[FALCONSKUTIEE]

i like you man! so what else is new?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by FALCONSKUTIEE

i like you man! so what else is new?

How's the race for Vick's backup going to shape up now that matt's gone?...Is D.J. developing at all?

[FALCONSKUTIEE]

well you know , we dont know b/c they dont play him at all! man i didnt see him at all but on the bench. i hope he gets a chance this year

[MJHMarc]

The Rise and Tragic Fall of Michael Vick. <-A New Novel coming to bookstores near you.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by FALCONSKUTIEE

well you know , we dont know b/c they dont play him at all! man i didnt see him at all but on the bench. i hope he gets a chance this year

I think they should spend a good chuck of the pre-season finding out if they have a keeper in D.J....

[MJHMarc]

The Falcons have gone through a bunch of QBs in the past decade.

I thought they had a keeper in Vick, but obviously not.

[JRL]

I vote for giving DJ a chance - a big chance. He is a face that would serve the Falcons well.

I heard a sports guy on the radio today (John somebody from ESPN, SI or something) that really knew football. His feeling - Vick will get a 1 or 2 game suspension AT THE MOST. He also thought it would be next year rather than this year as the investigation will move slowly at best.

Another observation he had - Vick is so quick in the 5 step drop that very few NFL offenses will work. This was a revelation to me - I never considered that because of his quickness the recievers would only be a few yards into the pattern when he was ready to unload. This guy thought Vick would do well in an offense that was more college oriented.

I'm still not a big Vick fan but this guy made me pause and think. Vick has superb athletic skills but seems to lack the brain and leadership skills an NFL QB needs.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by JRL

Vick has superb athletic skills but seems to lack the brain and leadership skills an NFL QB needs.

This echoes my own opinion about the guy.

Maybe they should run an offense with a planned roll-out every play to try and buy the wideouts more time.

[vincesanity82]

CONGRESS GETTING INVOLVED IN VICK CASE

Though the NFL is sufficiently popular and powerful to, for example, dictate programming decisions by a company that pays the league $1.1 billion per year, pro football (and every other major league sport) gets uncomfortable whenever Congress decides to take an interest in an issue that is percolating through the game.

In the recent past, Congress has poked around regarding steroids and the limited access of regular-season games on NFL Network. Now, one member of the primary legislative body in the United States is sticking his nose into the Michael Vick situation.

Representative Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) has urged NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to "act swiftly and forcefully" if Vick was involved in dog fighting that was occurring on property Vick owned in Virginia.

"I am outraged that one of the National Football League's superstars is affiliated with such a heinous enterprise," Lantos said in the letter.

"The level of cruelty involved in exploiting animals to the point that 60 malnourished and injured dogs were removed from Mr. Vick's property is mind boggling," Lantos said. "I will view anything less than the strongest repudiation of Mr. Vick's involvement as tacit support for this atrocious activity."

The league has sent mixed signals regarding whether Vick will be investigated and (if appropriate) disciplined under the recently beefed-up Personal Conduct Policy. On one hand, the NFL has said it is investigating the case; on the other hand, NFL Network's Adam Schefter reported this week that Vick would not be disciplined unless he is first convicted of, or pleads guilty to, criminal charges.

We think that the league can and should investigate the matter on its own, especially if the prosecutor in Surry County, Virginia chooses not to proceed with charges. There is already enough evidence publicly available to support a conclusion that Vick knew what was happening on his property and/or was involved in it. If the goal is to prevent conduct that is detrimental to the interests of, or public confidence in, the game of professional football, a decision by the NFL not to look into this one regardless of whether Vick is charged could be, in and of itself, conduct detrimental to the interests of, or public confidence in, the game.

That statement could become even more true if Santos decides to use his position on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee to squeeze the league on the issue of performance-enhancing drugs. It's classic Washington politics, where no one issue stands alone but multiple topics intertwine (thanks, Tiki).

So what does Lantos want from the Commish?

"Your strong rebuke of dog fighting -- and those who promote it -- will send the message that this all-too-prevalent practice has no place in a civilized society," Lantos wrote. "I also suggest you educate your players on the illegality and cruelty of dog fighting to prevent this from happening again. It is my hope that the issue of animal fighting will not require us to further investigate the behavior of your athletes."

ProFootballTalk.com -- The Best Pro Football Scoop on the Internet

[simple simon]

as i have been saying all along .......... Vick is sooooooooooo screwed

[vincesanity82]

"It is my hope that the issue of animal fighting will not require us to further investigate the behavior of your athletes."


If that doesnt light a fire under goodells behind, nothing will, vick is screwed indeed..

[JRL]

Vick will skate He has a better chance of playing all of the approaching season than Alabama has of winning the national championship or a BCS Bowl

The political heat may force the NFL to turn up the wick in the battle against the handful of bad apples currently playing ball. The NBA will be next.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Vick aside...What the heck does a Democratic Representative (from California no less) doing in the middle of this?...Anyone?...

I might understand a Rep or Senator from Virginia or Georgia sticking his nose in...but freakin Cali?...Reeks of self serving grandstanding...Shouldn't Congressman Lantos be a tiny bit more preoccupied with legislation that they need to pass?...without going deep into politics here, aren't there a few stalled Bills that need his attention there?...lay off of Football pal, and go do your job...surely there is bigger fish to fry for the "Oversight and Government Reform Committee"....no?

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Vick aside...What the heck does a Democratic Representative (from California no less) doing in the middle of this?...Anyone?...

i can appreciate that dog fighting may be a much larger issue then i realize

just saying that could be part of it ....... it could also be a much larger problem in his neck of the woods then yours or mine (just a thought)

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by simple simon

i can appreciate that dog fighting may be a much larger issue then i realize

just saying that could be part of it ....... it could also be a much larger problem in his neck of the woods then yours or mine (just a thought)

I think it's a local issue...a state's government issue to control...I think the good Congressman is grandstanding at best...I think I rather see my Tax money at work in a much, much better way...nothing against animals...but it's not like the guy is questioning the mockery that is some school systems, or getting tough on drug dealer syndication, or crime mobsters etc...He is sticking his "photo-op hungry nose" into the NFL over "an alledged incident"...don't know about the fine folks in Cali, but I think i send my Reps to Congress for a bit more important things then local animal control issues in another state.