Michael Vick Busted Again. Clinton Portis. Confirmed Asshole.

I don't know what the big deal is here. Now if the dogs have herpes, then we'll have a problem.

2 more Vick=Herpes jokes and I get the tote bag.

Ooh I've seen that tote bag, it's very lovely.

Indeed. Two velcro closures. 1" x 30" handles and full 5" side and bottom gusset.

Come on Vick, keep fucking up!

Seconardy headline: "The Earth revolves around the sun!"

*gasp*

I thought Vick owned the property, but didn't actually live there?

By the way, the thread title is quite humorous.

I was going to post something about this after I heard Portis's comments on TV. What a fucking retard.

His defense of Vick went something like, if you own a dog it's your property and you should be allowed to do whatever you want with your property, therefore people should be allowed to make their dogs fight. Also, judges and politicians probably do it too so it's ok. And then he appealed to nature videos where you see animals fight in nature, and so the fact that violence between animals occurs naturally makes it acceptable to artificially induce violence among dogs.

That's disgusting. I used to like Portis as a player, but I will never root for anything but an injury for him anymore.

And it keeps on keeping on...

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6852866?MSNHPHMA

Yeah the informant was on ESPN, along with some nasty dog fighting footage.

Bad Newz Kennels?

Bad Newz Kennels?

I'm with Clinton Portis on this one. So what if Michael Vick runs an underground dog fighting league and has 30 pit bull carcases buried in his backyard. He did it on his own property so it doesn't matter. And so far none of the dogs were reported to have herpes. The NFL and PETA both owe him an apology. What people don't realize about Vick and Portis is that they are not only great football players, but the are even greater people off the field.

I'm with Clinton Portis on this one. So what if Michael Vick runs an underground dog fighting league and has 30 pit bull carcases buried in his backyard. He did it on his own property so it doesn't matter. And so far none of the dogs were reported to have herpes. The NFL and PETA both owe him an apology. What people don't realize about Vick and Portis is that they are not only great football players, but the are even greater people off the field.

Two interesting points about Tuesday:

#1 -- Vick is indicted by the Feds

#2 -- Culpepper is released by the Dolphins

Hmm...perhaps a bit of major league scrambling is done (no pun intended) and Daunte comes a bit north to Atlanta?

Two interesting points about Tuesday:

#1 -- Vick is indicted by the Feds

#2 -- Culpepper is released by the Dolphins

Hmm...perhaps a bit of major league scrambling is done (no pun intended) and Daunte comes a bit north to Atlanta?

I'm with Clinton Portis on this one. So what if Michael Vick runs an underground dog fighting league and has 30 pit bull carcases buried in his backyard? He did it on his own property, so it doesn't matter. And, so far, none of the dogs were reported to have herpes. The NFL and PETA both owe him an apology. What people don't realize about Vick and Portis is that they are not only great football players, but they are even greater people off the field.

I'm with Clinton Portis on this one. So what if Michael Vick runs an underground dog fighting league and has 30 pit bull carcases buried in his backyard? He did it on his own property, so it doesn't matter. And, so far, none of the dogs were reported to have herpes. The NFL and PETA both owe him an apology. What people don't realize about Vick and Portis is that they are not only great football players, but they are even greater people off the field.

Holy crap Dave, you're actually going to keep this up. I'm giddy.

*grabs popcorn, kicks legs up on ottoman*

Holy crap Dave, you're actually going to keep this up. I'm giddy.

*grabs popcorn, kicks legs up on ottoman*

NFL Network has Culpepper heading to Jacksonville as of last night. In other news, Byron Leftwich just gnawed through Jack Del Rio's ankle tendon.

LD, pass that popcorn over here.

NFL Network has Culpepper heading to Jacksonville as of last night. In other news, Byron Leftwich just gnawed through Jack Del Rio's ankle tendon.

LD, pass that popcorn over here.

I was talking to a friend, and he's heard that if Jax signs Culpepper, Atlanta may try and trade for Leftwich. I think with Vick's contract and what Culpepper would want, the cap space just isn't there.

I wonder what happens with that regarding a player's salary? Say Vick is brought in, found guilty at some level, etc. Is the team absolved of any salary while he's in jail (and obviously suspended from the NFL)? I wonder if there's verbiage in his contract that nulls any bonuses or even voids the contract if he's convicted of a federal crime.

I was talking to a friend, and he's heard that if Jax signs Culpepper, Atlanta may try and trade for Leftwich. I think with Vick's contract and what Culpepper would want, the cap space just isn't there.

