days, athletically, are likely behind him.

Maybe he's had his bell rung too many times by the likes of Brian Dawkins, etc.

I am wondering whether Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson will step forward with cries of racism on this one......

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Any one know where I can get a Ron Mexico Falcon's # 7 jersey. I heard they were hot item a few yeas ago.

people who fight dogs and those who watch them are sick individuals who probably participate in other unlawful activity.....screw 'em all..........

As an analysis of the state of the team, it is dead on. The Falcons are in the worst possible place for this to happen. Rookie coach. No #1 receiver. And an offense completely geared around Vick's unique talents. They're only looking at the business end of it, not the moral end.

Daunte Culpepper is available now and with Vick's salary gone from the cap, they could afford him easily. They have options.

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Jonathan

2011 Mazda2
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1994 C280 (retired)

Imagine the volume and duration of spectator booing that Vick will endure the next time he's on the field. Not good PR, and TV sponsors know it. Innocent or guilty, he's fried.

Sounds right to me. I don't think he will ever play another game.

I think Arthur Blank already did that back in May of this year when the accusations first came out.

The Falcons DO need to find another QB. The current backup QB is not able to lead a team. Maybe they can dump him and get a good one that is able to replace Vick when/if necessary. Vick will be in court in approx 75-80 days. Based on my reading of the indictment, it sounds like they have a solid case against him with at least 2 key witnesses. Yes, it would be prudent for the Falcons to have plan-B.

__________________
Bill Wood - Retired Webmaster
My Personal Website
1998 Mercedes E430
2010 Toyota Sequoia
My Photo Albums

Daunte Culpepper. The Dolphins agreed to release him this week. He's now an unrestricted free agent. Probably the best available in the market. Why the Dolphins chose to go with Trent Green over Culpepper is beyond me, but I see this as Atlanta's way out.

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Jonathan

2011 Mazda2
2000 E320 4Matic Wagon
1994 C280 (retired)

The neighborhood where I grew up had a public golf course with a group of hard-core regulars. They hung around the clubhouse waiting for pigeons willing to play rounds of golf for money. If a pigeon hesitated, they offered concessions to level the playing field, like letting the pigeon tee off from the ladies' tees, playing the whole course with one club, or even hitting left handed. Whatever it took to get a bet. That was a funny group of people.