VIck TOLD not to come to Camp

[itsguud]

ESPN.com http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/column...len&id=2946896

The NFL and the Atlanta Falcons, already lacerated by the indictment of one of the game's highest-profile players and likely to suffer even more severe hemorrhaging by the end of the week, got a Band-Aid Monday night when commissioner Roger Goodell ordered quarterback Michael Vick not to report to training camp.
The league and the Falcons probably required something more along the lines of a tourniquet to staunch the mounting public relations ramifications of Vick's indictment last week on his alleged involvement in a dogfighting ring. But given that Vick might well have reported to training camp on Friday, the day after he is scheduled to appear in a Richmond, Va., federal courtroom for a bond hearing and his initial arraignment on the charges, the temporary fix applied by Goodell was much needed. In essence, the intervention of the commissioner, who originally felt that action by the club would have been more appropriate, bought all parties some time, and reduced the chances that the Falcons' training camp in Flowery Branch, Ga., would have degenerated into a circus atmosphere. Already, on Monday, protestors from PETA picketed the team's headquarters. They may continue to do so, even into the end of the week when camp starts, but the mere fact that the subject of their disdain won't be present on the practice fields or even in the locker room figures to mitigate the passion of a highly-charged situation. Goodell's decision, which wasn't rendered until about 8 p.m. and was delivered to the club before it was to the quarterback, came after a long day of deliberation by the commissioner. And it came with considerable input from the NFL Players Association, which had tried for several days to broker a deal in which Vick accepted a paid leave of absence. In the end, Goodell's action, as is characteristically the case with any compromise, certainly was not a cure-all. But short of Vick being convicted and sent to jail, or being acquitted, or the commissioner discovering indisputable evidence that the quarterback is in violation of the league's personal conduct policy and suspending the Falcons' star, there is no panacea. So, short of a cure, Goodell opted for a bandage. His ruling addresses the most immediate needs of Atlanta owner Arthur Blank, in that it keeps Vick out of camp and buffers the Falcons' organization, at least to some degree, from criticism. It also precludes the Falcons from finding Vick in default of his contact, and, for now, prohibits the franchise from attempting to recover any of the $37 million in bonuses that he has earned under the contract extension he signed in December 2004. No one, though, is naive enough to believe that the decision does anything more than slam the brakes briefly on a runaway public relations fiasco that could still ultimately continue its downhill momentum. Vick will be expected to cooperate fully as the NFL's review of his alleged activities moves forward. And while the NFL and Goodell might not have the investigatory gravitas of the federal government, its resources run deep, and its pride runs even deeper. And right now, the pride of the league and its first-year commissioner are dented more than a little. Goodell does not take lightly the allegations brought against one of the most conspicuous players in the NFL, even if Monday's move will probably be viewed as lacking weight. Make no mistake, this continues to be a situation in flux and under the microscope, as has been manifested by the events of the past week. Only a week or so ago, it seemed that the NFL and the Falcons were prepared to allow due process in Vick's case before determining what, if any measures to take in terms of sanctions. But events continued to spiral beyond the control of the primary entities, and when the carousel threatened to spin totally out of control, something had to be done. It appeared, for a brief time, that the solution would be a leave of absence that would permit Vick to focus his energies on extricating himself from his legal entanglements. And even on Monday evening, in hindsight, that still appeared the most palatable remedy. But two things occurred that served to scuttle the potential for such a deal: Blank decided that, having paid Vick more than $40 million already on his landmark contract, he could not reconcile a deal in which he guaranteed his $6 million base salary in 2007-08, provided the quarterback might not play a single down. Second, the competitiveness, or perhaps hubris, of Vick, made him disinclined to accept such a leave, even if paid. There was a time, over the weekend, as Blank considered his options while trying to chill out at his Montana sanctuary, that the Atlanta owner seriously considered cutting ties altogether to Vick. Cooler heads within the organization -- who cautioned Blank that Vick might still be acquitted and who fretted about the message it might send to teammates if their best player was jettisoned on an indictment alone -- finally prevailed. Blank might have suspended Vick for a maximum four games for the catch-all infraction "conduct detrimental to the team," but the NFLPA would have sought an expedited hearing and quickly had the sanction overturned. Even if that didn't occur, a suspension would not have banished Vick from training camp. The only other option, allow Vick to come to camp and play through his problems, was untenable and unacceptable. As for the football component involved here, well, the Falcons will certainly suffer from Vick's absence. But people within the Atlanta organization insist that first-year head coach Bobby Petrino would prefer to begin training camp with the quarterback most likely to be his opening day starter, now Joey Harrington, than to have to keep switching based on the unfolding events of Vick's legal woes. Which isn't to say that Vick, who on Monday retained the services of high-powered trial attorney Billy Martin, has abandoned all hope of playing in 2007. Said a Vick associate on Monday night, after Goodell's announcement: "[Vick] is a football player. He wants to play. He'd prefer to be with his team instead of taking care of all this other stuff. He wants to be in camp." But now, until, or perhaps more accurately, if Goodell decides Vick can report, he won't be anywhere around Flowery Branch. For all parties, that's probably not such a bad thing. Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer with ESPN.com.

