NFL Fines Players For Supporting Embattled Friend

This from ProFootballTalk.com:

"Roddy White, Alge Crumpler, DeAngelo Hall, and Chris Houston were all fined $10,000.
Joe Horn also was fined $7,500 for pulling up White's jersey to reveal his "Free Mike Vick" T-shirt."

The league levied the fines under the auspices of the shirts being a violation of the league's uniform policy. Despite the fact that White's t-shirt was UNDER his uniform jersey. And the league doubled the usual fine for uniform violations. Horn was fined and he apparently wasn't even wearing one of the t-shirts.

Normally, we'd support team mates showing some support for an embattled friend. A fellow gladiator. A mistreated and seemingly purposely misunderstood and misrepresented Negro. Normally.

However, we believe that each of these players should sit out a game. Forfeit a game check.

All of these players have foolishly, though altruistically, played into the hands of the league rulers and the attempt to further demonize Vick.

Certainly, the players watched not long ago as Redskin players wore tribute t-shirts under their game jerseys for Sean Taylor. And, just as certainly, the Falcon players assumed that since the Redskins were not in violation of the uniform policy (they weren't fined) for wearing the t-shirts under the game jerseys; there would be no issue if they did it as well.

The foolishness in all this was that the Falcon players thought for a moment that the NFL Czar of Discipline and Behavior might not expound his traditional arbitrary application of policy and rule. And for somehow forgetting who they were memorializing, the Falcon players should march into their GM's office and let him know that they will not be playing in next week's game as a self imposed penance for their foolishness in believing that the Czar would allow them to memorialize the 'dead' player on their team.

What was supposed to be an act to show Vick that he was not forgotten. That he was still in the hearts of his team mates. That, despite the fact that he was locked up in a money making prison, his spirit and soul were still free. That act of brotherly solidarity and compassion for Vick's well being is now turned into a negative by the NFL's PR machinery.

Instead of it being the unifying and rehabilitative message that it was meant to be, the NFL turned it into some sort of forbidden phantom violation. What was meant to generate positive media representation that might get back to the incarcerated Vick was run through the NFL ringers.

And what got back to Vick (from the NFL) is clear:

You are dead to us.


'Free Mike Vick'?

No.

Mike Vick has been in chains from the first day he put on shoulder pads.

And this well intentioned, though poorly thought out maneuvre by the Falcon players only further tightened the shackles around their own wrists.

Bobby Petrino: DeAngelo Hall and Alge Crumpler were right

Bobby Petrino.

The equivalent of the promiscuous girl of the coaching world. Always ready to listen to an offer. Often willing to put out. Quick to leave the groom standing at the altar.

Or in this case, cheat on the honey moon.

Petrino's stay in the ATL has been tainted almost from the start. He was unable to give tremendous, but wayward, QB Michael Vick the type of guidance a young man under considerable pressure could expect from a seasoned head coach/mentor. And quickly things fell apart.

Clearly, Vick didn't receive good advice from the organization and ended up responding to the early accusations with a dubious denial. Obviously, a caring and nurturing infrastructure would have given him the proper counsel necessary to take responsibility from the get go. Only after things spun out of control and Vick was able to separate himself from the organization did he come clean and accept responsibility.

So, the reality is that much of the distress caused by the Vick situation was a product of Petrino's botched leadership.

Certainly, Vick's team mates recognized this, and it compromised Petrino's ability to effectively be the man in charge of the team.

Early in the season, DeAngelo Hall and Alge Crumpler received some negative press for openly wondering about Petrino's ability to lead an NFL team. For challenging Petrino's demands that the team buy into his system, but not providing any real leadership for the team.

The media seemed to enjoy painting Hall and Crumpler as out of line or disgruntled primadonas.

Well, vindication is sweet. And Hall and Crumpler were correct all along. Petrino gave up long ago and went through 3/4 of a season as a charade. Certainly he wasn't wooed by Arkansas between the Monday night game and the Tuesday announcement.

And, just as certainly, Hall and Crumpler's instinctual questioning of the validity and sincerity of Petrino and his 'system' was spot on the money. Petrino's 'system' was an empty shell that couldn't fool real NFL players. His leadership was a corrupt and cowardly masquerade.

And Hall and Crumpler should be commended for having the awareness, commitment and esprit de corps to put the teams needs ahead of their own and question the rotten smell emanating from the coach's office.

In this day and age of selfish players with agendas, it is refreshing to be able to look back on this and unequivocally state the players were one hundred percent correct and that the media owes them an apology.

