Vick playing football at Leavenworth

**banyon** · 04-11-2008, 06:00 PM

Michael Vick playing prison football
Updated Monday, April 7th 2008, 12:46 PM

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/fo...ll.html?page=0

Feld/AP

Michael Vick is playing prison football at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan.

Atlanta Falcons' owner Arthur Blank and Vick have been communicating through letters.
Michael Vick has a new job and is playing football again. The money is not quite the same and the records of the players are a bit different, too.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank has been communicating by letter with Vick, who is at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., incarcerated at the facility's minimum security satellite prison camp.

Blank told the Daily News that Vick writes that he is washing pots and pans for 12 cents an hour. He was sentenced to 23 months in December after pleading guilty to federal dogfighting charges.

And in a scene straight out of the Longest Yard, Blank says Vick is playing football at Leavenworth. That's one way to pass his time and keep his arm loose. He's likely the first player picked when the inmates are choosing up sides or the guards are choosing up sides for them. Vick's sprinter speed surely comes in handy just in case a dog-loving inmate thinks it's cool to sack an NFL quarterback and break his shoulder.

"He is staying in shape,” Blank told The News. "Apparently, there was a prison football team and he played quarterback for both sides.”

That's only fair.

Blank, a Flushing product, says Vick wrote to him first and they've now opened a dialogue by mail. He also says that Kevin Winston, the Falcons' senior director of player development, has visited Vick several times in prison. Blank says he has no plans to visit Vick.

"He's written me a couple of times,” Blank said. "I've written him back, he's stayed in touch.”

Vick's life has taken quite a nosedive from his days as a superstar quarterback. He can be comforted financially by Judge David Doty's ruling in Minneapolis in February that he can keep $16.25 million of the $20 million in bonus money the Falcons were trying to recoup. The NFL is challenging the ruling.

Even if Blank feels betrayed by Vick, whom he signed to a 10-year, $130 million contract in 2004, he still clearly has a place in his heart for him, if not on his team.

"I just try to be supportive and as understanding as I can be,” Blank said. "He talks about the process he is going through and what he has learned, the lessons of life, how he's going to come out a different person. He's sorry he has affected so many people in a negative way — the league, our club, our fans. He feels awful about that. The letters sound quite sincere to me. From a mental standpoint, he sounds good.”

What does he write to Vick?

"I told Michael I'll do whatever I can to be helpful to him personally. Nothing to do with the Atlanta Falcons,” Blank said. "He's a human being and I would like to reach out and if I can be productive to him in some way, I would be happy to do that.

"I'd love to see him playing again in the NFL. I would love to see him back in society where he can make a difference and go back to some of these communities and talk to some of these young folks about the impact of choices — choices he personally made about people he was with and choices he made about his own actions. That would be important.”

It will take an owner secure in his own community to sign Vick, knowing there will likely be protests and a public backlash.

It's inconceivable Vick could ever play for the Falcons again. They are moving on. There's a good chance they will make Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan the new face of the franchise and select him with the third pick on April 26.
When asked if he could ever see Vick returning to the Falcons, Blank said, "I don't know that. Right now, he's in a federal penitentiary.”

Blank said Winston told him Vick is "doing well.” Asked if the inmates were giving Vick a hard time, Blank said, "I have no idea. He seems to be okay.”

Blank, who is starting all over with a new coach (Mike Smith), general manager (Thomas Dimitroff) and surely a new quarterback, says he's excited about the team's future. After Vick set his franchise back years, Blank had every reason to throw Vick's letters in the garbage. Instead, he's been glad to hear from him.

"He doesn't want anything,” he said. "He's just talking about his journey, his life and where he is. I was happy to respond to him and give him my thoughts on that. I do wish him the best.”

Vick's trial on state charges in Virginia was pushed back to June 27. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, his projected release date on the federal case, which includes the potential to have his sentence reduced by 90 days for good conduct, is July 20, 2009. That's right before training camps open.

He has been indefinitely suspended by Roger Goodell, who told The News last week he will meet with Vick before determining any further suspension once the quarterback gets out of prison. Goodell likely will suspend him for one season after he is released. If Vick is out next July 20 and Goodell doesn't suspend him for the '09 season and if he doesn't get further jail time — he faces two state felony counts each punishable by up to five years in the Virginia case — then he could be back on the field for the '09 season. And he will be only 29.

But for now, it's pots and pans and playing quarterback for two prison teams in the same game with teammates who have criminal records, not touchdown records. Vick has traded in his No. 7 jersey for a Federal Bureau of Prisons register number with eight digits

**banyon** · 04-11-2008, 06:06 PM

I'm sure this is a repost now that I look at the date.

search function.

