NFL Offseason Thread

[-Jrabbit]

That may depend on who the players are.

No, it really doesn't.

The league has to aggressively go after this issue, and I think Goodell will do so.

[Lord Avalon]

In other news Troy Brown (and his band of renown) re-signed with the Pats for a 15th season.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/07/17/bc.fbn.patriots.brownsi.ap/index.html

[DanS]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Apparently the informant said about 30 NFL players were involved in that particular ring and I speculate the Goodell may not want Vick to name names and really blow this thing up.

Wow. That's awful. First I had heard about other players involved.

If other players are involved, this thing could mushroom fast. No way they could keep this under wraps.

[Lord Avalon]

Here's Peter King's take on Vick:

NFL will proceed cautiously on Vick
Goodell likely to wait before suspending Falcons QB

The most telling 23 words regarding Michael Vick's immediate future as a football player came late in the NFL's statement about the alleged heinous, dastardly and despicable acts that led to charges being filed against the former savior of the Atlanta Falcons.

Michael Vick's guilt has not yet been proven, and we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts.

With that, rookie commissioner Roger Goodell sent a strong message: This is not going to be the Duke lacrosse case. The NFL is not going to preemptively strike against a player with a relatively clean slate, as Vick has. And to those who want Goodell to take Vick off the field for 2007, such as the Humane Society of United States, the league is in full agreement that the allegations are grievous ones. But Vick hasn't had 10 run-ins with the law, like Pacman Jones. He hasn't been arrested as many times as Chris Henry. So Goodell is not going to ban him from the game.

Not now, at least, from all appearances.

But make no mistake about this: Goodell will act swiftly and severely if Vick is found guilty on any of the charges. Not just because of the cruel and cowardly acts Vick is alleged to have been part and parcel to at the dogfighting compound in Virginia. But also because if the allegations are true, Goodell will feel used by Vick in a big way. In April, at the NFL Draft, with stories swirling that Vick's property had been used for dogfights, Vick told Goodell he had nothing to do with it and was rarely at the home in question.

I believe if Vick is found guilty, there will be tremendous pressure on the Feds and the judge to send him to jail and not just put him on probation. And I also believe that if he goes to jail, when Vick gets out, Goodell will be under similar pressure to suspend him for a year or longer. One of the most disturbing aspects of the indictment is it alleges Vick was involved in the dogfighting ring for six years. This was not just an occasional lark according to investigators. This was Vick's off-field sport. This was his poker, his billiards, his pickup basketball.

It's outrageous. Any normal human being -- dog owner or not -- has to ask what kind of person could execute dogs, or pit them against each other, or punish them in such tortuous ways?

The league seems ready to take a deep breath, take the picketing and the angry columns and the righteous indignation for now. But the hammer will be heavy if Vick is found guilty of even a portion of the alleged charges.

[Lord Avalon]

And Don Banks'

No way out
Vick won't be able to escape permanent damage

[-Jrabbit]

Arraignment is next week -- on the first day of Falcons camp.

I think the league will take action within a day or so of that.

[SlowwHand]

This is just my opinion. I don't think the league should do anything, until and if he's convicted.
The Falcons on the other hand, and this is hard, but their season is tanked regardless, cut him loose.
It's just too much negatives on the scales. The Falcons are screwed, keep him or not. Keep him and the focus is gone anyway.

[-Jrabbit]

The NFL is a private enterprise and is not bound by due process. Player contracts contain a morals clause that is open to interpretation. Keep in mind here that Vick's direct involvement in this case goes back to his purchase of the property during his rookie season. It also appears that he straight-up lied to the commissioner's face about his involvement. That doesn't bode well for him.

A good lawyer can drag the case out for years. There's no way the league can wait for that process to play out.

[DanS]

(1) Most/all of these NFL contracts allow the team to cut the player at any time for any reason. No guaranteed money. Even the marquee players. The law firm at which I work has a small sports law practice and they confirmed this last evening over drinks.

(2) As I understand it, the federal court in which the case will take place is a "rocket docket," meaning that even a good att'y will be unable to drag out the case. I saw an example timeline of 4 to 6 months until trial for this case -- i.e., during the latter part of the NFL season.

The Falcons would do well to say "we stand by and support MV 100% as he takes the season off to clear his name."

[Imran Siddiqui]

Well, there isn't guarenteed money, but there is the signing bonus, which is spread out over the contract. When you cut a player, any signing bonus that has not been paid is accelerated to the time you cut him. So that is a consideration.

[Lord Avalon]

AFAIK the signing bonus is paid up front. It's pro-rated across the contract for cap calculation. (Remember the Dolphins going after Ricky Williams for part of the bonus for retiring early?)

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Lord Avalon
AFAIK the signing bonus is paid up front. It's pro-rated across the contract for cap calculation. (Remember the Dolphins going after Ricky Williams for part of the bonus for retiring early?)

That's what I mean... I'm sure Blank would have no problem paying Vick money (neither would any owner, really), but could the cap handle it?

[-Jrabbit]

According to the AP, the league is going to let the legal process play out further before taking action.

Nike has announced they are moving forward with a Vick footwear line.

This guy seems to have a Teflon coating...

[Lord Avalon]

Do the shoes let him outrun the law?

PETA boycott of Nike coming up....

[OzzyKP]

Nike uses leather in their shoes, I'm sure PETA has been boycotting them for years.