Certainly this isn't the first time that a group of Negroes sensed and spoke out about the white man in the corner office using them for his personal gain. It just happens to be one of the times the media can't hide it.

Michael Vick: Quick Prison Time Might Not Be in the Cards

Michael Vick valiantly volunteered to begin serving his manufactured prison sentence earlier than required, his sentencing isn't officially until December 10th.

We've read optimistic reports of Vick possibly being released from this objectionable holding in less than a year. Maybe even being out and back in pads dazzling his youthful fans before the end of next season.

However, news this morning might extinguish the optimism, and certainly put a damper on those hoping to see Vick's rights - though violated - be restored.

Two of Vick's 'co-defendants' (read: pawns of the prosecution) received 18 and 21 month sentences.

This does not bode well for Vick, as these men received these sentences after working hand in hand with the government to effectively mangle Vick's life and destroy his reputation.

Certainly, if the courts hand nearly two year sentences to the men that made Vick's incarceration possible; Vick is in for a longer stay in the white man's guest cottage than anticipated.

And, let this be a lesson to future willing government conspirators. Certainly these men were promised drive through service. But, as our Native American brethren can attest to, the albino government serpent speaks with a forked tongue.

Vick Town Hall Meeting: Consensus is That It's The Falcons' Fault

ESPN undertook the valiant and much needed task of discussing the culpability and circumstances of Michael Vick's unfortunate fall from grace.

Assembling a panel consisting of Neil Boortz, Terrence Moore, Selena Roberts, and Terrence Mathis, obviously, ESPN intended a panel of the brightest and most relevant personalities available to ensure that a productive discussion would take place, and that a reasonable outcome would result. This was no exercise in futulity, to be sure.

The crowd, not surprisingly since it is Atlanta, was full of Vick supporters. And, we would assume that the pro-Vick applause are reflective of the feelings around the nation.

The discussion was led by Bob Ley and was an informed, interesting and highly necessary endeavor. Necessary, because many still haven't, in their own minds, resolved exactly what transpired. Perhaps the most telling and most pertinant aspect of the meeting was the pro-Vick crowd's response to white panelist Neil Boortz and Selena Roberts.

Both Boortz and Roberts made comments to the effect that the Falcons enabled this. The Falcons never properly took Vick aside early on and laid down the necessary groundwork to ensure he was adapting to his situation properly. Certainly, the informed and reasonable Vick supporting crowd applauded this sentiment. And, more certainly, the white panelists weren't pandering to the melanin rich audience.

It was disturbing when Negro panelists Terrence Moore and Chuck Smith made insinuations that Vick should be held accountable, that he is a grown man and is responsible for his own actions and decisions. Such blatant bojangling was an insult to not only Vick, but every Negro in the crowd.

The crowd, rightfully, scoffed at this notion and found comfort and satisfaction in Roberts' accusation that Vick would not have been treated this way if he were not Negro.

Further showing their understanding of the situation, the crowd booed and mocked a director of the Humane Society who had been invited to speak. It was uplifting to see the crowd denounce the gestapo tactics employed by the Society in publicizing the Vick case.

Terrence Mathis spoke to the value of Michael Vick to the city of Atlanta. A Negro sports icon in the Negro capital city. The crowd agreed that it was inherently wrong and it was tantamount to a slap at the Negro citizens of the city to take him away.

At this point, we stopped watching.

During a commercial, we flipped to Judge Mathis.

He was busy admonishing a young Negro male who felt that he was not required to pay back his debt of borrowed money to his cousin.

The young Negro defendant argued that he had been disadvantaged and made some bad choices. And that he just didn't think it was reasonable that he should be held to his word and forced to pay back his debt.

Judge Mathis broke into some gobbly gook about personal responsibility and that when one makes bad decisions, the person who made the bad decisions is still accountable.

We believe Judge Mathis should watch ESPN's town hall meeting.

Clearly, his outlook needs to change and get in line with the sentiments held in the Negro capital city.

If judges currently seated hold the same notions as this former judge...it's no wonder Vick plead guilty.

Falcons: Time to Sign Leftwich

Came across a column in the AJC today which highlighted the need for the Atlanta Falcons to sign cut QB Byron Leftwich.

Joey Harrington is 23-44 as an NFL starter. There's a quarterback available who's 24-20. If I'm the Falcons, I sign Byron Leftwich today. So: Why not Leftwich? He has been a starter. He has thrown more NFL touchdown passes (51) than interceptions (36). He can deliver the deep ball. He can't run, but neither can Harrington. At worst, he'd be a more viable backup than Redman. At best, he might be able to win a couple of games for a team that won't win many.

