Jones could fill J.R.'s role
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
July 18, 2007

At the recent Virginia Elite Camp, there was a silky-smooth guard playing in a scrimmage.

On one sequence, the player curled beautifully around a pick and launched a quick-release jumper that hit nothing but net. On the next, he faked as if he was going to shoot a 3-pointer, then drove hard to the basket for a driving layup.

If you didn’t know better, you would have sworn that you were watching former Virginia guard J.R. Reynolds.

The player, however, was UVa incoming freshman Jeff Jones.

“Jeff is 6-foot-4, so he’s a little bigger than J.R.,” said Virginia assistant Drew Diener. “He has the ability to get to a spot, and even if he still has a defender with him, he’s able to rise up and over him and make shots at a pretty good percentage.”

Jones, who hails from Drexel Hill, Pa., is the most highly touted member of the 2007 recruiting class, which also features Mustapha Farrakahn, Mike Scott and Sam Zeglinski.

Jones, the all-time leading scorer in the Philadelphia Catholic League out of Monsignor Bonner High School, was rated as the 76th best recruit in the nation by Rivals.com.

Jones said the comparisons to Reynolds are flattering, but the player he has always modeled his game after is Boston Celtic guard Ray Allen.

“That’s a guy I really like,” said Jones, grinning. “I like the way he’s able to come off picks and shoot the ball.”

With Reynolds having graduated, the starting two-guard position is up for grabs this season. Coach Dave Leitao may slide Sean Singletary off the ball at times, but Jones figures to be competing primarily with Farrakahn, Solomon Tat Calvin Baker and possibly Mamadi Diane for playing time.

Diener says Jones’ biggest strength is his scoring ability.

“He can come off screens and has a good

pull-up game from 3 and from 15 [feet],” Diener said. “I think you call him a combo [guard], but he looks more comfortable playing at the 2. But he definitely isn’t uncomfortable handling the ball and being the pusher.”

Jones, who averaged 22.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists as a senior, is happy Singletary decided to pull his name out of the NBA Draft and return for his final season. “I’ll have somebody to learn from,” Jones said. “He’ll be like a big brother.”

The biggest thing Jones says he has to improve on in order to earn playing time in his first year is his strength. To that end, he has been spending some quality time with Virginia strength and conditioning coach Shaun Brown.

“He works you hard, but I guarantee it’s going to pay off,” said the 185-pound Jones. “You look at guys like Will Harris and Mamadi Diane - they’re real muscular. I’m looking forward to [looking like] them.”

Jones says he’s also looking forward to playing for the fiery Leitao.

“I look at it like he loves his players,” said Jones, when asked about Leitao’s in-your-face coaching style. “When you see him yelling and being all intense, he just sees something he wants to get out of you. I know he wants the best. If somebody didn’t do that, it means he didn’t care. That’s how I look at it.”

But right now, Jones, who originally committed to Maryland, is just getting acclimated to Virginia.

“It’s exciting to finally be here and be able to interact with the players and the coaches,” he said. “It’s been something I’ve been waiting for.”

 

Sneak peek at Duke
July 16, 2007

DUKE BLUE DEVILS

Sept 8, Noon (Lincoln Financial Sports/Raycom)

At Scott Stadium - Charlottesville

2006 Record: 0-12 overall, 0-8 ACC

(6th Coastal)

Coach: Ted Roof (5-34, 4+ years)

Stats: Rushing Offense ? 102nd nationally; Passing Offense ? 76th; Total Offense ? 105th; Rushing Defense ? 99th; Pass Efficiency Defense ? 108th; Total Defense ? 105th.

