Judge Samuel Campbell of Surry County, Virginia has denied the request of Falcons quarterback Mike Vick to submit a guilty plea to dogfighting charges via video link.
Vick had asked for permission to depart from normal Virginia procedure that guilty pleas must be entered in person, given that Vick currently is a guest of the federal government in Kansas.
Judge Campell explained that, due to the amount of public interest in the case, it would be in Vick’s best interests to submit the plea in person. He’ll do so on November 25, nearly one year to the day after Vick’s federal trial would have commenced.
Frankly, we’re not sure why it’s in Vick’s interests to return to Surry County and face a throng of protestors and other unwell-wishers who’ll likely greet him as he enters and exits the courthouse. Then again, maybe the Judge’s point is that Vick needs to realize that he’s pleading guilty to state-level felony charges, even if in the end it won’t result in additional jail time and likewise could allow him to finish his current federal sentence in a halfway house.
While there seems to be a sense that Commissioner Roger Goodell ultimately will reinstate Vick to return to the NFL in 2009, the fact that he’ll be pleading guilty to new felony charges independent of the felony charges to which he already admitted won’t help his cause in the eyes of the league. If nothing else, the Virginia guilty plea would provide ample support for a decision by Goodell to impose a suspension on Vick beyond the one that flowed from the reality that Vick’s current living arrangements necessarily have left him unavailable to show up for work.
VICK MUST ENTER HIS GUILTY PLEA IN PERSON
Posted by Mike Florio on October 30, 2008, 12:53 PM EST
20 Responses to “VICK MUST ENTER HIS GUILTY PLEA IN PERSON”
Imagine the wildcat with mike vick!
Vick deserved to be punished, and he deserved to go to jail. Because of his income and high profile, his sentence was probably much more severe than what the average person would receive. He was a multi millionaire, and now he is bankrupt. It’s his own damn fault.
That said, I see no good reason for the NFL to punish him beyond what the courts did. Everyone should be entitled to earn a living once they have served their sentence. Otherwise he will just be lured back into criminal activities. He should now have a better appreciation of how good he actually had it. If he messes up again, then screw him.
lifetime ban!
Florio, You of all the people who post stuff on this site should know that a Judge can require anything they want to for their court room. He obviously wants to see Vick’s physical reaction when he pleads guilty and how he responds to anything the judge says to him before passing sentence and/or fines on to Vick. Via a video conference he will not see enough.
Count me as one of those who would rather not see Vick play another down of NFL action.
Don’t worry, there is always room on the Cowboys roster for guys like Mike Vick.
I know what he did does not compare to Leonard little or rae Carruth, or Sen. Ted Kennedy for that matter and he is a congressman, the onslaught of protesters and the image he promotes leads me to believe that Barry Bonds would be signed on to a football team than Vick. Look at Bonds. He did Steroids. Baseball Black balled him because of the negativity that comes with him. Even though he is still 50 times the player Vick ever was. Plus the hatred and vitriale surrounding Bonds is a pimple on a Rhino’s ass compared to the hatred and vitrial Vick will bring. VICK IS DONE!
Vick “The Dog Killer”, needs to spend time in a Virginia prison for the felonies he’s pleading guilty to and NOT WALK.
I fought the law and I made the judicial system look like a JOKE.
3efin – He can get a job, just like the rest of the working class. He had his chance in the NFL and screwed that up.
I dont think Vick should be suspended forever, but I doubt he will get another NFL job again. I do agree with Mbehavin a bit. I agree he should have the right to earn a living. And he will be afforded that right. He can work at McDonalds, Burger King, Food Lion, etc. No one is saying he cant get a job. I cant stand the argument, that he deserves to be allowed to work. That argument doesnt make sense. If he is fortunate enough to get back to pro football, then good for him, hopefully he wont piss it away, and make dumb choices. But if he doesnt get a chance to play pro football again, that isnt a crime against him
The Personal Conduct Policy was implemented to punish NFL players and personnel that the justice system cannot or will not. It was designed to prevent players from dragging out matters in the court while the player continues to play.
This is not the case with Vick. There should be no punishment by the NFL. Vick has been punished. If an NFL team chooses to sign him, then he will have a job again like the rest of us “working stiffs.”
He’ll be back. You can’t tell me that in a league where Brad Johsnon, Shaun Hill,Dan Orlovsky,Seneca Wallace and Gus Frerotte are all starting QB’s that a guy who runs a 4.3 and can throw the ball 70 yds with a flick of the wrist won’t have suitors as soon as he is cleared to play. It’s not if Vick will come back, it’s who he will come back with. And who knows, maybe the new MV7 will be a more mature responsible person; prison changes some guys for the better and hopefully he’s one of them.
brianforster says:
Imagine the wildcat with mike vick!
It would be renamed, “The Wild Dog”
“Imagine the wildcat with mike vick! ”
Don’t you need to have the defense at least fear the pass option for that to work? No worries of that with Vick – it’s either a skip pass or a 10 yard overthrow there.
He does not deserve to play in the NFL again. If had made a mistake, then he deserves a 2nd chance. He didn’t make a mistake. His malicious activity was planned and carried out exactly as he intended(outside of getting busted).
Besides the protesters, why wouldn’t he want to get out of his cell for a day or two for a trip to VA?
@joemommascallin – No doubt dude, the cowboys are going to be all over him when he gets out and gets reinstated (which he should never be).
Problem with banning him from the NFL is this. Players like Chris Henry and Pacman Jones still roam the sidelines. So it wouldn’t be even steven to ban Mike faced with these facts now would it?
Players like Chris Henry and Pacman Jones shouldn’t be roaming the sidelines. But of course they are, and of course Vick will too. Goodell talks tough, but in the end, it’s all about keeping the stars on the field.
Please give this guy a break. I love dogs as much as anyone and what he did is defenseless BUT he didn’t kill anybody. He has lost tens of millions of dollars (deservedly) and will never escape the stigma of what he did. He should be allowed to get on with his life. He did the crime and he has paid the time. Again I remind you he was very cruel and killed some ANIMALS not humans. He has never harmed a human being. NOW let me get this straight I HAVE NEVER LIKED Vick! I have always thought he was a total ass (Ron Mexico) but this is America and he is entitled to a second chance. I really don’t think any team will want to take on PETA and all the other crap so I don’t think he will get a job. Wait I forgot about Al Davis.
Let Vick get on with his life.
I disagree with the argument that he made a mistake, and that he’s entitled to work again once he’s paid his debt to society. Anybody remember how this went down? He tried throwing everyone else under the bus (including his cousin) and denied any wrongdoing right until there was no denying it any more. If the Feds hadn’t gotten involved, he’d still be playing in the NFL, and still be fighting and killing dogs. And the argument that he’s never hurt any PERSON doesn’t hold water either. Remember when he infected that girl with herpes? I don’t know from experience, but I hear that herpes hurts.
If Mike Vick went all the way through college and his only skill in life is playing football, then he needs to start from the bottom, just like all of the other working stiffs out there who weren’t blessed with unbelievable athletic talent. He SHOULD be one of the most educated and experienced inmates in that prison, and if he’s not, than it’s his own damned fault.
The NFL is a privilege, not a right.
The guy is in federal prison for DOGFIGHTING. He didn’t kill anyone. No one is paralyzed because of his actions. He didn’t use his girlfriend or wife as a punching bag.
Does he really need state time too?
Marshawn Lynch committed a Hit and Run this summer. I’m pretty sure that’s a felony in EVERY state. What Vick did was worse? Hardly. Had Vick been the first to plead out, he’d have been out in 6 months.