I wonder what happens with that regarding a player's salary? Say Vick is brought in, found guilty at some level, etc. Is the team absolved of any salary while he's in jail (and obviously suspended from the NFL)? I wonder if there's verbiage in his contract that nulls any bonuses or even voids the contract if he's convicted of a federal crime.

The thing that kills me is that the Falcons traded Schaub. He would have been ready to step right in, and I honestly think the team might have been better off with him behind center.

The thing that kills me is that the Falcons traded Schaub. He would have been ready to step right in, and I honestly think the team might have been better off with him behind center.

From what I was hearing on Sportscenter last night, the trial isn't going to happen any time soon and the NFL isn't going to suspend a first time offender without being found guilty, so Vick is going to be around this year. I can't imagine what it'd be like for him, though. Even in Atlanta, I'd have to think fans would be relentless.

What is the feeling down there, Tom? Are people pissed at him, or making excuses? They said Vick was there when some dogs were killed by methods such as hanging, drowning, and at least one was killed by having its body smashed into the ground repeatedly. I'd like to hope everyone down there is outraged, but I also know how easy excuses roll off the tongue in SEC Land.

From what I was hearing on Sportscenter last night, the trial isn't going to happen any time soon and the NFL isn't going to suspend a first time offender without being found guilty, so Vick is going to be around this year. I can't imagine what it'd be like for him, though. Even in Atlanta, I'd have to think fans would be relentless.

What is the feeling down there, Tom? Are people pissed at him, or making excuses? They said Vick was there when some dogs were killed by methods such as hanging, drowning, and at least one was killed by having its body smashed into the ground repeatedly. I'd like to hope everyone down there is outraged, but I also know how easy excuses roll off the tongue in SEC Land.

First of all, I tried to give Vick a chance when Atlanta drafted him. I tried to defend him the first few years, but now...I was one of those people that wanted Atlanta to trade away Vick like 2 years ago and go with Schaub. As he's gotten older, he's seemed to have gotten more cocky and obnoxious, like "I don't owe anybody anything here. If the fans don't like me, I don't care." I'd dare say he's been a bit Bonds-ian in his attitude the last few years. The city was split about 50-50 on those that liked him and those that didn't. Now I'd say that's swinging more towards the "get rid of him" side, but there's still people that will support him, probably all the way to the pet cemetery. I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt, but damn the evidence is really coming out to make him look bad.

As soon as I heard about the Schaub trade, I was disappointed, and I believe I even posted in this thread that the Falcons could be screwing themselves, especially if Vick (by injury) is out for the season. Just wait until Joey Harrington has to make his first injury substitution or start. They'll be calling for UGA alum DJ Shockley before Joey Heisman even takes a snap.

And how sad is this? The two top sports stories (or just stories in general) here in Atlanta are the Vick thing (with updates all day on AJC.com!) and the Benoit medical results.

First of all, I tried to give Vick a chance when Atlanta drafted him. I tried to defend him the first few years, but now...I was one of those people that wanted Atlanta to trade away Vick like 2 years ago and go with Schaub. As he's gotten older, he's seemed to have gotten more cocky and obnoxious, like "I don't owe anybody anything here. If the fans don't like me, I don't care." I'd dare say he's been a bit Bonds-ian in his attitude the last few years. The city was split about 50-50 on those that liked him and those that didn't. Now I'd say that's swinging more towards the "get rid of him" side, but there's still people that will support him, probably all the way to the pet cemetery. I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt, but damn the evidence is really coming out to make him look bad.

As soon as I heard about the Schaub trade, I was disappointed, and I believe I even posted in this thread that the Falcons could be screwing themselves, especially if Vick (by injury) is out for the season. Just wait until Joey Harrington has to make his first injury substitution or start. They'll be calling for UGA alum DJ Shockley before Joey Heisman even takes a snap.

And how sad is this? The two top sports stories (or just stories in general) here in Atlanta are the Vick thing (with updates all day on AJC.com!) and the Benoit medical results.

I really wish the Falcons played the Browns this year so some Dawgs would have a chance to beat on Vick for a change.

I really wish the Falcons played the Browns this year so some Dawgs would have a chance to beat on Vick for a change.

I was still in Atlanta when they drafted him, and I was excited about it. I thought he'd change the game, but the guy just refuses to grow up on and off of the field.

I was still in Atlanta when they drafted him, and I was excited about it. I thought he'd change the game, but the guy just refuses to grow up on and off of the field.