Flashback: A winless season proved that a schedule that included eight teams that played in bowl games the year prior was far too much for this inexperienced team to tackle. Of course, for giggles, ponder how the ACC would have played out had Duke actually converted a 28-yard, game-winning field goal as time expired against Wake Forest. The field goal was blocked, Duke lost its next 10 by a combined total of 385-166 (including the last three on kicks that went one way or another) and Wake, well, it was the eventual league champion. Making matters worse for the Blue Devils, a published report indicated that the program lost almost $1.7 million during the 2005-06 school year. Couple those numbers with the nation's longest losing streak - it's currently at 20 games - and the pressure seems to be mounting slowly on Roof, widely considered one of the "good guys" in the league. On the field, Duke appeared to take positive strides as the year progressed ? at least on offense. Thaddeus Lewis, who took over the quarterback duties in the second game as a redshirt freshman, passed for 2,134 yards and 11 scores. Lewis spread the wealth - seven players caught at least 10 passes, led by wideouts Eron Riley (32 rec., 643 yards, 3 TDs) and Jomar Wright (40 rec., 561 yds., 2 TDs). The Blue Devils were not nearly as happy about the play of their defense and special teams, which finished last in the ACC in almost every category.

Fast forward: Duke is sitting pretty from a numbers standpoint. The Blue Devils return all 11 starters on offense and five from their defense. The team will also boast added depth at quarterback as Zack Asack, the starter in 2005, returns from a one-year suspension. Whether it is Asack or Lewis under center, the Blue Devils are expected to throw a wrinkle into their spread offense with new offensive coordinator Peter Vaas, who was the position coach at Notre Dame for Brady Quinn. Expect a two-headed option out of the backfield with Re'quan Boyette (87 carries for 388 yards, 2 TDs) and Justin Boyle (91 carries for 358 yards, 5 TDs) back in the fold. Defensively, Duke will welcome in two new starters on the line, at linebacker and in the secondary. The biggest weakness could lie at cornerback, a position that will be without John Talley, an interception machine, for the first in four years. Jabarri Marshall, one of the best kick returners in the ACC last year, highlights a special teams unit that needs to show drastic improvements.

Key player: Hopefully, picking this will get easier as the series progresses. With Duke, it is truly a tough call, and a look at the 2006 All-ACC team was of no help. Obviously, the starting quarterback, likely Lewis, needs to avoid game-changing mistakes. A veteran needs to emerge on defense as a run stopper (the Blue Devils allowed 4.6 yards per carry last year), and somebody needs to ensure that the team does not miss seven field goals again (Note: It's too bad for the Blue Devils the NCAA would not allow former UVa kicker Noah Greenbaum to pick Duke over Liberty for his fifth year). But instead of picking one player, the nod goes to the entire offensive line. You need only to remember the field day that Virginia DE Jeffrey Fitzgerald had in Durham, N.C., last year to figure out why Duke quarterbacks were sacked 40 times in 12 games. Ouch.

Inside the game: Consider this one a "must win" for Virginia. Duke should be better and its losing streak could be snapped, but Al Groh can ill afford to be the one that lets that happen. Given the defensive dominance of Duke in Durham, this might be the perfect game for offensive coordinator Mike Groh to measure the progress of the Cavaliers' wide receivers. In a perfect world, of course, that would come in the first half, allowing the coaching staff to rotate redshirt freshmen Keith Payne and Raynard Horne in the backfield over the final possessions. Regardless, Virginia can simply pop in the tapes from last year's Western Michigan game to show the players what can happen when an inferior opponent is allowed to stick around at Scott Stadium.

- Jay Jenkins

 

Sneak peek at UNC
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
July 18, 2007

Virginia at North Carolina

Sept. 15, Noon
(TV - Lincoln Financial Sports/Raycom)
At Kenan Stadium - Chapel Hill, N.C.

The Tar Heels:
2006 Record: 3-9, 2-6 ACC (5th Coastal)
Coach: Butch Davis (0-0 1st year; 51-20 6 years)
Stats: Rushing Offense – 91st nationally; Passing Offense – 84th; Total Offense – 101st; Rushing Defense – 100th;
Pass Efficiency Defense – 89th; Total Defense – 92nd.