Pic · 04-11-2008, 06:11 PM

**Rain Man** · 04-11-2008, 06:12 PM

It's not a repost to me.

What a fall.

**cdcox** · 04-11-2008, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

It's not a repost to me.

What a fall.

It's all a matter of perspective $0.12 an hour is good wages, if it's 9448 BCE.

**Mr. Kotter** · 04-11-2008, 11:03 PM

How much money you think LVNHACK has been able to win off of Vick's prisonyard antics?

BIG K · 04-11-2008, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdcox

It's all a matter of perspective $0.12 an hour is good wages,.

Guy goes to prison and THEN he decides to be paid accordingly to his production?

Deberg_1990 · 04-11-2008, 06:15 PM

Sad...but at least hes keeping his spirits up.

I have no doubt he will play again in the NFL. Some team wil take a chance on him.

"Bob" Dobbs · 04-11-2008, 06:24 PM

"He is staying in shape,” Blank told The News. "Apparently, there was a prison football team and he played quarterback for both sides.”

Well, of COURSE he plays for both sides now. Leavenworth IS a Federal "pound-me-in-the-ass" prison.

Third Eye · 04-11-2008, 06:26 PM

I thought I read that this wasn't true. Hmmm....let me look around.

04-11-2008, 06:25 PM

Deberg_1990 · 04-11-2008, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

Who?

YOu know, the starting QB for the KC Chiefs in 2010!

Third Eye · 04-11-2008, 06:28 PM

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/spo...F?OpenDocument

This says not true.

**banyon** · 04-11-2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Third Eye

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/spo...F?OpenDocument

This says not true.

Appears you're right, but why would Blank lie about this? Shouldn't he just leave this radioactive turd alone and hope veryone forgets about it?

stlchiefs · 04-11-2008, 06:33 PM

Yeah officials at the prison said Vick wasn't there in time to sign up for a team. They pretty much made it sound like Blank if full of shit or Vick was lying to Blank. They said sure guys can toss a football around and he may be doing that, but there's nothing organized that he has been doing.

04-11-2008, 06:00 PM	Topic Starter
banyon Supporter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hermosa, SD Casino cash: $10176551	Vick playing football at Leavenworth Michael Vick playing prison football Updated Monday, April 7th 2008, 12:46 PM http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/fo...ll.html?page=0 Feld/AP Michael Vick is playing prison football at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan. Atlanta Falcons' owner Arthur Blank and Vick have been communicating through letters. Michael Vick has a new job and is playing football again. The money is not quite the same and the records of the players are a bit different, too. Falcons owner Arthur Blank has been communicating by letter with Vick, who is at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., incarcerated at the facility's minimum security satellite prison camp. Blank told the Daily News that Vick writes that he is washing pots and pans for 12 cents an hour. He was sentenced to 23 months in December after pleading guilty to federal dogfighting charges. And in a scene straight out of the Longest Yard, Blank says Vick is playing football at Leavenworth. That's one way to pass his time and keep his arm loose. He's likely the first player picked when the inmates are choosing up sides or the guards are choosing up sides for them. Vick's sprinter speed surely comes in handy just in case a dog-loving inmate thinks it's cool to sack an NFL quarterback and break his shoulder. "He is staying in shape,” Blank told The News. "Apparently, there was a prison football team and he played quarterback for both sides.” That's only fair. Blank, a Flushing product, says Vick wrote to him first and they've now opened a dialogue by mail. He also says that Kevin Winston, the Falcons' senior director of player development, has visited Vick several times in prison. Blank says he has no plans to visit Vick. "He's written me a couple of times,” Blank said. "I've written him back, he's stayed in touch.” Vick's life has taken quite a nosedive from his days as a superstar quarterback. He can be comforted financially by Judge David Doty's ruling in Minneapolis in February that he can keep $16.25 million of the $20 million in bonus money the Falcons were trying to recoup. The NFL is challenging the ruling. Even if Blank feels betrayed by Vick, whom he signed to a 10-year, $130 million contract in 2004, he still clearly has a place in his heart for him, if not on his team. "I just try to be supportive and as understanding as I can be,” Blank said. "He talks about the process he is going through and what he has learned, the lessons of life, how he's going to come out a different person. He's sorry he has affected so many people in a negative way — the league, our club, our fans. He feels awful about that. The letters sound quite sincere to me. From a mental standpoint, he sounds good.” What does he write to Vick? "I told Michael I'll do whatever I can to be helpful to him personally. Nothing to do with the Atlanta Falcons,” Blank said. "He's a human being and I would like to reach out and if I can be productive to him in some way, I would be happy to do that. "I'd love to see him playing again in the NFL. I would love to see him back in society where he can make a difference and go back to some of these communities and talk to some of these young folks about the impact of choices — choices he personally made about people he was with and choices he made about his own actions. That would be important.” It will take an owner secure in his own community to sign Vick, knowing there will likely be protests and a public backlash. It's inconceivable Vick could ever play for the Falcons again. They are moving on. There's a good chance they will make Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan the new face of the franchise and select him with the third pick on April 26. When asked if he could ever see Vick returning to the Falcons, Blank said, "I don't know that. Right now, he's in a federal penitentiary.” Blank said Winston told him Vick is "doing well.” Asked if the inmates were giving Vick a hard time, Blank said, "I have no idea. He seems to be okay.” Blank, who is starting all over with a new coach (Mike Smith), general manager (Thomas Dimitroff) and surely a new quarterback, says he's excited about the team's future. After Vick set his franchise back years, Blank had every reason to throw Vick's letters in the garbage. Instead, he's been glad to hear from him. "He doesn't want anything,” he said. "He's just talking about his journey, his life and where he is. I was happy to respond to him and give him my thoughts on that. I do wish him the best.” Vick's trial on state charges in Virginia was pushed back to June 27. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, his projected release date on the federal case, which includes the potential to have his sentence reduced by 90 days for good conduct, is July 20, 2009. That's right before training camps open. He has been indefinitely suspended by Roger Goodell, who told The News last week he will meet with Vick before determining any further suspension once the quarterback gets out of prison. Goodell likely will suspend him for one season after he is released. If Vick is out next July 20 and Goodell doesn't suspend him for the '09 season and if he doesn't get further jail time — he faces two state felony counts each punishable by up to five years in the Virginia case — then he could be back on the field for the '09 season. And he will be only 29. But for now, it's pots and pans and playing quarterback for two prison teams in the same game with teammates who have criminal records, not touchdown records. Vick has traded in his No. 7 jersey for a Federal Bureau of Prisons register number with eight digits
Posts: 44,355

