A Storm of Trouble Hits the Other Mexico

Cartoonist: Gary Varvel

Mr. Peabody is only telling us half the story. Michael Vick will learn Monday just how many dog days lie ahead of him inside a jail cell. But as of tonight, he knows his immediate fate in the NFL. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended the Falcons quarterback indefinitely without pay. This came just hours after Vick filed a plea agreement in Federal Court. In the agreement, Vick admits he funded a dog fighting operation called Bad Newz Kennels and was involved, though not directly, in the killing of dogs.


Hand Caught in the Ookie Jar
Vick's attorney likely hoped the wording in the agreement would distance his client from the most egregious aspects of the indictment, like you know...murdering animals and gambling and stuff. But it looks like Goodell's watched enough episodes of Law and Order SVU to fall for that move. The commissioner is quoted as calling Vick's actions "cruel and reprehensible." He went on to acknowledge that Vick's admitted role in the dogfighting ring violates the NFL's player conduct contract.


More Bad Newz
Goodell's decision clears the way for the Falcons to recover more than $20 million of Vick's $37 million signing bonus. And, as expected, Nike didn't wait any longer to kick Vick to the curb; they just did it. Vick signed a $130 million contract with the Falcons in 2004, so even with these financial setbacks, you won't see him in line at the soup kitchen anytime soon.


Mike-raphone Check
While everyone and their grandma has likely already weighed in on Vick and his fate, we have yet to hear from the man himself. That could all change next week when Vick heads to court to learn his sentencing. His lawyers have promised Vick will make a public statement and there are plans for him to appear on the Tom Joyner Morning Show the day after his sentencing. (A live audio stream of the show is available by clicking on the 'Listen Live' button on BlackAmericaWeb.com ) A heartfelt interview to a sympathetic audience could be just what Vick needs to begin the long process of repairing his image in the public eye.

Bird Watching
As the case against Ron Mexico slowly comes to a close, new issues arise concerning the future of the Falcons organization. Will Joey Harrington have the presence of mind to flip off Falcons Fans after the Saints put the smack down on 'em in the Georgia Dome later this year? Will Falcons receivers be denied an opportunity to drop the many passes thrown their way? And what of the fairweather flock of Falcons Fans. Shouldn't they at least get to wait until midseason before abandoning their team? These are dark times indeed my friends.

A Hot Mess
What breaks our hearts almost as much as the thought of senselessly killing animals is that we feel obliged to no longer praise Vick for his God given hotness. As much as we hated the pain he afflicted on our beloved Saints with his natural talent, we couldn't help but marvel at his chiseled features, rock hard abs, and mysterious charm. Now, we realize drooling over #7 would make us little more than big fat zeroes. So, like the rest of the NFL nation, we wait to see how this ordeal will shake out. Will Vick emerge from jail a changed man, truly remorseful for his actions, and determined to regain the trust of his fans and his league? One could only hope. Until then, we mourn for the wasted talent and potential and pray the athletic phenoms of the future are paying attention to just how quickly one's star can fall.