Flashback: Given how tough a schedule that included Notre Dame and Rutgers proved to be, the end result alone typically would not have been enough to see a coach get the axe. Unfortunately for John Bunting, it was merely the icing on the cake - the Tar Heels had four losing seasons and went to only two bowl games in Bunting’s six years and just one came in the final five campaigns. Numerous players tried to take the blame after a 23-0 loss to Virginia that led to Bunting’s firing (he was allowed to finish the season). Perhaps there was some merit to the claims from the players. UNC mustered only 109 points in eight league games and 45 came against Duke in the season finale. The Tar Heels played well on defense in spurts - they held Georgia Tech to a lone touchdown - but struggled stopping opposing teams on third down and forced only 17 turnovers. There were a few bright spots. Connor Barth nailed all 10 of his field goals, rookie wideout Hakeem Nicks averaged 60 receiving yards per game and Brandon Tate excelled in the return game. In the end, however, the main storyline shifted from Bunting to his replacement. Almost every UNC supporter thought the school hit a home run in landing Davis, who coached in college at Miami and in the NFL with Cleveland.
Fast forward: The start of the Davis era has many buzzing at UNC, an institution widely considered a professional basketball factory. Davis proved the hype was justified through a late push in recruiting - the 22-member class included two five-star prospects and was ranked No. 13 nationally by Rivals.com. The new coaching staff also held off a late charge from USC to keep QB Mike Paulus, a previous commitment, headed to North Carolina. Only 11 starters return so Davis may be forced to ask Paulus and other incoming recruits to play as true freshmen. The program should also benefit from Bunting’s decision to play only five first-year freshmen in 2006 (only four ACC teams, including Virginia, played fewer). As this year’s team, expect solid results catching the football. The player delivering those passes, however, is anybody’s guess. Former starting signal-caller Joe Dailey was moved to wide receiver. Cam Sexton, who completed just 41.9 percent of his attempts and tossed eight interceptions, was not the answer last year. It could essentially come down to a battle between T.J. Yates, a redshirt freshman, and Paulus during training camp. The winner could take his lumps if something positive does not emerge from a ground game that will rely on unproven youngsters. Expect Davis to make the most noticeable impact on defense. What that means remains to be seen, but opposing offensive coordinators will not be able to relax. Only four starters return but heralded prep players, some that redshirted last year, are waiting in the wings. Barth and his consistency in the kicking game will anchor a special teams unit that should be one of the best in the ACC’s Coastal Division. Some publications have said that UNC boasts an easy, forgiving schedule since they avoid Boston College and Florida State, but obvious landmines stand in its way. The Tar Heels have road games against five teams that played in bowl games last year (ECU, Georgia Tech, South Florida Virginia Tech and Wake Forest). The home schedule, which boasts Duke and JMU, has several swing games with Maryland, Miami, South Carolina and Virginia visiting. To defy the odds and play in a bowl game in Davis’ first year, the Tar Heels will have to steal some of those games at Kenan Stadium.
Key player: The secondary has some weapons with free safety Trimane Goddard and cornerbacks Kendric Burney and Jermaine Strong returning. The glue that holds this defense together, at least until younger players advance, will remain Durrell Mapp. The middle linebacker led the team in tackles last year and must play even better to help solidify the team’s run defense.
Inside the game: Virginia played one of its most complete games against the Tar Heels in 2006 as Jameel Sewell celebrated his birthday in fine fashion. UNC would love to start blowing out the candles on the Cavaliers’ Coastal Division title hopes to return the favor. On paper, UVa has the edge with more experience on defense and a better offensive line. Winning in the Tar Heel state at programs not named Duke, however, has remained a difficult task for Al Groh. Look for a close game that hopefully involves more scoring than the last one played at Kenan (UNC won, 7-5).

 

Taking on a weighty role
Balis brought experience with Meyer to Cavaliers' strength, conditioning job
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

CHARLOTTESVILLE He had a good job as the head strength-and-conditioning coach at the University of Utah. Matt Balis relinquished it to become the No. 2 man in the University of Florida's weight room.