His career is OVER! Glad I picked up harrington in my Fantasy Draft. I wonder if they'll go after Culpepper now?

[Keenum]

When I saw that, I dumped Michael Vick from my league and picked up Rex Grossman. Hey, I've got Drew Brees as a starter, and during his bye, Grossman had a pretty good matchup... don't feel like looking it up right now though.

[RamFan_Til_I_Die]

Originally Posted by Keenum

When I saw that, I dumped Michael Vick from my league and picked up Rex Grossman. Hey, I've got Drew Brees as a starter, and during his bye, Grossman had a pretty good matchup... don't feel like looking it up right now though.

Is Grossman playing an expansion team comprised of blind girl scouts that week? Otherwise I'd say no matchup is a good matchup for Grossman.

[itsguud]

Originally Posted by RamFan_Til_I_Die

Is Grossman playing an expansion team comprised of blind girl scouts that week? Otherwise I'd say no matchup is a good matchup for Grossman.

ROFL, I would have to agree with you on that RamFan_Til_I_Die. Grossman is definitly the worst QB I have ever seen play not only in a superbowl but an ENTIRE season without being pulled/let-go. He (in simpler terms) BLOWS.

[Keenum]

Originally Posted by RamFan_Til_I_Die

Is Grossman playing an expansion team comprised of blind girl scouts that week? Otherwise I'd say no matchup is a good matchup for Grossman.

lol. Well, he plays the Lions, and I think if the Lions get that offense going, they'll have a lot of shootouts. I just need Grossman not to have one of those games he had against the Cardinals...
of course, J.P. Losman is still out there, and I'm seriously considering picking him up. Nobody has even thought about making a move at QB yet, maybe I'll wait until a few preseason games...

[TheBritishRam]

Bet they wish they still Schuab now. I would like to see culpepper get the chance there, i think given a healthy year, he can still get it done

[Pithyradish]

First off I have never liked Vick as a football player or a person. My personal favorite picture if him was 2(I think) years ago when Simmons ran him down and knocked him silly.

But tho it seems he is at the least dispicable, are we going to deprive him of his job before a finding of guilty? I think that this is an "iffy" move by the league setting a precedent that might come back to bite them.

Any wagers that the NFL gets sued over this move?

[HUbison]

Any wagers that the NFL gets sued over this move?

Sued for what though? I'm no expert, but wasn't there some type of "detrimental conduct" phrase in the last labor contract? I'd say a federal indictment for conspiracy to transport animals for the purpose of illegal gaming across state lines might be detrimental conduct.

Again, don't take my word for it, but I think that's part of the agreement.