You know it was all down hill when he started with the "Coach is going to open the field up, let me play my game, stop holding me back" nonsense during pre-season last year. That's a pretty clear sign that the end is nigh for an athlete.

Well, we'll always have one of my favorite Nike commercials.

You know it was all down hill when he started with the "Coach is going to open the field up, let me play my game, stop holding me back" nonsense during pre-season last year. That's a pretty clear sign that the end is nigh for an athlete.

Well, we'll always have one of my favorite Nike commercials.

I was just in my car listening to Rome's discussion of this. Dogfighting alone is bad enough, but Vick allegedly killed a bunch of puppies in really fucked up ways, notably, smashing them repeatedly on the ground until they died.

I was just in my car listening to Rome's discussion of this. Dogfighting alone is bad enough, but Vick allegedly killed a bunch of puppies in really fucked up ways, notably, smashing them repeatedly on the ground until they died.

Fixed for you. This guy is now and always has been dumb trash. Don't get me wrong, I love the tough and rough around the edges football players. I like the guys that want to kill their opponents, trash talk and have egos the size of Montana. That is what football is all about. Hell, I'm a huge Ray Lewis fan. But Vick is now and always has been a piece of human crap.

I know folks who went to Va Tech when he was there and he was an ass back then too. And don't even get me started on his brother. Based on this family mommy and daddy did one helluva job. Even if he is innocent (and indictment is different than a guilty verdict even if the Feds have a 95% conviction/plea rate) he is still deserving all this bad press. And I love it. Being a Bucs fan, I can't wait until my boys from Tampa get a chance to tear his head off.

Here in Atlanta I love listening to his supporters defend him. They still do. For folks wondering what it is like down here, here's the deal. Local media (AJC reporters, TV news, Sports Talk stations) are all burying the guy. It's brutal (and I love it). However, it is falling back down along racial lines ("city to busy to hate" my ass). His remaining supporters feel he's getting attacked due to his skin color. IMHO it has gone like this:

Michael Vick's talent is undeniable. He's an athletic machine and quite possibly one of the most gifted athletes to play the game in years. Not the most gifted QB as he has no accuracy, limited decision making skills and is fragile. But an incredible and exciting athlete. When he was drafted he was anointed as the savior of this horrible franchise. 90% of the Atlanta metro area (city and suburbs) supported him and rooted for him each week. Some local rednecks have always disliked him because he's black and popular. Number 7 jerseys are everywhere in the ATL. As the years went by the true football fans started getting annoyed at his lack of skills at the QB position. For every game he won by running like a madman was two more he lost by throwing horrible balls or making bad decisions. So his support dropped to around 70%. As the bad news started cropping up (flicking off the fans, the water bottle incident, missing a plane to meet with Congress, etc.) his support dropped even further, to 50%. Now with this news on the indictment it has dropped to around 20%. And from the folks calling into the radio, speaking on TV and being interviewed by the reporters his supporters are the ones claiming it's a racially based rail job, or that the evidence is weak, or that dog fighting is not a real crime (seriously, there are people here who echo Portis and think it's a victimless crime and shouldn't be illegal). Here's the thing. Atlanta is a very racially distinct town. Don't buy into the fact that everyone gets along like puppies and sunshine around here. Michael Vick was rare in that he was able to bring the city and the suburbs together in their support. And now the suburbs have left him and so has most of the city. Even if he gets off and we find out the charges are trumped up, he is forever tarnished. His career here is done. As soon as the suburbanites start dropping their season tickets (and they were already almost there with the recent poor performance of the team overall) Blank will drop Vick like a bad habit.

Because it is now, and always will be, all about the money. Sorry for the rant, I just heard another genius on the radio say dog-fighting is "how we do it in the South" and it pissed me off.

Fixed for you. This guy is now and always has been dumb trash. Don't get me wrong, I love the tough and rough around the edges football players. I like the guys that want to kill their opponents, trash talk and have egos the size of Montana. That is what football is all about. Hell, I'm a huge Ray Lewis fan. But Vick is now and always has been a piece of human crap.

I know folks who went to Va Tech when he was there and he was an ass back then too. And don't even get me started on his brother. Based on this family mommy and daddy did one helluva job. Even if he is innocent (and indictment is different than a guilty verdict even if the Feds have a 95% conviction/plea rate) he is still deserving all this bad press. And I love it. Being a Bucs fan, I can't wait until my boys from Tampa get a chance to tear his head off.