Some might consider that a questionable career move. But when football coach Urban Meyer left Utah for Florida, Balis followed him.

"It's never easy to give up a head position," Balis said, "but the chance to move on with Coach Meyer and be at a place like Florida was a great move for my family."

Balis, 35, didn't stay an assistant for long. After two seasons at Florida under strength coach Mickey Marotti -- the second ended with a national championship -- Balis accepted an offer to replace Evan Marcus as the University of Virginia's head strength coach for football. He started in the McCue Center on April 30.

Marcus, who spent four seasons at Virginia, left in January to run the Atlanta Falcons' strength-and-conditioning program. Balis never had been to this state before interviewing at U.Va., but he jumped at the opportunity to succeed Marcus.

"Really, it was a no-brainer," said Balis, whose annual salary is $115,000.

Other candidates for the U.Va. job included Allan Johnson, former strength coach at Ohio State and West Virginia.

"Everybody's credentials were very good, and everybody's presentation was impressive," Cavaliers coach Al Groh said, "but Matt just felt like one of us: his personality, his energy, his ambition."

Groh and Meyer are good friends, and the U.Va. staff visited Gainesville, Fla., in June 2006 for a close look at the Gators' operation. That boosted Balis' candidacy when Marcus left U.Va. for the NFL.

"No. 1," Groh said, "Urban gave him a glowing endorsement. No. 2, I thought, 'If he fits in there, he's going to fit in here,' and that's been the case. He's just been awesome since he's been here."

At Florida, whose football teams are known for their speed, Balis' pupils included such world-class athletes as Percy Harvin. U.Va. can't match Florida's talent level across the board, Balis acknowledged, "but there's a work ethic on this team and a closeness that gets me excited. Great kids, great character."

The Wahoos' future NFL players, Balis said, include Chris Long, Branden Albert, Eugene Monroe and Chris Cook. He's also been impressed by the commitment shown by Ian-Yates Cunningham, Cedric Peerman, John Phillips, Vic Hall and Clint Sintim, among others.

"There's a lot of talent here," said Balis, who was an assistant strength coach at Utah and at the University of Houston.

Is there also a lot of speed at U.Va.? That hasn't been the Cavaliers' trademark under Groh, but Balis doesn't believe he inherited a slow group of players.

"Yeah, there's a lot of genetics in it, but you've also got to train," he said. "We have a bunch of guys that are fast. They just have to learn to play fast and practice fast."

Balis, who grew up in Illinois, has a bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University and a master's from Aurora University. As an athlete, he was a three-time national champion in powerlifting, a sport he picked up in high school. He no longer competes but still lifts regularly.

"You want to be a good role model with the players," he said.

Balis and his wife, Lanette, have a 13-month-old son, Jacob, and they recently moved into a home north of Charlottesville. Balises rises before dawn each day, eager to get to work at the McCue Center.

"Evan did a great job with these kids," he said. "They're great technicians. They love to lift. I was very fortunate to walk into this."

 

Indictment irreparably damages Vick's reputation
By BOB LIPPER
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST

He's done.

Michael Vick's run as a megastar celebrity athlete officially ended yesterday. At best, his image has been battered beyond repair. At worst, he could be facing perp walks, orange jumpsuits and prison bars. Either way, he's essentially finished as an NFL poster child and cash cow. Either way, his razzle-dazzle time is over.

This isn't to come at Vick with a guilty-until-proven-innocent corner blitz. Maybe -- somehow -- Vick beats this dogfighting rap. Maybe he wipes his feet on the doormat of that house at 1915 Moonlight Road in Surry County and strolls away. Maybe he's taking snaps on opening day in September, free and easy as you please.