Certainly, it would seem that of the available QB's on the Falcons' roster, Leftwich would provide an improvement. Even if just nominal.

More importantly and beyond the possible on field upgrade Leftwich might provide, giving him the reigns to the offense and making him the face of the franchise would be the right thing to do.

The Falcons abandonment of Michael Vick, though understandable due to the poor publicity attached to the type of charges brought against Vick, sent a negative message to the Negro community in Atlanta. And that message resonated throughout America.

Once it became clear that Vick was more than likely involved in the sordid mess, owner Arthur Blank seemed to distance himself from Vick. Sending a clear message that the Falcons could not be counted on for support.

The organization's choice to use words like "disappointed in" or "despicable acts" sent a message to the Negro community that the team was not willing to support the QB in the face of adversity. It sent a message to the Negro community that, despite the incredible return the team had made thus far on their investment in Vick, they were not on his side.

Never once did we hear Blank mention race. Never once did we hear Blank bring up Vick's upbringing.

And, in possibly the most overt sign of ill will, the team sent a clear message of rejection to the Negro community:

Not once did Blank consider calling Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton to Atlanta to weigh in on the situation. Not once.

So, for weeks and weeks negative shrapnel from the media cut at Vick's veins. And no voices of dissension came from the organization or were invited by the organization to speak on Vick's behalf.

The notion that Vick's eventually guilty plea absolves the team from having not stood by him or having not brought in the esteemed protectors of civil rights is a fallacy. The outcome is of little importance. The knowledge of the facts at the time are of little importance. Protection of civil rights, at least the type provided by Jackson and Sharpton, does not require an agreeable outcome. So, let's put the notion that Vick's guilt is any sort of indicator that the Falcons acted fairly or correctly to rest

The Atlanta Falcons owe the Negro community of Atlanta another Negro QB. That is the only fair and correct outcome of this situation.

Byron Leftwich was mistreated and cut by Jacksonville.

Now, it's time for the Falcons to make amends.

Any decision short of signing and quickly starting Leftwich is an open indicator that the Falcons hold nothing but contempt for the Negro community of Atlanta.

The Falcons had the chance months ago to play the race card and at least attempt to divert the outcome in the Vick fiasco.

They chose not to do so.

Now, we demand the race card play them!

Follow Up: Who Wins

Not long ago, we put forth an investigative piece searching for the answer to the question of 'who wins' in this Michael Vick debacle.

Our research clearly divulged that the ultimate winner in all this was Falcons' coach, Bobby Petrino.

And now, it seems, once again...the main stream media is a day late and a dollar short in jumping on the NOIS bandwagon.

From The LA Times:

There is evidence that the Falcons believed in Vick. They apparently felt good enough about him to trade talented backup Matt Schaub to Houston, and, of course, owner Arthur Blank delivered on that long contract extension. But sources around the league also say the franchise was already mulling the possibility of life without Vick -- even before his legal entanglements.

Really? So, possibly Vick's development thus far demonstrated - as we previously and investigatively reported - that he might be a square peg for the round hole that is Petrino's offense.

Although he was an incredibly gifted runner, one who could escape waves of defenders, Vick was nowhere near the quarterback many people thought he might become. There were persistent rumors that Petrino wanted to give Vick one season to prove how well he could run the offense, then make a decision whether to keep him or move in another direction.

Petrino was cool toward Vick from day one. Despite the giant contract and incredible physical talents, Vick was never the QB that Petrino envisioned running his offense.

However, despite all this.

Vick's dismissal from the game will make him the perfect scapegoat should Petrino's offense falter this season.

Coach Petrino hasn't been dealt a great hand this season. But, as far as things go, at the very least he has himself a push.

This season will be easy to write off.

Darkness on Light: Clarification For The Seeing Blind

A point is made by one of our more troubled readers:

Mr. Vick clearly admitted today to killing dogs. OK, OK..you say (he says) he participated in a small group collectively responsible for the death of six to eight dogs. You might claim we are arguing semantics, but I say that is killing dogs.

Indeed.

But what does 'collective' effort mean in this case?

The sensible read - based on the government's acceptance of the plea and not forcing Vick to clearly say he physically killed any dogs - is that in this case Vick's contribution to the collective effort in killing the dogs was providing the property and means.

