Vick playing football at Leavenworth

[banyon]

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

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by stlchiefs

I'm a dog owner, lover and law student (covers the illegal gambling side) and I agree. He was definitely made an example of and paid for his stupidity. He got royally focked because he was the famous athlete, so the prosecutors aimed all sites at him and allowed all the other defendants to plead out.

I was all for throwing the book at this dumbass in the beginning, but IMO, putting aside personal feelings for his personality and foolishness a 2 year sentence is a long azz time in the pen.

Alright, bring the heat.

I wonder if he will even do his full 2 years? Cant his sentence be reduced??

[damaticous]

He's was a good...not a GREAT QB. if he wouldn't have gotten into trouble then who knows. but, come one, IF, that's a CAPITAL I.F. a team were to sign him how long would it be before he's on the field and the organization and fans are behind him...it would take a while.

Sounds like he is sincerly soryr for what he did, but I doubt he plays for the NFL in a "starting" roll again. my guess is that he tries to come back and becaue of his popularity he is 2nd or 3rd string....

I do believe that he did put moneies down for the dog thing, but I also believe that, deep down, he's a good guy and has learned from his mistake. But I don't think he'll be able to make it in today's "popularity" NFL.

He's made his money, and hopefully he was smart with it.

My guess is that either he becomes the next O.J. Simpson (which I doubt) or he goes to teh wayside and starts his own car dealership/bar/restaurant..etc.

I hope all the best for him, and as a dog lover and owner....I forgive him, but I doubt he is able to play in today's NFL due to popularity.

Flame me if you want, but too many crown and cokes I get honest.

[banyon]

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?

[alanm]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I wonder if he will even do his full 2 years? Cant his sentence be reduced??

He's in a Fed pen. They don't do time off for good behavior.
He serves the full 2.

[Mojo Rising]

Originally Posted by jidar

This is not going to be a popular opinion on here... but

2 years for that is too ****ing long. He was fighting dogs not killing people.

I think the 2 years was for the training activities that he was responsible for.

The evidence was that he electrocuted dogs that didn't have game. Drowned them. And, beat them to death.

It's not like he was at the dog park and had an aggressive dog that liked to attack other dogs. He sponsored a systematic cruelty ring.

Other athletes possy score chicks and drugs for their benefactor. Vick was trying to put his to use for profit (see Wall Street Journal article in the W section from today.)

I would guess that if he simply out a 22 round in the undesriable dogs heads he would have gotten off easier.

[banyon]

I would like to add that animal cruelty is one of the key indicators that shows a propensity for violence in the future. Many violent offenders started off on animals. Who knows, if not addressed, he might have taken on bigger prey as well.

[Skip Towne]

Originally Posted by alanm

He's in a Fed pen. They don't do time off for good behavior.
He serves the full 2.

That's what I've always heard. Then I read this crap on message boards.

[cdcox]

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]

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

[Mr. Kotter]

Originally Posted by alanm

He's in a Fed pen. They don't do time off for good behavior.
He serves the full 2.

'

With the lawyers he is able to pay, I suspect he won't serve the full two years. However, Goddell will see to it he won't step foot on an NFL field before the 2010 season....IMO. Guess we will see.

[BIG K]

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?

[blueballs]

He's not so proud of that 7 that's on his back now

[Bill S Preston]

I heard he plays tight end for half of the snaps.

[Ultra Peanut]

Atlanta Falcons' owner Arthur Blank and Vick have been communicating through letters.

My dearest Arthur,

Every day that goes by, I think about holding you in my arms again. At night, I dream about us. When this is all over, we simply must go to a Caribbean island and experience a second honeymoon. I miss you, and I love you.

Forever yours,
Michael
xoxo

[Hammock Parties]

Blank, a Flushing product

Sounds like a nice way to say Blank is a piece of shit.