Month: July 2007 (Page 9 of 17)

As noted in a previous blog, I wanted to highlight the dilemma NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell now faces in light of Michael Vick being indicted for dog fighting crimes.

Many people believe Goodell should wait for the courts to decide whether or not Vick is guilty and then hand out a suspension, but quite frankly, Goodell doesn’t have to wait for anything. The NFL isn’t the U.S. court system in that a due process is required – Vick doesn’t have to be proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt before Goodell can take action. If Goodell feels that Vick has tarnished the reputation of his league, he has all he needs to hand out a suspension.

The problem, however, is what if Vick is eventually found innocent and Goodell already handed out a suspension? It’s not like you can take it back. I think in the end, if Goodell wants to suspend him immediately, he’s going to have to do it on the grounds of Vick embarrassing the league and tarnishing its image. What a suspension like that would entail I don’t know, but if Pacman Jones got 17 games for essentially hiding one of his charges from the league, what should a guy who watched dogs kill each other for entertainment get?

I’m not going to reset the story or even rehash what’s new, because by now everybody has heard the latest in the Michael Vick saga. He was indicted yesterday, and you can read about it here, here, here, or if you choose, even here. I take it if you’re currently reading this blog you generally want, or have at least stumbled upon, my opinion.

My opinion is that if he is guilty, he’s unhuman and forget suspension, his ass should go to jail. This guy is drafted #1 overall and is immediately embraced by the city of Atlanta and their fans, and what does he go out and do? Possibly fund a sick dog fighting operation in which defenseless animals were hanged, shot, drop kicked and electrocuted. If he’s guilty, he let down his family, teammates, fans and the entire NFL. And for what, to watch two dogs rip each other to pieces? It’s pathetic.

Vick may still turn up innocent in all of this, but I wouldn’t bet on it. It’s not like the feds go about their business like Barney Fife or Chief Wiggum – the information they found on Vick and his cronies was detailed, precise and freighting. I’ve preached all along to wait until all the facts come out, so maybe I should heed my own warnings, but things certainly don’t look good for one Ronald Mexico.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is debating whether or not to allow cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones to workout at Titans’ training camp later this month. A decision should be announced by the end of the week.

The commissioner apparently will weigh at least two elements before making a ruling. One involves whether Jones violated terms of his suspension when he was identified by Atlanta police as being part of a group that was involved in a shooting outside a strip club on June 18. Jones is not a suspect in the shooting.

This may sound ridiculous for Goodell to even consider, I mean, Pacman was suspended for the entire season, so why should he have the right to workout with the team, right? Wrong. If he’s in practice it means he’s spending more time doing something productive for once instead out at a club “making it rain” and punching strippers. I’m all for the idea of keeping this a-hole off the streets as much as humanly possible.

The Detroit Lions re-signed franchise defensive tackle Cory Redding to a seven-year, $49 million contract on Monday. The deal also includes $16 million in guaranteed money and makes Redding the highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL.

Redding is coming off a fantastic season with eight sacks, but the way the league is set up right now regarding free agent contracts is absolutely nuts.

Somewhere Tommie Harris has a huge smile on his face. The Bears want to extend Harris’ contract before the regular season kicks off, but if Redding’s deal is any indication, they’ll have to pony up big.