Clearly, if Vick had done any damage with his own two hands, our government prosecutors would have demanded full accountability.

So, most legal experts agree that the wording of the plea is an indication that Vick is admitting that he provided the land on which the killings took place, payed for the electricity to electrocute them and payed for the water to drown them.

As this case winds down it becomes clear in the language of the plea that Vick's guilt was not so much of being an active and physical participant. But rather, that he had a knowledge of and - through his silence - supported the operation.

Now, Mr. Vick must pay for his lack of vigilance in the upkeep of his property. And he will spend some time contemplating the company he keeps.

Hopefully, Vick learns what is unquestionably the most important lesson here:

Friendships without loyalty are no friendships at all.

Let's all take the harsh lesson Mr. Vick has learned to heart.

Vick: Finally Over, Let the Rehabilitation Begin

Michael Vick entered his plea, admitting his involvement in the dog fighting ring.

The government seems ready to accept his plea and sentence him.

The next step is helping Michael understand what led to this and helping him develop the skills to ensure that his reintegration into society after his institutionalization is well supported.

We anxiously await the 2009 football season.

And watching Michael electrify (not electrocute) the crowds in Canada.

Vick's 'Father': Jilted

We have received a few comments and emails essentially thumbing their noses at Michael Vick. Pointing out a freshly minted story about how his estranged father (Michael doesn't even carry the man's last name) has let the media in on the 'fact' that Michael is 'all about' dog fighting.

Of course the man (who, reportedly, has never had a true father-son relationship with Vick) claims he tried and tried to get Michael to give it up. And that he nursed the dogs back to health. The man is a saint.

In The Journal-Constitution report posted on the newspaper's Web site Thursday night, Michael Boddie, who is estranged from Vick and the quarterback's mother, also said some time around 2001 his son staged dogfights in the garage of the family home in Newport News, Va. Boddie told the newspaper Vick kept fighting dogs in the family's backyard, including dogs that were "bit up, chewed up, exhausted." Boddie claimed to have nursed the dogs back to health.

Mr. Boddie continued:

"I wish people would stop sugarcoating it," Boddie told The Journal-Constitution. "This is Mike's thing. And he knows it ... likes it, and he has the capital to have a setup like that."

Makes Vick sound very bad. Very bad indeed. Of course, a huge detail is lost in the hard hitting paternal allegations.

Mr. Boddie had recently been demanding money from Michael. And lots of it.

In the report, Boddie also said he asked Vick for $1 million, spread out over 12 years. Vick declined, the father said. Recently, Boddie asked Vick, through an assistant, for $700,000 to live on.

Out of the goodness of his heart, Michael had been paying the rent on Mr. Boddie's apartment for the last several years and supplying him with spending money. But, clearly, that wasn't enough.

And, now, after being denied in his demands for big money to live on, Mr. Boddie seems to have decided to exact his revenge.

So, let's take the angry accusations of a man not willing to work to support himself with a grain of salt.

A man that has fit the definition of father for Mr. Vick strictly at his own convenience over the years.

Let's not sugar coat it.

Demanding handouts and then angrily spreading possible misinformation may well be Mr. Boddie's thing.

And he knows it.

Poll: Vick Getting Preferential Treatment?

Interesting results from a New York Times/CNN poll exploring public perception of Michael Vick's case.

Thirty-six percent of those familiar with the dogfighting allegations against Vick, the Atlanta Falcons’ star quarterback, said he was being treated better than an average person. Only 9 percent said Vick was being treated worse than an average person. The plurality, 44 percent, said Vick was being handled the same as anyone else.

So, clearly, the overwhelming proportion of respondents, 80%, perceive Vick to either be receiving preferential treatment or normal handling of his case.

But, let's consider: How would an average Joe, that isn't Michael Vick, be treated.

Well, to begin with, the chances that an average Joe would even face federal prosecution are virtually nil. Statistics show that almost to a person, individuals charged in dog fighting cases are tried by local jurisdiction.

According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund (a group which monitors and pursues cases of animal cruelty):

While the federal dog fighting law was updated a bit in May of this year, it has been around for years, yet I found only 1 reported appellate case involving this law being used by federal prosecutors; 3 others discussed whether this federal fighting law preempted state anti-cruelty or fighting laws, and in all 3 cases the courts ruled it did not (an interesting idea for the local DA to consider…). Nearly all animal anti-cruelty laws are state laws tried in state courts. Thus it has been particularly difficult for ALDF to get federal prosecutors, who are generally inexperienced in animal cases, interested in any animal cruelty matter that occasionally does come under federal jurisdiction by virtue of either happening on federal lands or being prohibited by a federal law. Years ago we tried to get several U.S. attorney offices interested in shutting down and prosecuting those responsible for “crush videos” (made underground for fetishists who enjoyed watching small animals or birds being crushed to death by a woman’s high heel) after the federal law was passed making them illegal. We got few takers.