Maybe this is all about those dastardly relatives and friends whose unmonitored misdeeds (his position) prompted Vick to say to reporters the day before the NFL draft in New York -- he'd been beckoned there to 'splain himself to Commissioner Roger Goodell -- "It's unfortunate I have to take the heat. Lesson learned for me."

Nice sound bite.

But he's not taking heat now. He's being hit with a blast furnace.

The federal indictment is damning from start to finish. It asserts that Vick was deeply involved and embedded in the dogfighting operation and not just an absentee landlord who didn't know his homies had turned the place into an ongoing scene of depravity.

Vick's name is scattered throughout the lengthy document, his fingerprints said to be all over this sick and sordid business. Specific names of dogs are listed, betting amounts chronicled. A bloody and repulsive trail wends its way to Richmond's U.S. District Court from early 2001 through the spring of 2007.

You'd be hard-pressed to choose the scuzziest portions of the report, but the most chilling for me was an entry that pinpointed Vick at his Surry County property in April along with two named associates. The men were said to be there to test an unspecified number of dogs for fighting potential.

The indictment charges that approximately eight of the dogs that didn't perform well were executed by Vick and the two other men "by various means, including hanging, drowning and slamming at least one dog's body to the ground."

This isn't Cruella de Vil. This isn't fiction or a Disney cartoon. This is real stuff, real animals, real flesh, real blood.

And it reads like a horror story.

Vick already was lugging baggage -- his Ron Mexico episode, giving Georgia Dome fans the finger, blowing off a session in Washington with U.S. Congressmen, that strange airport incident with the bottle and its hidden compartment -- when word surfaced in April about possible links to dogfighting.

He was able to sidestep trouble initially, in part because Surry County authorities seemed reluctant to press the case. That's when the feds got involved. That's when they began combing the property -- a two-story white house behind which, hidden by a black fence, are five black outbuildings. The paint scheme presumably was selected to hide them and their activities at night, when the dogfights allegedly took place.

Now Vick is in major, major trouble. The federal government has deemed dogfighting a felony. That's also true in Virginia -- but Vick isn't up against a county prosecutor now, he's up against the Department of Agriculture, the FBI, the IRS and all the power the feds choose to throw at him. This isn't like trying to evade Julius Peppers. This is like trying to evade a platoon of Julius Pepperses with law degrees and criminal codes.

Once, Michael Vick was the crown prince of Blacksburg and the fresh prince of Atlanta. Now he's been indicted as a sewer rat. It's some fall. And he could descend farther still.

 

Indictment details extensive dogfighting operation
By BILL TORPY , BILL RANKIN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/17/07

Losers allegedly didn't fare too well with Michael Vick. His pit bulls were often summarily executed after losing fights, according to a federal indictment that portrays a disturbing picture of animal cruelty.

In April, just before authorities raided his property in rural Virginia, the Falcons' star quarterback was there "rolling" some of his pit bulls -- that is, putting them through test fights to see if they were "game," federal authorities said.

Outbuildings and doghouses are painted black on the Surry County, Va., property owned by Falcons quarterback Michael Vick where authorities seized 66 dogs and equipment believed to be related to dogfighting. Commonwealth Attorney Gerald Poindexter said there was evidence of dogfighting in a two-story house on the property.

Eight of the animals didn't make the cut, and were executed by Vick and two co-defendants by "hanging, drowning and slamming at least one dog's body to the ground," authorities allege.

A federal grand jury Tuesday indicted Vick and three others, accusing him of taking part in a well-established dogfighting operation.

The indictment lists numerous dog fights conducted by Vick and his associates going under the name "Bad Newz Kennels" since 2002. Often those dogs lost and met terrible fates.

In March 2003, Vick and others sponsored a 35-pound female pit bull in a fight that had a $26,000 purse. After the fight, Purnell Peace, one of the others indicted, consulted with Vick about the losing dog and Peace then "executed the losing dog by wetting the dog down with water and electrocuting the animal," the indictment states.