Here in Atlanta I love listening to his supporters defend him. They still do. For folks wondering what it is like down here, here's the deal. Local media (AJC reporters, TV news, Sports Talk stations) are all burying the guy. It's brutal (and I love it). However, it is falling back down along racial lines ("city to busy to hate" my ass). His remaining supporters feel he's getting attacked due to his skin color. IMHO it has gone like this:

Michael Vick's talent is undeniable. He's an athletic machine and quite possibly one of the most gifted athletes to play the game in years. Not the most gifted QB as he has no accuracy, limited decision making skills and is fragile. But an incredible and exciting athlete. When he was drafted he was anointed as the savior of this horrible franchise. 90% of the Atlanta metro area (city and suburbs) supported him and rooted for him each week. Some local rednecks have always disliked him because he's black and popular. Number 7 jerseys are everywhere in the ATL. As the years went by the true football fans started getting annoyed at his lack of skills at the QB position. For every game he won by running like a madman was two more he lost by throwing horrible balls or making bad decisions. So his support dropped to around 70%. As the bad news started cropping up (flicking off the fans, the water bottle incident, missing a plane to meet with Congress, etc.) his support dropped even further, to 50%. Now with this news on the indictment it has dropped to around 20%. And from the folks calling into the radio, speaking on TV and being interviewed by the reporters his supporters are the ones claiming it's a racially based rail job, or that the evidence is weak, or that dog fighting is not a real crime (seriously, there are people here who echo Portis and think it's a victimless crime and shouldn't be illegal). Here's the thing. Atlanta is a very racially distinct town. Don't buy into the fact that everyone gets along like puppies and sunshine around here. Michael Vick was rare in that he was able to bring the city and the suburbs together in their support. And now the suburbs have left him and so has most of the city. Even if he gets off and we find out the charges are trumped up, he is forever tarnished. His career here is done. As soon as the suburbanites start dropping their season tickets (and they were already almost there with the recent poor performance of the team overall) Blank will drop Vick like a bad habit.

Because it is now, and always will be, all about the money. Sorry for the rant, I just heard another genius on the radio say dog-fighting is "how we do it in the South" and it pissed me off.

I just don't comprehend this on a very sad and very real level. How our society has come to accept stupid, blanket statements like this is a horrendous development. Whether it's homophobia, religious discrimination, dogfighting, anything...it's just so depressing.

Watching Vick leave Lambeau field after he won that playoff game so many years ago I never expected for him to end up like this. Its just fucking disgusting.

Looks like it's back to blacked-out football games in Atlanta.

Fuck you very much, Vick. People that harm animals (for AMUSEMENT, fer fuck's sake!) are the lowest form of humanity.

I agree. This whole scenario is just disgusting. Does Vick even realize what he's done? The PR damage goes far beyond Vick himself.

When this story originally came out, I mentioned to a few friends that the only move Vick could make to salvage the situation would be to unequivocably state that he was embarassed that his property was used in such a manner, and to pledge this year's salary (he still has his endorsement deals, so he won't starve) to humanitarian organizations devoting to protecting/saving animals and ending dogfighting. Now, it looks like he'll be going to jail and probably suspended for the year.

I'm not exactly PETA McGee (I love devouring way too many animals), but this story makes me sick to my stomach. I just got a new beagle this year, my first pet with my wife, and I LOVE that damn thing. I can't comprehend picking that puppy up and throwing it to the ground repeatedly because it was a "coward." Of course, I'm not an awesome badass.

I just started watching that ESPN show "Playmakers" on disc and overall I like it but at times the "issues" the players have off the field come off as absurd. Then I read something like this about Vick and that show now doesn't seem absurd enough.

Fuck the Browns.

Somewhere, Pacman Jones is firing off a thankyou letter to Vick.

Seriously, this beggars belief. A big "fuck you" to all those Vick apologists saying that he's being made an example of. So what if he is? He's one of the NFL's poster boys. If he didn't want to be hung out to dry, he should have stayed at home playing Madden on his giant cinema screen through a haze of weed smoke whilst getting head from a succession of gorgeous models - not too much of a hardship, I'd imagine. Instead, he chose to torture innocent animals for the sake of some pocket change.

This isn't doing Pacman any favors. The more stories like this pile up, the more pressure there is to not tolerate guys like Jones.

8:54pm on July 18th for those of you in the When Will the Race Card Get Played pool.

It's like it's an obligation at this point. He didn't even seem that commited to his argument.