Prosecutorial incompetence and the return of Michael Vick to football

[DainBramaged]

<snip>
Vick pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges relating to interstate gambling and dogfighting. Both are felonies.

He also pleaded guilty to dogfighting under Virginia law, another felony. Prosecutor Gerald Poindexter, whom we and many others believed lacked appropriate zeal when investigating Vick in 2007, agreed to allow Vick to plead guilty to that charge without tacking additional time onto Vick's federal sentence.

Then there's the issue of Vick's admitted killing of dogs, in various grotesque, bizarre, and arguably psychopathic ways. Drowning. Slamming to the ground. Hanging. Electrocution via the attachment of electrodes to testicles.

Vick admitted to involvement in those killings as part of his federal plea. He then tried to lie about it while strapped to a polygraph, presumably because he realized that even Poindexter might not be able to bungle a prosecution for multiple felonies counts of killing dogs, given a crystal clear admission of the crime from Vick.

But bungle it Poindexter did, failing to get even an indictment on charges that could have sent Vick away for a lot longer than 21 months.

And let's not forget the fact that Vick lied to Goodell regarding his involvement in dogfighting.

Or the positive test for marijuana, which occurred while Vick was free on bond, awaiting sentencing.
<snip>

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/07/25/is-a-further-suspension-of-vick-justified/

LOSERS

Michael Vick. Threw away a $130 million NFL contract. Blew millions in endorsement deals. And for what? A chance to run his own, interstate dog-fighting ring. Yeah, it may enhance his street creds, but Vick's eager participation in the most barbaric of sports destroyed both his reputation and career. Need we say more?

The Atlanta Falcons. Build your future around a quarterback with "no real friends in the clubhouse" and illegal "hobbies" on the side? Sure. Mortgage much of salary cap "wiggle room" against that same player? Absolutely. Trade a promising young QB (Matt Schaub) and keep Joey Harrington as your back-up? You bet. Team most likely to finish dead last in their division for the next 2-3 years (at least)? Why, the Atlanta Falcons, of course.

Arthur Blank. The Home Depot co-founder--and Falcons' owner--gave Vick the keys to his franchise, despite questionable conduct in the past (both on and off-the-field). Now Blank's team is stuck with a quarterback that was rejected by the lowly Detroit Lions, while trying to negotiate a settlement on Vick's fat contract, and overcome a public relations disaster. It's the type of managerial acumen that resulted in Blank's retirement at Home Depot, and his replacement by a new CEO (Bob Nardelli), who further depressed company stock values--and the size of Blank's personal fortune.

PETA. As we've noted from Day One, the Vick scandal should be a major embarrassment to the media-hungry animal rights organization. Vick's "Bad Newz Kennels" set up shop and operated for more than five years in Surry County, Virginia--barely 35 miles from PETA's headquarters in Norfolk. And, the group's claims about its "national" focus are no excuse. During the same period that Vick ran his dog-fighting operation (2002-2007), PETA staffers were involved in at least two, local animal-rights cases which prove that the organization has misplaced priorities, and is more adept at media manipulation than actually preventing animal cruelty. While PETA reps ran for the cameras--and tried to use the Vick case for their own benefit--the ASPCA did the real work, assisting federal officials in their investigation. The ASPCA remains at the forefront of efforts to stop dog-fighting while PETA is preoccupied with staging media events.


Gerald Poindexter. As Commonwealth's Attorney in Surry County, Mr. Poindexter has been a shining example of prosecutorial incompetence. While Chuck Rosenberg's staff was already building its strong case against Vick, Mr. Poindexter told reporters (in early June) that he "didn't have a single investigative report in his file." And while federal prosecutors were preparing indictments, Mr. Poindexter suggested that he might present evidence to a local grand jury in July--a deadline that passed without event. Now, Poindexter says he may present his case in September, roughly a month after Vick enters a guilty plea on federal charges. Saying that Mr. Poindexter has been overly deferential to Surry County's Most Famous (Former) Resident--and his attorneys--would be an understatement.

http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2007/08/winners-and-losers-ookie-plea-deal.html

ASPCA Responds to Release of Suspended NFL Star & Convicted Dogfighter Michael Vick from Federal Custody

The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) issued a statement from ASPCA President and CEO Ed Sayres prompted by suspended NFL star and convicted dogfighter Michael Vick's release today from federal custody:

"I have spent over 35 years in animal welfare, and currently serve as President of an organization whose very mission it is to prevent animal cruelty. So I do not exaggerate when I say that my thoughts surrounding the future of Michael Vick test the very limits of my objectivity. I have dedicated my life to bringing an end to the very activities that Mr. Vick himself admitted to perpetrating—yet it is with the utmost level of objectivity that those of us in the animal welfare world must employ when discussing 'What next?' with Mr. Vick's career in the NFL.

"Being as objective as possible, the facts are clear: Mr. Vick participated in a six-year pattern of illegal activity. His plea clearly stated that along with these activities, he savagely electrocuted and beat dogs to death after they lost their brutal fights. It is this barbarism that sets the crime apart. This was not a one-time transgression or crime of passion—this was a multi-year pattern of behavior that demonstrates a startling lack of moral character and judgment.