Later that night, a 47-pound pit bull sponsored by Vick lost to another dog. Vick went out to a vehicle and retrieved a book bag with $23,000 in cash to pay off losses from the two matches.

Also that month, another female pit bull sponsored by Vick lost in a match that had a $6,000 purse, the indictment alleges. The dog was shot to death.

Vick, 27, also known as "Ookie," according to the indictment, is expected to be given a date when he must surrender and make his initial court appearance. The moniker was given to him years ago by his aunt.

Vick and three others -- Peace, 35; Quanis L. Phillips, 28; and Tony Taylor, 34 -- are charged with one count: "Conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture."

If convicted of the Travel Act portion of the conspiracy charge, the defendants face a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted on the animal fighting venture portion of the conspiracy charge, each defendant faces a year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Taylor lived at Vick's property and licensed the kennel with Surry County officials. Phillips, who grew up with Vick, once worked for Vick's sports marketing company, MV7 Marketing.

Vick has said little about the case since the initial raids April 25 and 26 on his 15-acre property in Surry County, Va., a rural area across the James River from his hometown of Newport News.

"I'm never there. I'm never at the house, " he said in late April. "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.

"It's unfortunate I have to take the heat behind it. If I'm not there, I don't know what's going on. It's a call for me to really tighten down on who I'm trying to take care of. When it all boils down, people will try to take advantage of you and leave you out to dry. Lesson learned for me."

But the indictment, which lists three unnamed, cooperating witnesses, places Vick on the property as recently as April.

The indictment said Vick purchased the property in June 2001, "as the main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved in the dog fighting venture and hosting dog fights."

Shortly afterward, ac-cording to the indictment, the four men started buying up pit bulls: four from North Carolina, one from New York, six dogs and six puppies from Richmond. They allegedly built a fence on the back of the property to shield the compound from public view. They built several sheds to hold training equipment and injured dogs and as a place to organize fights, authorities allege.

By February of the next year, they allegedly began testing the pit bulls at the property and killing ones that weren't good fighters. The indictment said Peace, Phillips and Taylor killed at least five dogs, four by gunshots and one by electrocution.

The indictment alleges Vick and his co-defendants started sponsoring fights in earnest in the spring of 2002 through 2005, betting thousands on a single fight. Dogs such as Maniac, Big Boy and Trouble fought. Participants came from various states, including New York, Texas and North Carolina.

They bought Bad Newz Kennels shirts and headbands to promote the operation.

The indictment states that Vick, two of his co-defendants and two others continued this year the operation at Vick's property. Authorities searching the property found a "rape stand," a device used to hold an aggressive female dog for breeding, a "break stick" used to pry open fighting dogs' mouth and a treadmill to condition dogs.

Authorities came to Vick's compound April 25 after arresting his cousin, Davon Boddie, who lived there, on drug charges. Police said they made their case against Boddie a week before, in Hampton, Va., where a police dog named Troy sniffed marijuana in the trunk of a car.

 

Falcons QB now has a career in crisis
By THOMAS STINSON
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/18/07

Once just a player with problems, Michael Vick has now a career in crisis, after the Falcons quarterback was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury over his role in a dogfighting operation at property he owns in Surry County, Va.

That the investigation, ongoing for over two months, yielded charges was not a surprise. That typically meticulous federal investigators moved so quickly — just 6 1/2 weeks — to make their case was stunning.

Though Vick was indicted on one count of conspiracy to sponsor federally outlawed dogfighting, the 18-page indictment gruesomely detailed the operation of his alleged involvement in Bad Newz Kennels, located behind a house he owned in Smithfield, Va.

The indictment charges that defeated dogs were typically killed after their losses, either by drowning, hanging, electrocution or shooting. Purses at Bad Newz-sponsored fights were alleged to have reached $26,000.

An initial hearing date is expected to be set today at Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, which will hear the case, according to spokesman Jim Rybicki. That hearing will not likely occur this week, but probably within the next two weeks.