04-11-2008, 06:06 PM	#2
banyon Supporter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hermosa, SD Casino cash: $10176551	I'm sure this is a repost now that I look at the date. search function. __________________ “When war breaks out people say: 'It won't last, it's too stupid.' And war is certainly too stupid, but that doesn't prevent It from lasting.” ~Albert Camus, The Plague.
Posts: 44,355

04-11-2008, 06:11 PM	#3
Pic Starter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Olathe, KS Casino cash: $10004900
Posts: 98

04-11-2008, 06:12 PM	#4
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-682449 VARSITY	It's not a repost to me. What a fall. __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
Posts: 145,512

04-11-2008, 11:03 PM	#6
Mr. Kotter The Dude Abides Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Dakota Country Casino cash: $3244285	How much money you think LVNHACK has been able to win off of Vick's prisonyard antics? __________________ "I've always said I worry about legacy and winning rings more than making money at this moment...We see what's going on around the league, but at the same time, I'll never do anything that's going to hurt us from keeping the great players around me.”
Posts: 46,923

04-11-2008, 06:15 PM	#8
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $104454	Sad...but at least hes keeping his spirits up. I have no doubt he will play again in the NFL. Some team wil take a chance on him. __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
Posts: 68,675

04-11-2008, 06:24 PM	#9
"Bob" Dobbs Kickin' it in Dobbstown. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southeast Kansas Casino cash: $9814317	"He is staying in shape,” Blank told The News. "Apparently, there was a prison football team and he played quarterback for both sides.” Well, of COURSE he plays for both sides now. Leavenworth IS a Federal "pound-me-in-the-ass" prison.
Posts: 3,315

04-11-2008, 06:26 PM	#10
Third Eye Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: JoCo Casino cash: $-1660000	I thought I read that this wasn't true. Hmmm....let me look around.
Posts: 3,545

04-11-2008, 06:25 PM	#11
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	Who?
Posts: n/a

04-11-2008, 06:28 PM	#13
Third Eye Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: JoCo Casino cash: $-1660000	http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/spo...F?OpenDocument This says not true.
Posts: 3,545

04-11-2008, 06:33 PM	#15
stlchiefs Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St. Loser, MO Casino cash: $10005674	Yeah officials at the prison said Vick wasn't there in time to sign up for a team. They pretty much made it sound like Blank if full of shit or Vick was lying to Blank. They said sure guys can toss a football around and he may be doing that, but there's nothing organized that he has been doing.
Posts: 4,160