2007 NFL General News Thread

[Buffmaster]

Despite jail sentence, time on Vick's side

QB sentenced to 23 months in prison


December 11, 2007

As he sits in his jail cell, contemplating the mistakes that landed him there and whether his future might include a return to the NFL, Michael Vick could draw strength from this mantra provided for him Monday by a prominent sports agent:

“It only takes one.”

Vick, 27, sentenced Monday to 23 months in federal prison for his part in an illegal dogfighting operation, will miss a minimum of two full NFL seasons. Even with time off for good behavior, the earliest he could be released is the summer of 2009, and his NFL playing career would still be in the hands of league commissioner Roger Goodell, who has suspended him indefinitely.

But don’t count Vick out, says Leigh Steinberg, who represented Ricky Williams, another star gone astray who managed a return to the league this year after three full seasons away.

“It may be that (31) franchises pass on him as too problematic,” the agent said after Vick’s sentence was announced. “But it only takes one” to provide a second chance.

Citing Lakers star Kobe Bryant and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis as examples — Bryant was accused of rape; Lewis involved in a murder investigation — Steinberg said that, in a sense, time is on Vick’s side because “Two years from now, other stories will have taken this one’s place.”

It was just that long ago that the Atlanta Falcons star was “the single most marketable young player in the NFL — on the EA Sports game cover, had his own Nike shoe line,” Steinberg recalled. “His was the face of the most popular spectator sport in this country.”

Vick’s dramatic fall from grace began earlier this year when law enforcement officials began investigating a dogfighting operation in rural Virginia. At first the quarterback denied knowledge of the illegal activity, but he admitted his role after three co-defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to help the government’s case.

In a plea agreement announced in August, the quarterback acknowledged bankrolling the business, that he helped kill dogs that did not perform well and that he provided money for bets on the fights. In anticipation of Monday’s sentence, he turned himself in on Nov. 19 and has been jailed in Warsaw, Va. since then.

Co-defendants Quanis Phillips of Atlanta, who got 21 months, and Purnell Peace of Virginia Beach, who got 18 months, have already been sentenced. The third, Tony Taylor, is scheduled to be sentenced Friday.

Wearing a striped prison suit in court Monday, Vick apologized to his family and U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson, who admonished the former Pro Bowler, saying, “You need to apologize to the millions of young people who looked up to you.”

Vick said he was “willing to deal with the consequences and accept responsibility for my actions.” But Hudson chose the high end of federal guidelines that called for his prison term to be between 18 and 24 months.

The reason: “I’m not convinced you’ve fully accepted responsibility,” Hudson told Vick, meaning the judge agreed with a probation officer’s finding that Vick lied about his role in killing dogs and also about his drug use. (Vick tested positive for marijuana on Sept. 13, shortly after he pleaded guilty in the case.)

Later, outside court, Lawrence Woodward, one of Vick’s attorneys, said his client “wants a chance to prove himself when all this is over.”

Whether the NFL is part of that proving ground might depend on whether he comes out of prison “a better person” ... “or a bitter person,” said Dan Reeves, Vick’s first coach with the Falcons.

Gil Brandt, the personnel executive who built the Dallas Cowboys’ best teams, predicted a franchise would take a chance on Vick — perhaps as a receiver or defensive back rather than quarterback.

“It’s like a student who drops out of school for a couple years,” Brandt said. “He has a hard time re-acquiring his work habits and study skills.”

Former Minnesota Vikings owner Red McCombs said if he were still in the league he would have no qualms about giving Vick an opportunity because, “Number one, he’s a good guy. He’s not flaky, and fighting dogs wasn’t a bad thing in the environment he grew up in. I’d take a chance on him in a heartbeat.”

How would McCombs deal with protesters who disagree? “You also have people who believe in a guy paying his dues and putting in his time,” he said. “Let a guy make his living.”

Others weren’t so sure.

“How many teams would be willing to take the PR hit that goes along with signing him?” asked an NFC personnel executive who requested his name not be used. “Not many.”

And that’s assuming Vick could stay physically fit and mentally football sharp while in prison — a couple of major ifs.

Quarterbacks coach Steve Clarkson put the odds against Vick catching back on in the NFL as a quarterback as “monumental.”

“He’d have a better chance climbing Mt. Everest without snow shoes,” said Clarkson, who is credited with the polishing of Matt Leinart and others. “The game is too complicated, and his baggage is too much.”

[trashtalkr]

Bobby Petrino Resigns From Falcons, Heading to Arkansas

Bobby Petrino abruptly resigned his position as coach of the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday, and multiple sources told ESPN he is negotiating an agreement to become the new coach at Arkansas.

Petrino and his agent had been talking with the Falcons about his preference to return to the college ranks. The former Louisville coach was looking for an opportunity to break into the Southeastern Conference ranks, and Arkansas was a natural fit.

Citing the team as its source, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on its Web site that Petrino phoned the Falcons about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday and resigned. Petrino and the team agreed he would not coach the Falcons' remaining three games, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton.

Petrino and Arkansas do not have a deal, the sources told ESPN, but once one is in place, Petrino is expected to be paid around $3 million a year to succeed Houston Nutt, who resigned after a tumultuous season and hours later took the Mississippi job.

Petrino had a five-year, $24 million contract with the Falcons -- NFL sources said there is no buyout in the deal -- so he will be taking a pay cut to coach the Razorbacks.