Vick will not be arrested but will be issued a summons to appear at that initial hearing. If convicted — the official charge reads conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities ("Travel Act") and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture — Vick faces a maximum of five years in prison.

Any additional animal cruelty charges could bring an additional one-year maximum per conviction.

Vick could not be reached Tuesday. But the Falcons and the NFL issued statements of concern and exasperation over the quarterback's predicament.

"We are disappointed that one of our players — and therefore the Falcons — [are] being presented to the public in a negative way, and we apologize to our fans and the community for that," the Falcons' unsigned statement read. Obviously, we are disturbed by today's news from Virginia."

Indicted with Vick, 27, were Purnell Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach, Va.; Quanis Phillips, 28, of Atlanta; and Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Va.

While Vick's Virginia-based attorney, Lawrence Woodward, was not available for comment Tuesday, the NFL's rebuke was prompt. Only last April 28, Vick was counseled by commissioner Roger Goodell about his series of off-field incidents over the past year.

"We are disappointed that Michael Vick has put himself in a position where a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against him," NFL director of communications Brian McCarthy said through a release. "We will continue to closely monitor developments in this case, and to cooperate with law enforcement authorities.

"The activities alleged are cruel, degrading and illegal. Michael Vick's guilt has not yet been proven, and we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts. The matter will be reviewed under the league's Personal Conduct Policy."

Though the NFL's recent suspensions of the Tennessee Titans' Adam "Pacman" Jones and the Chicago Bears' Tank Johnson has shown Goddell's intent to shore up the league's image, recent cases have shown preemptive moves by an accused player can alleviate NFL sanctions.

Atlanta lawyer Don Samuel, who represented NFL stars Ray Lewis and Jamal Lewis in separate criminal cases in Atlanta, said one of the first goals of Vick's defense will be to persuade a federal judge to let him play until the case runs its course.

"If the case against him is strong, they may need to find a way to resolve it without losing his ability to play in the NFL," Samuel said, referring to a possible plea agreement.

Ray Lewis, a star linebacker with the Baltimore Ravens, faced murder charges but pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor of obstructing justice and was sentenced to probation. He was never suspended by the NFL.

Jamal Lewis, a Ravens running back, was indicted on drug charges in Atlanta. He later pleaded guilty to a federal charge (using a cellphone to set up a drug deal) and was sentenced to four months in prison. He was suspended two games without pay and fined two weeks salary — $380,500 — by the NFL.

Once Vick is summoned to appear, he is expected to surrender to the U.S. Marshals Office and to the federal agencies that investigated the case. At that time, authorities will process Vick, taking his mug shot and fingerprints.

Most likely on the same day, Vick will make his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Court judge. During the hearing, he will be asked if he understands the charges against him, be informed of the penalties he faces and be advised of his right to counsel and his right to remain silent.

He also will be arraigned, where he is expected to formally enter a plea of not guilty. In addition, he is expected to have a detention hearing where he may be required to post bond in order to remain free until his trial. He also may be required to surrender his passport, have his travel restricted and be required to report periodically to pretrial services officials who monitor defendants facing criminal charges.

In the following weeks, Vick's legal team is expected to file motions that could attack his indictment and the government investigation. These challenges initially will be heard by the federal magistrate assigned to the case, who will report his or her findings and recommendations to the U.S. District Court, where a trial date will be set.

While Vick signed a 10-year, $130 million contract with the Falcons in December 2004, his contract is far from iron-clad.

He has been paid about $44 million from the contract, including $37 million in guaranteed bonuses. The rest — nonguaranteed bonuses and base salaries over the next seven years — could be lost if the Falcons decide to release him.

All NFL players have a clause in their contract stating "... if player has engaged in personal conduct reasonably judged by Club to adversely affect or reflect on Club, then Club may terminate this contract."

Should a contract be terminated under that clause, a player may file a grievance and have an arbitrator decide whether the club acted reasonably.