"Regardless, Mr. Vick most decidedly deserves to be employed. However, the question isn't whether he deserves to earn a livelihood…. The question is whether Mr. Vick should be able to re-join the ranks of the elite athletes in the NFL. The NFL is not your average workplace—with stratospheric salaries, licensing agreements, corporate endorsements and tens of millions of adoring fans, the NFL represents, to many, the achievement of 'The American Dream.' These athletes are looked upon as our heroes… our role models... and with Mr. Vick in the enviable role of quarterback, they are viewed as leaders.

http://www.aspca.org/pressroom/press-releases/072009.html


Vick still should be in jail. 21 months was not nearly long enough.

[randr]

1. Lets image his opening game

A stadium full of people barking.
At least that is how I would hope it to be.

[DainBramaged]

2. But it won't bring back any of the dogs he participated in killing over FIVE years.

I originally thought that he had 'paid his dues'. Not even close. He skated thanks to that stupid fuck Poindexter.

[spanone]

3. sports trump law in the good ol u.s.a.

[Tansy_Gold]

4. sports $$$$ trump law in the good ol u.s.a. n/t

[rocktivity]

5. "The NFL is not your average workplace.

(W)ith stratospheric salaries, licensing agreements, corporate endorsements and tens of millions of adoring fans, the NFL represents, to many, the achievement of 'The American Dream.' These athletes are looked upon as our heroes...our role models...and with Mr. Vick in the enviable role of quarterback...as leaders."

None of which Vick could handle--so wouldn't it be enabling him to expose him to all that fame, fortune, and personal responsibility all over again? I say just say no, NFL.

Let Michael Vick rejoin the real world and the great unwashed. Let him seek out a job and a lifestyle that he CAN handle, and let him take on the challenge of living on a five-figure salary. MOST of us are managing to do so without turning to crime--surely he can, too!

In addition to the NFL not being your average workplace, is it also not the world's only workplace.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Warren Stupidity]

6. It is a football game. Hero worship is stupid.

Mr. Vick's pro football career is just not terribly important to me. That we turn athletes into role models is the problem, not Mr. Vick's dubious past.

[pecwae]

7. Again, fuck Vick

and fuck Poindexter as well. Of course, I'm a fucking racist bigot for having such an opinion of Vick as so cutely referred to as "your slip is showing" in a previous thread on this subject.

[DainBramaged]

8. This guy will never be rehabilitated, FIVE years fighting dogs

what the fuck was he thinking about? I guess his thrills have nothing to do with fame or fortune.

[pitohui]

9. if you think the prosecutor bungled this, you're out of your freaking mind

have you ever heard of anyone else involved in animal fighting that rec'd such a harsh sentence? i'd like to see some of the big talkers on the internet take 2 months in leavenworth much less almost 2 years and then come back and tell me that he wasn't punished enough

i think the punishment was way more than the crime deserved, let it go already, it isn't like he paid a fine and went on w. his day, which he had reason to believe would be the usual punishment for his crimes

it's pretty funny to sit here and talk about how immoral it is, to fight dogs, when we are happy to watch people fight each other and beat the crap out of each other on pay per view

i don't attend dog or cock fights, and never will, on the other hand, i have known those who participated in such things and it isn't because they're immoral or evil, it's because they have a different background and different beliefs -- it's hard to understand how it can be wrong to fight chickens when it's okay to cook and eat them, it's hard to understand how it can be wrong to fight dogs when it's okay to fight men

[DainBramaged]

11. You do not speak for me.

:eyes:

[pitohui]

12. i hope i would never speak "for" anyone who advocates harsh and cruel punishment

i speak for myself and, i hope, for some forgotten ideal of mercy

as i said, if there is anyone here who has spent time in federal prison, who thinks vick wasn't punished enough, i would respect that person's views

i don't respect the views of those who have no idea what they're talking about and think any cruelty to another human being is justified

let's face it, some of the people on some of these threads will not be satisfied until vick is cooked and eaten, it's just way out of proportion to the crime

[DainBramaged]

13. No profile, no mercy

you have no idea what you are talking about or to whom you are speaking, but since you like lecturing us about mercy, I just thought you should know that I show no mercy when I hit the ignore button.

Cya

PS

I was one of Vick's defenders originally, maybe you should browse through my journal and find the poll I posted, but after reading about the incompetence of the prosecutor, I changed my mind.

Buh Bye.

[saltpoint]

10. I'm pro-$ports but think it's more money-grubbing than athletic endeavor

at the pro level, generally speaking.

Roberto Clemente, to choose a golden oldie athlete, never made the kind of money people in sports make now with a tenth of his talent.

And so far as I know Clemente never mistreated, nevermind killed, animals.

A rural baseball game after supper among friends, or basketball with a peach basket hoop nailed to the garage door, seem to be purer formd of the sport than what the sport becomes when multi-million-dollar contracts are bandied about.

Also I'm not rooting for the Atlanta Falcons this year.

[rd_kent]

14. Finally, something we agree on! Great Post!

Here is a subject that you and I can agree on 100%. Seriously.