So, the next time you hear the media or anyone else suggest that Michael Vick is getting the same attention that any individual accused of involvement in dog fighting would be getting; know that that is false.

Even the folks that fight to bring justice to animal abusers are a bit shocked at the extreme vigor Vick's case has drawn.

But remember, there's no bias whatsoever in this statistically highly unusual federal indictment and federal prosecution. That's just the normal process for this sort of case.

Really.

It is.

; )

Vick: SCLC Promised Honors, Then Renegs

Over the weekend, we made a post over at Epic Carnival detailing the announcement by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference that they would be honoring Michael Vick at their 50th anniversary celebration and conference.

Well, now it seems as if politics has become involved and that the President of the SCLC has decided that there will be no organized honoring of Mr. Vick.

Previously, we reported:

During a press conference announcing the opening of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's 49th annual convention to celebrate the organization's 50th year, president Charles Steele noted that the organization would find some way to honor and recognize the embattled Falcon's quarterback who is under federal indictment on dogfighting charges

But now, the SCLC has released:

"There is no award or no honoring of Michael Vick," said SCLC spokesman David Stokes.

In fact Mr. Steele is even back tracking on his previous statement about honoring Vick. Insinuating that wasn't what he meant. Even though he clearly used the words "honor and recognize".

"He was just reiterating the support for Michael Vick ... that he was innocent until proven guilty," Stokes said.

Clearly, there must be some reason for the SCLC to decide to abandon their previous plans to recognize all the good that Mr. Vick has done for his community.

State Rep. Tyrone Brooks (D-Atlanta), however, said Steele called him last week to talk about honoring Vick. Brooks, a lifetime SCLC member, said he counseled against it.

And there it is. The involvement of a politician. A man beholden to the media. A man at the mercy of how his image is portrayed by the media to his constituency. And, remember, that media is highly anti-Vick. Highly anti-due process. Highly anti-civil rights.

And clearly, the state rep saw the opportunity to gain that media favor by denouncing the honoring of Mr. Vick.

I said, 'Stay on point, the convention is bigger than a particular man,' " Brooks said. "There are a lot of young people who need our help. Michael Vick is not one of them."

The convention IS bigger than a particular man. Highlights of the convention included a 50th anniversary celebration. Honoring MLK, Jr. Honoring Barack Obama. A key note address by Bill Clinton.

And, originally, recognition and honoring of Mr. Vick.

It only seemed appropriate to recognize and make known the important contributions Vick has made to the community at such an important gathering of luminaries, during such a meaningful retrospection on the civil rights movement.

Vick had the money to pay for a top-notch legal defense, Brooks said, and he noted the quarterback hadn't been an SCLC supporter.

Money?

The state politician somehow sees this as being about money? Rather than advocate for Mr. Vick's civil rights and fair treatment, Brooks would rather make this an issue about the lack of support (read: contributions) Mr. Vick has given the SCLC?

This sounds like bitterness. It comes across as if Brooks is angry that Mr. Vick hasn't been contributing to his own funding.

Michael Vick deserves recognition. His complete story must be heard.

It's a shame that it won't be heard now due to the insidious efforts of a civil rights hating politician.

"What has he ever done except throw a football, run a football?" Brooks said. "I don't think he has done anything to deserve any special recognition."

Now, Vick will have to wait for his trial.

Only then will he get his proper recognition and sentence honor.

McNabb: Love For Vick

Donovan McNabb, a Negro QB who has been on the receiving end of media malfeasance, had some words of encouragement for his Brother QB, Michael Vick.

"I'm a supporter of Vick," McNabb said Tuesday.

While the media, the NFL, the Falcons and most of the general population of these United States has accepted an indictment as a verdict, McNabb understands that civil rights are precious. He understands that the freedoms of our country are founded upon those rights granted to the individual citizen. He knows that to willfully give up things like presumption of innocence are the very acts that allow for tyranny of the majority.

McNabb is of a people that were enslaved. He understands that Americans owe it to each other, Negro or not, to never allow the degradation of inalienable rights and judicial promises. To do so would be tantamount to a return to slave days.