However, the Falcons would incur a substantial hit against their NFL salary cap if they decide to cut Vick because they would have to account, over the next two seasons, for the bulk of the bonuses he's already been paid.

The case drew quick reaction on Capitol Hill, where Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) called on the NFL to take a formal stance on dogfighting.

Contributing to this report were Tim Tucker, Steve Wyche, Bill Rankin and Jeremy Redmon.

 

What do we make of this Michael Vick?
By Mark Bradley | Tuesday, July 17, 2007, 07:31 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Mark Bradley Please see the editor’s note at the end of Mark Bradley’s column for a message on commenting on this subject.

It’s no longer just an investigation. It’s an indictment. That isn’t to be confused with a conviction — the presumption of innocence still applies, or at least it should — but it’s now possible to wonder if Michael Vick’s career as a Falcon, once a bright and shining thing, is nearing its soiled and sorry end. It’s now possible to wonder if any of us has ever known the real Michael Vick.

An indictment means there’s a case against him. A case means a trial will be scheduled. A trial would mean he could go to jail.

An indictment also means Michael Vick has let a slew of people down. From Arthur Blank, who signed him to a new contract worth $130 million two days before Christmas in 2004; to Bobby Petrino, who came here largely because he wanted to coach him; to the teammates who put their trust in him; to every fan who has bought a No. 7 jersey and worn it with pride … none of those folks can look at Vick today the same way they did yesterday. The dynamics have changed. Reality has changed.

He’s no longer the guy who kept saying he was going to do the right things. He’s now the guy who has allegedly gotten one very big thing so wrong so often that a felony conspiracy charge has been brought against him. And while we must be mindful that an indictment offers only one side of the story and that all defendants are entitled to a vigorous defense, the 18 pages of this chilling document are, as my uncle Rob used to say, enough to make a grown man throw up.

From Page 4 of the indictment: “On or about June 29, 2001, Vick paid approximately $34,000 for the purchase of property located at 1915 Moonlight Road, Smithfield, Va. From this point forward, the defendants … used this property as the main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved in the dog fighting venture and hosting dog fights.”

On April 21, 2001, Vick had been drafted No. 1 overall by the Falcons.

From Page 12: “In or about March of 2003, [Purnell A.] Peace, after consulting with Vick about the losing female pit bull’s condition, executed the losing dog by wetting the dog down with water and electrocuting the animal.”

From Page 13: “In or about March of 2003, Vick retrieved a book bag from a vehicle containing approximately $23,000 in cash. The cash was provided to [cooperating witness] #2 as payment for winning both dog fight matches.”

On Jan. 4, 2003, Vick had led the Falcons to a playoff victory over Green Bay at storied Lambeau Field.

From Page 14: “In or about the fall of 2003, [the three other defendants] and Vick traveled from Atlanta, Ga., to South Carolina with a male pit bull named Magic to participate in a dog fight. … The purse of the dog fight was established at approximately $1,500 per side, for a total of approximately $3,000.”

On Aug. 16, 2003, Vick had broken his leg in an exhibition against the Baltimore Ravens. He wouldn’t return to play until Nov. 30 against Houston.

From Page 17: “In or about April of 2007, [two other defendants] and Vick executed approximately eight dogs that did not perform well in ‘testing’ sessions at 1915 Moonlight Road by various methods, including hanging, drowning and slamming at least one dog’s body to the ground.”

In April 2007, Vick was readying for his first mini-camp under his third NFL coach. He was a 26-year-old millionaire — since turned 27 — who had just walked away from a brush with authorities in the Miami airport.

He was, and is, old enough and smart enough to know right from wrong. He was, and is, old enough to have put aside childish (and potentially criminal) entanglements.

But here he is today, the lead sports story from coast to coast not because he has taken the Falcons to the Super Bowl but because he has been indicted for, of all things, conspiring to fight one animal against another. Here he is, once the brightest light in the Atlanta sports firmament, now just another fallen star.