The Falcons are 3-10, their season torn apart by Michael Vick's involvement in a dogfighting ring and subsequent 23-month jail sentence, which was levied Monday. After losing Vick, Petrino tried three other starting quarterbacks without success.

Petrino assembled one of college football's highest-scoring offenses at Louisville, but the Falcons were anemic without Vick. They also were plagued by injuries on the offensive line, which forced them to start two players who weren't even drafted out of college.

Source: ESPN

[AYHJA]

Seemingly, no matter what the NFL tries to do with its image, there will always be shit like this...So much so, that when someone dies innocently (like Sean Taylor) they still bring up old shit to say it might be related...DUI's...Murders...Rapes...All kinds of shit...And really, who can blame them, your job is to get knocked in your head ever 45 seconds...Shit I almost expect them to be nuts...

[trashtalkr]

Sean Taylor Voted Posthumously To Pro Bowl

Pro Bowl voters honored the memory of Sean Taylor.

Taylor, who died Nov. 27 after being shot during a burglary at his home in Florida, was voted the starting free safety on the NFC team. He was having an outstanding season and was one of the leading vote-getters among fans at the time of his death.

"It is well-deserved," Redskins center Casey Rabach said. "If he would have been able to finish the season, he would have been in there. It just shows the respect everybody around the league had for him and what a great player he was."

Taylor is the only player known to have made an all-star team posthumously in any sport other than goaltender Pelle Lindbergh was voted to the NHL All-Star game in February 1986. He had been killed in an auto accident in November 1985 after playing eight games for the Philadelphia Flyers, for whom he had won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goalie the previous season.

Source: ESPN

I'm really glad to see this. This shows class by the players, the NFL, and the fans. RIP Sean Taylor

[trashtalkr]

Bill Parcells Signs Deal With Dolphins

Bill Parcells signed a four-year contract with the Miami Dolphins to become the team's executive vice president of football operations on Thursday.

Parcells faxed the contract to the team, less than a day after turning down an offer to join the Atlanta Falcons.

"He has a proven track record of success everywhere he has been in the National Football League," Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga said Thursday afternoon. "And his football acumen will help put the Miami Dolphins franchise back among the elite of the NFL."

The two-time Super Bowl champion coach will report directly to Huizenga, whose affinity for big-name help now has led him to Parcells -- a 66-year-old former coach of four NFL clubs who owns a home in South Florida and now has a job there, too.

On Wednesday, the expectation around the league was that Parcells would take over in Atlanta. By the afternoon, however, the deal had fallen apart, and the Dolphins moved quickly to get Parcells to sign a contract.

"I'm honored to join such an illustrious franchise as the Miami Dolphins and to work for one of the best owners in the league in Wayne Huizenga," Parcells said. "He shares my same commitment to winning, and I told him I would do everything I can to help turn around the team's fortunes."

"The guy's a legend," running back Lorenzo Booker said. "There's no doubt about it. He knows what he's doing. Obviously, his resume is a mile long. But I'm a new guy in this league, so I don't even know what a vice president does, to be honest with you, so I'm waiting to find out as much as you guys."

Parcells insisted that he will not coach in Miami -- but could see himself helping the coach, whomever it is.

Source: ESPN

Great move by the Dolphins. Parcells is known for turning franchises around

[trashtalkr]

Well the Pats finished the season undefeated. Congrats to them on a season for the books. Now they'll head to the Super Bowl and get crushed by the Packers!

[Splurgercloud]

Indeed a historic season, I can't wait for the playoffs, I wanna see what San Diego can do. =)

[AYHJA]

Crushed by the who..? Crushed by the what..? You mean, the same Packers that got mauled by the Bears...That got mauled by the Cowboys, who...In turn got mauled by the...Pats..?

Oh, shit...That was senseless fan talk, my bad TT... :D

[trashtalkr]

Senseless fan talk? Nah man....you just wait and see

[trashtalkr]

Ravens Fire Brian Billick

Brian Billick was fired Monday, less than 24 hours after his team concluded a season of high expectations with a disappointing 5-11 record. His entire staff, including defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, also was dismissed.

"I believed that it was time for a change, I believed that we have the nucleus of a team that can get back to the Super Bowl, and we felt that in the next five years we had a better chance with a new coach than leaving Brian in that position," said owner Steve Bisciotti, who made the decision after consulting with team president Dick Cass and general manager Ozzie Newsome.

Billick won the 2001 Super Bowl in his second season with the Ravens, but since Bisciotti took over full ownership in 2004, Baltimore was 33-33. That included two losing seasons and only one playoff appearance, a one-and-out performance in 2006.

"It's a gut feeling. I have one job here, and that's to have a leader that I think gives us the best chance," Bisciotti said. "We have been losing more than winning lately."

Billick led the Ravens to a franchise-best 13-3 record in 2006. But Baltimore lost a team-record nine consecutive games this season before ending the skid Sunday with a 27-21 win over Pittsburgh.

Billick had three years left on a contract that pays $5 million per season. Bisciotti determined a few weeks ago that he would give Billick a chance to right things in 2008, but changed his mind after talking with Cass, Newsome and other NFL owners.

Billick, 53, was hired as Baltimore's second head coach in January 1999, succeeding Ted Marchibroda. In Billick's first season, the Ravens reached .500 (8-8) for the first time. Then he led Baltimore to a 12-4 record and a berth in the Super Bowl, where the Ravens beat the New York Giants 34-7.

Source: Sports Illustrated