Certainly, we all also understand that there were dogs that were horribly mistreated. McNabb understands that, as well. And he has clear perspective on the real tragedy in this situation.

"Now, I don't know exactly what happened in that situation, and I think for all of us that have read over the stuff that was over the Internet, the report, you look at it as kind of like, 'Wow, you've got your so-called friends and family members turning their back on you now to make their situation better.' They're throwing you under the bus so that they can clean their name. That's unfortunate. That goes to show, I always have a saying that I've always lived by: If you can't trust family, who can you trust? "

So, while PETA and other groups try to steal the thunder of Vick's famous name to further their cause for the proliferation of animal rights over civil rights; another victim is cast aside.

Family.

This situation is a case study of the decline of the family unit in America. The Negro family.

The media distracts us with reportage of animal rights demonstrations. The media is assiduously and feverishly working to ensure that public opinion is formed and that Vick is guilty in the minds of Americans.

All the while, not a word about a Negro family that is having the ability to trust in their familial love torn apart by the ravages of a federal indictment.

We applaud Donovan McNabb for standing up and making the country aware of this heretofore unreported casualty.

McNabb has made it perfectly and plainly clear for the rest of us:

The indictment against Michael Vick is a declaration of war on Negro families.

And McNabb further puts it into perspective with a possible resolution:

"It's an unfortunate situation, and I just hope everything works out well for him where he can get back out on the field."

That would fix everything.

Vick: Who Wins In This?

As Vick loses endorsement deals by the minute and as the league and the Falcons distance themselves further, let's take a moment to reflect on this situation and find out who is benefiting from Vick's career train wreck.

The list is short. But clear.

Coach Bobby Petrino.

Petrino has had a cool relationship with Vick from the moment he took over the helm.

And now, with Vick seemingly done, Petrino has himself a can't lose situation. If the team fails, Vick gets the blame. If the team does better than expected, then Petrino is a genius.

Let's face reality together here. Vick never was the QB that Petrino's offense needed. Petrino had wonderful offensive success at Louisville with an offense that featured an excellent mix of rushing and down field passing. While his QB's put up excellent numbers, the offense was not built around a 'franchise' type of athletic QB.

In the greater scheme of things, Petrino may now be in a better position than he was with the $130M square peg to his round hole'd offense.

So, is it any wonder that the Falcons and the NFL didn't stand up to the pressure of the indictment? Is it any wonder that they didn't allow the wheels of justice to run their course before deciding Vick's fate?

Certainly, the NFL, which in the past has allowed accused and convicted women beaters to dress on Sundays without so much as giving protesting women's advocacy groups the time of day, can't pretend to have been so intimidated by animal rights groups that this was strictly a public relations decision.

No, this was the Falcons decision.

A decision to opportunely cut losses and change directions.

We still don't know exactly what the outcome of the trial will be. Yes, the federal government has an almost perfect conviction record. There is no reasonable assumption that they would bring a case against Vick to federal court if they weren't nearly certain that they will convict him.

But still, as Americans, we owe each other the courtesy of waiting for the trial to conclude (let alone start) before our decisions are made.

There is no way around the fact that despite the indictment against Vick, he is a victim here.

The league, his team and his sponsors have all acted in such a way as to further the presumption of guilt that the media is so gleefully propagating.

For what?

To ensure that Bobby Petrino has the best chance to succeed with his offense.

The Falcons' playbook now supersedes civil rights.

Michael Vick: Dogbreeder

Last week Michael Vick was linked to what appeared to be a pit bull fighting operation in Virginia. The property that housed the dogs is owned by Vick, but apparently is maintained by a relative.

PETA and some other sources claim that the dogs were used for fighting.

Vick met with NFL commish Roger Goodell to clear things up and ensure everyone this was just a misunderstanding and that he was unaware of the situation. Vick has stated "I left the house with my family members and my cousin. They just haven't been doing the right thing. The issue will get resolved."

Well, now some information that clears things up has been located.

Apparently, Vick owns a company that breeds pit bulls. And the company even has a website that lists the Virginia property as the address and Vick's lawyer as the managing agent of the parent company.

But no need to worry.

VicksK9Kennels.com states that, "We do not promote, support or raise dogs for fighting and will not knowingly sell, give, or trade any dog that may be used for fighting."

And Vick's forthrightness with the commish, his revealing months after the "water bottle" incident that he was just carrying jewelry and his general upstanding character all should put our minds to rest.

The website disclaimer says it all. Move along people. Nothing to see here.