Michael Vick, the Atlanta Falcons falcons quarterback who is currently serving a 23-month prison sentence, will reportedly seek to enter a drug treatment program that would shorten his sentence. It sounds like a great deal for Vick, if his goal is to get out of prison as quickly as possible and get back to the NFL. But there's just one problem. Presumably, to enter the prison drug treatment program, Vick had to admit to using illegal drugs. And an admission that he was using illegal drugs would constitute a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy. Which means that the NFL could end up lengthening Vick's suspension. From ESPN Insider:
sources this week acknowledged to ESPN.com that the league is investigating the move made by Vick, which was orchestrated by his lead counsel, Billy Martin. The fallen Falcons star remains under indefinite suspension by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. And there has always been the possibility that Goodell could impose more definitive sanctions against Vick once the quarterback completes his 23-month prison term. The scope of those potential sanctions now could be affected by Vick's entry into the federal drug program. And that could mean that Vick -- who entered into the program in hopes that he might gain his release by the end of this year, and perhaps be available to play football again in 2009 could have his return further delayed.
If Vick is ever going to get back into the NFL -- and I have serious doubts that he will -- he needs to do more than just get out of prison; he needs to convince the league to let him off suspension. And acknowledging using drugs will make it harder for him to do that.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Michal Vick will, in my opinion, be playing professional football again somewhere soon. Just perhaps not in the NFL. However, he should put his time to goog use and see what kind of potential National Felony League stars are sharing his mailing address.
Posted at 12:14PM on Jan 12th 2008 by Bill Thomas
2. OK, this is getting ridiculous. Hasn't he already been admitted into the Drug Rehab in Leavenworth? I read with utter disgust, that convict Vick is already there? Or am I just imagining that I read it on AOL fanhouse by another writer? Help me!
Posted at 3:53PM on Jan 12th 2008 by Jazmin
3. Since he's already there I presume, you mean he can suddenly realize the bad outweighs the good & say never mind I'm going back to the other prison? This is insane, he's manipulating the crimal system & is making a joke of the original sentence that was supposed to mean that fenderal law, judge hudon, & the public would not tolerate his barbaric involvement in animal cruelty? So I guess that meant absolutely nothing, an NFL star can get his lawyer to interpet the law to suit his spoiled rich sadistic QB and everyone says sure ok, let's let em out now if you want! Wow, my respect for criminal laws & prosecutors has gone to zero for not fighting this with everything they have!
Posted at 4:02PM on Jan 12th 2008 by Jazmin
4. This is ridiculous. First of all, who does 23 months for dog fighting, when you can get a hunters license and kill all the animals you want. Why is everyone raising such a fuse about dogs when there are a ton of environmental or real wildlife issues to try and voice an opinion about. Our environment is going to hell in a hand basket because of money, species are becoming extinct because of money and you and wasting resources and time chasing people for fighting dogs.
Posted at 9:49PM on Feb 10th 2008 by Joe
5. Everyone has forgotten the smiles Vick put on so many of these turncoat fans faces when the Falcons where winning games. He was running and THROWING 4 this citys team. Now some blast the man cause he fought and had part in killing dogs. Dogfighting has been going on way before Me, Vick, or my GreatGreatGreat Grandfather was even born. It's so funny how a lot of White America say that they've never heard of dog fighting when it dates back into American Pit-Bull and White American History. Ive seen pictures in Mags and also Books(over 300pgs long) that show how to fight them, how to breed them, and how to pick a dog that has the "killer instinct". And White Families actually raised and "Branded" generations of fighting breeds of Pit-Bulls. I saw VERY little blacks attending these fights in the pics, fights where then held in tents and at carnivals.( Blacks Where involved though). I saw pictures of a former Black Heavy Weight Champ showing off his fighter. I saw pics of Pits dated in the 1940's of American Pit-Bulls that were scratched up from a fight recieving trophies or ribbons for a win or a kill. Most of the Bloodlines of the dogs Micheal Vick had where decendants of these same Pits...BUT it's still all his fault for Not getting caught....but even getting involved with something so Lame compared to his NFL career. Could you imagine having the life he had, then to blow it on something you thought was really nothing but some dogs. Still I want him back in Atlanta, he has true fans here along with true Haters. He'll be ready....I couldn't beleive I saw Vinny Testaverde last yr win some games for the Panthers at 40 something. Vick will be ready....He proved the critics wrong time and time again through 2 different Coaches and PlayBooks. He is a long term intrest in Atlanta, he is a recored breaking QB, he packs the GA. Dome and T.V. ratings will still go up whenever-if ever he plays again. Give him a real chance, we saw every weakness we didn't know we had or ignored for too long on offense this year. Vicks mere presences was misses because the backs went through hell tring to get out of the backfield, then with Harringtons arm being just a tad bit stronger than my nine year olds arm, the horrible blocking, D. Halls explosions, Petrino serving up his divorce papers to A. Blank and now all the cutting and trading going on etc. Will he even want to come back? Will we find someone to replace that talent which for some reason the world thinks is wasted because he's been to prison. It hasn't been too many atheletes who haven't come back after trouble... to the same ole team and then got in trouble again and again. All Vick really needed was for what happened to him to happen. Who wouldn't walk straight after a scare like that? He obviously needed to just grow up. Hopefully he comes back with wisdom and they do keep him. Because I would hate it if he went to another team, and beat the breaks off Atlanta everytime they played or he won a Superbowl. It's happened before!!!! Keep your Big fish A. Blank cause as soon as you put him back in the water every fisherman in the NFL is going to start casting their lines with steak at the end of the hook. Last seasons over...It's time to forget and prepare for this franchises future. Keep Vick here.... he KEEPS getting better...and the Falcons will win more than 4 games. PETA you've had your time in the spotlight and Mans best friend too. Can we all just get back to living again and watching this young Human Being blossom into one of National Football Leagues best. -D.R.- Atlanta Falcons Fan since 74' "Birth"
Posted at 5:29AM on Feb 27th 2008 by D.R.