Vick Indicted

The AJC reports that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has been indicted for his alleged role in an established dog-fighting operation based in Virginia. Specifically, Vick is charged with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture. These are federal crimes. If Vick is convicted on the interstate commerce charges, then he will face five years in federal prison. If he is convicted on the animal fighting charges, then he will face up to one year in prison.

According the indictment, Vick allowed dogfighters to train, house, and compete at his property located in Surry County, Virginia. Moreover, the grand jury concluded that there was evidence suggesting that the dogs that fared poorly, as well as those that didn’t perform well in test fights, were hanged, drowned, slammed to the ground, and shot.

Neither the NFL nor the Atlanta Falcons organization has commented on how the indictment will affect Vicks’ NFL future. The NFL has only stated that it will review the matter under the league’s personal conduct policy. Additionally, the league commented that “we are disappointed that Michael Vick has put himself in a position where a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against him.” Early in the year, there were rumors that if Vick was indicted, then it was highly likely under the new player conduct policy that he’d be fined and suspended several games.

As a fan, I’m highly disappointed that Vick has allowed himself to be placed in this difficult situation. I’m not proclaiming his guilt or innocence, but I am questioning his judgment and character. Simply put, it appears that the people Vick surrounds himself with lack something to be desired. I understand that we all make mistakes and some of us may even have shady friends, but that doesn’t mean we do as the do or condone their behavior. We accept and love them as our friends, but we hold over selves to a higher standard. We do the right thing.

I’m scared of how this will affect the Falcons because Vick is the franchise player. He’s the central playmaker and because he’s the quarterback, he’s the assumed on the field leader of the team. How will the team react is Vick is suspended? In the past, they’ve fallen flat and looked heartless.